The US Patent and Trademark Office has announced that it is making special accommodations for patent and trademark applicants affected by the earthquake in Japan. These include allowing flexibility on deadlines for Office actions so long as the statutory six month reply period has not passed. According to the notice, upon applicant’s request, the Patent Office wil reissue the office action. In that case, the mailing date would be later, thus extending the deadline for response. The Patent Office also indicated that it would waive the surcharge for late payments of maintenance fees. Similar measures are being taken for trademark applicants affected by the catestrophic events in Japan.