Proposed Practice Changes for PCT National Phase Entry Applications in Singapore

The Intellectual Property Office Of Singapore has recently issued a consultation paper which proposed a "PCT National Phase Track" for national phase entry applications in Singapore. The proposed "PCT National Phase Track" entails revisions to existing search and examination timelines and grant fee deadlines for such patent applications.

Under the current procedures for search and examination of national phase entry applications in Singapore, there are two possible routes of examination, namely the "default fast track route" and the "optional slow track route'.

The "default fast track route" consists of the following Options:

Option 1: Request Combined Search and Examination by 21 months from the priority date.