World Intellectual Property Organization

●April 21　Source: www.wipo.int

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) today launched a new search functionality for its global patent database, PATENTSCOPE, to facilitate the location and retrieval of information contained in published patent documents that may be useful for innovators developing new technologies to fight the COVID-19 pandemic.

The WIPO COVID-19 search facility of PATENTSCOPE will provide scientists, engineers, public health policymakers, industry actors and members of the general public with an easily accessible source of intelligence for improving the detection, prevention, and treatment of diseases such as the novel coronavirus.

At the time of release, the new PATENTSCOPE search facility provides dozens of search queries specially curated by patent information experts who have identified technological areas relevant to the detection, prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

The new facility allows users to search, retrieve and analyze valuable sources of specifically selected technologies in 10 languages with little language barrier. WIPO will also plan to organize webinars to share tips of patent information search on PATENTSCOPE.

●April 15　Source: www.wipo.int

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) today unveiled a new online dashboard that allows member state representatives and other stakeholders to monitor the Organization's operations during the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new, web-based and publicly available, WIPO Crisis Management Dashboard will provide a view of the evolution of WIPO’s global intellectual property (IP) services and its financial performance on a month‑by‑month basis.

Dashboard indicators include monthly filings in WIPO's international systems for patents, trademarks and industrial designs, which provide over 92% of the Organization's revenues and form the financial foundation of the Organization. The dashboard will also provide indicators on financial performance and productivity.

At the time of release, the dashboard shows that the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) system, the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks and the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs and the related financial services are operating at or above 90% productivity. It also shows that WIPO’s corporate IT services and infrastructure are fully operational, permitting remote working conditions for the majority of WIPO’s workforce.

●April 13　Source: www.wipo.int

The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) is continuing operations under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT), the Madrid System for the International Registration of Marks, the Hague System for the International Registration of Industrial Designs, the Lisbon System for the International Registration of Geographical Indications as well as administering other intellectual property (IP) and related systems.

WIPO’s Arbitration and Mediation Center (AMC) is also continuing its important work in processing domain name disputes under the Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) and other alternative dispute resolution cases.

WIPO has activated its business continuity protocol and moved to an almost entirely virtual work presence, with only a small pool of personnel retaining access to Geneva, Switzerland headquarters. This is in line with public health authorities’ guidance to curb the further spread of Covid-19.

WIPO is committed to ensuring that any transitional issues experienced by users, IP offices and any other stakeholders in the processes are kept to a minimum despite these extenuating circumstances.

For IP offices and member states, netting payments as well as monthly and annual distribution payments are proceeding as scheduled. Further updates, as necessary, will be available on the Finance webpage.

As WIPO has previously communicated, its offices are physically closed for non-essential staff and all events and meetings organized or co-organized by WIPO in Geneva or elsewhere up until the end of May will be postponed, and should that not be possible, cancelled. Insofar as the May 7-8, 2020, WIPO General Assembly is concerned, consultations are ongoing between the Secretariat, the Chair of the WIPO General Assembly and the Coordinators of the WIPO Regional Groups.

●March 30　Source: www.mondaq.com

All services of WIPO are currently operating as usual and all deadlines are not automatically extended. Applications filed through the PCT, Madrid System and Hague System and administer other IP and related systems (such as the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Centre) will be processed as normal.