Mexican IP Institute closure due to COVID-19

July 3, 2020

Click here to view more recent news about IMPI reopening which supersedes this text.

Originally sent via Mailing List on June 1, 2020

Dear colleagues and friends,

We hope that you are well, and that at least some normality is starting to return to daily life, or that plans to do so are just on the horizon.

We write to provide an update regarding dates and deadlines in Mexico for IP matters, with regards to the COVID-19 related closures. The Mexican government has established a plan to re-initiate economic activities, phasing in different sectors, while keeping some restrictions in place to limit further potential contagion. The Mexican IP Institute (IMPI) has once again extended their office closure dates, with the corresponding an automatic extension of deadlines, based on the guidelines issued by the federal government.

In this case, the Mexican federal government has established rules for re-opening based on the current spread of the virus in each municipality, and surrounding areas. In addition, essential activities (including construction, mining, vehicle manufacture) will be the first to open, later followed by professional services, and lastly by entertainment and education. The current plan calls for staggered opening of business from June to August 2020.

Given that the IMPI headquarters are located in Mexico City, still considered a high risk area, their offices will remain closed until further notice; in principle there will be weekly evaluation to determine when activities can resume, starting on June 15. There is currently no exact date for when IMPI will re-open and deadlines will be automatically extended until then. This most recent information was published Friday May 29, 2020, and is effective as of today, June 1, 2020.

At WJB we have taken measures to ensure the continuity of service throughout these current closure periods and beyond. Our full team continues to be available and in this respect, there should be no evident change in our service. To the degree that it is possible, we are requesting instructions and preparing submissions for matters that fall within this period, so that when IMPI re-opens they can be immediately submitted or submitted online if possible.

We note that matters for cases submitted online (new patent/design/trademark applications, responses) can be submitted at any time, even prior to re-opening, but will have an effective submission date of the next business day. The IMPI has also set up an additional channel for filing trademark matters via an online system, but there are still some cases that must be physically submitted. In general, we are contacting our associates with the available options for each case.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the IMPI closures, or any deadlines regarding specific cases, please do not hesitate to contact us. We shall also keep you updated regarding any future changes to this closure period, or other relevant information.

Kind regards and a healthy outcome for all,

Julian Guerrero
Managing Partner

Originally sent via Mailing List on April 28, 2020

Dear colleagues and friends,

We hope that you and yours are healthy and well.

We write to report that the Mexican IP Institute (IMPI) has extended their office closure dates, with the corresponding an automatic extension of deadlines, up to May 30, 2020. This is in line with the national state of emergency due to the outbreak of COVID-19 as officially declared by the National Health Department of Mexico. This extension was officially published on April 28, 2020.

The effect of the extension of the closure and deadlines is that IMPI will now re-open on June 1, 2020. All deadlines falling between March 24, 2020 and May 30, 2020 are automatically extended to June 1, 2020; it is not necessary to request an extension. However, we note that as of April 16, 2020, the IMPI is allowing the submission of online applications and responses to online applications within this closure period. Anything submitted within this above noted period will have an effective legal date of June 1, 2020, or the eventual date that activities in fact resume. Responses for applications that were physically filed and certain requests that must be submitted physically cannot currently be submitted and must be filed on June 1, 2020. We are continuing to prepare and submit applications to the extent that this is possible.

At WJB we have taken measures to ensure the continuity of service throughout these current closure periods and beyond. Our full team continues to be available and in this respect, there should be no evident change in our service. We are proceeding with online filing of all cases that can be filed under this modality, and all cases that must be physically submitted and with deadlines falling within the closure period will be submitted when IMPI re-opens, whether it is June 1 as is the current official date, or at a later date.

We note that May 1st and 5th, 2020 are national holiday, and our offices will remain closed during these dates; confirmation of receipt of emails during these dates may be delayed.

Kind regards and a healthy outcome for all,

Julian Guerrero
Managing Partner

Originally sent via Mailing List on April 17, 2020

Dear colleagues and friends,

We hope that you and yours are healthy and well.

As part of the efforts to stem the spread of the COVID-19 virus, the Mexican IP Institute (IMPI) published on April 16, 2020 the extension to their closure dates and deadlines up until April 30, 2020. In addition, we note that Friday May 1, 2020 is a national holiday; therefore, at the moment, the IMPI will not reopen until May 4, 2020. Therefore, all deadlines falling between March 24, 2020 and May 3, 2020 are automatically extended to May 4, 2020.

Also, as of April 16, 2020, the IMPI is allowing the submission of online applications and responses to online applications within this closure period. However, anything submitted within this period will have an effective legal date of May 4, 2020, or the eventual date that activities in fact resume. Responses for applications that were physically filed and certain requests that must be submitted physically cannot currently be submitted and must be filed on May 4, 2020.

At WJB we have taken measures to ensure the continuity of service throughout these current closure periods and beyond. Our full team continues to be available and in this respect, there should be no evident change in our service. We are proceeding with online filing of all cases that can be filed under this modality, and all cases that must be physically submitted and with deadlines falling within the closure period will be submitted when IMPI re-opens, whether it is May 4 as is the current official date, or at a later date.

Kind regards and a healthy outcome for all,

Julian Guerrero
Managing Partner

Originally sent via Mailing List on April 3, 2020

Dear colleagues and friends,

We hope that you and yours are well, amid this unprecedented crisis. The world continues to adapt and respond to the global outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, and we provide an update from Mexico in this respect.

As previously communicated via our newsletter, the Mexican IP Institute (IMPI) officially postponed all due dates as of March 24, 2020, initially until April 20, 2020. A few days afterward, on March 27, IMPI suspended all activities for the same period. Earlier this week, on March 30, the National Health Department officially declared a national state of emergency due to the outbreak of COVID-19, instructing all non-essential activities to cease immediately, and up until April 30, 2020.

As of this writing on April 3, IMPI has yet to issue any updated publication regarding the extension to the closure dates and deadlines, but we expect that these dates will be extended until April 30, to coincide with the dates indicated by the Health Department. We shall continue to provide updated information as it becomes available, and shall inform you accordingly.

At WJB we have taken measures to ensure the continuity of service throughout these current closure periods and beyond. Our full team continues to be available and in this respect, there should be no evident change in our service. All cases with deadlines falling within the closure period will be submitted when IMPI re-opens, whether it is April 20 as is the current official date, or at a later date. The only significant disruption that we anticipate is postal and courier delivery of documents; we are contacting individual representatives for cases where original documents are still required.

We note that within this closure period, April 9 and 10 are considered statutory holidays, and our offices will be closed during these two days.

Kind regards and a healthy outcome for all,
Julian Guerrero
Managing Partner

Originally sent via Mailing List on March 24, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

We hope that this email finds you well and hoping that family, colleagues and friends are unaffected to the extent that it is possible by the current global pandemic of COVID-19. Our thoughts go out to those who have been directly touched by this global phenomenon, and wish for a speedy recovery for all.

We write to inform you that as of today, March 24, 2020, the Mexican IP Institute (IMPI) has officially closed its doors to all submissions, and will remain closed until April 19, 2020. This applies for all physical and online presentations. Therefore, all deadlines falling within this timeframe are automatically extended to April 20, 2020. The Administrative Tribunal has also suspended its activities from March 18 through April 19, inclusive. The only exception is for deadlines pertaining to precautionary measures related to IP infraction matters.

At WJB we have taken measures to ensure the continuity of service throughout these current closure periods and beyond, based on recommendations issued by the WHO and Mexican authorities. In this respect, there should be no evident change in our service, as our team remains at the ready. The only significant disruption that we anticipate is postal and courier delivery of documents; we are contacting individual representatives for cases where original documents are still required.

We note that within this closure period, April 9 and 10 are considered statutory holidays, and our offices will be closed during these two days.

Should you have any questions or concerns regarding the IMPI closures, please do not hesitate to contact us. We shall also keep you updated regarding any future changes to this closure period, or other relevant information. Kind regards and a healthy outcome for all,

Julian Guerrero
Managing Partner