Bail-out Measures in the Wake of the Great East Japan Earthquake by Various IP Offices

March 18, 2011

The following is information for the people who are unable to go through the prescribed procedures regarding foreign applications for patents, utility models, designs or trademarks due to the Great East Japan Earthquake that occurred on March 11, 2011.

1. Requests for assistance to IP Offices in various countries/regions

JPO has already made requests to all the IP Offices in countries and regions where applications were filled over the last three years from Japan (a total of 90 Offices and institutions) to take bail-out measures on legal period etc. for the Japanese applicants and agents who were not able to carry out the prescribed procedures or contact the Offices due to the Earthquake.

2. Collecting and disclosing information on bail-out measures

JPO has collected information on the bail-out measures for earthquake disasters available in IP Offices in various countries/regions. The information on bail-out measures announced by IP Offices in response to JPOfs request and the information we have collected is posted on our website and updated as needed. Please refer to the link below for carrying out procedures regarding foreign applications.

We have posted provisional translations for patent laws, patent regulations, and bail-out measures of various countries/regions for your reference. However, in making final confirmations and inquiries, please refer to the original text. Please note that if there are any discrepancies between the provisional translation and the original text, the original text shall prevail.

Links to the Information on Bail–out Measures – in alphabetical order

• CNR, El Salvador( External link )
• EAPO( External link )
• Egypo, Egypt (PDF:15KB)
• ESTONIAN PATENT OFFICE, Republic of Estonia (PDF:280KB)
• HIPO, Hungary( External link )
• HKIPO, Hong Kong, China <PDF 14KB>( External link )
• ILPO, Israel( External link )
• IMPI, Mexico (PDF:19KB)
• INAPI, Chile (PDF:133KB)
• IPD, Macao, China (PDF:53KB)
• IPO, Czech Republic( External link )
• IPO, Montenegro (PDF:17KB)
• IPONZ, New Zealand( External link )
• IPO, Serbia( External link )
• NIPO, Norway( External link )
• NOIP, Viet Nam (PDF:10KB)
• OMPIC, Morocco( External link )
• SPB, Lithuania (PDF:1,360KB)
• TIPO, Taiwan( External link )
• TPI, Turkey( External link )
• USPTO, USA( External link )
  • Trademarks <PDF 311KB>( External link )
• WIPO( External link )　(P.8)

[Last updated 15 June 2017]