On April 20 (Beijing time), WIPO held another video conference to discuss temporary policies and remedy measures on IP amid the COVID-19 pandemic. CNIPA commissioner Shen Changyu attended and made a speech.
The video conference was presided over by WIPO Director General Mr. Francis Gurry. It mainly discussed the enforcement regulations of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and the applicable conditions for relevant clauses concerning delay in meeting PCT time limits, whether the WIPO Director General should be endowed with general power of amending relevant rules of PCT and other international IP systems in case of emergencies, delay of the priority period within the framework of the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (the Paris Convention) caused by the pandemic and other topics. Mr. Gurry highly appreciated CNIPA, KIPO and other IP agencies for their measures taken on strengthening patent information service to support scientific research and drug screening for the pandemic prevention and control, and he suggested that various IP agencies strengthen information sharing and encouraged innovation in vaccine development and therapeutic methods for the COVID-19.
Shen Changyu pointed out in his speech that the pandemic continues its global spread. At this critical moment, the Chinese side will continue supporting Director General Gurry to lead WIPO to play an active role and strengthen information sharing with IP agencies of various countries to jointly cope with the challenges brought by the COVID-19 to international IP system. CNIPA will properly handle the extension of time limit on international PCT applications by reference to relevant interpretations and suggestions released by WIPO. Shen Changyu also expressed his point of view on endowing the WIPO Director General with general power of amending relevant international rules and the delay of the priority period within the framework of the Paris Convention caused by the pandemic.
Representatives of IP agencies from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Russia, Singapore, Switzerland, the UK, the US and other countries, as well as those from EUIPO and EPO, shared their latest measures on the delay of legal time limits on IP caused by the COVID-19 and discussed relevant issues.
