The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) will resume accepting new requests under the SG Patents Fast and SG Trade Marks Fast acceleration programmes from 1 September 2026. This restores a paid acceleration option for Singapore patent and trade mark applicants.

As we reported in IPOS Suspends SG Patents Fast and SG Trade Marks Fast Programmes, IPOS suspended new acceleration requests on 4 January 2026 while it reviewed the programmes.

What Changes on 1 September 2026?

In Patents Circular No. 5/2026 and Trade Marks Circular No. 3/2026, both dated 12 August 2026, IPOS confirmed that it would resume accepting requests from 1 September 2026.

Applicants may request acceleration for patent search and examination requests, patent examination requests and applications to register trade marks filed on or after 1 September 2026.

The new circulars do not announce changes to the qualifying conditions, fees or target timelines. They also do not set out the outcome of IPOS’ review or explain why the programmes were suspended. Instead, IPOS refers applicants to the circulars issued when the programmes were introduced in May 2025.

On the information currently published, the change is limited to the resumption of new requests from 1 September 2026.

Where Can I Find Details of the SG Patents Fast and SG Trade Marks Fast Programmes?

The existing SG Patents Fast conditions, fees and target timelines are discussed in detail in our earlier article, Accelerated Search and Examination of Patent Applications at IPOS. The published conditions for both programmes are set out in Patents Circular No. 1/2025 and Trade Marks Circular No. 2/2025.

Nothing in the latest circulars changes our earlier view. Acceleration may be useful where an applicant has a genuine commercial reason for obtaining an early office action, but the fastest route is not necessarily the best route for every application.

Cantab IP can advise on whether SG Patents Fast, SG Trade Marks Fast or another prosecution route is suitable for a particular application. Please contact us if you would like advice or more details on these programmes.

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