Being an Intellectual Property (IP) attorney, I am paying close attention to how the pandemic of CoVID-19 is impacting the trademark and copyright arena.
Physical Access
Local governments and federal entities have restricted public access to means by which people apply for or extend deadlines for trademarks, patents, and copyrights. Many court buildings are closed while other government offices have limited staff present. In addition, potential applicants are avoiding public places due to exposure concerns.
The good news is that various IP deadlines have been extended and paper applications have been made available online, even in other parts of the globe. In some cases, extensions are being granted along with proof that the current crisis has rendered a person unable to meet application requirements.
Rules and Regulations
In other news, intellectual property concerns have surfaced in regards to fighting CoVID-19. Doctors and scientists pressured to find a cause and cure for the virus have been faced with an ethical dilemma– do they violate patent law in order to reproduce items like ventilators? On the other side, should doctors and scientists keep their data exclusive, or should they share findings with the public in hopes of a unified front?
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) shared their considerations on the matter, stating that it’s important for all parts of the globe to have access to affordable solutions to eradicate CoVID-19. WIPO asserted that Intellectual Property is a probable barrier to these solutions. Although IP regulation influences competition and creation in the free market, it recognized the need for flexibility in licensing arrangements.
In fact, on March 25, 2020, WIPO announced that the organization and many other philanthropic agencies were uploading millions of chemical formulas to the WIPO patent search engine, Patentscope. It’s encouraging to witness a world agency recognizing a need and collaborating with creators and researchers alike to lay down competition and cost in order to fight a global pandemic.
Until next time, I’m Francine D. Ward, keeping up with everything you need to know about CoVID-19 and Intellectual Property law.
Francine D. Ward
Attorney-at-Law, Author, Speaker
Follow Francine:
Don’t miss Francine’s Latest Blogs:
- Love is an ActionLove IS an Action. Love is an Action.How often do we say, “I love you,” “I love my friends,” or “Family is the most important thing in my life”? And… Read more: Love is an Action
- Family & FriendsFamily and Friends: Strengthening the Bonds That Matter Family and Friends. Vision and Values. The people with whom you surround yourself have the power to influence your thoughts, emotions, and… Read more: Family & Friends
- Vision and ValuesVision and Values And Esteemable Acts® Vision and Values. Believe it or not, every choice we make contributes to the life we live. Whether we act with integrity, make progress… Read more: Vision and Values
- Freelance LawsFreelance laws. Several states have enacted freelance laws to protect the rights of freelance workers. Among the growing list is New York. If you or someone you know works as… Read more: Freelance Laws
- Trademark Check.Trademark check. When it comes to protecting your trademark, the most important step in the process is to choose a trademark that can be protected. The selection of your mark… Read more: Trademark Check.
Don’t miss Francine’s Latest Blogs:
- Love is an ActionLove IS an Action. Love is an Action.How often do we say, “I love you,” “I love my friends,” or “Family is the most important thing in my life”? And… Read more: Love is an Action
- Family & FriendsFamily and Friends: Strengthening the Bonds That Matter Family and Friends. Vision and Values. The people with whom you surround yourself have the power to influence your thoughts, emotions, and… Read more: Family & Friends
- Vision and ValuesVision and Values And Esteemable Acts® Vision and Values. Believe it or not, every choice we make contributes to the life we live. Whether we act with integrity, make progress… Read more: Vision and Values
- Freelance LawsFreelance laws. Several states have enacted freelance laws to protect the rights of freelance workers. Among the growing list is New York. If you or someone you know works as… Read more: Freelance Laws
- Trademark Check.Trademark check. When it comes to protecting your trademark, the most important step in the process is to choose a trademark that can be protected. The selection of your mark… Read more: Trademark Check.