The Intellectual Property Department is taking measures to help users of its electronic services who have been hit by the Internet interruptions caused by the Boxing Day earthquake off Taiwan.

Anyone who misses a statutory deadline for electronic-filing relating to patents, trademarks or designs due to the interruption will have a time extension. Those who are able to file successfully will still have a normal, valid filing date.

The arrangement will minimise the risk that anyone's intellectual property rights could be adversely affected by the telecommunications problem.

The department has outlined these measures in a fax sent to its registered electronic-filers. They should file on paper as from January 2 if their Internet services are still adversely affected. The department will follow up with telephone calls as far as possible. For more information call 2961 6901.