Covid-19: Measures in place in IP offices in the ASEAN Region

March 24, 2020

Brunei Darussalam

BruIPO will only accept documents, filing submissions and payments. For all other matters, please contact BruIPO.

Cambodia

Normal service at this stage.

Indonesia

DGIPR advises their customer service centre will be closed until April 21 however administrative requests can be discussed via their live chat service.  Under certain conditions the DGIPR will accept late filing of documents due in March and April 2020.  Customers are encouraged to file online and call the enquiry line on 152 for further information.

Laos

Normal service at this stage.

Malaysia

A range of services provided by MyIPO have been affected as a result of the Malaysian Government implementing the "Movement Control Order". This includes closure of the IP office until April 14 however e-filing is to operate as usual.  All timelines set for April 1 have been extended to April 15. Further information.

Myanmar

N/A

Philippines

May 28, 2020: The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has informed of the following:

• the IPOPHL, while remaining operational and providing services and support online, remained closed to the public until May 25, 2020 (see Information Notice No. 32/2020);
• IPOPHL Memorandum Circulars Nos. 2020-13 and 2020-13A, provide for an extension of deadlines for all papers, pleadings, documents and payments falling due between March 16 and June 30, 2020; and,
• all scheduled hearings before the IPOPHL, including hearings concerning mediation, remained suspended until May 25, 2020.

Accordingly, under Rule 4(4) of the Regulations under the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks, all periods under the Madrid System that concerned the IPOPHL, and that expired on a day on which this Office was not open to the public expired on the first subsequent day on which the IPOPHL reopened; that is, they expired on May 26, 2020.

For further information, users of the Madrid System may visit the IPOPHL’s website, or refer to Information Notice No. 40/2020 .

Singapore

For the latest information on the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore’s (IPOS) response to the COVID-19 situation, please visit the WIPO COVID-19 IP Policy Tracker or the IPOS website

Thailand

Applicants and agents may request an extension of 30 days for deadlines that fall within the outbreak period.  More information is available (in Thai) on the Department of IP’s website.

Viet Nam

The Intellectual Property Office of Viet Nam (IP Viet Nam) has informed WIPO that it is reopened to the public since May 5, 2020.

For further information, users of the Madrid System may visit IP Viet Nam’s website, or refer to Information Notice No. 36/2020.

1. The Intellectual Property Office of Viet Nam (IP Viet Nam) has informed the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization
2. Accordingly, under Rule 4(4) of the Regulations under the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks, all periods under the Madrid System that concern this Office and that expire on a day on which IP Viet Nam is not open to the public will expire on the first subsequent day on which IP Viet Nam reopens.
3. For further information, users of the Madrid System may visit IP Viet Nam’s website at the following address: http://www.noip.gov.vn/en/web/english/home.
4. IP Viet Nam has also advised through other channels that all procedures for registration of IP rights which are due in the period from 30 March 2020 to 30 April 2020, namely requests for claiming priority rights, provision of supplement documents, responses to decisions/notifications of the IP Viet Nam, requests for annuities/renewal of the validity of protection titles, payment of all types of fees and charges, lodgement of appeals/oppositions, shall be automatically extended to 30 May 2020.

Other extensions of time limits for applicants affected by Covid-19 may be applicable Further information