CARES Act Grants Emergency Powers to Extend Patent, Trademark, and Copyright Deadlines

March 27, 2020 by

The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, also known as the CARES Act, gives the Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) emergency powers to waive or change patent and trademark filing deadlines. Specifically, the CARES Act grants USPTO Director Andrei Iancu the discretion to temporarily “toll, waive, adjust, or modify, any timing deadline” if he determines that the COVID-19 outbreak would prejudice the rights of patent owners, trademark registrants, or applicants. The CARES Act grants nearly identical discretion to the Register of Copyrights to toll, waive, adjust, or modify, any timing deadlines arising under U.S. copyright law.

We anticipate that the Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the Register of Copyrights will soon be announcing additional details concerning the extent to which they will be exercising their discretion to extend deadlines under the emergency powers granted to them under the CARES Act. However, please do not assume that any deadlines associated with you or your company’s patents, trademarks, or copyrights will be extended. Brown Fox will continue to keep you apprised of any such announcements concerning the possible extension of patent, trademark, and copyright related deadlines. Please do not hesitate to contact us at Brown Fox if you have any questions.


Zach Hilton
zach@brownfoxlaw.com

Zach Hilton excels at protecting and enforcing his clients’ valuable intellectual property assets. He is a registered patent and trademark attorney with over a decade of experience in procuring patents and trademark registrations before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office…Read More

Learn More

Founded in 2010, Brown Fox is a business boutique law firm focused on serving businesses, executives and entrepreneurs in practice areas most commonly needed to advance business growth, manage risk, and defend from attack. The firm’s representative clientele includes companies ranging from start-ups to publicly traded companies. The firm has offices in Dallas and Frisco.

Best Lawyers recently named Brown Fox a Tier 1 Best Law Firm for a third year in a row, Chambers & Partners has recognized the firm as a top small to midsize firm in both of its Regional Spotlights, and Inc. 5000 has twice recognized the firm as one of the Fastest Growing Private Companies in America. The firm’s attorneys have garnered over seventy Super Lawyers & Rising Stars honors, several Best Lawyers honors from both D Magazine and Best Lawyers in America, among other honors.

Character Matters® is the firm’s foundational maxim; its core values of integrity, servant leadership, excellence, and impact are its roots. Brown Fox is committed to aggressively and creatively representing our clients, while staying true to the firm’s guiding principles. Learn more about Brown Fox by clicking here.


Integrity-Driven Advocates, Problem Solvers, and Counselors Ready to Serve.
Meet Brown Fox