b'PROTECTING INNOVATIONInnovation and IP in the Era of COVIDINNOVATION AND THEpeople that create,the current epidemic. *develop and produce those innovations are the-Extending of deadlines, such as those for payment life blood of the seed innovation. Unfortunately, theof issues fees and responses to office actions. current COVID-19 epidemic has impacted the seedWhere a deadline fell between March 27 and May industry and the people that work in the industry in31, 2020, those deadlines were extended until June an untold number of ways, including development of1, 2020. * innovations. Offices and labs have been closed and/ - Waiver of the requirement for original handwrittenor the number of people in these facilities have beensignatures. This measure allows for e-signatures reduced, and coupled with the economy in its currentsuch as /Jon Smith/. *state, the ability to invest in and develop new innova- - Allowing electronic filing of plant patentJAMES WEATHERLY tion has been severely limited. applications. Until this change was implemented in Seed Innovation andWhile investing and developing new seed relatedMay of 2020, the USPTO required all plant patent Protection Allianceinnovations has been impacted, the United Statesapplications to filed by mail. *executive director Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and other intel- *Please contact your patent counsel for morelectual property offices worldwide have implementedinformation. various measures to help offset these issues and hope- Internationally, a number of countries found fully provide some encouragement for investing in newthemselves at various times impacted at different levels innovations.by the COVID-19 epidemic. Consequently, a number of On March 15, 2020, the USPTO closed its officesgovernments closed their intellectual property offices to the public; however, the next day, March 16, 2020,and/or offered extended deadlines:based on the expanded power of the USPTO Director- Europe:in the $2 trillion Coronavirus Stimulus Bill, the USPTOEuropean Patent Office extended deadlines began to implement a number of actions to helpfalling on or after March 15 until June 2; and encourage or assist in the protection of innovations.Renewals due between June 1 and August Some of these measures include: 31 may be delayed without penalty (please -Providing prioritized examination of patentscontact your European counsel for further applications related to COVID-19. This will bedetails). limited to 500 applications with the goal of- Canada:WHEREWEB providing a final disposition (allowance or a The Canadian Patent Office extended ON THEfinal rejection) within one year of filing of thedeadlines falling between March 16 and July 3, For more information application. * 2020 (please contact your Canadian counsel on the intellectual- Waiving prioritized examination fees for smallfor further details).property protection associated with and micro entities with the goal of reaching a final- Mexicodisposition within six months of filing. These fees Mexico Institute of Intellectual Property has seed, visit theSIPA website atare on top of the regular application fees and rangealso issued an extension for deadlines falling seedipalliance.combetween $1,000 and $2,000. * between March 24 and May 30, 2020 (please or contact James- Waiver of fees for revival of abandoned patents. Incontact your Mexico counsel for furtherWeatherly at jamesw@ view of the current economic situation, the USPTOdetails). SWseedipalliance.com. has taken steps to help inventors to be able to revive patents that may be been abandoned during 52/ SEEDWORLD.COMSEPTEMBER 2020'