The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (“IPOS“) has introduced new initiatives to support the Patent Prosecution Highway (“PPH“), which offers faster and more efficient patent examination through IPOS’ global partnerships. IPOS has also issued a clarification on how the Invitation to Amend (“ITA“) process is applied to applications under the PPH or Global Patent Prosecution Highway (“GPPH“) programmes.
Initiatives to Support PPH
To better support applicants in using the PPH, IPOS will be introducing two new initiatives:
- Accelerated First Office Action timelines: IPOS will endeavour to issue the first office action within six months from the date of the request to use PPH. This applies to requests to use PPH filed on or after 1 July 2026.
- Simplified payment process: From 3 August 2026 to 31 December 2027 (both dates inclusive), applicants filing a PPH request together with a new request for a search and/or examination report need only pay 70% of the prevailing official fees for the latter. Under the current arrangement, applicants pay the full fees at the point of request, and receive 30% of the fees back thereafter. To read more about this current arrangement, please refer to our September 2025 NewsBytes article titled “IPOS Piloting Fee Refund Initiative for Using Patent Prosecution Highway Programme” for more information.
Clarification on ITA Process
ITA has provided clarification on how the ITA process is applied to PPH or GPPH applications, and how ITA can expedite examination.
The ITA facilitates the expeditious examination of applications for patents. An ITA is a notice issued by the Registrar in which an applicant is invited to amend their application to address one or more prescribed matters identified by the Examiner during examination. Upon receipt, an applicant has two months to respond to the Examiner, failing which the Examiner will issue a written opinion or examination report as applicable.
Since 27 September 2023, IPOS has introduced a streamlined process to eliminate the need for an applicant to withdraw and refile Patents Form 11 or 12 to submit amendments with the PPH or GPPH request:
- The applicant files a request for a search and examination report or an examination report (using Patents Form 11 or 12).
- The applicant requests accelerated examination under PPH or GPPH, indicating that amendments are required to conform the Singapore claims to the foreign allowable claims in the corresponding application filed with the selected PPH or GPPH office.
- The Registrar verifies with the Examiner that examination has not commenced.
- The Examiner assesses whether conforming claims to the foreign allowable claims would resolve one or more prescribed matters.
- If the Examiner determines that one or more prescribed matters can be resolved by ITA without a written opinion, the Examiner may request the Registrar to issue the ITA.
Click on the following links for more information (available on the IPOS website at www.ipos.gov.sg):
- Circular No. 2/2026: Promoting Uptake of the Patent Prosecution Highway
- Circular No. 3/2026: Clarification on Invitation to Amend for the Patent Prosecution Highway or Global Patent Prosecution Highway programme
If you have any queries on the above, please reach out to our team set out on this page.
For regional Intellectual Property matters, please see Rajah & Tann Asia’s Intellectual Property Practice for more information.
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