China’s National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) has announced it will not seek late fees for missed patent annuity payments, if the reason can be traced back to the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic. There will be no late fees to pay if the “delay in payment is due to the obstacle caused by the epidemic rather than the party’s own reasons”, according to the statement. The change in policy is rooted in a need to “reduce the burden” on the parties affected by the epidemic, and reduce the pressure on public health authorities. The new measures only apply if the patentee is in a location declared a ‘level I’ health emergency, the highest level in China.
Source: World IP Review
