Newsletter
Labor Day in Taiwan, Mainland China and Hong Kong
We are writing to inform you of the Labor Day holidays in Taiwan, Mainland China and Hong Kong as follows:
I. Labor Day Holiday in Taiwan
Please note that 1 May 2020 is the Labor Day in Taiwan. Our firm will be closed on 1 May 2020. Nevertheless, the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office will be open on 1 May 2020. If the deadline of a Taiwanese patent case or a trademark case falls on 1 May 2020, such deadline cannot be extended and the applicant must take the necessary action before 1 May 2020.
II. Labor Day in Mainland China
The China National Intellectual Property Administration ("CNIPA") will be closed from 1 May 2020 to 5 May 2020 for Labor Day. But, the CNIPA will be open on 26 April 2020 (Sunday) and 9 May 2020 (Saturday).
According to Patent Examination Guidelines, for a patent case with an outstanding deadline falling on an official holiday or a weekend working day, the deadline can be extended to the first working day subsequent to the official holiday or working weekend. Given the above, for a China patent case with an outstanding deadline falling in the period from 1 May 2020 to 5 May 2020, the said deadline can be extended to 6 May 2020. For a patent case with a deadline falling on each of 26 April 2020 (Sunday) and 9 May 2020 (Saturday), the said deadline can be extended to 27 April 2020 and 11 May 2020, respectively.
According to Implementing Regulations of the China Trademark Law, for a trademark case with an outstanding deadline falling on an official holiday, the deadline can be extended to the first work day subsequent to the official holiday. Given the above, for a China trademark case with an outstanding deadline falling in the time period from 1 May 2020 to 5 May 2020, the said deadline can be extended to 6 May 2020. For a China trademark case with a deadline falling on each of 26 April 2020 (Sunday) and 9 May 2020 (Saturday), such deadlines cannot be extended and the applicant must take the necessary action on or before the deadlines of 26 April 2020 (Sunday) and 9 May 2020 (Saturday).
III. National Holidays in Hong Kong
The Intellectual Property Department of Hong Kong will be closed from 30 April 2020 to 1 May 2020 for Buddha's Birthday and Labor Day. For any Hong Kong patent case or Hong Kong trademark case with an outstanding deadline falling in the time period from 30 April 2020 to 1 May 2020, the said deadline can be extended to 4 May 2020.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.