IPOS announces global initiatives: Expansion of PPH network, enhancement to CS&E programme, and re-registration of registered designs

27 September 2024

On 27 August 2024, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (“IPOS”) announced the following developments:

  • Expansion of IPOS’ PPH network to include France: IPOS’ Patent Prosecution Highway (“PPH”) and global PPH partner network will be expanded to 32 intellectual property (“IP”) offices worldwide, with France being its latest partner. The PPH pilot with the National Institute of Industrial Property of France (INPI France) began on 1 September 2024 for a period of two years, concluding on 31 August 2026.
  • Enhancements to the CS&E programme with Vietnam: IPOS and IP Vietnam will enhance the Collaborative Search and Examination (“CS&E”) programme by offering it to patent applications with and without priority claims. The pilot duration will also be extended for two years to 28 February 2027. Features and benefits of the enhanced CS&E programme include the following:
    • Available to all applications filed in Singapore or Vietnam that are able to fulfil the eligibility criteria. Applications claiming priority to an earlier application will also be eligible;
    • Joint CS&E report within 10 months of a valid CS&E request;
    • Enhanced prior art search and examination results from the combined expertise of both offices; and
    • Prioritised examination at the second office of examination if the claims of the application at the second office sufficiently correspond to claims examined in the CS&E report.
  • Re-registration of Singapore registered designs in Lao PDR: IPOS is collaborating with the Department of Intellectual Property, Ministry of Industry and Commerce of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (“Lao PDR”) to streamline the process for designers seeking to protect their designs in both Singapore and Lao PDR. Designers can now re-register a Singapore registered design in Lao PDR.

Reference materials

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