IPOS issues circulars on filing requirements and transition to IPOS Digital Hub

14 April 2022

(On 28 April 2022, IPOS announced that it will be launching IPOS Digital Hub on 2 June 2022, instead of 4 May 2022. Please click here to read our latest article on this development).

On 11 April 2022, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (“IPOS”) issued various circulars titled “Information on filing requirements and transition to IPOS Digital Hub” in relation to patents, trade marks, registered designs, geographical indications and plant varieties protection.

IPOS will launch IPOS Digital Hub, a new intellectual property (“IP”) filing system, on 4 May 2022 to replace the existing e-services platform, IP²SG. For more about IPOS’ earlier announcement about IPOS Digital Hub, please read our article titled “IPOS announces new IPOS Digital Hub from 4 May 2022, process changes and fee updates from 29 April 2022”.

In summary, the circulars set out the following information:

• Electronic Online System (“EOS”) and alternative filing modes: The manner in which documents are to be given or sent to, filed with or served when using the EOS and alternative filing modes provided by IPOS, has been updated. Details of the requirements, which are listed in Annex A of the circulars, will be formalised in the form of a Practice Direction on 29 April 2022.
• Excluded days for business: Registries Practice Direction (No. 1 of 2022) dated 11 April 2022 specifies 29 April 2022 and 4 to 6 May 2022 as excluded days. In light of this practice direction, the period from 29 April 2022 to 8 May 2022 (both dates inclusive), taking into account Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays falling within that period, will be a period of excluded days.

Any deadline that falls within the abovementioned period of excluded days will be automatically extended to the next working day of 9 May 2022.

• Decommissioning of IP²SG and drafts in IP²SG: IP²SG will be decommissioned on 29 April 2022, 0000hrs, and replaced by IPOS Digital Hub as the EOS from 4 May 2022, 1200hrs. EOS services will be unavailable from 29 April 2022 to 3 May 2022.
• IPOS Digital Hub information sessions: IPOS will be conducting online information sessions on 22 and 26 April 2022 to familiarise users with IPOS Digital Hub. The circulars set out further information on registration which closes on 19 April 2022.

Reference materials

The following materials can be found on the IPOS website www.ipos.gov.sg:

• Registries Practice Direction (No. 1 of 2022): Excluded days
• Circular No. 2/2022: Information on filing requirements and transition to IPOS Digital Hub (Registry of Patents)
• Circular No. 3/2022: Information on filing requirements and transition to IPOS Digital Hub (Registry of Trade Marks)
• Circular No. 2/2022: Information on filing requirements and transition to IPOS Digital Hub (Registry of Registered Designs)
• Circular No. 2/2022: Information on filing requirements and transition to IPOS Digital Hub (Registry of Geographical Indications)
• Circular No. 2/2022: Information on filing requirements and transition to IPOS Digital Hub (Registry of Plant Varieties Protection)