The minimum requirements for securing a filing date (and priority date) of a Malaysian patent application to be issued by the Malaysian IP Office (MyIPO) are: a) the name and address of the applicant(s), b) the name and address of the inventor(s), c) a patent specification comprising a description, claims and any necessary drawings; and d) the country and filing date of any earlier application whose priority is claimed. It is preferable, although not essential, to file the following additional information and documents with the initial application; e) the serial number of any priority application and the symbol of the International Patent Classification (IPC) allocated to it (if available), f) the state of incorporation/nationality of the applicant; g) an abstract of the invention; h) an Appointment of Agent form signed by the applicant and i) if the applicant is not the inventor, a statement explaining how the applicant derives its right to the patent from the inventor(s), normally by virtue of assignment, employment or any other agreement.