New Singapore Patent Fast Track Programme to Accelerate Patent Prosecution Timeframe

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) in its continuing effort to expand support to innovators, launched a new programme named the “SG Patent Fast Track”  on 4 May 2020 to replace the existing patent acceleration programmes, namely FinTech Fast Track and Accelerated Initiative for Artificial Intelligence (“AI2”), which ceased on 25 April 2020 and […]

India Update – Patent Infringement

An action for patent infringement in India is not maintainable during the pendency of an appeal against an order revoking the patent. In Novartis AG & Anr. V. Natco Pharma Limited CS (COMM) 229/2019 and I.As. 11304/2019, 11305/2019, the Delhi High Court (the ‘Court’) has clarified that an action for infringement is not maintainable in […]

INDIA AND JAPAN- BILATERAL PATENT PROSECUTION HIGHWAY

The Indian Patent Office (‘IPO’) and the Japan Patent Office (‘JPO’) have jointly embarked on a Bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway (‘PPH’) pilot program (the ‘PPH program’). Pursuant thereto, applicants can request for expedited examination by complying with the stipulated procedure. Applicants need to bear in mind the following: The number of requests accepted by the […]

The IP (Dispute Resolution) Bill

Legislative amendments bringing broad-ranging reform to the intellectual property (IP) regime in Singapore were tabled before lawmakers in early July 2019, following public consultations in July 2017 and August 2018. The IP (Dispute Resolution) Bill (the IP Bill) has the following overarching aims: (1) The consolidation of civil IP proceedings in the Singapore High Court, […]

SINGAPORE: New Intellectual Property Bill Heralds Significant Reform to IP Landscape

Legislative amendments bringing broad-ranging reform to the intellectual property (IP) regime in Singapore were tabled before lawmakers in early July 2019, following public consultations in July 2017 and August 2018. At present, IP disputes are heard in multiple fora including the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), the Singapore State Courts, or the High Court […]

Singapore – IPOS Accelerates Grants of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Patent Applications

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (“IPOS”) launched an Accelerated Initiative for an Artificial Intelligence (“AI2”) programme that became effective on 26 April 2019. This AI2 programme speeds up the file-to-grant process for Artificial Intelligence (“AI”)-related patent applications to merely 6 months instead of the usual 2 to 3 years. According to IPOS, the AI2 […]

Interpretation of Rules 610 and 611 of the Philippines’ Revised IRR for Patents and IPOPHL BOP Memorandum Circular 18-003

Following the issuance of Memorandum 18-003 on 17th September 2018 by Ms. Lolibeth R. Medrano, the Director of the Bureau of Patents (BOP), patent Applicants can now file a Voluntary Divisional Application (“VDA”) based on an earlier divisional application. Prior to the issuance of the said memorandum, an Applicant could only file a VDA based […]