Guidance for users impacted by July 19, 2024 computer outage
July 24, 2024
- In the view of the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Rule 2bis of the Common Regulations under the Lisbon Agreement and the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement (Common Regulations) provides for measures applicable to the global computer outage that began on July 19, 2024. Competent Authorities or, in the case of Article 5(3) of the Geneva Act of the Lisbon Agreement on Appellations of Origin and Geographical Indications, beneficiaries or a natural person or legal entity referred to in Article 5(2)(ii) of that Act, who were not able to meet a time limit specified in the Common Regulations to perform an action before the International Bureau of WIPO due to that outage may request excuse of the delay on this basis.
- Rule 2bis of the Common Regulations provides for excuse of delay in meeting time limits (which may relate to the submission of documents and/or the payment of fees), due to reasons of force majeure including “... electronic communication services owing to circumstances beyond the control of a Competent Authority or, in the case of Article 5(3) of the Geneva Act, beneficiaries or a natural person or legal entity referred to in Article 5(2)(ii) of that Act....”.
- The International Bureau of WIPO will treat favorably any request made under Rule 2bis of the Common Regulations citing the outage that began on July 19, 2024, and will waive the requirement for submitting evidence.
About the Geneva Act
The Geneva Act helps producers of quality products, linked to origin, to protect the distinctive designations of their products in multiple jurisdictions, either as appellations of origin or geographical indications, through a single application filed with WIPO, and the payment of one set of fees.
About the Lisbon System
The Lisbon System provides protection for names that identify the geographic origin of products such as coffee, tea, fruits, cheese, wine, pottery, glass and cloth.
Examples of appellations of origin and geographical indications
- Kampot Pepper (Cambodia)
- Comté (France)
- Tokaj (Hungary)
- Sarough Handmade Carpet (Iran)
- Tequila (Mexico)
- Porto (Portugal)
- Chulucanas (Peru)
- Banano de Costa Rica (Costa Rica)
- Grana Padano (Italy)
- Bohemia Crystal (Czech Republic)
- Figue de Djebba (Tunisia)