In view of the current tragic events after the earthquake in Japan attention is drawn to general legal provisions concerning the excuse of failure to comply with a time limit.

The Office will excuse the failure to comply with a time limit caused by serious reasons in case the applicant will file a request in writing within 3 months from the removal of the cause for which the act could not be performed. Failure to comply with a time limit may not be excused after expiry of period of one year as from expiry of the period within which the act should have been performed.

Rights acquired by third parties between the date of expiry of the time limit that has not been complied with and the date on which the failure was excused shall not be affected.

A letter of the MIPO can be downloaded here.