Pursuant to a recent Order passed by the Honorable Delhi High Court (which can be accessed here), read with an Order dated March 23, 2020 passed by the Honorable Supreme Court (which can be accessed here), all statutory deadlines (with respect to Trade Marks, Patents, Copyrights, Designs and/or Geographical Indications) March 15, 2020 onward (retrospectively as well as prospectively) stand postponed until further notice.

Pursuant to the extension of the nationwide lockdown in India till May 3, 2020, all statutory deadlines and hearings in relation to Trade Marks, Patents, Copyrights, Designs and/or Geographical Indications, falling between March 25, 2020 and May 3, 2020 now stand extended till May 4, 2020.

WIPO has, with a view to address possible disruptions to users of the Madrid, PCT and Hague Systems in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, compiled all relevant information, including available remedies against failure to meet a time limit, here.

Pursuant to a notification mandating a complete 21-day lockdown of the country in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Office of the Controller General of Patents, Designs & Trade Marks has issued a Public Notice dated March 25, 2020. By way of this Notice, all upcoming statutory deadlines and hearings in relation to Trade Marks, Patents, Copyrights,  Designs and/or Geographical Indications falling between March 25, 2020 and April 14, 2020 stand extended till April 15, 2020.

The Indian Patent Office has notified that it will re-open its window for applicants to file requests under the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program. Fresh requests can be filed  March 9, 2020 onward.

To recall, the Patent Prosecution Highway Pilot Program commenced between the Indian Patent Office (IPO) and the Japan Patent Office (JPO) in December 2019.