Building on the success of the ‘Target Patent Fast-Track’ Programme for Invention and Petty Patent Applications launched on 8th December 2023—originally covering ‘Medical Sciences & Public Health’ and ‘Future Food,’ and recently expanded to include ‘Green Innovation’—Thailand’s Department of Intellectual Property (DIP) has unveiled another initiative: the ‘Target Design Patent Fast-Track: Green Innovation’ Programme. This […]
DEVELOPMENTS IN THE PATENT AND INDUSTRIAL DESIGN SYSTEMS IN CAMBODIA
On April 29, 2024, the Department of Industrial Property (DIP) in Cambodia launched and made the official patent and industrial design databases available to the public. To-date, there are 1486 entries in the patent database with the earliest record having a filing date of 30 August 2006 and the latest 20 November 2023. Approximately 400 […]
India- Patentability of Computer Related Inventions- Pathbreaking developments
An assessment as to whether the registrability threshold set out in Section 3(k) of the Indian Patents Act, 1970 (the ‘Act’) has been crossed or not, is an essential pre-requisite for the grant of patents in relation to computer related inventions (‘CRI’). The Delhi High Court, in a recent landmark decision (in Microsoft Technology Licensing, […]
Singapore: Revocation of registered design on grounds of lack of novelty
In the recent case of Soon Ailing v. Chen & Partners (S) Pte. Ltd., the issue of revocation of a registered design application based on lack of novelty was examined. The dispute centred around Application No. 30202008442T filed on September 14, 2020, a registered design for a “Customized Watch Bezel” in Class and Subclass 10-07, held […]
Is a ‘Graphical User Interface’ registrable as a ‘design’ in India?
The Calcutta High Court, in a recent ruling, quashed an order which was issued by the Assistant Controller of Patents and Designs in which a design application for a ‘touch screen’ for a novel surface ornamentation which is a Graphical User Interface (‘GUI’) was refused. Background: The Applicant/ Appellant (Ust Global (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.) had […]
IPOS Extended the SG IP Fast Track Programme for Another 2 Years and Ended the 12 Months File-To-Grant Programme from 30 April 2022
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has recently extended their existing examination acceleration programme for patents, SG IP Fast Track Programme, for another 2 years from 30 April 2022 until 30 April 2024, to give enterprises a competitive advantage as Singapore and the world reopen from the Covid-19 pandemic. Concurrently, however, IPOS has terminated […]
Singapore: Revision in IP practice and official fees from April 29, 2022
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has announced certain changes to IP practices, as well as a general increase in official fees. The pertinent changes, which will take effect from April 29, 2022, are highlighted below: Official fees Trademark application fees will be increased from the current S$341 to S$380, while renewal fees have […]
Singapore-registered design subsidiary amendments
Published by the Intellectual Property of Singapore (IPOS) on September 10, 2021, amendments have been made on the Registered Designs Rules (“RD Rules”) and the Registered Designs (International Registration) Rules (“RD(IR) Rules”), which took effect from October 1, 2021. A summary of several key amendments is highlighted below Electronic online system IPOS has always advocated […]
Singapore: Heightened Novelty Check for Registered Design Applications
In Circular No. 1/2019 published on 5 April 2019 and a follow up Circular No. 4/2019 published on 29 November 2019, the Intellectual Property Office in Singapore (IPOS) indicated that they have heightened their check on the declaration of novelty in registered design applications. A registered design application that is not new or does not […]
Laos – Patent, Design and Plant Variety Opposition Procedures Now Available
Laos’s new Law on Intellectual Property No.38/NA of November 15, 2017 was published electronically in the Laos official gazette on May 25, 2018, and became effective 15 days subsequent to its publication. This supersedes the previous Law on Intellectual Property No. 01/NA dated December 20, 2011. The new legislation brings reform to a variety of […]