Handling of Procedures Affected by COVID-19 Coronavirus at the JPO

The Japan Patent Office ("JPO") has announced regarding Applications and Trials/Appeals Pending at the JPO in "Handling of Procedures Affected by COVID-19 Coronavirus" on April 3, 2020 as follows:

I. Designated Time Limits
If you are not able to carry out procedures for applications or trials/appeals pending at the JPO within the designated time limits due to the COVID-19 coronavirus, please attach a document explaining the circumstances that prevented you from carrying out the procedures. By doing so, the procedures will be considered to be valid even after the designated time limits expired if it is found to be necessary.

II. Statuary Time Limits
If you are unable to carry out certain procedures due to the COVID-19 coronavirus within the procedural periods specified by laws or governmental and ministerial ordinances, you can carry out the procedures only within the relief period.

In conducting the procedures, please attach a document explaining the circumstances that prevented you from conducting the procedures due to the COVID-19 coronavirus. When the JPO recognizes the necessity, the procedures will be considered to be valid.

Please confirm the following in detail.
We sincerely wish all of you take good care of yourself.

【 "Handling Procedures Affected by the New Coronavirus Infection" at the JPO 】