Japan earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011

Business in Japan and its communications with the United Kingdom have been disrupted by the earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011. The Intellectual Property Office will take whatever reasonable measures it can to assist those whose ability to communicate or file documents with the Office has been affected.

Requests for extensions of time will be considered on a case-by-case basis. While we are constrained by national and international legislation, discretion will be exercised favourably wherever possible. There are various legal provisions which may be relevant depending on the circumstances. However, attention is drawn to particular rules which allow a time period to be extended where the failure to do something was attributable to a delay in, or failure of, a communication service (including post and electronic communications). [1]

Where the failure to meet a time period has resulted in a loss of rights, those rights may be reinstated or restored in certain circumstances. As for extensions of time, requests for reinstatement or restoration of rights will be considered on a case-by-case basis, and discretion will be exercised favourably wherever possible.

We will also provide as much help as possible with reconstituting files or records which have been damaged or destroyed.

Customers wishing to request any of the above measures are asked to contact the officer or section dealing with their application in the first instance.

John Alty
Chief Executive

1. Rule 111 of the Patents Rules 2007; rule 76 of the Trade Marks Rules 2008; and rule 41 of the Registered Designs Rules 2006