Singapore

General
The Republic of Singapore is an independent city-state in South East Asia, comprising one major island and 59 small adjacent islets, located off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula. Singapore Island, the major island, is separated from Malaysia to the north by the narrow Johor Strait. On the south, it is separated from the Riau archipelago of Indonesia by Singapore Strait, an important shipping channel linking the Indian Ocean to the west with the South China Sea on the east. The city of Singapore is at the south-eastern end of the island. It is one of the most important port cities and commercial centres of South East Asia.

Economy
Singapore has experienced remarkable economic growth and diversification since 1960. In addition to enhancing its position as a world trade centre, it has developed powerful financial and industrial sectors. Singapore has the most advanced economy in Southeast Asia and is often mentioned along with other rapidly industrializing countries in Asia, notably South Korea and Taiwan. Singapore's economy always has differed from those of the other Southeast Asian countries in that it never has been primarily dependent on the production and export of commodities.

Singapore is blessed with a highly developed and successful free-market economy, a remarkably open and corruption-free business environment, stable prices, and one of the highest per capita GDP in the world. Exports, particularly in electronics and chemicals, and services are the main drivers of the economy.

Nonetheless in 2001 the land slipped into a significant recession. Economy contracted by roughly 3 per cent, after growing by almost 10 per cent in 2000.
The main reason for this economic contraction was a global drop in demand especially in the US, most notably in information technology-related and electronic products. But also due to the outbreak of SARS in 2003 the tourism and its co-dependent economy turned down. In the year 2003 Singapore's economy expanded even only 0.8 per cent but growth is expected to accelerate to between three and five per cent in 2004.

External trade is a substantial element of the Singapore economy, with exports accounting for about 85 per cent of Singapore’s GDP. Therefore the extent to which the country’s economy can be revived by measures intended to support the small domestic economy is somewhat limited.

In the short term, there is little that Singapore can do to revive external demands for its export items, beyond waiting for an upturn in the global economy.

Nonetheless in the future Singapore is expected to continue its policy of diversifying its economic base to become a bit more independent from global downturns in specific business sectors and export markets.

A Patent Law
An applicant may seek a patent for his invention in the following ways:-

I. file a national application for grant of a patent directly in Singapore (”domestic application”); or

II. file an application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (“PCT application”) in Singapore as a Receiving Office; or

I. DOMESTIC APPLICATION

  1.      Filing Requirements

  1.1    An applicant must submit the following to the Singapore Patents Office
          (1) Application Form and fees
          (2) A description of the invention, the claims and drawings (if any) in                the English language
          (3) A list of the inventors

1.2 The Singapore Patents Office will issue an Application Number.
Where the documents are in order, the Singapore Patents Office will issue a clear formalities report.

2. Request for Search and Fees
This Request may be filed within 13 months from the date of filing. Where there is a priority claim the deadline is calculated from the priority claim date.

3. Request for Examination and Fees
This Request may be filed within 21 months from the filing date. Where there is a priority claim the deadline is calculated from the priority claim date.

When no Request for Search was filed earlier, a Request for Search and Examination (with fees) may be filed by this deadline.

The Singapore Patents Office sub-contracts the Search and Examination to any one of the following Patent Offices:-
Australia, Austria, Denmark, Japan

  4.      Relying on an overseas corresponding application
           Instead of requesting for the Search and Examination, an applicant            may chose to rely on the final results of a corresponding application for            the same or substantially same invention in the following countries:-
           U.S.A., Canada (applications filed in English only), U.K., EPO            (applications filed in English only), Australia, Japan, New Zealand and             PCT.

Where he does so, he is required to have his Singapore application conform with the corresponding application he seeks to rely on.

5. Request for Grant
The deadline to Request for Grant is 42 months from the filing date.

6. Extension to 60 months
An applicant may extend the deadline to Request for Grant to 60th month from the filing date by taking the following steps:-

(1) By the 39th month, apply for bulk extensions with extension fees.
(2) By the 39th month proceed under either 3 or 4 above.

Singapore is a Receiving Office for PCT applications by applicants meeting PCT’s criteria. Upon receiving a PCT application the Singapore Patents Office will transmit the application and fees to the PCT. During the international phase the Singapore Patents Office acts as a post box. An applicant must comply with all PCT requirements during the international phase.

Entry into Singapore of a PCT application is made at the 30th month from the filing date of the PCT application under Chapter I or II. An Application Form and fee is payable to the Singapore Patents Office. Where the PCT application is not filed in English, a verified translation of the description, claims and drawings must also be filed. The Singapore Patents Office will obtain copies of all documents filed with the International Bureau, including the International Preliminary Report on Patentability (IPRP Chapter I) and/or the International Preliminary Examination Report (IPER Chapter II).

        (1) Entering Singapore with IPRP (Chapter I)
             An applicant may request for extension to the 60th month to Request

       for Grant by filing the following:-
        (i) Request for bulk extension by the 39th month and
        (ii) Request for Examination.

        Alternatively, an applicant may
        (i) Request for bulk extension by 39th month and
        (ii) Rely on the final results or a patent granted in a prescribed country              as defined earlier.
             An applicant may, if he wishes, rely on IPRP (Chapter I) and Request              for Grant by the 42nd month from the filing date or by the 60th              month where he has applied for such extension.

       (2) Entering Singapore with IPRP (Chapter II)
            As there is no further examination requirement the applicant may rely             on IPRP Chapter II report and Request for Grant in Singapore by the            42nd month.

          As the patents system in Singapore is complex, the above is only a           brief summary of the system. Applicants are advised to consult a           patent agent/consultant in Singapore for assistance.

B. Trademark Law

A Trade Mark shall be registered if someone wants to control the use of a certain sign he is owning.

1.Filing requirements
To obtain a trademark right, one must submit an application to the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore.

           The trademark application should contain:
           1.1.the mark,
           1.2 the specification,
           1.3 the class,
           1.4 the Applicant’s name, address,
           1.5 the place of incorporation and trading nature
           1.6 the local address for service.
           1.7.a power of attorney.

2.Special Requirements
As a special requirement in Singapore the applicant must provide a certified translation if there are any non-English words within the trademark. Furthermore he has to confirm that the mark is used or has to have bona fide intention to use it.

3.Examination
In general, when all formal requirements, search and examination reports and fees are completed the grant will be issued. This process approximately takes six months. The acceptance of the trademark shall be published upon the acceptance of the mark.

4.Duration / Renewal
The maximum term for a trademark in Singapore is generally 10 years from the date of filing, subject to the payment of renewal fees.
If an owner of a registered trademark wants to renew his rights he doesn’t have to supply evidence of use but only has to fill in a special renewal form and pay renewal fees. Then the right will be granted for another 10-year period of time.

5.Recording of Licenses and Assignments
In Singapore each granted license will be recorded, if the applicant applies for it. This procedure is recommended as it eases initiating legal actions against any infringers. The recording of assignments is compulsory.

6. International classification
Singapore uses international classification.

7.Member of Treaties
Singapore is a member of the Paris Convention, the WTO/TRIPS and the Madrid Protocol.

Official Name:	Replublic of Singapore
Land Area:	685.4 sq km
Capital:	Singapore
Population:	4,353,893 (3.2 million Singaporeans)
Languages:	English, Chinese, Malay, Tamil
System of government:	Parliamentary democracy / Republic
Head of State:	President S. R. Nathan
Prime Minister:	Lee Hsien Loong
People:	77% Chinese, 14% Malay, 8% Indian
Gross Domestic Product:	US$109.1 billion
Annual per Capita GDP:	US$23,700
Annual Growth:	+ 0.8%
Inflation:	+0.7%
Currency:	Singapore Dollar (SGD)
Major Industries:	Manufacturing, electronics, chemicals, trade, business and financial services, shipping, tourism, construction
Major Trading Partners:	US, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea,China,Taiwan,Thailand