Growing concerns about Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) are affecting businesses worldwide, and the intellectual property field is no exception.

No interruption of services is expected at Grüneberg and Myers. The firm has always been capable of implementing remote work, with no technical adjustments necessary. Last week, the firm encouraged all team members to exercise judgment to work remotely until the COVID-19 situation is resolved. While we value the interactions that we have with our colleagues in the office, the health and safety of our team members and their families comes first.

The United States Patent and Trademark Office also continues to operate, but has announced that the agency will be closed to the public. All in-person meetings, including in-person Examiner interviews, Patent Trial and Appeal Board hearings, and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board hearings, will take place by telephone or video conference. UPDATE - MARCH 23, 2020: The USPTO has asked only mission-critical employees to report for duty on-site, while ordering all other employees to telework. Operations continue, in general.

U.S. Courts and administrative agencies are making separate determinations as to their status. Operations will continue at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, but hearings will occur by telephone for any matters in which either party’s counsel is based outside of the Washington, DC area. The building housing the Federal Circuit will also be closed to the general public. The U.S. International Trade Commission (USITC) will postpone Section 337 investigation hearings scheduled for the next 60 days. Federal district courts are each separately deciding how to address the circumstances at hand.

The firm continues to monitor the COVID-19 situation and is prepared to adapt to evolving circumstances.