Singapore’s new patent system ready to go

Managing IP is part of Legal Benchmarking Limited, 1-2 Paris Gardens, London, SE1 8ND

Copyright © Legal Benchmarking Limited and its affiliated companies 2025

Accessibility | Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Modern Slavery Statement

Singapore’s new patent system ready to go

Singapore’s revamp of its patent system is set to take effect on February 14. Hong Kong, its closest competitor, is looking to follow suit

In July 2012, the Parliament amended the city-state’s patent laws to change the system to a positive grant regime.

Singapore currently grants patents under a self-assessment system which allows a patent to be granted even if an examination found that the invention would not be patentable for reasons such as lack of obviousness or lack of an inventive step.

There was concern that the self-assessment system encouraged the filing of low quality patents. As Kristian Robinson of Spruson & Ferguson explained, under the self-assessment system, an applicant could technically get a patent on a wheel.

Starting February 14, applications with a negative examination report will not result in a granted patent. In support of this change, the IP Office of Singapore also built an in-house examination department. Previously, examinations were outsourced to the Austrian, Danish and Hungarian patent offices.

Click here for Managing IP’s analysis of the changes.

Part of a larger plan

The change to a positive grant system is one part of Singapore’s plans to be a hub for IP services in the region. Hong Kong, the city Singapore is most often compared to, is similarly positioning itself as an IP marketplace. Last year, Hong Kong announced that it will reform its laws and start granting patents based on its own examination system while retaining its current recordal system. The Hong Kong plan is still in its initial stages, but several sources say that the IP Department has arranged for SIPO to provide examination capacity while Hong Kong’s system is being built.

more from across site and SHARED ros bottom lb

More from across our site

Attorneys explain why there are early signs that the US Supreme Court could rule in favour of ISP Cox in a copyright dispute
A swathe of UPC-related hires suggests firms are taking the forum seriously, as questions over the transitional stage begin
A win for Nintendo in China and King & Spalding hiring a prominent patent litigator were also among the top talking points
Rebecca Newman at Addleshaw Goddard, who live-reported on the seminal dispute, unpicks the trials and tribulations of the case and considers its impact
Attorneys predict how Lululemon’s trade dress and design patent suit against Costco could play out
Lawyers at Linklaters analyse some of the key UPC trends so far, and look ahead to life beyond the transition period
David Rodrigues, who previously worked at an IP boutique, said he may become more involved in transactional work at his new firm
Indian smartphone maker Lava must pay $2.3 million as a security deposit for past sales, as its dispute with Dolby over audio coding SEPs plays out
Powell Gilbert’s opening in Düsseldorf, complete with a new partner hire, continues this summer’s trend of UPC-related lateral movement
IP leaders at Brandsmiths and Bird & Bird, who were on opposing sides at the UK Supreme Court in Iconix v Dream Pairs, unpick the landmark case and its ramifications
Gift this article