Singapore Patents Law Changes That Came Into Effect 1 April 2007

  Singapore Patents Law Changes That Came Into Effect 1 April 2007



The Singapore patent system aligned itself with the Regulations under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).



The amendment of the restoration of the right of priority (PCT?related provision) provides an applicant with two more months after the 12-month period to file his Singapore patent application and claim priority?based on an earlier application filed in a Paris Convention or World Trade Organization?member state,?on the condition that he can show that he missed the initial 12-month period either unintentionally, or despite showing due care.



Also, the incorporation by reference to an earlier relevant application (PCT related provision) allows an applicant to include the description and missing parts in his Singapore patent application by making reference to an earlier application which already?contains them, assuming his application has claimed priority over this earlier application. He can therefore secure or retain the original date of filing of the application.



In addition, the amendments to Section 105 of the Patents Act and the Patent (Patent Agent) Rules clarifies that if one is not a registered patent agent (e.g. he does not hold a practising certificate) and he works in a Company (Employer) that does not carry on a business, practice or act as a patent agent but he prepares and files patent applications for his Company, he will not be contravening the legal requirement under Section 105 of the Patents Act.