http://www.epo.org/service-support/updates/2020/20201217a.html
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In response to recent developments
in the COVID-19 pandemic and stricter lockdowns across Europe, the President of
the EPO has decided to prolong the closure of its filing offices in Munich, The
Hague and Berlin for the receipt of documents until 10 January 2021.
Previously the EPO was to have re-opened its filing offices on 4 January 2021.
This means that, in accordance
with Rule 134(1) EPC, all time limits for filing documents and making
payments that expire between 24 December 2020 and 10 January 2021 will be extended
until 11 January 2021.
Notwithstanding the above, users can
continue to submit documents to the EPO during this period via the EPO’s online
filing tools (Online Filing, CMS and Web-Form Filing) or by fax. The automated mailboxes (located at Munich’s PschorrHöfe
and in Berlin) will also be unaffected by this closure and can be used at any
time. Outside office hours, documents may be handed to the porter at any of the
EPO filing offices. Our user services will continue to provide basic user
support during business hours throughout the closure period.
All oral proceedings scheduled to
take place between 4 and 8 January 2021 (including those to be held via
videoconference) will be rescheduled.
A notice from the President of the EPO on the extended
closure of the EPO filing offices has been posted online on the EPO website and
will also be published in the Official Journal of December 2020.
Further information