On 6th April 2026, a new ASEAN Patent Examination Co-Operation Plus, ASPEC+ has been launched by the nine participating ASEAN Member States (AMS) IP Office to further bolster ASEAN attractiveness as an IP hub. ASPEC+ draws upon the original ASPEC regional patent work-sharing framework, but has several key differences as follows: The advantages of ASPEC+ […]
Tag: Patent
India- Drastic changes to Patent Working Requirements
The filing of a Working Statement (regarding the working of patented inventions on a commercial scale in India) is a statutory requirement under the India Patents Act, 1970 (as amended) (the ‘Act’). Pursuant to the latest amendments to the India Patents Rules, 2003 (as amended) (the ‘Rules’) (read together with the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2024 […]
IPOS Extended Anew Its Patent Acceleration Initiative under ASPEC AIM Programme
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has recently further extended its patent acceleration program, the ASPEC Acceleration for Industry 4.0 Infrastructure and Manufacturing Pilot (ASPEC AIM) Programme until 26 August 2025. This extension allows patent applicants in the ASEAN region to continue benefiting from an accelerated examination procedure for their Industry 4.0 inventions. ASPEC […]
Thailand’s New Customs Recordation Procedures for Trademark and Copyright
Customs recordation has always been an important border protection measure that Intellectual Property (IP) owners can employ for enforcement purposes in Thailand. In the past IP owners would file customs recordation directly with the Royal Thai Customs Department (Customs), by recording their trademark information as well as the names of their authorised importers for Customs […]
Thailand - Adjustment of Minimum Market Value or Damages in Intellectual Property (IP) Infringement Cases
Since its establishment in October 2002, the DSI has been crucial in combating IP infringements in Thailand. Deriving its authority from the Special Case Investigation Act B.E. 2547 (2004) (as amended), the DSI can investigate certain IP-related infringement cases, i.e. copyright, patent, and trademark. There are two main requirements for IP-related infringement cases to fall […]
IPOS Extended Its Patent Acceleration Initiatives under ASPEC AIM Programme and PPH Programme with China
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has recently extended its two pilot patent acceleration programmes such as the ASPEC Acceleration for Industry 4.0 Infrastructure and Manufacturing Pilot (ASPEC AIM) Programme until 26 August 2023, and the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) agreement with the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA) until 31 August 2026, in […]
Updates on Singapore patent practice
Following a series of public consultation and discussions, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has confirmed that they will launch a formal procedure for the submission of “third party observations” under which members of the public will be able notify IPOS of information that might be of relevance to the patentability of an invention […]
A second-round victory for brand drug owners against generics who fail to declare relevant patents under Singapore’s patent linkage regime
Proprietors of brand-name drugs may heave another sigh of relief as the Singapore Court of Appeal in Zyfas Medical Co (Sued as a firm) v. Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc [2020] SGCA 84 re-affirmed its holding in Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc v. Drug Houses of Australia Pte Ltd [2019] SGCA 31 (the DHA decision) rejecting an overly-restrictive interpretation […]
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 […]
Brand Drug Owners Vindicated Against Generics Seeking to Launch Without Declaring Relevant Patents Under Patent Linkage Regime
INTRODUCTION The Singapore Court of Appeal’s judgment in Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc v Drug Houses of Australia Pte Ltd [2019] SGCA 31 heralds momentous change in the pharmaceutical sector for brand drug owners seeking to enforce patents against generic competitors. The Court reversed an interlocutory decision of the High Court that made it difficult for brand […]