Changes in Singapore Patent Rules for National Phase Applications Under PCT Chapter I

Until now a national phase entry application in Singapore under PCT Chapter I had to be filed within 20 months from the priority date (or international filing date if priority is not claimed).

As of 1 January 2004, Singapore no longer has a deadline of 20 months for entering the national phase under PCT Chapter I. On 1 January 2004, Singapore joined most other PCT countries in having a PCT Chapter I national phase deadline of 30 months.

However, the 30 month PCT Chapter I deadline only applies to PCT applications with an earliest priority date (or international filing date if priority is not claimed) of 1 May 2002 or later, i.e. those PCT applications for which the 20 month term had not expired before 1 January 2004. For those cases where the 20 month term had expired before 1 January 2004, the 20 month term still applies.