【COVID-19】Delay in JPO´s Sending of Notifications Due to Temporary Suspension of Acceptance of International Mails at Japan Post

September 27, 2021
Japan Patent Office

1. Due to the global spread of COVID-19, international mail items being sent from Japan to some countries have been suspended at the Japan Post from April 2nd, 2020^*1.
   (Please note that depending on the individual circumstances, the acceptance of international mail may be additionally suspended in the future to countries whose mail items are currently being accepted.)
2. The Japan Patent Office (JPO) announced that the international mail service suspension stated above has caused delays in its sending of certified copies of Decision of Refusal and Decision of Registration for international design applications under the Geneva Act of the Hague Agreement to countries where international mail items are currently being suspended at the Japan Post.
3. Under these circumstances, the Patent Act and Other Acts were revised in May 2021^*2. Based on the revision, from October 1st, 2021, when the address of holders is a country whose international mail items are to be suspended at the Japan Post, and if the holders do not appoint any representatives in Japan, the JPO as the office of a designated contracting party will notify the holders via the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) with documents equivalent to certified copies of Decision of Registration attached to Statement of Grant of Protection.
4. Also, likewise, with regard to notices of non-submission of priority certificate, which are to be sent as “FINAL NOTICE” in case priority certificates are not submitted to applications claiming priority, when the address of holders is a country whose international mail items are to be suspended at the Japan Post, and if the holders do not appoint any representatives in Japan, the JPO as the office of a designated contracting party will notify the holders via the International Bureau of this attached to Notification of Refusal.

• *1 International Mail News - Japan Post (External link)
• *2 Cabinet Decision on the Bill for the Act of Partial Revision of the Patent Act and Other Acts

[Last updated 27 September 2021]

Contact

Office for International Design and Trademark Applications Japan Patent Office E-mail: PA1BD0@jpo.go.jp Fax: +81-3-3580-8033