In response to Covid-19, the United States Patent and Trademark Office has announced that it will temporarily permit the filing of plant patent applications and follow-on documents via the USPTO patent electronic filing systems (EFS-Web or Patent Center) until further notice. Filers are reminded that only registered users of the USPTO patent electronic filing systems may file follow-on documents into existing applications via the USPTO patent electronic filing systems.

The USPTO considers the effects of the virus outbreak to be an “extraordinary situation” within the meaning of 37 CFR 1.183. The requirements for filing such plant patent applications and follow-on documents via the USPTO patent electronic filing systems were developed to assist filers and facilitate the USPTO’s identification and processing of the plant patent applications and follow-on documents during the pandemic.

Johnny Chan