As you may recall from this blog, IPOS issued a number of announcements of days that are to be treated as “excluded days” under the various intellectual property Acts.

IPOS initially declared a period of excluded days at the end of April and begining of May 2022 in conjunction with the launch of a new electronic filing system. This was to take into account any possible disruption during the transition between the retirement of the old IP2SG electronic filing system and the launch of “IPOS Digital Hub”, the next generation electronic online system.

Unfortunately, the disruption has been more extensive than anticipated. IPOS has acknowledged that “some users are facing issues with certain transactions”.

Given this, IPOS has declared a number of further periods of excluded days for business before the office.

This post attempts to summarise the current situation with regard to excluded days before IPOS in the first half of 2022.

Practice Directions Relating to Excluded Days

There have been four such declarations of excluded days so far this year. Each of these is done by way of a “practice direction” issued by IPOS.

Registries Practice Direction No. 1 of 2022 declared that Friday 29 April 2022 and Wednesday 4 May 2022 to Friday 6 May 2022 are excluded days.

Registries Practice Direction No. 2 of 2022 declared that Thursday 26 May 2022, Friday 27 May 2022 and Monday 30 May 2022 to Friday 3 June 2022 are excluded days.

Registries Practice Direction No. 3 of 2022 declared that Monday 6 June 2022 to Wednesday 8 June 2022 are excluded days.

Registries Practice Direction No. 4 of 2022 declared that Thursday 9 June 2022, Friday 10 June 2022 and Monday 13 June 2022 to Friday 17 June 2022 are excluded days.

Summary of Excluded Days in 2022

The effect of these declarations is that there are two extended periods of excluded days in the first half of 2022.

First Period of Excluded Days (April/May 2022)

The first period of excluded days lasted from Thursday 29 April 2022 to Sunday 8 May 2022. This is a total of 10 days.

The last working day before this period of excluded days is Wednesday 28 April 2022.

The first working day after this period of excluded days is Monday 9 May 2022.

Any deadline falling within the period of 29 April 2022 to 8 May 2022 may be met if the action is taken (and any fee paid), by Monday 9 May 2022.

Second Period of Excluded Days (May/June 2022)

The second period of excluded days spans the period from Thursday 26 May 2022 to Sunday 19 June 2022. This is a total of 25 days.

The last working day before this period of excluded days is Wednesday 25 May 2022.

The first working day after this period of excluded days is Monday 20 June 2022.

Any deadline falling within the period of 26 May 2022 to 19 June 2022 may be met if the action is taken (and any fee paid), by Monday 20 June 2022.

Table of Excluded Days and Working Days

The table below sets out the periods of working days and excluded days in the period between 29 April 2022 and present.

Date Day of Week Excluded? Practice Direction Notes
29 April Friday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2022
30 April Saturday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009
1 May Sunday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009 Labour Day
2 May Monday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009 Hari Raya Puasa
3 May Tuesday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009 Public Holiday
4 May Wednesday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2022
5 May Thursday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2022
6 May Friday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2022
7 May Saturday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009
8 May Sunday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009
9 May Monday No
10 May Tuesday No
11 May Wednesday No
12 May Thursday No
13 May Friday No
14 May Saturday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009
15 May Sunday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009 Vesak Day
16 May Monday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009 Public Holiday
17 May Tuesday No
18 May Wednesday No
19 May Thursday No
20 May Friday No
21 May Saturday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009
22 May Sunday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009
23 May Monday No
24 May Tuesday No
25 May Wednesday No
26 May Thursday Yes Practice Direction No. 2 of 2022
27 May Friday Yes Practice Direction No. 2 of 2022
28 May Saturday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009
29 May Sunday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009
30 May Monday Yes Practice Direction No. 2 of 2022
31 May Tuesday Yes Practice Direction No. 2 of 2022
1 June Wednesday Yes Practice Direction No. 2 of 2022
2 June Thursday Yes Practice Direction No. 2 of 2022
3 June Friday Yes Practice Direction No. 2 of 2022
4 June Saturday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009
5 June Sunday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009
6 June Monday Yes Practice Direction No. 3 of 2022
7 June Tuesday Yes Practice Direction No. 3 of 2022
8 June Wednesday Yes Practice Direction No. 3 of 2022
9 June Thursday Yes Practice Direction No. 4 of 2022
10 June Friday Yes Practice Direction No. 4 of 2022
11 June Saturday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009
12 June Sunday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009
13 June Monday Yes Practice Direction No. 4 of 2022
14 June Tuesday Yes Practice Direction No. 4 of 2022
15 June Wednesday Yes Practice Direction No. 4 of 2022
16 June Thursday Yes Practice Direction No. 4 of 2022
17 June Friday Yes Practice Direction No. 4 of 2022
18 June Saturday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009
19 June Sunday Yes Practice Direction No. 1 of 2009
20 June Monday No First working day (currently)

← Back to Blog