ASEAN: Emerging trends in Southeast Asia’s autonomous vehicle patent landscape

According to data by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Bank, there has been an unprecedented interest in Southeast Asia as a patent filing destination, with the percentage of applicants filing in the ASEAN member states increasing each year. However, the autonomous vehicle (AV) technology patent landscape in this region remains nascent, […]

Patent-Related Strategies for Start-ups and Small Businesses in Singapore

Introduction In the current fast-paced and competitive landscape of Singapore’s business environment, intellectual property (IP) protection could contribute to the success and growth of start-ups and small businesses. In particular, patents offer significant advantages by safeguarding novel inventions, processes, and technologies. This article explores patent-related strategies for start-ups and small businesses towards protecting their innovations […]

Court directs Indian Patent Office to issue reasoned decisions

Lack of proper reasoning in patent decisions by the Indian Patent Office (‘IPO‘) has been a cause for grave concern. In Dolby International AB (‘Dolby’ and/or the ‘Applicant’) v. The Assistant Controller of Patents and Designs [C.A.(COMM.IPD-PAT) 10/2021 and I.A. 13552/2021], the Delhi High Court was faced with a similar predicament, and took the opportunity […]

Philippines – Revision in Patent Rules

The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) issued a Memorandum Circular No. 2022-016 on “Revised Implementing Rules and Regulations for Patents, Utility Models and Industrial Designs of 2022” (IRR’2022) which took effect from 20 September 2022. A summary of the relevant amendments to the Rules and Regulations on patents are highlighted as follows. 1. […]

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 […]

Medical use claims in ASEAN countries

Singapore  Under Section 16 of the Singapore Patents Act, “an invention of a method of treatment of the human or animal body by surgery or therapy or of diagnosis practised on the human or animal body is not taken to be capable of industrial application.” However, first and second medical use claims are allowable in […]