Commission and EUIPO adopt measures to safeguard Ukrainian intellectual property rights

The Commission and the European Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) worked together to define a first set of measures to safeguard protection of intellectual property in Ukraine.  In agreement with the Commission, the EUIPO has adopted the following measures: the EUIPO will safeguard Ukrainian intellectual property rights in the European Union by providing full support to Ukrainian customers while the situation prevents normal communication. Concretely, the EUIPO has issued a one-month extension of time limit from 24 February for all parties in proceedings before the Office having their residence or registered office in Ukraine, and will review the need for further extensions and additional measures as we move forward. The EUIPO will suspend all technical cooperation with the Russian and Belorussian intellectual property offices, including the Eurasian Patent Organisation (EAPO). In Addition, EUIPO will ensure that intellectual property rights originating from Crimea are not falsely registered as coming from Russia. Moreover, on request of the Commission, the EUIPO will coordinate with national and regional intellectual property offices on how they can jointly help the Ukrainians in these difficult times by taking measures to prevent the loss or misappropriation of their intellectual property rights and suspend all technical cooperation with the Russian and Belorussian intellectual property offices. See the EUIPO press release here.