In more detail

Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH)

The PPH is an international work sharing programme that provides accelerated examination of a patent application by referencing examination results from another IP office.

The PPH leverages on IPOS' global network of IP office partners, and provides benefits such as higher grant rates, together with faster and fewer office actions.

The PPH pilot with the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) commenced on 18 January 2025 and will continue for two years.

Collaborative Search and Examination Programme (CS&E)

The CS&E is a programme between different IP offices in Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). It is intended to speed up the patent search and examination process for innovators who wish to file patents in the relevant countries and enable informed decision-making on IP strategies.

The new CS&E programme between IPOS and DGIP commenced on 2 January 2025. The programme will be complimentary during the two-year pilot duration, up to 1 January 2027.

Benefits of the CS&E programme include accelerated first office actions (within 10 months); opportunities to defer translation and official costs for patent filings and/or search and examination at the second office of filing or examination, until the applicant is ready to make a subsequent examination; and prioritised examination at the office of later filing if the claims correspond to those in the CS&E report issued by the first office.

Key takeaways

We see these efforts by IPOS as part of a broader push towards developing Singapore as a regional IP hub and to facilitate the protection of IP across borders. Such initiatives should lead to faster patent prosecution, cost savings, higher allowances rates, improved time-to-market strategy, consistent IP across borders, and allowing applicants to make informed decisions on their IP strategies.

For further information and to discuss what this development might mean for you, please get in touch with your usual Baker McKenzie contact.

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