TIPO Allows Restoration of Patent and Trademark Rights Delayed by Kumamoto Earthquake on July 28, 2026
The Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) announced that applicants who missed statutory deadlines for patent or trademark applications due to the Kumamoto earthquake on July 28, 2026, may apply for restoration of rights by submitting supporting documents, which will be reviewed leniently based on individual circumstances.
WISECODE Take
The Taiwan Intellectual Property Office (TIPO) announced on July 31, 2026, that applicants who missed patent or trademark deadlines due to the Kumamoto earthquake on July 28, 2026, can apply for restoration of rights. This is not an automatic extension, but a case-by-case relief requiring proof under Article 17 of the Patent Act and Article 8 of the Trademark Act. Affected businesses should immediately contact their Japanese agents to verify application statuses and gather evidence, such as postal delay certificates or local news reports, to apply for restoration.
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