The COVID-19 outbreak has impacted all businesses in one way or another and IP Australia understands that dealing with IP matters is not necessarily the highest priority for some businesses.

As a result, from 22 April 2020 IP Australia is providing free three month extensions of time for most deadlines but not renewal and continuation fees deadlines. Additionally, the six month grace period is still available and ordinary extensions of time will remain available for periods of longer than three months.

For the time being, IP Australia remains open for business and has committed to keeping these arrangements in place until at least 31 May 2020. IP Australia will be monitoring the pandemic disruptions and regularly reviewing this arrangement – so we will keep you posted!

In New Zealand, if circumstances related to COVID-19 affect your ability to respond by a deadline, IPONZ is encouraging applicants to apply for an extension of time immediately and it will treat such requests favourably. IPONZ may change the due dates for cases and tasks in acknowledgement of the disruption caused by COVID-19 and it will notify us of any other changes.

For more details on these extensions click here.

Co-Authored by Jacqui Patishman