USPTO provides relief to patent/trademark applications affected by Japan earthquake

In order to protect the intellectual property rights of stakeholders, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is not satisfied due to the impact of "exceptional circumstances" designated by the USPTO (within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.183, 2.146(a)(5), and 2.148). Certain filing deadlines provide various forms of relief to patent and trademark applicants and other affected stakeholders. Previous examples of "exceptional circumstances" include the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, disasters such as the impact of recent hurricanes, fires in Hawaii, severe earthquakes affecting people in Ukraine and Syria, and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

To this end, the USPTO announced that it will provide special relief to patent and trademark applicants, patentees, review parties, and registered trademark owners who were affected by a strong earthquake in Japan on January 1, 2024. The USPTO considers the impact of the severe earthquake in Japan to be an "exceptional circumstance" as described in 37 CFR 1.183, 2.146(a)(5) and 2.148. Stakeholders may file an exemption request with the USPTO under 37 CFR 1.183, 2.146, or 2.148, describing "exceptional circumstances."