In more detail

The SG Patents Fast and SG Trade Marks Fast programmes are the latest initiatives by IPOS to enhance the efficiency and responsiveness of Singapore’s IP registration system.

Developed in response to industry feedback, the new programmes aim to address limitations of the SG IP FAST pilot, which was well-received but faced challenges such as restrictive caps and complex eligibility requirements.

SG Patents Fast

The SG Patents Fast programme offers two acceleration tracks:

• SG Patents Fast 4: First office action within four months of a successful request
• SG Patents Fast 8: First office action within eight months of a successful request

Subsequent office actions will also be expedited, with responses issued within four months of each submission.

To qualify, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• The application must not be a divisional application.
• The request must contain 20 or fewer claims.
• The request must be submitted using Patents Form 11 (Search and Examination Report) or Patents Form 12 (Examination Report), along with the applicable acceleration fee.

The SG Patents Fast 4 official fees are SGD 1,800 to accelerate search and examination, and SGD 1,200 just to accelerate examination.

The SG Patents Fast 8 official fees are SGD 900 to accelerate search and examination, and SGD 600 just to accelerate examination.

To accelerate response to examination objections, the official fees are SGD 150 under either SG Patents Fast 4 or SG Patents Fast 8.

Successful applications qualify for acceleration of subsequent office actions on Patents Form 13A (Response to Written Opinion).

A monthly cap of five requests per entity applies, though this does not extend to subsequent office action requests.

Importantly, IPOS has removed the overall monthly cap on accelerated applications, allowing applicants greater flexibility in planning their filings.

The relevant acceleration fees are set out in Patents Circular No. 1/2025.

SG Trade Marks Fast

The SG Trade Marks Fast programme similarly accelerates the issuance of office actions for trade mark applications and receive the first examination report (or notice that the application has been published for opposition purposes, as applicable) within three to six weeks from the date of the application.

To make the programme more accessible and attractive, applicants will not require (i) a related patent application or (ii) full adoption of pre-approved descriptions of goods and services from IPOS’ Classification Database. This is a welcome development as the previous programme had such requirements which meant the majority of applicants would not consider or would not be eligible for the accelerated programme for trade mark applications.

Under the new programme for accelerated examination of trade mark applications  applicants must meet the following criteria to qualify:

• The application must be a national trade mark application and not for a certification or collective mark.
• The acceleration request must be made at the point of filing Form TM4 with payment of the acceleration fee.

For trade mark applications with multiple classes, the acceleration request will automatically apply to all classes in the application.

The relevant acceleration fees are set out in Trade Marks Circular No. 2/2025. For accelerated examination of a trade mark application, the official fees are SGD 200 per class for classes that fully adopt pre-approved descriptions of goods and services from IPOS' Classification Database. Otherwise, the official fees are SGD 250 for classes that partially or do not adopt pre-approved descriptions of goods and services from IPOS' Classification Database.

Like IP application fees, IP acceleration fees qualify for tax deduction.

Key takeaways

The SG Patents Fast and SG Trade Marks Fast replace the SG IP FAST pilot with more flexible and transparent options for expedited processing. The programmes are part of Singapore’s broader push to strengthen its IP ecosystem and support high-growth sectors through efficient IP protection mechanisms. They also reflect IPOS’ continued efforts to support innovation and enterprise growth by offering faster, more predictable IP protection pathways.

Applicants can now choose between 4- or 8-month timelines for receiving the first office action on patent applications, with subsequent actions also accelerated. These provide more certainty and clearer expectations regarding applicable timelines.

The new programmes also feature clearer criteria and remove the overall monthly cap on accelerated filings, giving applicants more control over their IP strategy.

The SG Trade Marks Fast programme is particularly a welcome development offering one of the quickest methods of examination available compared to other jurisdictions, and allowing substantially quicker certainty on marks of interest to brand owners, which can help with regional and global trade mark filing initiatives. For instance, brand owners could have a decision on trade mark registration before the deadline for priority filings in other jurisdictions, and this would also assist with international registrations under the Madrid Protocol.

Enterprises and innovators should assess how these programmes can be integrated into their IP filing strategies, especially for time-sensitive technologies or branding initiatives.

Interested parties should consider whether their intended upcoming filings would benefit from acceleration. Please contact us if you require advice on how to navigate the application process and maximise the benefits of these new programmes.

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