Update: we have posted a new blog post discussing the issues surrounding supplementary examination.
The Singapore Patents Act as amended introduces a supplementary examination procedure. If an applicant wishes to rely on the prosecution to grant of a foreign corresponding application, there is now a requirement for supplementary examination to be requested.
The purpose of the supplementary examination is to establish whether there is claim correspondence between the Singapore application and the foreign corresponding application. Supplementary examination also ensures that the corresponding claims in the foreign application have been examined for novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability.
Recently, we received an email enquiry from a foreign company along these lines:
“We are business from [foreign country] and have recently started business in Singapore.
We are using unique displays in our shops to display our goods. The displays have been designed by us, and we have placed them at our outlets in Singapore.
Before somebody copies our displays, we would like to apply for patent in Singapore.”
This post gives a recommended procedure for making changes to inventor or applicant details of a PCT application.
TL;DR - do this centrally at WIPO under Rule 92.bis.
The deadline for paying the grant fee, for a Singapore patent application, is 60 months from the priority date.
Many patent applicants want protection not only in their country of origin, but also in other countries around the world.
Typically, in order to get worldwide protection, one would file a priority application and 12 months later one or more foreign applications. The foreign applications may claim priority from the priority application.