Which of the following is an example of extraordinary circumstances for late filing?

The reasoning for selecting a natural disaster affecting the applicant as an example of extraordinary circumstances for late filing is rooted in the nature and impact of such events. Extraordinary circumstances are generally defined as severe, unforeseen events that can prevent an applicant from meeting deadlines despite their reasonable efforts to comply with requirements.

Natural disasters, like hurricanes, floods, or earthquakes, can have significant, immediate, and often devastating effects on individuals and businesses, disrupting operations, destroying property, and impacting communication and accessibility to resources. These events typically fall outside the control of the applicant, making it a justifiable reason for delay.

In contrast, simple oversight in application management and changes in marketing strategy are often viewed as routine business challenges that individuals typically manage without needing extensions or exceptions. Similarly, a business owner relocating may represent a challenging situation, but it similarly does not carry the same level of impact or urgency as a natural disaster. Therefore, while these situations could lead to setbacks, they do not usually qualify as extraordinary circumstances in the context of trademark application deadlines.