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來源：IPRdaily中文網(wǎng)（iprdaily.cn）
作者：韓威威 北京高文律師事務(wù)所
原標(biāo)題：歐洲專利局2020年3月15日關(guān)于因COVID-19爆發(fā)而造成的影響的通知
根據(jù)世界衛(wèi)生組織2020年3月15日發(fā)布的狀況報(bào)告（situation report），歐洲多國發(fā)生COVID-19爆發(fā)：其中，意大利確診21157例，西班牙確診5753例，法國確診4469例，德國確診3795例，瑞士和英國的確診病例也已超過1000例。針對COVID-19爆發(fā)，歐洲專利局2020年3月15日發(fā)布了關(guān)于因COVID-19爆發(fā)而造成的影響的通知——“Notice from the European Patent Office dated 15 March 2020 concerning the disruptions due to the COVID-19 outbreak”（以下簡稱“《通知》”，點(diǎn)擊閱讀原文查看《通知》原文），其中主要涉及期限延長或延誤及其救濟(jì)的問題。
《通知》主要內(nèi)容簡要概括如下：
相關(guān)條款的適用
鑒于因COVID-19爆發(fā)而造成的影響所引起的問題，請注意根據(jù)《歐洲專利公約》（EPC）和《專利合作條約》（PCT）規(guī)定的一般法律補(bǔ)救措施。主要條款涉及EPC細(xì)則第134條第（2）款以及可能的EPC細(xì)則第134條第（5）款和PCT細(xì)則第82條之四.1等。其中，EPC細(xì)則第134條涉及期限的延長（“Extension of periods”），PCT細(xì)則第82條之四.1涉及期限延誤的理由（“Excuse of Delay in Meeting Time Limits”）。
期限的延長
在《通知》中提到了一個日子值得關(guān)注，即2020年4月17日。具體而言，在《通知》發(fā)布之日或之后過期的期限將對于所有當(dāng)事方及其代表延長至2020年4月17日。根據(jù)EPC第150條第(2)款，這也適用于PCT國際申請。如果COVID-19爆發(fā)所造成的影響（EPC細(xì)則第134條第（2）款所述及的“general dislocation”）超過上述日期，則可能通過發(fā)布另一份通知進(jìn)一步延長上述期限。
期限延誤及證據(jù)的提供
此外，值得關(guān)注的是，在《通知》中以及EPC細(xì)則和PCT細(xì)則相關(guān)條款中均述及證據(jù)的提供。因此，在因COVID-19爆發(fā)導(dǎo)致期限延誤/錯過的情形之下，建議當(dāng)事方或其代表（特別是受到COVID-19爆發(fā)影響的地區(qū)的當(dāng)事方及其代表，在EPO網(wǎng)站上關(guān)于受影響的地區(qū)隨著疫情的發(fā)展進(jìn)行更新）準(zhǔn)備好相關(guān)證據(jù)，并在通知及相關(guān)條款中所述及的期限內(nèi)及時提供。
相關(guān)條款
在這里提供主要的相關(guān)條款作為參考：
EPC細(xì)則第134條第（2）款
If a period expires on a day on which there is a general dislocation in the delivery or transmission of mail in a Contracting State, the period shall extend to the first day following the end of the interval of dislocation for parties which are resident in the State concerned or have appointed representatives with a place of business in that State. Where the State concerned is the State in which the European Patent Office is located, this provision shall apply to all parties and their representatives. This paragraph shall apply mutatis mutandis to the period referred to in Rule 37, paragraph 2.
EPC細(xì)則第134條第（5）款
Without prejudice to paragraphs 1 to 4, a party concerned may produce evidence that on any of the ten days preceding the day of expiry of a period the delivery or transmission of mail was dislocated due to an exceptional occurrence such as a natural disaster, war, civil disorder, a general breakdown in any of the means of electronic communication permitted by the President of the European Patent Office under Rule 2, paragraph 1, or other like reasons affecting the locality where the party or his representative resides or has his place of business. If the evidence produced satisfies the European Patent Office, a document received late shall be deemed to have been received in due time, provided that the mailing or the transmission was effected at the latest on the fifth day after the end of the dislocation.
PCT細(xì)則第82條之四.1
82quater.1 Excuse of Delay in Meeting Time Limits
(a) Any interested party may offer evidence that a time limit fixed in the Regulations for performing an action before the receiving Office, the International Searching Authority, the Authority specified for supplementary search, the International Preliminary Examining Authority or the International Bureau was not met due to war, revolution, civil disorder, strike, natural calamity, a general unavailability of electronic communications services or other like reason in the locality where the interested party resides, has his place of business or is staying, and that the relevant action was taken as soon as reasonably possible.
(b) Any such evidence shall be addressed to the Office, Authority or the International Bureau, as the case may be, not later than six months after the expiration of the time limit applicable in the given case. If such circumstances are proven to the satisfaction of the addressee, delay in meeting the time limit shall be excused.
(c) The excuse of a delay need not be taken into account by any designated or elected Office before which the applicant, at the time the decision to excuse the delay is taken, has already performed the acts referred to in Article 22 or Article 39.
值得關(guān)注的是，上述《通知》擬在EPO的官方雜志（Official Journal）上發(fā)布；在官方雜志上發(fā)布的內(nèi)容可能與《通知》內(nèi)容有所不同，需進(jìn)一步關(guān)注。
此外，EUIPO也已于2020年3月16日決定將3月9日至4月30日到期的相關(guān)期限延長至2020年5月1日。
來源：IPRdaily中文網(wǎng)（iprdaily.cn）
作者：韓威威 北京高文律師事務(wù)所
編輯：IPRdaily王穎 校對：IPRdaily縱橫君
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