Patents Rules, Singapore, WIPO Lex

Main text(s)

English Patents Rules

Patents Act

Patents Act (Chapter 221, Sections 42, 110 and 115)

Patents Rules S 538/95 S 106/96 S 224/96 S 132/97 S 260/97 S 458/97 S 82/98 S 116/98 S 203/99 S 286/99 S 510/99

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Article

Preliminary:

Citation.......................................................................... 1

Definitions.................................................................... 2

Fees............................................................................... 3

Forms............................................................................ 4

Costs............................................................................. 5

Taxation of Costs.......................................................... 6

Taxation Proceedings.................................................... 7

International Exhibitions............................................... 8

Declaration of Priority.................................................. 9

Right to Apply for and Obtain a Patent:

References Under Section 20(1)(A).............................. 10

References by Co-Proprietors Under Section 20(1)(B). 11

Orders Under Section 20............................................... 12

Prescribed Period for New Application Under Section 20 (3)............................................................................. 13

Authorisation Under Section 20 (5).............................. 14

Request by Joint Applicants Under Section 22............. 15

Referral to Registrar Under Section 23......................... 16

Inventors:

Mention of Inventor...................................................... 17

Procedure Where Applicant is not Inventor or Sole Inventor......................................................................... 18

Applications for Patents:

Applicant for Grant of Patent........................................ 19

Micro-Organisms.......................................................... 20

Drawings....................................................................... 21

Abstracts....................................................................... 22

Size and Presentation of Documents............................. 23

Form of Statements, Counter-Statements and Evidence 24

Unity of Invention......................................................... 25

Date of Filing Application............................................ 26

Applications Under Section 26(6)................................. 27

Extension of Period for Filing New Applications......... 28

Publication of Applications........................................... 29

Completion of Preparations for Publication.................. 30

Procedure for Grant:

Address for Service....................................................... 31

Period for Commencement of Formalities Examination.................................................................. 32

Formal Requirements.................................................... 33

Procedure Where Earlier Application is Made.............. 34

Copies of Documents Referred to in Formalities Report........................................................................... 35

Request for Search Report............................................ 36

Request for Search and Examination Report................. 37

Period for Filing Search Report Request or Furnishing Details........................................................................... 38

Details of Foreign Applications.................................... 39

Minimum Documentation for Search............................ 40

Prescribed Patent Offices.............................................. 41

Request for Examination............................................... 42

Period Prescribed Under Section 29.............................. 43

Information for Purposes of Section 29 (4)................... 44

Search Procedure Where Two Inventions Claimed....... 45

Written Opinion of Examiner, etc................................. 46

Putting Application in Order......................................... 47

Application for Amendment Before Grant.................... 48

Time for Making Amendments Before Grant............... 49

Certificate of Grant....................................................... 50

Patents After Grant:

Renewal of Patents........................................................ 51

Amendment of Specification after Grant...................... 52

Restoration of Lapsed Patent......................................... 53

Modified Application of Section 39 to Patent to Which Section 116 (3) Applies................................................. 53A

Surrender of Patents...................................................... 54

Entries in Register......................................................... 55

Alteration of Name and Address................................... 56

Application for Registration of Transactions, Instruments, etc............................................................. 57

Request for Correction of Errors................................... 58

Request as to Payment of Renewal Fee......................... 59

Inspection of Register................................................... 60

Advertisement of Matters Contained in Register.......... 61

Entries in Respect of Right to a Patent.......................... 62

Certificates and Copies Supplied by Registrar.............. 63

Orders or Directions by Court....................................... 64

Entitlement to Patent:

Reference to Registrar of Right to Patent...................... 65

Application for Authorisation to Carry out Directions.. 66

Time Limits for Making New Application.................... 67

Request for Licence to Continue Working New Patent. 68

Reference as to Entitlement to Grant of Licence........... 69

Licences of Right:

Entry in Register of Licence of Right........................... 70

Settlement of Terms of Licence of Right...................... 71

Cancellation of Entry in Register as to Licence of Right by Proprietor........................................................ 72

Cancellation of Entry in Register as to Licence of Right by Third Party..................................................... 73

Procedure as to Cancellation of Entry in Register as to Licence of Right............................................................ 74

Action by Registrar on Cancellation in Register as to Licence of Right............................................................ 75

Infringement Proceedings Before Registrar:

Reference to Registrar for Determination of Infringement.................................................................. 76

Procedure Where Validity of Patent is in Dispute......... 77

Application for Declaration as to Non-Infringement..... 78

Revocation of Patents:

Application for Information on Corresponding Applications.................................................................. 79

Procedure on Application for Revocation..................... 80

Procedure Relating to Preparation of Re-Examination Report........................................................................... 81

Copies and Conclusions of Re-Examination Report..... 82

Award of Costs on Surrender of Patent......................... 83

Notification of an Opportunity to Amend..................... 84

Amendment of Patents in Infringement or Revocation Proceedings:

Procedure as to Opposition to Amendment................... 85

National Processing of International Applications:

Treatment of International Applications....................... 86

Hearings, Agents and Correction of Errors:

Registrar’s Discretionary Powers.................................. 87

Request for Hearing...................................................... 88

Hearings in Public......................................................... 89

Right of Audience in Patent Proceedings...................... 90

Correction of Errors in Patents and Applications.......... 91

Information and Inspection:

Information about Patents and Patent Applications....... 92

Inspection of Documents............................................... 93

Confidential Documents................................................ 94

Publication of Bibliographic Information..................... 95

Request for Information on Unpublished Patent Applications.................................................................. 96

Miscellaneous:

Service by Documents.................................................. 97

Hours of Business......................................................... 98

Excluded Days.............................................................. 99

Correction of Irregularities............................................ 100

Dispensation by Registrar............................................. 101

Filing of Evidence......................................................... 102

Statutory Declarations and Affidavits........................... 103

Admission of Documents.............................................. 104

Directions as to Furnishing of Documents.................... 105

Supporting Statements or Evidence.............................. 106

Appointment of Scientific Advisers by Registrar.......... 107

Alteration of Time Limits............................................. 108

Protection and Compensation of Persons Affected by Extension of Time......................................................... 109

Calculation of Times or Periods.................................... 110

Copies of Documents.................................................... 111

Translations................................................................... 112

Publication and Sale of Documents............................... 113

Journal........................................................................... 114

Reports of Cases........................................................... 115

International Applications:

Filing of International Applications.............................. 116

Transmittal, Basic, Designation and Search Fees.......... 117

Certified Copies............................................................ 118

Fee Currency................................................................. 119

Modified Application of Act and Rules to United Kingdom and European Patent Office Applications..... 120

First Schedule

Second Schedule

Third Schedule

Fourth Schedule

Fifth Schedule

Sixth Schedule

Seventh Schedule

Eighth Schedule

[23rd February 1995]

1. These Rules may be cited as the Patents Rules.

2.—(1) In these Rules, unless the context otherwise requires—

“costs” includes fees, charges, disbursements, expenses, allowances and remuneration;

“declared priority date” means—

(a) the date of filing of the earliest relevant application specified in a declaration made for the purposes of section 17 where the priority date claimed in the declaration has not been lost or abandoned and where the declaration has not been withdrawn before preparations for the publication of the application in suit have been completed by the Registry in accordance with section 27; or

(b) where an international application for a patent (Singapore) is to be treated as an application for a patent under the Act, the date of filing of the earliest application filed in or for a country which is a convention country specified in an order made under section 89 or which, in accordance with the law of a convention country or a treaty or international convention to which a convention country is a party, is equivalent to such an application, the priority of which is claimed in a declaration filed for the purposes of Article 8 of the Patent Co-operation Treaty, provided that such priority claim has not been lost or abandoned under the provisions of that Treaty.

(2) In these Rules, except where otherwise indicated—

(a) references to a section are references to that section of the Act;

(b) references to a rule are references to that rule in these Rules;

(d) references to the filing of a form or other document are references to filing it at the Registry.

(3) The Examiners prescribed for the purposes of section 2 shall be the Australian Patent Office and the Austrian Patent Office.

3. The fees to be paid in respect of any matters arising under the Act or these Rules shall be those specified in the First Schedule and, in any case where a form specified in that Schedule as the corresponding form in relation to any matter is required to be used, that form shall be accompanied by the fees specified in respect of that matter.

4. The forms mentioned in these Rules are those set out in the Second Schedule, modified as necessary to enable them to be used, accompanied by the appropriate fee (if any) and such forms shall be used in all cases in which they are applicable and may be modified as directed by the Registrar to meet other cases.

5. The Registrar may make an order for costs in respect of—

(a) any of the matters set out in the first column of Part I of the Third Schedule; and

(b) the expenses and allowances of a person in relation to proceedings under the Act or these Rules.

6.—(1) A party may request for party and party costs to be taxed by filing a copy of the bill of costs at the Registry and he shall, at the same time, send to every other person entitled to be heard in the taxation proceedings, a copy of the bill of costs.

(2) Every bill of costs shall set out in 2 separate sections the following:

(a) work done in the cause or matter; and

(b) all disbursements made in the cause or matter.

(3) The costs claimed under paragraph (2) shall set out the sum claimed for each item.

(4) The bill of costs shall set out in chronological order, with dates, all relevant events in the cause or matter.

(5) Where costs have already been awarded for any of the events set out, this fact and the amount awarded shall be indicated.

(6) Any party on whom a copy of the bill of costs has been served in accordance with paragraph (1) shall, if he wishes to dispute the bill, within 14 days from the receipt of the copy of the bill, mark the copy thereof in accordance with paragraph (7) and send a copy thereof duly marked to both the Registrar and the party requesting for taxation.

(7) A party on whom a copy of the bill of costs has been served shall effect marking on the copy thereof served by writing on the right hand margin against each item the word “Agree” if he agrees with the cost claimed for that item or the word “Disagree” if he disagrees.

(8) Upon the expiry of the period of time referred to in paragraph (6), the Registrar shall give to the parties entitled to be heard in the taxation proceedings notice of the date and time appointed for taxation.

7.—(1) If any party entitled to be heard in any taxation proceedings does not attend at the time appointed for the taxation, the Registrar may proceed with the taxation.

(2) The Registrar may, if he thinks it is necessary to do so, adjourn the proceedings from time to time.

(3) The provisions relating to the scale of costs in the Third Schedule shall apply to the taxation proceedings.

(4) When the bill has been taxed, the Registrar shall proceed to make his certificate for the amount of the taxed costs.

(5) Costs awarded in proceedings before the Registrar are not intended to compensate the parties for the expense to which they have been put.

8.—(1) An applicant for a patent who wishes the disclosure of matter constituting an invention to be disregarded in accordance with section 14 (4) (c) shall, within the same day of filing the application for the patent, inform the Registrar in writing that the invention has been displayed at an international exhibition.

(2) The applicant shall, within 4 months from the day of filing the application, file a certificate, issued by the authority responsible for the exhibition, stating that the invention was in fact exhibited there.

(3) The certificate shall also state the opening date of the exhibition and, where the first disclosure of the invention did not take place on the opening date, the date of first disclosure.

(4) The certificate shall be accompanied by an identification of the invention, duly authenticated by the authority.

(5) For the purposes of section 2 (2), a statement may be published in the Journal that an exhibition described in the statement falls within the definition of international exhibition in section 2 (1).

(6) In the case of an international application for a patent (Singapore), the application of this rule shall be subject to rule 86 (3).

9.—(1) A declaration claiming priority for the purpose of section 17 shall be made within the same day of filing the application for a patent (“the application in suit”) and shall state the date of filing of any application specified in the declaration and the country in or for which it was filed.

(2) Subject to rule 28 and paragraphs (3) and (4), where the application in suit is for a patent under the Act, the applicant shall, within 16 months from the declared priority date, furnish to the Registry in respect of every application specified in the declaration—

(a) its file number;

(b) except where paragraph (3) has effect, a copy of that application duly certified by the authority with which it was filed or otherwise verified to the satisfaction of the Registrar; and

(c) the symbol or symbols of the International Patent Classification which have been or, which in the opinion of the applicant should be, allocated to it.

(2) Subject to rule 28, where the application in suit is for a patent under the Act, the applicant shall, within 16 months from the declared priority date, furnish to the Registry in respect of every application specified in the declaration its file number.

(2A) Subject to paragraph (4), the applicant shall, within 22 months from the declared priority date, furnish to the Registry, in respect of every application specified in the declaration, a copy of that application duly certified by the authority with which it was filed or otherwise verified to the satisfaction of the Registrar.

(2A) Subject to paragraph (4), the applicant shall at a time that is no later than—

(a) 28 months from the declared priority date; or

(b) the date of the filing of Patents Form 14 and payment of the prescribed fee under rule 47 for the grant of a patent,

whichever is the earlier, furnish to the Registry, in respect of every application specified in the declaration, a copy of that application duly certified by the authority with which it was filed or otherwise verified to the satisfaction of the Registrar.

(3) Where an application specified in the declaration is an application for a patent under the Act or an international application for a patent which is filed at the Registry—

(a) if the application is filed under section 26 (6), the applicant shall, at the time of filing the application, file—

(i) a request that a copy of the application specified in the declaration be prepared for use in the Registry; and

(ii) Patents Form 26 requesting the Registrar to certify the same; or

(b) if the application is filed otherwise than under section 26 (6), the applicant shall file that request and that form in compliance with any request made by the Registrar.

(4) Where the application in suit is an international application for a patent (Singapore) which is to be treated as an application for a patent under the Act, the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2), (2) and (2A) shall be treated as having been complied with to the extent that the requirements of rules 4.10 (a) and (c) and 17.1 (a) or (b) rule 4.10 (a) and (b), to be read subject to rules 26bis.1 and 26bis.2 (b), and of rule 17.1 of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty have been fulfilled.

(5) Where a copy of an application is filed or treated as having been filed under paragraph (2) (b), (3) or (4) and that application is in a language other than English, subject to rule 86 (3) (c) and (d), a translation thereof into English verified to the satisfaction of the Registrar as corresponding to the original text shall be filed within 21 months from the declared priority date.

(5) Where a copy of an application is filed or treated as having been filed under paragraph (2A), (3) or (4) and that application is in a language other than English, a translation thereof into English, verified to the satisfaction of the Registrar as corresponding to the original text, shall be filed within 22 months from the declared priority date.

(a) 28 months from the declared priority date; or

(b) the date of the filing of Patents Form 14 and payment of the prescribed fee under rule 47 for the grant of a patent,

whichever is the earlier.

(6) In the case of an international application for a patent (Singapore), the application of paragraph (5) shall be subject to rule 86 (3) (c)rule 86 (4) (c).

(7) If the applicant fails to satisfy the requirements of paragraph (2, 2A) or (5) within the time specified or as extended under rule 108, the claim to priority shall be deemed to be relinquished.

10.—(1) A reference under section 20 (1) (a) shall be made on Patents Form 2 and shall be accompanied by a copy thereof and a statement in duplicate setting out fully the nature of the question, the facts upon which the person making the reference relies and the order or other relief which he is seeking.

(2) The Registrar shall send a copy of the reference and statement to—

(a) any person (other than the person referred to in paragraph (1)) alleged in the reference to be entitled to be granted a patent for the invention;

(b) any person, not being a party to the reference, who is shown in the register as having a right in or under the patent application;

(c) any person (not being a party to the reference) who is an applicant for the patent or has given notice to the Registrar of a relevant transaction, instrument or event; and

(d) every person who has been identified in the patent application or a statement filed under section 24 (2) (a) as being, or being believed to be, the inventor or joint inventor of the invention.

(3) If any person who is sent a copy of the reference and statement under paragraph (2) wishes to oppose the making of the order or the granting of the relief sought, he (“the opponent”) shall, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding such copies, file in duplicate a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 setting out fully the grounds of his opposition and the Registrar shall send a copy of the counter-statement to the person making the reference and to those recipients of the copy of the reference and statement who are not party to the counter-statement.

(4) The person making the reference or any such recipient may, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding a copy of the counter-statement, file evidence in support of his case and shall send a copy of the evidence—

(a) in any case, to the opponent; and

(b) in the case of evidence filed by such a recipient, to the person making the reference.

(5) Within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding the copy of such evidence to him or, if no such evidence is filed, within 2 months from the expiration of the period within which the copy of such evidence could have been filed, the opponent may file evidence in support of his case and shall send a copy of the evidence so filed to the person making the reference and those recipients; and within 2 months from the date of receipt of the copy of the opponent’s evidence, that person or any of those recipients may file further evidence confined to matters strictly in reply and shall send a copy of it to the persons mentioned in paragraph (4) (a) and (b).

(6) No further evidence shall be filed except by leave or direction of the Registrar.

(7) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

11.—(1) A reference under section 20 (1) (b) shall be made on Patents Form 2 and shall be accompanied by a copy thereof and a statement in duplicate setting out fully the nature of the question, the facts relied upon by the co-proprietor making the reference and the order he is seeking.

(2) The Registrar shall send a copy of the reference and statement to—

(a) each co-proprietor who is not a party to the reference and who has not otherwise indicated, in writing, his consent to the making of the order sought;

(b) any person to whom it is alleged in the reference that any right in or under an application for a patent should be transferred or granted;

(c) any person, not being a party to the reference, who is shown in the register as having a right in or under the patent application;

(d) any person (not being a party to the reference) who has given notice to the Registrar of a relevant transaction, instrument or event; and

(e) every person who has been identified in the application for the patent or a statement filed under section 24 (2) (a) as being, or being believed to be, the inventor or joint inventor of the invention.

(3) Any person who receives a copy of the reference and statement and who wishes to oppose the order sought may, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding copies of the reference and statement, file a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 in duplicate setting out fully the grounds of his opposition.

(4) The Registrar shall, as appropriate, send a copy of any counter-statement to—

(a) each co-proprietor who is a party to the reference; and

(b) any person to whom a copy of the reference and statement were sent pursuant to paragraph (2).

(5) Any person who receives a copy of the counter-statement may, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding such copy, file evidence in support of his case and shall send a copy of the evidence so filed to the co-proprietor making the reference and to each person who has filed a counter-statement.

(6) Any person entitled to receive a copy of the evidence filed under paragraph (5) may, within 2 months from the date of receipt of the copy of such evidence or, if no such evidence is filed, within 2 months from the expiration of the period within which it could have been filed, file evidence in support of his case and shall send a copy of the evidence so filed to each of the other parties listed in paragraph (4).

(7) Any person who receives a copy of the evidence filed under paragraph (6) may, within 2 months from the date of receipt of the copy of such evidence, file further evidence confined to matters strictly in reply and shall, as appropriate, send a copy of the evidence so filed to the parties listed in paragraph (4).

(8) No further evidence shall be filed by any party except by leave or direction of the Registrar.

(9) The Registrar may give directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

12.—(1) Where an order is made under section 20 that an application for a patent shall proceed in the name of one or more persons none of whom was an original applicant, the Registrar shall notify all original applicants and their licensees, of whom he is aware, of the making of the order.

(2) A person notified under paragraph (1) may make a request under section 23 (3) within 2 months from the date of the notification received from the Registrar.

13. The prescribed period for the purpose of section 20 (3) shall be 3 months from the day on which the time for appealing from an order made under this subsection expires without an appeal being brought or, where an appeal is brought, from the day on which it is finally disposed of.

14.—(1) An application under section 20 (5) for authority to do anything on behalf of a person to whom directions have been given under section 20 (2) (d) or (4) shall be made on Patents Form 4 and shall be accompanied by a copy thereof and a statement in duplicate setting out fully all the facts upon which the applicant relies and the nature of the authorisation sought.

(2) The Registrar shall send a copy of the application and statement to the person alleged to have failed to comply with the directions.

(3) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

15.—(1) A request under section 22 by a joint applicant shall be made on Patents Form 5 and shall be accompanied by a copy thereof and a statement in duplicate setting out fully the facts upon which he relies and the directions which he seeks.

(2) The Registrar shall send a copy of the request and statement to each of the other joint applicant who shall, if he wishes to oppose the request, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding such copies to him, file in duplicate a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 setting out fully the grounds of his opposition, and the Registrar shall send a copy of the counter-statement to the person making the request and to each of the other joint applicant who is not a party to the counter-statement.

(3) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

16.—(1) Where, following the making of such an order as is mentioned in section 23 (3), a question is referred to the Registrar under section 23 (5) as to whether any person is entitled to be granted a licence or whether the period or terms of the licence are reasonable, the reference shall be made on Patents Form 6 and shall be accompanied by a copy thereof and a statement in duplicate setting out fully the facts upon which the person making the reference relies and the terms of the licence which he is prepared to accept or grant.

(2) The Registrar shall send a copy of the reference and statement to every person in whose name the application is to proceed or, as the case may be, every person claiming to be entitled to be granted a licence, in either case not being the person who makes the reference, and if any recipient does not agree to grant or accept a licence for such period and upon such terms, he shall, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding such copies to him, file a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 in duplicate setting out fully the grounds of his opposition and the Registrar shall send a copy of the counter-statement to the person making the reference.

(3) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

17.—(1) An application to the Registrar under section 24 (1) or (3) by any person who alleges—

(a) that he ought to have been mentioned as the inventor or joint inventor of an invention in any patent granted or published application for a patent for the invention; or

(b) that any person mentioned as sole or joint inventor in any patent granted or published application for a patent for the invention ought not to have been so mentioned,

shall be made on Patents Form 7 and shall be accompanied by a copy thereof and a statement in duplicate setting out fully the facts relied upon.

(2) The Registrar shall send a copy of any such application and statement to—

(a) every person registered as proprietor of, or applicant for, the patent (other than the applicant under section 24 himself);

(b) every person who has been identified in the application for the patent or a statement filed under section 24 (2) (a) as being, or being believed to be, the inventor or joint inventor of the invention; and

(3) Any recipient of a copy of such an application and statement who wishes to oppose the application shall, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding such copies to him, file a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 in duplicate setting out fully the grounds of his opposition, and the Registrar shall send a copy of the counter-statement to each of the persons described in this rule other than any person who is party to the counter-statement.

(4) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

(5) The document prescribed for the purposes of section 24 (1) shall be an addendum or erratum slip.

18.—(1) Subject to rules 28 and 86 (7)86 (8), if the applicant is not the inventor, a statement under section 24 (2) identifying the inventor or inventors and, where required by section 24 (2) (b), the derivation of the right of the applicant to be granted the patent shall be made on Patents Form 8, within 16 months from the declared priority date or, where there is no declared priority date, the date of filing the application.

(2) Where the applicant is not the sole inventor or the applicants are not the joint inventors of the invention the subject of the application and the application does not contain a declared priority date which relates to an earlier relevant application as defined in section 17 (5) (b), a sufficient number of copies of Patents Form 8 shall be filed by the applicant or applicants within the said 16 months to enable the Registrar to send one to each inventor who is not one of the applicants.

(3) Where the application is an international application for a patent (Singapore), the requirements of paragraphs (1) and (2) shall be treated as having been complied with if the provisions of rules 4.1 (a) (v) and 4.6 of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty have been complied with, whether or not there was any requirement that they be complied with.

19.—(1) A request for the grant of a patent shall be made on Patents Form 1.

(2) Where the filing fee is not paid within the same day of filing the application, the filing fee shall be paid within one month from that day.

(3) The specification contained in an application for a patent made under section 25 shall state the title of the invention and continue with the description and the claim or claims and the drawings, if any, in that order.

(4) The title shall be short, precise and indicate the matter to which the invention relates.

(4) The title appearing in the request, specification and abstract shall be short, precise and indicate the matter to which the invention relates; and if in the opinion of the Registrar it fails to comply with this paragraph, the Registrar may reframe it so that it does so comply.

(5) The description shall first state the title of the invention as appearing in the request and shall—

(a) specify the technical field to which the invention relates;

(b) indicate the background art which, as far as it is known to the applicant, can be regarded as useful for the understanding, searching and examination of the invention;

(c) disclose the invention as claimed in such terms that the technical problem, even if not expressly stated as such, and its solution can be understood, and shall state the advantageous effects, if any, of the invention with reference to the background art;

(d) briefly describe the figures in the drawings, if any;

(e) set forth at least one mode for carrying out the invention claimed, with examples where appropriate, and with reference to the drawings, if any; and

(f) indicate explicitly, when it is not otherwise obvious from the description or the nature of the invention, the way or ways in which the invention satisfies the condition in section 13 (1) (c) of being capable of industrial application.

(6) The number of claims shall be reasonable in consideration of the nature of the invention claimed, and where there are several claims, the claims shall be numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals.

(7) The definition in the claim of the matter for which protection is sought shall be in terms of the technical features of the invention which may be expressed in structural, functional or mathematical terms.

(8) Claims shall be written—

(a) in 2 parts, the first part consisting of a statement indicating those technical features of the invention which are necessary in connection with the definition of the claimed subject-matter and which, in combination, appear to be part of the prior art and the second part preceded by the words “characterised in that”, “characterised by”, “wherein the improvement comprises”, or other words to the same effect, followed by a statement stating concisely the technical features which, in combination with the features stated in the first part, define the matter for which protection is sought; or

(b) in a single statement containing a recitation of a combination of several elements or steps, or a single element or step, which defines the matter for which protection is sought.

(9) Claims shall not rely, in respect of the technical features of the invention, on references to the description or drawings, unless such a reference is necessary for the understanding of the claim or enhances the clarity or conciseness of the claim.

20. The Fourth Schedule shall have effect in relation to certain applications for patents, and granted patents, for inventions which require for their performance the use of micro-organisms.

21.—(1) Drawings forming part of an application for a patent made under section 25 shall be on sheets the size of which shall be A4 (29.7 cm x 21 cm).

(2) The sheets shall not contain frames round the usable or used surface.

(3) The minimum margins shall be as follows:

(a) top: 2.5 cm;

(b) left side: 2.5 cm;

(d) bottom: 1.0 cm.

(4) The margins, when submitted, must be completely blank.

(5) Drawings shall be executed as follows:

(a) without colouring in durable, black, sufficiently dense and dark, uniformly thick and well-defined lines and strokes to permit satisfactory reproduction;

(b) cross-sections shall be indicated by oblique hatching which should not impede the clear reading of the reference signs and leading lines;

(c) the scale of the drawings and the distinctiveness of their graphical execution shall be such that a photographic reproduction with a linear reduction in size to two-thirds would enable all details to be distinguished without difficulty. If, as an exception, the scale is given on a drawing, it shall be represented graphically;

(d) all numbers, letters and reference lines, appearing on the drawings, shall be simple and clear and brackets, circles and inverted commas shall not be used in association with numbers and letters;

(e) each element of each figure shall be in proper proportion to each of the other elements in the figure, except where the use of a different proportion is indispensable for the clarity of the figure;

(f) the height of the numbers and letters shall not be less than 0.32 cm and for the lettering of drawings, the Latin and, where customary, the Greek alphabets shall be used;

(g) the same sheet of drawings may contain several figures; where figures drawn on 2 or more sheets are intended to form one whole figure, the figures on the several sheets shall be so arranged that the whole figure can be assembled without concealing any part of the partial figures; and the different figures shall be arranged without wasting space, clearly separated from one another and shall be numbered consecutively in Arabic numerals, independently of the numbering of the sheets;

(h) reference signs not mentioned in the description or claims shall not appear in the drawings, and vice versa; and the same features, when denoted by reference signs, shall throughout the application, be denoted by the same signs;

(i) the drawings shall not contain textual matter, except, when required for the understanding of the drawings, a single word or words such as “water”, “steam”, “open”, “closed”, “section on AA”, and in the case of electric circuits and block schematic or flow sheet diagrams, a few short catchwords; and

(j) the sheets of drawings shall be numbered in accordance with rule 23 (13) and (14).

(6) Flow sheets and diagrams shall be considered drawings for the purposes of these Rules.

22.—(1) The abstract shall commence with a title for the invention.

(2) The abstract shall contain a concise summary of the disclosure as contained in the specification.

(3) The summary shall indicate the technical field to which the invention belongs and be drafted in such a way which allows a clear understanding of the technical problem to which the invention relates, the gist of the solution of that problem through the invention, and the principal use or uses of the invention.

(4) Where appropriate, the abstract shall also contain the chemical formula which, among those contained in the specification, best characterises the invention but shall not contain statements on the alleged merits or value of the invention or on its speculative application.

(5) The abstract shall be as concise as the disclosure permits and shall normally not contain more than 150 words.

(6) If the specification contains any drawings, the applicant shall indicate on the abstract the figure or, exceptionally, the figures of the drawings which he suggests should accompany the abstract when published.

(7) The Registrar may decide to publish one or more other figures if he considers that they better characterise the invention.

(8) Each main feature mentioned in the abstract and illustrated by a drawing shall be followed by the reference sign used in that drawing.

(9) The abstract shall be so drafted that it constitutes an efficient instrument for the purposes of searching in the particular technical field, in particular by making it possible to assess whether there is a need to consult the specification itself.

23.—(1) All documents (including drawings) making up an application for a patent or replacing such documents shall be in the English language.

(2) The specification (including any drawing therein), abstract and any replacement sheet thereof shall be filed in triplicate.

(3) All documents referred to in paragraph (1) shall be so presented as to permit direct reproduction by photography, electrostatic processes, photo offset and microfilming, in an unlimited number of copies.

(4) All sheets must be free from cracks, creases and folds.

(5) Only one side of the sheet shall be used, except in the case of a request for the grant of a patent.

(6) All documents referred to in paragraph (1) shall be on A4 paper size (29.7 cm x 21 cm) which shall be pliable, strong, white, smooth, matt and durable except in the case of a request for the grant of a patent which may be on A3 paper size (29.7 cm x 42 cm).

(7) Each sheet (other than drawings) shall be used with its short sides at the top and bottom (upright position).

(8) The request for the grant of a patent, the description, claims, drawings and abstract shall each commence on a new sheet.

(9) The sheets shall be so connected that they can be easily turned when consulted, and easily separated and joined again if they have been separated.

(10) The minimum margins of the sheets containing the description, the claims, and the abstract, shall be as follows:

(a) top: 2.0 cm;

(b) left side: 2.5 cm;

(d) bottom: 2.0 cm.

(11) The margins of the documents making up the application, when filed, and of any replacement documents, must be completely blank.

(12) In the application, except in the drawings—

(a) all sheets in the request shall, when filed, be numbered consecutively; and

(b) all other sheets shall, when filed, be numbered consecutively as a separate series,

and all such numbering shall be in Arabic numerals placed at the top of the sheet, in the middle, but not in the top margin at the top or bottom of the sheet, in the middle, but not in the top or bottom margin.

(13) All sheets of drawings contained in the application shall be numbered consecutively as a separate series.

(14) Such numbering shall be in Arabic numerals placed at the top of the sheet, in the middle, but not in the top margin at the top or bottom of the sheet, in the middle, but not in the top or bottom margin.

(15) Every document (other than drawings) referred to in paragraph (1) shall be typed or printed in a dark, indelible colour in at least 1 line spacing and in characters of which the capital letters are not less than 0.21 cm high except that Patents Form 1 may be completed in writing, and that graphic symbols and characters and chemical and mathematical formulae may be written or drawn, in a dark indelible colour.

(16) The request for the grant of a patent, the description, claims and abstract shall not contain drawings.

(17) The description, claims and abstract may contain chemical or mathematical formulae.

(18) The description and the abstract may contain tables.

(19) The claims may contain tables only if their subject-matter makes the use of tables desirable.

(20) In all documents referred to in paragraph (1), units of weights and measures shall be expressed in terms of the metric system.

(21) If a different system is used they shall also be expressed in terms of the metric system.

(22) Temperatures shall be expressed in degrees Celsius.

(23) For the other physical values, the units recognised in international practice shall be used, for mathematical formulae the symbols in general use, and for chemical formulae the symbols, atomic weights and molecular formulae in general use shall be employed.

(24) In general, use should be made of technical terms, signs and symbols generally accepted in the field in question.

(25) If a formula or symbol is used in the specification, a copy thereof, prepared in the same manner as drawings, shall be furnished if the Registrar so directs.

(26) The terminology and the signs shall be consistent throughout the application.

(27) All documents referred to in paragraph (1) shall be reasonably free from deletions and other alterations, over-writings and interlineations and shall, in any event, be legible.

(28) Non-compliance with this rule may be authorised by the Registrar if the authenticity of the content is not in question and the requirements for good reproduction are not in jeopardy.

24. Any statement, counter-statement or evidence filed shall, unless the Registrar otherwise directs, comply with the requirements of rule 23 (1), (6) and (7) and, except that both sides of the sheet may be used in the case of statutory declarations and affidavits, provided they comply with the requirements of rule 23 (3) and (4).

25.—(1) Without prejudice to the generality of section 25 (5) (d), where 2 or more inventions are claimed (whether in separate claims or as alternatives within a single claim), such inventions shall be treated as being so linked as to form a single inventive concept only when there is a technical relationship among those inventions involving one or more of the same or corresponding special technical features.

(2) In this rule, “special technical features” means those technical features which define a contribution which each of the claimed inventions, considered as a whole, makes over the prior art.

26.—(1) Where a date of filing cannot be accorded under section 26 (3), the Registrar shall send a notification to the applicant specifying the requirements set out in section 26 (1) which have not been satisfied.

(2) The applicant shall, within one month from the date of the Registrar’s notification sent to him, correct the deficiencies.

(3) Where any drawing has been filed later than the date which by virtue of section 26 (1) is to be treated as the date of filing the application, the Registrar shall send a notification to the applicant informing him of the date which is to be treated as the date of filing the application.

(4) The applicant shall, if he wishes the date on which the drawing is filed be treated as the date of filing the application, make a request as such within one month from the date of the Registrar’s notification sent to him, and—

(a) if the applicant makes any such request, the date of filing the drawing shall be so treated; but

(b) otherwise any reference to the drawing in the application shall be treated as omitted.

27.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) and (3), a new application for a patent, which includes a request that it shall be treated as having as its date of filing the date of filing of an earlier application, may be filed in accordance with section 26 (6)—

(a) in a case where the new application is filed after the earlier application has been amended under section 31 (1) so as to comply with the requirements of section 25 (5) (d), within 2 months from the date on which the earlier application was amended; and

(b) in a case which does not fall within paragraph (a), at any time after the filing of the earlier application,

and in any event, any new application shall be made before the earlier application has been refused, withdrawn or treated as having been abandoned and before all the conditions in section 30 (2) are satisfied.

(2) Where possible, the description and drawings of the earlier application and the new application shall respectively relate only to the matter for which protection is sought by that application.

(3) Where it is necessary for an application to describe the matter for which protection is sought by another application, it shall include a reference by number to that other application.

28.—(1) Where a new application is filed under section 20 (3), 26 (6) or 47 (4) after the period of 16 months prescribed in either rule 9 or 18, then, subject to this rule—

(a) the requirements of those rules shall be complied with at the time of filing the new application; and

(b) the requirements of paragraph 1 (2) (a) (ii) and (3) of the Fourth Schedule, in a case to which they apply, shall be complied with not later than the later of the time ascertained under the said paragraph 1 (3) of the Fourth Schedule and the time of filing the new application.

(1) Where a new application is filed under section 20 (3), 26 (6) or 47 (4)—

(a) subject to this rule, the requirements of rule 9 (1) and (3) shall be complied with at the time of filing the new application;

(b) after the period of 16 months prescribed in rules 9 (2) and 18, then, subject to this rule, the requirements of rules 9 (2) and 18 shall be complied with at the time of filing the new application; and

(c) the requirements of paragraph 1 (2) (a) (ii) and (3) of the Fourth Schedule, in a case to which they apply, shall be complied with on or before the time ascertained under the said paragraph 1 (3) or the time of filing the new application, whichever is the later.

(2) Where a new application is filed under section 20 (3), 26 (6) or 47 (4), the requirement of rule 9 (5)rule 9 (2A) and (5), if applicable, shall be met—

(a) within the period prescribed in that paragraph;

(b) if the earlier application is an international application, within that period as modified for the earlier application by rule 86 (4); or

(2) Where a new application is filed under section 20 (3), 26 (6) or 47 (4), the requirement of paragraph (2A) or (5) of rule 9, if applicable, shall be met—

(a) no later than the time prescribed in that paragraph;

(b) if the earlier application is an international application, no later than that time as modified for the earlier application by rule 86(4); or

(3) Where a new application is filed under section 26 (6) after—

(a) the period of 16 months prescribed in rule 9 (2) or 18 (1); or

(b) the period of 21 months prescribed in rule 9 (5) as modified, in the case of an international application, by rule 86 (4),

but within an extension of that period under rule 108 (3) or (4) in respect of the earlier application, the requirements of rule 9 (2) and (3), rule 9 (5) or 18, as the case may be, shall be complied with before the end of the extended period.

(3) Where a new application is filed under section 26 (6) after—

(a) the period of 16 months prescribed in rule 9 (2) or 18 (1); or

(b) the period of 22 months prescribed in rule 9 (2A) and (5) as modified, in the case of an international application, by rule 86 (4),

but within an extension of that period under rule 108 (3) or (4) in respect of the earlier application, the requirements of rule 9 (2), (2A) and (3), and rule 9 (5) or 18, as the case may be, shall be complied with before the end of the extended period.

(3) Where a new application is filed under section 26 (6) after—

(a) the period prescribed in rule 9 (2) or 18 (1);

(b) the time prescribed in rule 9 (2A) and (5); or

but within an extension of that period or time under rule 108 (3) or (4) in respect of the earlier application, the requirements of rule 9 (2), (2A) and (3), and rule 9 (5) or 18, as the case may be, shall be complied with before the end of the extended period or time.

29.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2), (3) and (4), an application for a patent shall be published for the purposes of section 27 as soon as possible after the expiration of 18 months from the declared priority date or, where there is no declared priority date, the date of filing the application.

(2) Where a new application is filed under section 20 (3), 26 (6) or 47 (4), as the case may be, the period prescribed for the purposes of section 27 shall be 18 months from the declared priority date for the earlier application or, where there is no declared priority date, the date of filing the earlier application.

(3) A request for early publication of an application in accordance with section 27 (1) shall be made on Patents Form 9.

(4) No application for a patent may be published if—

(a) it ceases to be pending—

(i) earlier than 2 months preceding the expiration of the time period applicable under paragraph (1) or (2); or

(ii) where the Registry completes the preparations for publication later than 2 months before the expiration of the time period applicable under paragraph (1) or (2), before the completion of such preparations; or

(b) none of the following conditions have been satisfied:

(i) a report in respect of a request under section 29 (1) (a), (1) (b) or (5) (b) has been issued;

(ii) the search report referred to in section 29 (5) (a) has been filed; or

(iii) the prescribed information referred to in section 29 (4) has been filed.

30. The Registrar may determine when the preparations for publication of an application for a patent are to be treated as having been completed.

31. Every person concerned in any proceedings to which these Rules relate and every proprietor of a patent shall furnish to the Registrar an address for service in Singapore and that address may be treated for all purposes connected with such proceedings or patent as the address of the person concerned in the proceedings or the proprietor of the patent.

32. Subject to rule 86 (8), the period prescribed for the purposes of section 28 (1) shall be the period which expires on the date the application is accorded the date of filing or the date of payment of the filing fee in accordance with rule 19 (2), whichever is later.

33.—(1) In examining for the purposes of section 28 (1) (“formalities examination”)For the purposes of sections 28 (1) (“formalities examination”) and 30 (2) (a), the following shall be formal requirements for the purposes of the Act:

(a) the requirements of rule 19 (1) and (4);

(b) the requirements laid down in rules 21 (1), (2), (3), (4) and (5) (other than those contained in paragraph (5) (h)), 22 and 23 (other than those contained in paragraphs (19), (20) and (26));

(d) the filing of an abstract referred to in section 25 (3) (c).

(2) Where the application is an international application for a patent (Singapore) which, by virtue of section 85, is to be treated as an application for a patent under the Act, the requirements of rules 19 (1), 21, 22 and 23 shall be treated as having been complied with to the extent that the requirements of the corresponding provisions of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty, have been fulfilled.

34. Where the formalities examination under section 28 reveals that an earlier relevant application declared for the purposes of section 17 has been stated in the application in suit to have a date of filing more than 12 months before the date of filing of the application in suit, the Registrar shall notify the applicant that the earlier relevant application will be disregarded unless, within one month from the date of the Registrar’s notification, he supplies the Registrar with a corrected date, being one which falls within those 12 months.

35. The Registrar may, if he thinks fit, send to the applicant a copy of any document (or any part thereof) referred to in the formalities examination report under section 28.

36. A request for a search report under section 29 (1) (a) shall be made on Patents Form 10.

37. A request for a search and examination report under section 29 (1) (b) or (5) (b) shall be made on Patents Form 11.

38.—(1) The period prescribed for the purposes of section 29 (1) (a) or (c) shall be—

(a) if the application contains no declared priority date, 16 months from the date of filing; or

(b) if the application does contain a declared priority date, 16 months from the declared priority date.

(2) Notwithstanding paragraph (1), where a new application is filed under section 20 (3), 26 (6) or 47 (4), as the case may be, the period prescribed for the purposes of section 29 (1) (a) or (c) shall be 16 months from the actual date of filing of the new application.

39. The details prescribed for the purposes of section 29 (1) (c) in respect of each corresponding international application (not designating Singapore) and each other corresponding application shall be—

(a) the serial or application number allocated to the application on filing;

(b) in the case of a corresponding application, the name of the patent office in which each corresponding application was filed and;

(d) the symbol or symbols of the International Patent Classification which have been, or which should be in the opinion of the applicant, allocated to it.

40.—(1) The documentation prescribed for the purposes of section 29 (“minimum documentation”) shall consist of—

(a) the patents issued by or registered in Singapore;

(b) the patent applications published in Singapore;

(d) the published international (Patent Co-operation Treaty) applications.

(2) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the “national patent documents” shall be the following:

(a) the patents issued by Australia, France, the former Reichspatentamt of Germany, Japan, Switzerland (in French and German languages only), the United Kingdom and the United States of America;

(b) the patents issued by the Federal Republic of Germany; and

(3) The patent documents of Japan, for which no abstracts in the English language are generally available, need not form part of the “minimum documentation”.

(4) Only those patents issued and those patent applications published, after a date not more than 50 years before the declared priority date or, where there is no declared priority date, the date of filing of the application being subjected to a search, need form part of the “minimum documentation”.

41. The patent offices prescribed for the purposes of sections 29 (1) (c) and (9) and 79 (1) shall be those of Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the European Patent Office (in respect of applications for a European patent filed in the English language).

42.—(1) A request for an examination report under section 29 (3), (5) (a) or (8) shall be made on Patents Form 12.

(2) A request for an examination report under section 29 (5) (a) or (8) shall not be treated as having been made unless the form required under paragraph (1) is accompanied by—

(a) a copy of the search report referred to in section 29 (5) (a) or a copy of the international search report referred to in section 29 (8); and

(b) a copy of the search report and each of the documents referred to in that search report and, where any such report or document is not in the English language, a translation thereof into English verified to the satisfaction of the Registrar as corresponding to the original text unless such translation has already been furnished in accordance with rule 112.

(2) A request for an examination report under section 29 (3) (in the case of an application under section 116 (6)), 29 (5) (a) or 29 (8) shall not be treated as having been made unless the form required under paragraph (1) is accompanied by—

(a) a copy of the search report referred to in section 29 (3) (in the case of an application under section 116 (6)) or 29 (5) (a) or a copy of the international search report referred to in section 29 (8) together with each of the documents referred to in that search report or international search report; and

(b) a list of references to the patent family members as corresponding to each of the non-English documents cited in the search report or international search report mentioned in paragraph (a).

(3) The Registrar may require an applicant to furnish a translation into English, verified to the satisfaction of the Registrar as corresponding to the original text, of part or the whole of any document referred to in that search report or international search report within such period as the Registrar may specify.

(4) Where an applicant does not comply with all the requirements of the Registrar within the period specified under paragraph (3), the request for an examination report shall be treated as having been abandoned.

43.—(1) The period prescribed for filing—

(a) a request for an examination report under section 29 (3) or (8);

(b) a request for a search and examination report under section 29 (1) (b) or (5) (b);

(c) prescribed information relating to a corresponding international or other corresponding application in accordance with section 29 (4); or

(d) a copy of a search report together with a request for an examination report in accordance with section 29 (5) (a),

shall be 22 months28 months—

(i) from the declared priority date; or

(ii) from the date of filing the application where there is no declared priority date.

(2) Subject to paragraph (3), where a new application is filed under section 20 (3), 26 (6) or 47 (4), as the case may be, the period prescribed for the purposes specified in paragraph (1) shall be 22 months28 months from the actual date of filing of the new application.

(3) Where a copy of the search report has been sent to the applicant in accordance with section 29 (3)—

(a) less than one month before the expiry of the period prescribed in paragraph (1) or (2), the period prescribed for filing a request for an examination report under section 29 (3) shall be 23 months29 months from the declared priority date or the date of filing the application where there is no declared priority date; or

(b) after the expiry of the period prescribed in paragraph (1) or (2), the period prescribed for filing a request for an examination report under section 29 (3) shall be for a further period of one month from the date the Registrar sends the search report.

44. The information prescribed for the purposes of section 29 (4) shall be that which is sufficient to indicate the result of an application filed before any one of the prescribed patent offices, and shall be either in the form of—

(a) a certified copy of the patent granted by the patent office in question; or

(b) other documents, to the satisfaction of the Registrar, setting out the final results of the search and examination as to substance.

44. The information prescribed for the purposes of section 29 (4) shall be—

(a) that which is sufficient to indicate the result of an application filed before any one of the prescribed patent offices any one of the corresponding international applications or other corresponding applications referred to in section 29 (1) (c), and shall be in the form of—

(i) a certified copy of the patent granted by the patent office in question; or

(ii) other documents, to the satisfaction of the Registrar, setting out the final results of the search and examination as to substance; and

(b) any symbol of the International Patent Classification which has been or which in the opinion of the applicant should be allocated to the application.

45.—(1) If during the preparation of a report under either paragraph (a) or (b) of section 29 (1), or section 29 (5) (b) it appears that an application relates to two or more inventions, but they are not so linked as to form a single inventive concept, the search may be restricted to one in relation to the first invention specified in the claims of the application, and the Registrar shall notify the applicant of that fact.

(2) If the applicant desires a search to be conducted in relation to a second or subsequent invention specified in the claims, he shall, within one month2 months from the date of the Registrar’s notification referred to in paragraph (1), request on Patents Form 10 a supplementary search report and pay the prescribed search fee for each invention in respect of which the search is to be made.

(3) If a new application for a patent for a second or subsequent invention is filed under section 26 (6), the applicant may, in lieu of complying with section 29 (1) (a), notify the Registrar in writing that he intends to rely on the supplementary search report for this second or subsequent invention.

46.—(1) If during an examination under section 29 (3), (6), (7) or (8), the Examiner is of the opinion that—

(a) the description, claims, or drawings are so unclear, or the claims are so inadequately supported by the description that no meaningful opinion can be formed on the novelty, inventive step of the claimed invention, or on whether the claimed invention is capable of industrial application;

(b) the invention defined in any claim does not appear novel, does not appear to involve an inventive step or does not appear to be capable of industrial application;

(d) any amendment has resulted in the application disclosing any matter extending beyond that disclosed in the application as filed; or

(e) a claim relates to an invention in respect of which no search has been completed, and he has decided not to carry out the examination in respect of that claim,

the Examiner shall notify the Registrar in writing of that opinion and shall state fully the reasons for his opinion.

(2) The Registrar shall, on receipt of the written opinion, forward the opinion as soon as possible to the applicant together with an invitation to the applicant to file a response thereto.

(3) The applicant may respond to the written opinion by submitting to the Registrar—

(a) written arguments disagreeing with the Examiner’s opinion; or

(b) an amendment of the specification of the application,

and where the applicant wishes to file written arguments and an amendment to the specification of the application, he shall submit both at the same time.

(4) Any response by the applicant to a first written opinion—

(a) in respect of a search and examination report under section 29 (6), shall be made within 4 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter enclosing the written opinion; or

(b) in respect of an examination report under section 29 (3), (7) or (8), shall be made within 3 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter enclosing the written opinion.

(4) Any response by the applicant to a first written opinion in respect of—

(a) a search and examination report under section 29 (6); or

(b) an examination report under section 29 (3), (7) or (8),

shall be made within 5 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter enclosing the written opinion.

(5) Where the applicant has filed an amendment or argument under paragraph (3), the Examiner may, in his discretion, issue a further written opinion to the Registrar stating fully the reasons for the opinion and paragraphs (2) and (3) shall accordingly apply; and any response by the applicant shall be made within 3 months5 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter enclosing the further written opinion.

(6) In deciding whether to issue any further written opinion, the Examiner may also take into consideration whether sufficient time remains for the applicant to respond to his written opinion and for him to draw up the examination report or the search and examination report.

(7) A further opinion or report issued by the Examiner need not take into account any amendment or argument filed by the applicant after he has commenced drawing up his opinion or report.

(8) Subject to paragraphs (9) and (10), the Examiner shall send the search and examination report or the examination report to the Registrar before the expiry of 39 months 51 months from—

(a) the declared priority date; or

(b) the date of filing of the application where there is no declared priority date.

(9) Where the applicant does not file a response within the period specified in paragraph (4) or (5), the Examiner shall send the search and examination report or the examination report to the Registrar at the expiration of that period.

(10) Where a new application is filed under section 20 (3), 26 (6) or 47 (7), the Examiner shall send the search and examination report or the examination report to the Registrar before the expiry of 39 months51 months from the actual date of filing the new application.

47.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), the period prescribed for the purposes of section 30 (1) shall be 42 months54 months from—

(a) the declared priority date; or

(b) the date of filing of the application where there is no declared priority date.

(2) Where a new application is filed under section 20 (3), 26 (6) or 47 (4), as the case may be, the period prescribed in paragraph (1) shall be 42 months54 months from the actual date of filing of the new application.

(3) Payment of the prescribed fee for the grant of a patent must be accompanied by Patents Form 14 duly completed and filed by the applicant.

48. Subject to rule 56 (3), an application for amendment of—

(a) the request for the grant of a patent;

(b) the description, the claims and drawings,

(b) the description, claims, drawings and abstract,

shall be made on Patents Form 13 and shall be accompanied by a document with the proposed amendment clearly indicated in indelible red marking.

49.—(1) The applicant may, of his own volition, amend the request for the grant of a patent at any time before payment of the fee for the grant of the patent.

(2) The applicant may, unless the Registrar otherwise requires, of his own volition, amend the description, claims and drawings and any such application for amendment shall be made—

(a) after receipt of the search report referred to in section 29 (1) (a) but before the filing of the request for an examination report;

(b) in the case where prescribed information has been filed in accordance with section 29 (4), at any time before the payment of the fee for the grant of the patent;

(c) in the case of an international application for a patent (Singapore), at any time before the filing of a request for a report under section 29 (8).

(2) The applicant may, unless the Registrar otherwise requires, of his own volition, amend the description, claims, drawings and abstract at any time before payment of the fee for the grant of a patent, except that any such application for amendment shall not be made—

(a) after filing of the request for a search report referred to in section 29 (1) (a) and before receipt of that report by the applicant;

(b) after filing of the request for a search and examination report referred to in section 29 (1) (b) or (5) (b) and before receipt of that report by the applicant; or

(c) after filing of the request for an examination report referred to in section 29 (3), (5) (a) or (8) and before receipt of that report by the applicant.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraph (2), the applicant may, of his own volition and with the consent of the Registrar, make a further amendment to the description, claims or drawings before the payment of fee for the grant of the patent by filing Patents Form 13 accompanied by a document clearly identifying the proposed amendment.

(4) An application may not be amended by the applicant of his own volition except as provided in paragraphs (1) to (3).

50. The certificate for the purposes of section 35 (2) shall be in the form set out in the Fifth Schedule.

51.—(1) If it is desired to keep a patent in force for a further year after the expiration of the fourth or any succeeding year from the date of filing an application for that patent as determined in accordance with section 26, 116 (4) or (6), Patents Form 15, in respect of the next succeeding year, accompanied by the prescribed renewal fee for that year, shall be filed in the 3 months ending with the fourth or, as the case may be, succeeding anniversary of the date of filing subject to the following provisions:

(a) where a patent is granted under section 30 after 45 months from the date of filing has expired, Patents Form 15 and any renewal fees which have become due, (including any fees due in respect of preceding years) may be filed up to the end of the period which expires 3 months from the date on which the patent is granted; and

(b) in the case of a patent in force by virtue of section 116 (3), the proprietor of the patent shall—

(i) at the time of paying the prescribed fee for the renewal of such patent for the first time under this Act, furnish a statutory declaration that the patent remains in force in the United Kingdom and evidence in support of that statement; and

(ii) at the time of paying the prescribed fee for every subsequent renewal, furnish a statutory declaration stating that the patent has not been revoked in the United Kingdom.

(2) On receipt of the prescribed renewal fee accompanied by Patents Form 15 duly completed, the Registrar shall issue a certificate of payment on the appropriate portion of that Form notification confirming renewal of the patent.

(3) If the Registrar is not satisfied that a patent to which section 116 (3) applies is in force in the United Kingdom, he shall refuse to renew the patent.

(4) Where the period for payment of a renewal fee pursuant to paragraph (1) has expired, the Registrar shall, not later than one month from the last date for payment under that paragraph and if the fee still remains unpaid, send to the proprietor of the patent a notice reminding him that payment is overdue and of the consequences of non-payment.

(5) In the case of a patent which was in force by virtue of section 116 (3) and which has never been renewed pursuant to paragraph (1), the Registrar is not required to send a notice reminding the proprietor that payment is overdue.

(5) Where a patent to which section 116 (3) applies has never been renewed under paragraph (1), the application of section 36 (4) in relation to the patent is modified to the extent that the Registrar is not required to send a notice reminding the proprietor of the patent that the payment is overdue.

(6) The Registrar shall send a notice under paragraph (4) to—

(a) the address in Singapore specified by the proprietor on payment of the last renewal fee; or

(b) where another address in Singapore has been notified to him for that purpose by the proprietor since the last renewal, that address,

and, in any other case, the address for service entered in the register.

(7) Payment of the additional fee referred to in section 36 (3) shall be made on Patents Form 16 and shall be accompanied by the additional fee prescribed for late payment, and shall also be accompanied by Patents Form 15 together with the corresponding renewal fee.

(8) Where an entry has been made in the register under section 53 (2) in respect of a patent that licences under the patent are to be available as of right, Patents Form 53 shall be filed in relation to the renewal of the patent under this rule instead of Patents Form 15.

52.—(1) An application to the Registrar for leave to amend the specification of a patent shall be made on Patents Form 17 and shall be advertised by publication of the application and the nature of reasons for the proposed amendment in the journal and in such other manner, if any, as the Registrar may direct.

(2) Any person wishing to oppose the application to amend shall, within 2 months from the date of the advertisement in the journal, file notice to the Registrar on Patents Form 18.

(3) Such notice shall be accompanied by a copy thereof and be supported by a statement in duplicate setting out fully the facts upon which the opponent relies and the relief which he seeks. The Registrar shall send a copy of the notice and of the statement to the applicant.

(4) Within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding such copies to him, the applicant shall, if he wishes to continue with the application, file a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 in duplicate setting out fully the grounds upon which the opposition is resisted; and the Registrar shall send a copy of the counter-statement to the opponent.

(5) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

(6) An application under this rule shall be accompanied by a copy of the specification as granted on which the proposed amendment is clearly indicated in indelible red marking.

(7) Where notice of opposition has been filed, the Registrar, in determining whether leave to amend should be granted, may cause the patent as proposed to be amended to be examined by an examiner to determine whether the amendment is allowable under section 84 (3), in which case the application for leave to amend together with the notice of opposition, the accompanying statement and any counter-statement, shall be taken into consideration by the examiner during his examination.

(8) Where leave to amend a specification is given, the applicant shall, if the Registrar so requires, and within a time to be fixed by him, file a new specification as amended, which shall be prepared in accordance with rules 19, 21 and 23.

(9) Where no notice of opposition is received by the Registrar under paragraph (2) or where such notice fails to comply with paragraph (3) and the Registrar is satisfied with the reasons for making the proposed amendments, he may give leave to the applicant to amend the specification of the patent.

53.—(1) An application under section 39 for the restoration of a patent—

(a) may be made at any time within the 12 months30 months from the day on which it ceased to have effect; and

(b) shall be made on Patents Form 19 supported by evidence of the statements made in it,

and the registrar shall publish in the journal notice of the making of the application.

(1A) Where the application is for the restoration of a patent to which section 116 (3) applies, the evidence referred to in paragraph (1) (b) shall include—

(a) that which establishes that the patent remained in force in the United Kingdom at the time the first renewal was due if the patent had never been renewed under the Act; and

(b) a statutory declaration stating that the patent has not been revoked in the United Kingdom.

(2) If, upon consideration of the evidence, the Registrar is not satisfied that a case for an order under section 39 has been made out, he shall notify the applicant accordingly and, unless within one month from the date of the Registrar’s notification the applicant requests to be heard in the matter, the Registrar shall refuse the application.

(3) If the applicant requests a hearing within the time allowed, the Registrar shall, after giving the applicant an opportunity of being heard, determine whether the application shall be allowed or refused.

(4) If the Registrar decides to allow the application, he shall notify the applicant accordingly and require him, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s notification to him, to file Patents Form 20 accompanied by the prescribed additional fee, together with Patents Form 15, duly completed, and the amount of any unpaid renewal fee, upon receipt of which the Registrar shall order the restoration of the patent and publish the fact in the journal.

(5) Paragraph (1) (a) as amended by the Patents (Amendment) Rules 1997 shall also apply to any patent to which section 116 (3) applies which had ceased to have effect before 1st April 1997.

53A. Where a patent to which section 116 (3) applies has never been renewed under rule 51 (1), the application of section 39 (4) in relation to the patent is modified to the extent that the Registrar may, apart from the ground stated in section 39 (4), by order restore the patent if the Registrar is satisfied that the failure to pay any renewal fee was unintentional and the proprietor of the patent has good cause for failing to renew the patent within the period prescribed.

54.—(1) A notice of an offer under section 40 by a proprietor of a patent to surrender his patent shall be given on Patents Form 21 and shall be advertised by the Registrar in the journal.

(2) At any time within 2 months from the date of the advertisement, any person may give notice of opposition to the surrender to the Registrar on Patents Form 22.

(4) Within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding the copies of the notice and statement, the proprietor of the patent shall, if he wishes to continue with the surrender, file a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 in duplicate setting out fully the grounds upon which the opposition is resisted; and the Registrar shall send a copy of the counter-statement to the opponent.

(5) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

55.—(1) No entry shall be made in the register in respect of any application for a patent before the application has been published in accordance with section 27.

(2) Upon such publication, the Registrar shall cause to be entered in the register—

(a) the name and address of the applicant or applicants;

(b) the name and address of the person or persons stated by the applicant or applicants to be believed to be the inventor or inventors;

(d) the date of filing and the file number of the application for the patent;

(e) the date of filing and the file number of any application declared for the purposes of section 17 (2) and the country in or for which the application was made;

(f) the date on which the application was published;

(g) the address for service of the applicant or applicants; and

(h) the symbol or symbols of the International Patent Classification allocated to the application.

(3) The Registrar shall also cause to be entered in the register—

(a) the date that the reports or information, as the case may be, referred to in section 30 (2) were received by the Registrar;

(b) the date on which the application is withdrawn, treated as having been abandoned, treated as having been withdrawn, refused or treated as having been refused;

(d) the name and address of the person or persons to whom the patent is granted if different to the entries made in accordance with paragraph (2) (a);

(e) the address for service, if different to the entry made in accordance with paragraph (2) (g);

(f) notice of any transaction, instrument or event referred to in section 43 (3);

(g) the date of renewal of the patent, if any;

(h) the cessation of the patent, if any;

(i) the restoration of the patent, if any;

(j) particulars of any decision to revoke the patent; and

(k) particulars of any court order in relation to the patent.

(4) The Registrar may at any time enter in the register such other particulars as he may think fit.

56.—(1) A request by any person, upon the alteration of his name, for that alteration to be entered in the register or on any application or other document filed at the Registry shall be made on Patents Form 23.

(2) Before acting on a request to alter a name, the Registrar may require such proof of the alteration as he thinks fit.

(3) A request by any person for the alteration or correction of his address or address for service entered in the register or on any application or other document filed at the Registry shall be made on Patents Form 23.

(4) If the Registrar is satisfied that a request to alter a name or to alter or correct an address or address for service may be allowed, he shall cause the register, application or other document to be altered accordingly.

57.—(1) An application to register, or to give notice to the Registrar of, any transaction, instrument or event to which section 43 applies shall be made on Patents Form 24.

(2) Unless the Registrar otherwise directs, an application under paragraph (1) shall be accompanied by—

(a) a certified copy of any document which establishes the transaction, instrument or event; or

(b) a certified copy of such extracts from such document as suffice to establish the transaction, instrument or event.

(2) An application under paragraph (1) shall—

(a) where the transaction, instrument or event is an assignment, include an authorisation signed by or on behalf of the parties to the assignment; and

(b) where the transaction, instrument or event falls within section 43 (3) (b), (c) or (d), include an authorisation signed by or on behalf of the person making the grant or giving assent in respect of that transaction, instrument or event.

(3) Where an application does not include the authorisation referred to in paragraph (2) (a) or (b), the application shall, unless the Registrar directs, be accompanied by—

(a) a certified copy of any document which establishes the transaction, instrument or event; or

(b) a certified copy of such extracts from such document as suffice to establish the transaction, instrument or event.

(4) The Registrar may require such other information to be furnished for an application under paragraph (1) as he thinks necessary.

58.—(1) Without prejudice to rule 56 (3), a request for the correction of each error in the register or in any document filed at the Registry in connection with registration shall be made on Patents Form 23; and the correction shall be clearly identified on a document annexed to the form or, if not, on the form itself.

(2) Where a request is sought to correct the same error in both the register and any document filed at the Registry in connection with the registration, the request may be made on a single form.

(3) The Registrar may call for such written explanation of the reasons for the request or evidence in support of it as he may require in order to satisfy himself that there is an error and, upon being so satisfied, shall make such correction as may be agreed between the proprietor of the patent or applicant and the Registrar.

(4) This rule is without prejudice to the power of the Registrar to correct any entry in the register which is attributable wholly or in part to an error, default or omission on the part of the Registry.

59. A request for information about the date of payment of any renewal fee shall be made on Patents Form 25 and shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

60.—(1) The register or entries or reproductions of entries in it shall be made available for inspection at the Registry by the public on payment of the prescribed fee, during the hours of business as specified in rule 98.

(2) A request to be allowed to inspect the register shall be made on Patents Form 25.

61. The Registrar may arrange for the publication and advertisement of such things done under the Act or these Rules in relation to the register as he may think fit.

62. On the reference to the Registrar of a question under section 20 (1) or 47 (1), he shall, subject to rule 55 (1), cause an entry to be made in the register of the fact and of such other information relating to the reference as he may think fit.

63.—(1) Upon request made on Patents Form 26 and payment of the appropriate fee, but subject to paragraph (3), the Registrar shall supply—

(a) a certified copy or certified extract falling within section 45;

(b) a copy of an entry in or an extract from the register or a copy of or an extract from anything referred to in section 45, certified by the impression of a rubber stamp; and

(2) Upon request made on Patents Form 25 and payment of the prescribed fee, but subject to paragraph (3), the Registrar shall supply an uncertified copy of an entry in or an uncertified extract from the register or an uncertified copy of or an uncertified extract from anything referred to in section 45.

(3) The restrictions on making documents available for inspection contained in rule 93 (4) shall apply equally to the supply by the Registrar under this rule of copies of or extracts from such documents or requests as are referred to in rule 93 (4); and nothing in this rule shall be construed as imposing upon the Registrar the duty of supplying copies of or extracts from any document or file of a description referred to in rule 93 (5).

64.—(1) Where any order or direction has been made or given by the court—

(a) transferring a patent or application or any right in or under it to any person;

(b) that an application should proceed in the name of any person;

(d) revoking a patent,

the person in whose favour the order is made or the direction is given—

(i) shall file Patents Form 27 accompanied by a copy of the order or direction; and

(ii) if the Registrar so requires and before a time limit fixed by him, shall file a specification as amended (prepared in accordance with rules 19, 21 and 23).

(2) Upon a filing under paragraph (1), the specification shall be amended or the register rectified or altered, as the case may require.

65.—(1) A reference under section 47 (1) shall be made on Patents Form 2 and shall be accompanied by a copy thereof and a statement in duplicate setting out fully the nature of the question, the facts upon which the person making the reference relies and the order which he is seeking.

(2) The Registrar shall send a copy of the reference and statement to every person who is not a party to the reference being—

(a) a person who is shown on the register as having any right in or under the patent;

(b) a person who has given notice to the Registrar of a relevant transaction, instrument or event; or

(3) If any person who is sent a copy of the reference and statement under paragraph (2) wishes to oppose the making of the order sought (“the opponent”), he shall, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding such copies to him, file in duplicate a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 setting out fully the grounds of his opposition and the Registrar shall send a copy of the counter-statement to the person making the reference and to those recipients of the copy of the reference and statement who are not party to the counter-statement.

(4) The person making the reference or any such recipient may, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding the copy of the counter-statement, file evidence in support of his case and shall send a copy of the evidence—

(a) in any case, to the opponent; and

(b) in the case of evidence filed by such a recipient, to the person making the reference.

(5) Within 2 months from the date of receipt of the copy of such evidence or, if no such evidence is filed, within 2 months from the expiration of the time within which the copy of such evidence could have been filed, the opponent may file evidence in support of his case and shall send a copy of that evidence to the person making the reference and to those recipients; and within 2 months from the date of receipt of the copy of the opponent’s evidence, that person or any of those recipients may file further evidence confined to matters strictly in reply and shall send a copy of it to the persons mentioned in paragraph (4) (a) and (b).

(6) No further evidence shall be filed by any party except by leave or direction of the Registrar.

(7) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

66.—(1) An application under section 47 (3) for authority to do anything on behalf of a person to whom directions have been given under section 47 (2) (d) shall be made on Patents Form 4 and shall be accompanied by a copy thereof and a statement in duplicate setting out fully the facts upon which the applicant relies and the nature of the authorisation sought.

(2) The Registrar shall send a copy of the application and statement to the person alleged to have failed to comply with the directions.

(3) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

67. Where the Registrar orders that a new application may be made under section 47 (4), it shall be made within 3 months from the day on which the time for appealing from that order expires without an appeal being brought or, where an appeal is brought, from the day on which it is finally disposed of.

68.—(1) Where an order is made under section 47 that a patent shall be transferred to one or more persons none of whom was an old proprietor of it or that a person other than an old proprietor may make a new application for a patent, a request under section 48 (3) for the grant of a licence to continue working or, as the case may be, to work the invention shall be made within 2 months from the date of notification by the Registrar of the making of the order.

(2) Where such an order is made, the Registrar shall notify the old proprietor or proprietors, and their licensees of whom he is aware, of the making of the order.

69.—(1) Where a question is referred to the Registrar under section 48 (5) as to whether any person is entitled to be granted a licence or whether the period or terms of a licence are reasonable, the reference shall be made on Patents Form 6 and shall be accompanied by a copy thereof and a statement in duplicate setting out fully the facts upon which the person making the reference relies and the terms of the licence which he is prepared to accept or grant.

(2) The Registrar shall send a copy of the reference and statement to the new proprietor or proprietors and every person claiming to be entitled to be granted a licence, in either case not being the person who makes the reference, and if any recipient does not agree to grant or accept a licence for such period and upon such terms, he shall, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding such copies to him, file a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 in duplicate setting out fully the grounds of his objection and the Registrar shall send a copy of the counter-statement to the person making the reference.

(3) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

70.—(1) An application under section 53 (1) shall be made on Patents Form 28.

(2) Every entry made in the register consequent upon such an application shall be published in the journal and in such other manner (if any) as the Registrar thinks necessary.

71.—(1) An application under section 53 (3) (a) or (b) shall be made on Patents Form 29 which shall be filed in duplicate together with—

(a) in the case of an application by the proprietor of the patent, 2 copies of a draft of the licence he proposes and of a statement of the facts he relies on; and

(b) in the case of an application by any other person, 2 copies of a draft of the licence he seeks.

(2) The Registrar shall—

(a) in the case of an application by the proprietor, send a copy of Patents Form 29 and a copy of the documents filed under paragraph (1) (a) to the person to whom the proprietor proposes to grant the licence; and

(b) in the case of an application by any other person, send a copy of Patents Form 29 and a copy of the documents filed under paragraph (1) (b) to the proprietor.

(3) Within 2 months from the date when the documents are sent to him under paragraph (2)—

(a) in the case of an application by the proprietor, the person referred to in paragraph (2) (a) may file a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 setting out fully the grounds of his objection; and

(b) in the case of an application by any other person, the proprietor may file a statement setting out fully the grounds of his objection,

and, if he does so, at the same time shall send a copy of the statement or counter-statement, as the case may be, to the other party.

(4) Within 2 months from the date when a statement under paragraph (3) (b) is sent to him, the person therein referred to may file a counter-statement on Patents Form 3; and, if he does so, he shall at the same time send a copy of the counter-statement to the proprietor.

(5) No further statement or counter-statement shall be served by either party without the leave or direction of the Registrar.

(6) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

72. An application under section 54 (1) shall be made on Patents Form 30 and shall be accompanied by Patents Form 15 and fees to the amount of the balance of all renewal fees which would have been payable if the entry had not been made.

73.—(1) An application under section 54 (3) shall be made on Patents Form 30 within 2 months from the date of publication in the journal of the relevant entry and shall be accompanied by a copy of the application supported by a statement in duplicate setting out fully the nature of the claimant’s interest and the facts upon which he relies.

(2) The Registrar shall send a copy of the application and statement to the proprietor of the patent.

74.—(1) Every application under section 54 (1) or (3) shall be advertised in the journal and the period within which notice of opposition to the cancellation of an entry may be given under section 54 (6) shall be 2 months from the date of the advertisement.

(2) Such notice shall be given on Patents Form 31 in duplicate and shall be accompanied by a supporting statement in duplicate setting out fully the facts upon which the opponent relies.

(3) The Registrar shall send a copy of the notice and statement to the applicant for cancellation of the entry who, if he desires to proceed with the application, shall, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding such copies to him, file a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 in duplicate setting out fully the grounds on which the opposition is contested and the Registrar shall send a copy of the counter-statement to the opponent.

(4) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

75. Where the Registrar cancels an entry in the register pursuant to section 54 (3), he shall inform the proprietor of the patent who shall, within such period as the Registrar specifies, file Patents Form 15, accompanied by fees to the amount of the balance of all renewal fees which would have been payable if the entry had not been made.

75.—(1) Where the Registrar has received an application from the proprietor of a patent to cancel an entry in the register under section 54 (1), the Registrar shall notify the proprietor of the patent who shall, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s notification to him, pay fees equal to the amount of the balance of all renewal fees which would have been payable if the entry had not been made, accompanied by a copy of the Registrar’s notification.

(2) Upon receipt of the fees under paragraph (1), the Registrar may proceed to cancel the entry if he is satisfied that there is no existing licence under the patent or that all licensees under the patent consent to the application.

(3) Where the Registrar cancels an entry in the register in respect of a patent under section 54 (3), the Registrar shall notify the proprietor of the patent who shall, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s notification to him, pay fees equal to the amount of the balance of all renewal fees which would have been payable if the entry had not been made, accompanied by a copy of the Registrar’s notification.

76.—(1) Where a reference is made to the Registrar under section 67 (3), the parties thereto shall make it on Patents Form 32, accompanied by a joint statement giving full particulars of the matters which are in dispute and of those on which they are in agreement.

(2) The procedure set out in this rule shall apply unless the only matter stated in the reference to be in dispute is the validity of any patent or part of a patent.

(3) The party to the dispute who is the proprietor of the patent or an exclusive licensee of the patent (such party being referred to in this rule and rule 77 as the plaintiff) shall, if he desires to proceed with the reference, within 14 days from making the reference, file a statement giving full particulars of his case on the matters in dispute and shall at the same time send a copy of the statement to the other party to the dispute.

(4) Within 2 months from the date of receipt by the other party to the dispute of the copy of the plaintiff’s statement, the other party (referred to in this rule and rule 77 as the defendant) shall, if he wishes to contest the plaintiff’s case, file a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 setting out fully the grounds on which he contests the plaintiff’s case and shall at the same time send a copy of the counter-statement to the plaintiff.

(5) If the defendant alleges in his counter-statement that the patent or any part of it alleged by the plaintiff to have been infringed is not valid, the plaintiff shall, if he wishes to contest the defendant’s allegation, within 2 months from the date of receipt of the counter-statement, file a further statement setting out fully the grounds on which he contests the defendant’s allegation and shall at the same time send a copy of the further statement to the defendant.

(6) Subject to such directions as the Registrar may give, the plaintiff may, within 2 months from the date of receipt of the counter-statement, or, if he has filed a further statement under paragraph (5), within 2 months thereof, file evidence in support of his case and shall send a copy thereof to the defendant.

(7) Within 2 months from the date of receipt of the copy of the plaintiff’s evidence or, if the plaintiff does not file any evidence, within 2 months of the expiration of the time within which such evidence could have been filed, the defendant may file evidence in support of his case and shall send a copy of it to the plaintiff, and, within 2 months from the date of receipt of the copy of the defendant’s evidence, the plaintiff may file further evidence confined to matters strictly in reply and shall send a copy of it to the defendant.

(8) No further evidence shall be filed by either party except by leave or direction of the Registrar.

(9) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

77.—(1) Where the only matter stated in the reference made under section 67 (3) to be in dispute is the validity of any patent or part of a patent, the procedure set out in this rule shall apply.

(2) The defendant shall, if he wishes to contest the plaintiff’s case, within 14 days from making the reference, file a statement giving full particulars of the grounds on which he alleges that the patent or part of the patent is invalid and shall at the same time send a copy of the statement to the plaintiff.

(3) The plaintiff shall, if he wishes to contest the defendant’s allegation, within 2 months from the date of receipt of the defendant’s statement, file a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 giving full particulars of the grounds on which he contests the defendant’s allegations, and shall at the same time send a copy of it to the defendant.

(4) Subject to such directions as the Registrar may think fit to give, the defendant may, within 2 months from the date of receipt of the plaintiff’s counter-statement, file evidence in support of his case, and shall send a copy of it to the plaintiff.

(5) Within 2 months from the date of receipt of the copy of the defendant’s evidence or, if the defendant does not file any evidence within 2 months of the expiration of the time within which such evidence could have been filed, the plaintiff may file evidence in support of his case and shall send a copy of it to the defendant; and, within 2 months from the date of receipt of the copy of the plaintiff’s evidence, the defendant may file further evidence confined to matters strictly in reply and shall send a copy of it to the plaintiff.

(6) No further evidence shall be filed by either party except by leave or direction of the Registrar.

(7) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

78.—(1) An application to the Registrar under section 78 for a declaration that an act does not, or a proposed act would not, constitute an infringement of a patent shall be made on Patents Form 33 and shall be accompanied by a copy thereof and a statement in duplicate, setting out fully the facts upon which the applicant relies as showing that section 78 (1) (a) and (b) have been complied with and the relief which he seeks.

(2) The Registrar shall send a copy of the statement to the proprietor of the patent who shall, if he wishes to contest the application, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding such copy to him, file a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 setting out fully the grounds on which he contests the applicant’s case and shall at the same time send a copy thereof to the applicant.

(3) Subject to such directions as the Registrar may think fit to give, the applicant may, within 2 months from the date of receipt of the copy of the counter-statement, file evidence in support of his application and shall send a copy thereof to the proprietor of the patent.

(4) Within 2 months from the date of receipt of the copy of the applicant’s evidence or, if the applicant does not file any evidence, within 2 months from the expiration of the time within which such evidence could have been filed, the proprietor of the patent may file evidence in support of his case and shall send a copy of that evidence to the applicant; and, within 2 months from the date of receipt of the copy of the proprietor’s evidence, the applicant may file further evidence confined to matters strictly in reply and shall send a copy of it to the proprietor.

(5) No further evidence shall be filed by either party except by leave or direction of the Registrar.

(6) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

79.—(1) An application under section 79 (1) shall be made on Patents Form 34.

(2) The information prescribed for the purpose of section 79 (1) shall be that which is sufficient to indicate the result of each of the corresponding international applications or corresponding applications referred to in section 79 (1), and shall be either in the form of—

(a) a certified copy of the patent granted by the patent office in question; or

(b) other documents, to the satisfaction of the Registrar, setting out the final result of the search and examination as to substance.

80.—(1) An application to the Registrar for the revocation of a patent shall be made on Patents Form 35 in duplicate and shall be accompanied by a statement in duplicate setting out fully the grounds of revocation, including the facts upon which the applicant relies and the relief which he seeks.

(2) The Registrar shall send a copy of the application and the statement to the proprietor of the patent.

(3) Within 3 months from the date of receipt of the copies of the application and statement, the proprietor of the patent, if he wishes to contest the application, shall file a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 setting out fully the grounds upon which the application is contested and he may, at the same time file an amendment of the specification of the patent in accordance with section 83, and shall at the same time send a copy of the amendment (if any) and the counter-statement to the applicant.

(4) If the proprietor of the patent fails to file the counter-statement in accordance with paragraph (3), he shall not be allowed to take part in the subsequent proceedings, and the application for revocation shall be considered by the Registrar as if each specific fact set out in the statement were conceded, except in so far as it is contradicted by other document in the possession of the Registrar.

(5) The applicant may, within 3 months from the date of receipt of the copy of the amendment (if any) and the counter-statement, file evidence as he may desire to adduce in support of his case and shall at the same time send a copy of the evidence to the proprietor.

(6) If the applicant files no evidence in accordance with paragraph (5), he shall, unless the Registrar otherwise directs, be deemed to have abandoned his application.

(7) If the applicant files evidence in accordance with paragraph (5), then, within 3 months from the date of receipt of the copy of the applicant’s evidence, the proprietor of the patent may file evidence as he desires to adduce in support of his case and shall at the same time send a copy of that evidence to the applicant.

(8) Within 3 months from the date of receipt by the applicant of the copy of the proprietor’s evidence, the applicant may file further evidence confined to matters strictly in reply and shall at the same time send a copy of that evidence to the proprietor.

(9) No further evidence shall be filed by either party, but in any proceedings before the Registrar, he may at any time, if he thinks fit, give leave to either party to file any evidence upon such terms as to costs or otherwise as he may think fit.

(10) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

81.—(1) If the Registrar decides to cause the patent to be re-examined—

(a) the Registrar shall direct the applicant for revocation of the patent to file Patents Form 36 requesting re-examination of the patent, together with the prescribed re-examination fee and any security for the costs or expenses of the proceedings specified by the Registrar, within 2 months from the date of the direction, and if the applicant fails to do so within that period he shall be deemed to have abandoned his application;

(b) the Examiner shall during re-examination take into consideration the statement by the applicant, any amendment of the specification of the patent, the counter-statement by the proprietor of the patent and any evidence filed under rule 80 and shall recommend whether or not the patent should be revoked on any of the grounds specified in the application for revocation, and shall notify the Registrar of the conclusions in the re-examination report stating fully the reasons for such conclusions.

(2) If amendments have been proposed under section 83 (1) by the proprietor of the patent, the Examiner shall in the re-examination report include an opinion as to whether the amendment proposed—

(a) is allowable under section 84 (3); and

(b) would overcome, in whole or in part, any of the grounds of revocation specified in the application for revocation.

82. The Registrar shall send a copy of the re-examination report to both the applicant for revocation of the patent and the proprietor of the patent, and he shall take into consideration the conclusions of the re-examination report in making his determination on the patent or the patent as amended.

83. If, in proceedings before the Registrar under section 80, the proprietor of a patent offers to surrender it under section 40, the Registrar shall, in deciding whether costs should be awarded to the applicant for revocation, consider whether proceedings might have been avoided if the applicant had given reasonable notice to the proprietor before the application was filed.

84.—(1) Where it appears to the Registrar in accordance with section 81 that the patent ought to be revoked, the proprietor of the patent shall be so notified and afforded an opportunity, within 3 months from the date of such notification, to make observations and to amend the specification of the patent.

(2) Where the Registrar allows under section 83 the proprietor of the patent to amend the specification of the patent, he may, before the specification is amended, require the applicant to file a new specification, as amended, prepared in accordance with rules 19, 21 and 23.

85.—(1) Where in proceedings before the Registrar a proposed amendment under section 83 is advertised, notice of opposition to such an amendment may, within 2 months from the date of advertisement in the journal, be filed on Patents Form 18.

(2) Such notice shall be accompanied by a copy thereof and be supported by a statement in duplicate setting out fully the facts upon which the opponent relies and the relief which he seeks.

(3) The Registrar shall send a copy of the notice and statement to the proprietor of the patent and any other party to the proceedings before the Registrar.

(4) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

86.—(1) Subject to the provisions of this rule, in relation to an international application for a patent (Singapore) which is, under section 85, to be treated as an application for a patent under the Act, the prescribed periods for the purposes of section 86 (3) and (6) are—

(a) 20 months from the relevant date; or

(b) in a case where Singapore has been elected in accordance with Chapter II of the Patent Co-operation Treaty before the expiry of 19 months from the relevant date, the period of 30 months from the relevant date.

(2) Payment of the prescribed fee shall be made within the period prescribed in paragraph (1) (a) or (b), as the case may be, and if the applicant so wishes, together with the filing of Patents Form 37.

(3) Where, in accordance with paragraph 1 of the Fourth Schedule, the information specified in sub-paragraph (2) (a) (ii) of that paragraph is added to an international application for a patent (Singapore), rule 112 (1) and (2) shall not apply in respect of that information; and where the translation of the information, the filing of which is required to satisfy the relevant conditions of section 86 (3), has not been filed at the Registry before the end of the applicable period referred to in paragraph (1)—

(a) the Registrar shall give notice to the applicant at the address furnished by the applicant in accordance with rule 31 requiring the applicant to file the translation within 2 months from the day on which the notice is sent; and

(b) the applicable period shall be treated in respect of the translation as not expiring until the end of the period specified in the notice given under sub-paragraph (a).

(4) In the case of an international application for a patent (Singapore)—

(a) rule 8 (1) shall not apply if the applicant, on filing the application, states in writing to the receiving Office that the invention has been displayed at an international exhibition;

(b) rule 8 (2), (3) and (4) may be complied with at any time before the end of 2 months from the time limit for entering the national phase;

(c) rule 9 (5)rule 9 (2A) and (5) shall have effect with the substitution, for the reference to 21 months22 months from the declared priority date, of a reference to any time before the end of 2 months from the time limit for entering the national phase;

(c) rule 9 (2A) and (5) shall have effect with the substitution, for the reference to 28 months from the declared priority date, with a reference to any time before the end of 8 months from the time limit for entering the national phase;

(d) where a translation into English of a document or part of a document is required by the Act or these Rules to be filed before or at the time limit for entering the national phase, verification of the translation, as required by rule 112 (1) and (2) and permitted by rule 51 bis 2 (b)rule 51 bis 1 (d) of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty, may be given to the Registrar at any time before the end of 2 months from that time limit.

(5) For the purposes of section 86 (3) and (6), to the extent that the application or any amendment made under Article 19 of the Patent Co-operation Treaty, or in a case where Singapore has been elected in accordance with Chapter II of the Treaty, any amendment annexed to the international preliminary examination report under Chapter II of the Treaty are not in English, a translation into English of the application as originally filed or, as the case may be, of the application as originally filed and of the amendment is necessary; however, the translation—

(a) shall exclude the request and abstract unless—

(i) the applicant expressly requests the Registrar to proceed earlier than the expiry of the period prescribed in paragraph (1); and

(ii) a copy of the application published by the International Bureau has not yet been sent to the Registry in accordance with the Treaty; and

(b) shall include any textual matter in the drawings in a form which complies with rule 49.5 (d) of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty; and

(c) where a title has been established by the International Searching Authority under rule 37.2 of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty which differs from the title included in the application as originally filed, shall include the former title in place of the latter; and

(d) may exclude any textual matter contained in a sequence listing forming part of the description if such textual matter complies with rule 12.1 (d) of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty and the description complies with rule 5.2 (b) of those Regulations.

(6) Where an applicant is required to file a translation into English both of an application as originally filed and of the amendment to it, in accordance with paragraph (5), in order to satisfy the relevant conditions of section 86 (3) and (6) and at the expiry of the applicable period referred to in paragraph (1), the prescribed fee has been paid and one but not both of the necessary translations has been filed—

(a) the Registrar shall give notice to the applicant at the address furnished by the applicant in accordance with rule 31 requiring the applicant to file the required translation within one month from the date on which the notice is sent; and

(b) the applicable period shall be treated in respect of that translation as not expiring until the end of the period specified in the notice given under sub-paragraph (a).

(7) The Registrar shall publish any translation supplied in accordance with section 86 (3) or (6) following the filing of Patents Form 38 accompanied by the payment of the prescribed fee.

(8) In the case of an international application for a patent (Singapore) in respect of which the conditions specified in section 86 (3) (a) are satisfied, the period prescribed for the purposes of sections 24 (2) and 28 (1) shall be 2 months from the time limit for entering the national phase.

(9) Where, in relation to an international application for a patent (Singapore), the applicant desires that section 85 (1) shall not cease to apply to the application by virtue of the operation of section 85 (3), application shall be made to the Registrar on Patents Form 39, accompanied by a statement of the facts upon which the applicant relies.

(10) An international application for a patent (Singapore) shall not be treated as withdrawn under the Act if it, or the designation of Singapore in it, is deemed to be withdrawn under the Patent Co-operation Treaty where, in the same or comparable circumstances in relation to an application under the Act (other than an international application)—

(a) the Registrar could have directed that an irregularity be rectified under rule 100 or that an extension be granted under rule 108; and

(b) the Registrar determines that the application would not have been treated as withdrawn under the Act.

(11) Where under section 85 (3) an application is not to be treated as withdrawn and the applicant wishes to proceed—

(a) the Registrar may amend any document received by the Registry from the receiving Office or the International Bureau and alter any period or time which is specified in the Act or these Rules upon such terms (including payment of any appropriate prescribed fee) as he may direct; and

(b) the fee prescribed under section 86 (3) shall not be payable.

(12) Where the applicant satisfies the Registrar that—

(a) because of an error made by the receiving Office, an international application for a patent (Singapore) has been accorded a date of filing which is incorrect; or

(b) the declaration made under Article 8 (1) of the Patent Co-operation Treaty has been cancelled or corrected by the receiving Office or the International Bureau because of an error made by the Office or the Bureau,

(b) the priority claim made under Article 8 (1) of the Patent Co-operation Treaty has been considered not to have been made by the receiving Office or the International Bureau because of an error made by the Office or the Bureau,

the Registrar may amend any document received by the Registry from the receiving Office or the International Bureau or alter any period or time which is specified in the Act or these Rules as if the error were an error on the part of the Registry.

(13) Where—

(a) an international application for a patent (Singapore) purports to designate Singapore; and

(b) the applicant alleges that he has been refused a filing date under the said Treaty on account of an error or omission in any institution having functions under the said Treaty,

the applicant may apply to the Registrar for it to be treated as an application under the Act by filing Patents Form 39, accompanied by a statement of the facts upon which he relies; and the Registrar may amend any document filed by the applicant and alter any period or time which is specified in the Act or these Rules upon such terms as he may direct.

(14) In this rule “receiving Office” has the same meaning as in the Patent Co-operation Treaty.

(15) In this rule, in relation to an international application for a patent (Singapore)—

“relevant date” means the declared priority date or, where there is no declared priority date, the date of filing of that application;

“time limit for entering the national phase” means the end of the relevant period prescribed by paragraph (1) or, in a case where that period has been extended under paragraph (6), rule 100 or 108, the end of that period as so extended.

87. Before exercising any discretionary power vested in him by or under the Act adversely to any party to a proceeding before him, the Registrar shall, if so required, hear such person thereon.

88.—(1) A request for the exercise of the discretionary powers of the Registrar under rule 87 shall be on Patents Form 40 and shall be filed within one month from the date of notification by the Registrar of any objection to an application or the date of any other indication that he proposes to exercise a discretionary power, and the Registrar may refuse to hear any party who has not filed the request within the time allowed.

(2) Upon receipt of a request under paragraph (1), the Registrar shall send to the person making the request a notice of a time when he may be heard which shall be not less than 14 days from the date of the notice.

(3) In inter partes proceedings, any party who intends to refer at the hearing to any document not already mentioned in the proceedings shall, unless the Registrar consents and the other party agrees, give at least 14 days’ notice of his intention with details of, or a copy of, the document to the Registrar and the other party.

(4) After hearing the party or parties desiring to be heard or, if no party so desires, without a hearing, the Registrar shall decide the matter and shall notify all parties of his decision and, if any party so desires, shall give his reasons for the decision.

89.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), where a hearing before the Registrar of any dispute between 2 or more parties relating to any matter in connection with a patent or an application for a patent takes place after the publication of the application under section 27, the hearing of the dispute shall be in public.

(2) After consulting those parties to the dispute who appear in person or are represented at a hearing to which paragraph (1) applies, the Registrar may direct that the hearing be not held in public.

90.—(1) Unless the Registrar otherwise directs in any particular case—

(a) all attendances upon him by a party to the proceedings may be made by or through an advocate and solicitor or any other person appointed by the party to the proceedings to act on his behalf; and

(b) every notice, application or other document filed under the Act by a party to the proceedings may be signed by an advocate and solicitor or any other person appointed by the party to the proceedings to act on his behalf.

(2) Where after a person has become a party to proceedings before the Registrar he appoints an advocate and solicitor or any other person to act on his behalf for the first time or appoints an advocate and solicitor or any other person to act on his behalf in substitution for another, the newly appointed advocate and solicitor or person acting on his behalf shall file Patents Form 41 in duplicate on or before the first occasion when he acts on behalf of the party to the proceedings.

(2) Where any party to any proceedings before the Registrar appoints an advocate and solicitor or any other person—

(a) to act on his behalf; or

(b) to act on his behalf in substitution for another,

the advocate and solicitor or person acting on his behalf shall file Patents Form 41 on the first occasion when he acts on behalf of the party to the proceedings before the Registrar.

91.—(1) Except where rule 56 (3) applies, a request for the correction of an error of translation or transcription or of a clerical error or mistake in any specification of a patent, in an application for a patent or in any document filed in connection with a patent or such an application shall be made on Patents Form 23 and shall be accompanied by a document clearly identifying the proposed correction; and the Registrar may, if he thinks fit, require that the correction be shown in indelible red marking on a copy of the document of which correction is sought.

(2) Where such a request relates to a specification, no correction shall be made therein unless the correction is obvious in the sense that it is immediately evident that nothing else would have been intended than what is offered as the correction.

(3) Where the Registrar requires notice of the proposed correction to be advertised, he shall inform the applicant in writing accordingly and request him, within 2 months from the date of his letter, to file Patents Form 42; and upon receipt of the form the Registrar shall proceed with the advertisement.

(4) The advertisement under paragraph (3) shall be made by publication of the request and nature of the proposed correction in the Journal and in such other manner as the Registrar may direct.

(5) Any person may, at any time within 2 months from the date of the advertisement, give notice in duplicate to the Registrar of opposition to the request on Patents Form 43.

(6) Such notice shall be accompanied by a supporting statement in duplicate setting out fully the facts on which the opponent relies and the relief which he seeks.

(7) The Registrar shall send a copy of the notice and the statement to the person making the request who, if he desires to proceed with the request, shall, within 2 months from the date of the Registrar’s letter forwarding such copies to him, file a counter-statement on Patents Form 3 in duplicate setting out fully the grounds on which he contests the opposition and the Registrar shall send a copy of the counter-statement to the opponent.

(8) The Registrar may give such directions as he may think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

92.—(1) A request under section 108 for information relating to any patent or application for a patent may be made as to—

(a) the date that the reports or information, as the case may be, referred to in section 30 (2) were received by the Registrar;

(b) when the specification of a patent or application for a patent was published;

(c) when an application for a patent was withdrawn, was treated as having been withdrawn, was treated as having been abandoned, was refused or was treated as having been refused;

(d) whether a renewal fee was not paid within the period prescribed for the purposes of section 36 (2);

(e) whether a renewal fee was paid within the 6 months referred to in section 36 (3);

(f) when a patent has ceased to have effect and/or an application for restoration of a patent was filed;

(g) when an entry was made in the register or an application was made for the making of such entry;

(h) when any application or request was made or action taken involving an entry in the register or advertisement in the journal, if the nature of the application, request or action is specified in the request;

(i) when any document may be inspected in accordance with rule 93 or 94; and

(j) such other particulars referred to in any patent or application for a patent as the Registrar may in any particular case allow.

(2) As regards information relating to any patent in force by virtue of section 116 (3), a request may also be made as to when—

(a) a certificate of registration was issued;

(b) the patent was first renewed under this Act; and

Cap. 271.

(3) Any such request shall be made on Patents Form 44 and a separate form shall be used in respect of each item of information required.

93.—(1) Subject to paragraph (5), and to the restrictions prescribed in paragraph (4), after the date of publication of an application for a patent in accordance with section 27, the Registrar shall, upon request made on Patents Form 25 and upon payment of the prescribed fee, permit all documents filed or kept at the Registry in relation to the application or any patent granted in pursuance of it, to be inspected at the Registry.

(2) Subject to the same restrictions and to rule 96 where the circumstances specified in section 108 (4) or (5) exist, the Registrar shall, upon request made on Patents Form 25, and upon payment of the prescribed fee, permit inspection of such documents before the publication in accordance with section 27.

(3) Where a declaration has been made in accordance with section 17 (2), inspection of any application referred to therein and of any translation thereof shall be permitted upon request under paragraph (1) or (2) without payment of any fee.

(4) The restrictions referred to in paragraph (1) are—

(a) that no document shall be open to inspection until 14 days after it has been filed at the Registry;

(b) that documents prepared in the Registry solely for use therein shall not be open to inspection;

(c) that any document sent to the Registry, at its request or otherwise, for inspection and subsequent return to the sender, shall not be open to inspection;

(d) that no request made under rule 59, 60 (2), 63 (2), 92 or this rule shall be open to inspection; and

(e) that documents in respect of which the Registrar issues directions under rule 94 that they are to be treated as confidential shall not be open to inspection, except as permitted in accordance with that rule.

(5) Nothing in this rule shall be construed as imposing on the Registrar any duty of making available for public inspection any document or any part of a document—

(a) which in his opinion disparages any person in a way likely to damage him; or

(b) the publication or exploitation of which would in his opinion be generally expected to encourage offensive, immoral or anti-social behaviour.

(6) No appeal shall lie from a decision of the Registrar under paragraph (5) not to make a document or part of a document available for public inspection.

94.—(1) Where a document other than a Patents Form is filed at, or sent to, the Registry, and the person filing or sending it or any party to the proceedings to which the document relates so requests, giving his reasons, within 14 days from the filing or sending of the document, the Registrar may direct that it be treated as confidential, and the document shall not be open to public inspection while the matter is being determined by the Registrar.

(2) Where such a direction has been given and not withdrawn, nothing in this rule shall be taken to authorise or require any person to be allowed to inspect the document to which the direction relates except by leave of the Registrar.

(3) The Registrar shall not withdraw any direction given under this rule nor shall he give leave for any person to inspect any document to which a direction which has not been withdrawn relates without prior consultation with the person at whose request the direction was given, unless the Registrar is satisfied that such prior consultation is not reasonably practicable.

(4) Where such a direction is given or withdrawn, a record of the fact shall be filed with the document to which it relates.

(5) Where the period referred to in paragraph (1) is extended under rule 108, the relevant document shall not be, or, if the period is extended upon expiry, the relevant document shall cease to be open to public inspection until the expiry of the extended period, and, if a request for a direction is made, the document shall not be open to public inspection while the matter is being determined by the Registrar.

95. The following bibliographic data is prescribed for the purposes of section 108 (3) (a):

(a) the number of the application;

(b) the date of filing of the application and, where a declaration has been made under section 17 (2), the filing date, country and file number, when available, of each application referred to in that declaration;

(c) the name of the applicant or applicants including any applicant or applicants resulting from an order under section 20;

(d) an alteration of the name of the applicant or applicants under rule 56;

(e) the title of the invention; and

(f) if the application has been withdrawn, has been treated as having been withdrawn, has been treated as having been abandoned, has been refused or has been treated as having been refused, that fact.

96.—(1) Where the circumstances specified in section 108 (4) exist, a request under section 108 (1) shall be accompanied by a statutory declaration verifying their existence and such documentary evidence (if any) supporting the request as the Registrar may require.

(2) The Registrar shall send a copy of the request, the declaration and the evidence (if any) to the applicant for the patent and shall not comply with the request until the expiry of 14 days thereafter.

97.—(1) Any notice, application or other document authorised or required by the Act or these Rules to be filed or sent to the Registry may be sent through the post, and the service and filing shall be deemed to be effected by properly addressing, prepaying and posting a letter containing the document, and unless the contrary is proved, shall be deemed to have been effected at the time at which the letter would be delivered in the ordinary course of post.

(2) A document containing a request for the grant of a patent, and any later document or correspondence relating thereto and not requiring the payment of any prescribed fee, may be transmitted by facsimile subject to the following provisions:

(a) where the sender has attempted to transmit a document by facsimile, but part or all of the document received by the Registry is illegible or part of the document is not received by the Registry, the document shall be treated as not having been submitted;

(b) the burden of proving legibility and completeness of transmission lies with the sender;

(c) the original of any document transmitted by facsimile and an accompanying letter identifying the date and time of that earlier transmission shall be furnished to the Registrar within 14 days from the date of transmission; and

(d) if the sender fails to comply with sub-paragraph (c), the document shall be considered as not having been submitted.

98.—(1) The Registry shall be open to the public and the register shall be open to inspection, on payment of the fee specified in the First Schedule on any day (except Saturdays) which is not an excluded day, between 8.30 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. and on Saturdays between 8.30 a.m. and 1.00 p.m. or between such hours as the Registrar may direct.

(2) The Registry shall be deemed to be closed between midnight and 8.30 a.m. and between 5.00 p.m. and midnight on every day (except Saturdays) and shall be deemed to be closed on Saturdays between midnight and 8.30 a.m. and between 1.00 p.m. and midnight.

(3) Notwithstanding paragraphs (1) and (2), any document referred to in rule 97 (2) which was transmitted by facsimile and was received by the Registry before 12 a.m. on any day which is not an excluded day shall, subject to rule 97 (2), be considered as having been submitted and received by the Registry on that day.

(4) Where the document in one single transmission contains more than one sheet of information, the document shall be considered as having been submitted on the day by which all the sheets comprising the complete document have been received by the Registry before 12 a.m. on that day, and if that day is an excluded day, on the first following day which is not an excluded day.

(5) The date and time recorded by the Registry’s facsimile machine shall, until the contrary is proved, be evidence of the date and time the documents were received by the Registry.

99. All Sundays and public holidays shall be excluded days for all purposes under the Act and these Rules.

100.—(1) Subject to paragraph (2), any document filed in any proceedings before the Registrar may, if he thinks fit, be amended, and any irregularity in procedure in or before the Registry may be rectified, on such terms as he may direct.

(2) In the case of an irregularity or prospective irregularity—

(a) which consists of a failure to comply with any limitation as to times or periods prescribed in these Rules which has occurred or appears to the Registrar is likely to occur in the absence of a direction under this rule;

(b) which is attributable wholly or in part to an error, default or omission on the part of the Registry; and

the Registrar may direct that the time or period in question shall be altered but not otherwise.

(3) Paragraph (2) is without prejudice to the Registrar’s power to extend any time or period under rule 108 or 110.

101. Where, under these Rules, any person is required to do any act or thing, or any document or evidence is required to be produced or filed, and it is shown to the satisfaction of the Registrar that from any reasonable cause that person is unable to do that act or thing, or that document or evidence cannot be produced or filed, the Registrar may, upon the production of such evidence and subject to such terms as he thinks fit, dispense with the doing of any such act or thing, or the production or filing of such document or evidence.

102.—(1) Where under these Rules evidence may be filed, it shall be by statutory declaration or affidavit.

(2) The Registrar may if he thinks fit in any particular case take oral evidence in lieu of or in addition to such evidence and shall allow any witness to be cross-examined on his affidavit or declaration, unless he directs otherwise.

103. Any statutory declaration or affidavit filed under the Act or these Rules shall be made and subscribed as follows:

(a) in Singapore, before any justice of the peace, or any commissioner or other officer authorised by law to administer an oath for the purpose of any legal proceedings;

(b) elsewhere, before an Ambassador or a High Commissioner, a consul or vice-consul of the Government of Singapore or before a notary public, judge or magistrate.

(b) in any part of the Commonwealth except Singapore, before any judge, justice of the peace, or any officer authorised by law to administer an oath for the purpose of any legal proceedings; and

(c) elsewhere, before a Singapore consul or vice-consul, or other person performing the functions of a Singapore vice-consul, or before a notary public, judge or magistrate, or any officer authorised by law to administer an oath for the purpose of any legal proceedings.

104. Any document purporting to have affixed, impressed or subscribed thereto or thereon the seal or signature of any person authorised by rule 103 to take a declaration, in testimony that the declaration was made and subscribed before him, may be admitted by the Registrar without proof of the genuineness of the seal or signature or of the official character of the person or his authority to take the declaration.

105. At any stage of any proceedings before the Registrar, he may direct that such documents, information or evidence as he may require shall be furnished within such period as he may fix.

106.—(1) Where, by virtue of any of the rules mentioned in paragraph (2), any notice or application is required to be supported by a statement or evidence, such a statement or evidence shall be filed on, or within 14 days after, the date on which the notice is given or the application is made.

(2) The rules referred to in paragraph (1) are rules 52 (3), 53 (1), 54 (3), 73 (1), 74 (2), 85 (2) and 91 (5).

107.—(1) The Registrar may at any time and on his own motion nominate a scientific adviser or scientific advisers from a panel of advisers to assist him in any proceeding under the Act or these Rules, either—

(a) by sitting with the Registrar at the hearing of the proceedings; or

(b) by inquiring and reporting on any question of fact or opinion not involving a question of law or construction,

as the Registrar may direct.

(2) Upon the nomination of a scientific adviser under paragraph (1), the Registrar shall notify all parties to the proceedings of his nominated adviser.

(3) The question to be submitted to the nominated adviser and the instructions to be given to him shall, failing agreement between the parties, be settled by the Registrar.

(4) The remuneration of the nominated adviser for assisting in proceedings under the Act or these Rules, including his allowance and expenses, shall be as determined by the Registrar in accordance with the provisions of the Sixth Schedule.

(5) Without prejudice to any other order of the Registrar in providing for payment of a nominated adviser’s remuneration, the party shall be liable, or where there are more than one party to the proceedings be jointly and severally liable, to pay the amount determined by the Registrar as the nominated adviser’s remuneration.

(6) The payment of the remuneration of the nominated adviser by the party, or where more than one party to the proceedings are liable for such remuneration by the parties, shall be through such mode and in such manner as the Registrar may direct.

(7) Where the proceedings under the Act or these Rules is initiated by a party who neither resides nor carries on business in Singapore, the Registrar may require the party to give security for the remuneration of the nominated adviser, and in default of such security being given, may treat the proceedings as being abandoned.

108.—(1) The times or periods prescribed by these Rules for doing any act or taking any proceeding thereunder, other than times or periods prescribed in the provisions mentioned in paragraph (2), and subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), may be extended by the Registrar if he thinks fit, upon such notice to the parties and upon such terms as he may direct; and such extension may be granted notwithstanding that the time or period for doing such act or taking such proceeding has expired.

(1) The times or periods prescribed by these Rules for doing any act or taking any proceedings or specified by the Registrar thereunder, other than the times or periods prescribed in the provisions mentioned in paragraphs (2) and (3), may, on written request by a party, be extended by the Registrar if he thinks fit, upon such notice to the parties and upon such terms as he may direct.

(1A) Any extension may be granted under paragraph (1) notwithstanding that the time or period for doing such act or taking such proceedings has expired.

(2) The provisions referred to in paragraph (1) are rules 9 (1), 19 (2), 28 (so far as it relates to rule 9 (1)), 46 (4), (5), (8) and (10), 49, 51 (1), 52 (2), 53 (1), 54 (2), 73 (1), 74 (1), 75, 85 (1), 91 (1), 91 (3), 91 (4) and paragraph 4 (2) of the Fourth Schedule.

(3) A time or period prescribed in rule 9 (2) and (5) (including the period therein prescribed as substituted by rule 86 (4) (c) or paragraph (a) of the Seventh Schedule), 18 (1) (including the period therein prescribed as substituted by paragraph (a) of the Eighth Schedule), 26, 28 (except so far as it relates to rule 9 (1)), 38, 43 (including the period therein prescribed as substituted by paragraph (a) of the Seventh Schedule), 47, 53 (4), 86 (1), (5) and (7), paragraph 1 (3) of the Fourth Schedule shall, if not previously extended, be extended for one month upon filing Patents Form 45 before the end of that month; and where in any proceedings more than one such time or period expires on the same day (but not otherwise), those times or periods may be extended upon the filing of a single such form.

(3) A time or period prescribed in rules 9 (2), (2A) and (5) (including the period therein prescribed as substituted by rule 86 (4) (c) or paragraph (a) of the Seventh Schedule), 18 (1) (including the period therein prescribed as substituted by paragraph (a) of the Seventh Schedule), 26, 28 (except so far as it relates to rule 9 (1)), 38, 43 (including the period therein prescribed as substituted by paragraph (l) of the Seventh Schedule), 47, 53 (4), 86 (1), (6) and (8), 97 (2) (c) and paragraph 1 (3) of the Fourth Schedule shall, if not previously extended, be extended for a period not exceeding 3 months upon filing Patents Form 45 before the end of the period for which extension is sought.

(3A) Where in any proceedings more than one such time or period referred to in paragraph (3) expires on the same day (but not otherwise), those times or periods may be extended upon the filing of a single Patents Form 45.

(4) Without prejudice to paragraph (3), a time or period prescribed in the rules referred to in that paragraph may, upon request made on Patents Form 46, be extended or further extended if the Registrar thinks fit, whether or not the time or period (including any extension obtained under paragraph (3)) has expired; and the Registrar may allow an extension, or further extension, under this paragraph on such terms as he may direct and subject to the furnishing of a statutory declaration or affidavit verifying the grounds for the request.

(5) A single request may be made under paragraph (4) for the extension of more than one time or period in the same proceedings if the extensions are to be made to a common date (but not otherwise).

(6) If, on consideration of a request under paragraph (4), the Registrar decides that the extension requested (or, in a case falling within paragraph (5), any or all of the extensions requested) may be granted, he shall notify the applicant accordingly and invite him, within 2 months from the date the notification is sent to him, to file Patents Form 47, upon receipt of which the Registrar shall effect the extension or extensions in accordance with the decision.

(7) Where the period within which any party to a dispute may file evidence under these Rules is to begin after the expiry of any period in which any other party may file evidence under these Rules and that other party notifies the Registrar that he does not wish to file any, or any further, evidence, the Registrar may direct that the period within which the first-mentioned party may file evidence shall begin on such date as may be specified in the direction and shall notify all parties to the dispute of that date.

(8) Subject to paragraph (10), the time limit of 12 months specified in subsection (6) of section 116 for the making of an application under that subsection for the grant of a patent under the Act is extended for a period of 50 days, that is to say, the last day for the making of an application under that subsection shall be 13th April 1996.

(9) Rules 97 (2) and 98 (3), (4) and (5) shall not apply to any application made under section 116 (6) for the grant of a patent under the Act during the period of extension of time under paragraph (8).

(10) Any application made under section 116 (6) for the grant of a patent under the Act during the period of extension of time under paragraph (8) shall be made on Patents Form 52, in addition to the requirements of rules 19 and 120, at the time the patent application is filed in Singapore.

109.—(1) Where the Registrar has granted an extension of time of more than 3 months under rule 100 (2) or 108 (1) for any act in relation to an application for a patent or in proceedings under the Act or these Rules rule 100 (2), 108 (1) or 108 (4) for any act in relation to an application for a patent that had been published under section 27, or in proceedings under the Act or these Rules which has not been so done within the time required, he shall publish in the journal a notification of his decision.

(2) Where the Registrar has granted an extension of time for more than 3 months or has refused an application for extension of time for more than 3 months under rule 100 (2) or 108 (1) for any act in relation to an application for a patent or in proceedings under the Act or these Rules rule 100 (2), 108 (1) or 108 (4) for any act in relation to an application for a patent that had been published under section 27, or in proceedings under the Act or these Rules, and where the court reviews the decision of the Registrar under section 91 or 92 and decides to vary the decision under review or set aside the decision under review and make a decision in substitution for the decision so set aside, the Registrar shall cause to be published in the journal a notification of the decision of the court.

(3) Where a notification referred to in paragraph (1) or (2) has been published, a person who availed himself, or took definite steps by way of contract or otherwise to avail himself, of the invention the subject of the application for the patent concerned by reason of the act or step in relation to which the extension was granted not having been done or taken within the time allowed shall have the right to continue to avail himself of the invention but this right does not extend to granting a licence to another person in respect of the invention.

(4) If the person entitled to the right conferred by paragraph (3) availed himself, or took the steps to avail himself, of the invention in the course of business, that person may—

(a) authorise any partners of his for the time being in that business to avail themselves of the invention; and

(b) assign that right, or transmit it on death (or in the case of a body corporate on its dissolution), to any person who acquires that part of the business.

(5) Where a product is disposed of to another in exercise of the rights conferred by paragraph (3) or (4), that other and any person claiming through him may deal with the product in the same way as if it has been disposed by the registered proprietor of the patent.

110.—(1) Where, on any day, there is—

(a) a general interruption or subsequent dislocation in the postal services of Singapore; or

(b) an event or circumstances causing an interruption in the normal operation of the Registry,

the Registrar may certify the day as being one on which there is an “interruption” and, where any period of time specified in the Act or these Rules for the giving, making or filing of any notice, application or other document expires on a day so certified the period shall be extended to the first day next following (not being an excluded day) which is not so certified.

(2) Any certificate of the Registrar given pursuant to this rule shall be posted on the notice board in the Registry.

(3) Where, in or in connection with an application for a patent (“the application in suit”), it is desired to make a declaration specifying for the purposes of section 17 (2) an earlier relevant application and the period of 12 months immediately following the date of filing the earlier relevant application ends on a day which is an excluded day for the purposes of section 111, then if the declaration is made on the first following day on which the Registry is open for the transaction of such business, such period shall be altered so as to include both the day of filing of the earlier relevant application and the day on which the declaration is made in or in connection with the application in suit.

(4) Where it is desired to make such a declaration and the said period of 12 months from the date of filing the earlier relevant application ends on a day certified under paragraph (1) as being one on which there is an interruption, and if the declaration is made on the first day after the end of the interruption, the period shall be altered so as to include both the day of filing of the earlier relevant application and the day on which the declaration is made in or in connection with the application in suit.

(5) Where an application for a patent is filed upon the day immediately following a day which is certified under paragraph (1) as being one on which there is an interruption or which is an excluded day for the purposes of section 111, the period of 12 months specified in section 14 (4) shall be computed from the day after the next preceding day which is neither so certified nor so excluded.

(6) If in any particular case the Registrar is satisfied that the failure to give, make or file any notice, application or other document within—

(a) any period of time specified in the Act or these Rules for such giving, making or filing;

(b) the period of 12 months following a disclosure of matter constituting an invention falling within paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d) of section 14 (4); or

was wholly or mainly attributable to a failure or undue delay in the postal services in Singapore, the Registrar may, if he thinks fit—

(i) extend the period of time for the giving, making or filing so that it ends on the day of the receipt by the addressee of the notice, application or other document (or, if the day of such receipt is an excluded day, on the first following day which is not an excluded day);

(ii) determine that the period of 12 months referred to in sub-paragraph (b) shall be altered so that it begins on the day of the disclosure and ends on the day of receipt by the Registry of the application for the patent (or, if the day of such receipt is an excluded day, on the first following day which is not an excluded day); or

(iii) determine that the period of 12 months referred to in paragraph (3) shall be altered so as to include both the day of filing of the earlier relevant application and the day on which the declaration specifying that application is received by the Registry (or, if the day of such receipt is an excluded day, the first following day which is not an excluded day),

as the case may be, in each case upon such notice to other parties and upon such terms as he may direct.

111.—(1) Where a document, other than a published Singapore specification or application, is referred to in any reference, notice, statement, counter-statement or evidence required by the Act or these Rules to be filed at the Registry or sent to the Registrar, copies of the document shall be furnished to the Registry within the same period as the reference, notice, statement, counter-statement or evidence in which they are first referred to may be filed and in the following number:

(a) where the document in which they were so referred to had to be filed or sent in duplicate or the original document had to be accompanied by a copy thereof, in duplicate; and

(b) in all other cases, one.

(2) Where a copy of any evidence is required by the Act or these Rules to be sent direct to any person, a copy of any document referred to in that document shall also be sent direct to that person.

112.—(1) Subject to the provisions of rules 9, 42 and 86, and paragraph (4), where any document or part of a document which is in a language other than English is filed at the Registry or sent to the Registrar in pursuance of the Act or these Rules, it shall be accompanied by a translation into English of the document or that part, verified to the satisfaction of the Registrar as corresponding to the original text.

(2) Where the document is or forms part of an application for a patent, the Registry shall not, in the absence of such a translation, take any further action in relation to that document, unless the Registrar otherwise directs.

(3) Where more than one copy of that document is required to be so filed or sent, a corresponding number of copies of the translation shall accompany it.

(4) Where any document which, or any part of which, is in a language other than English—

(a) is referred to in a search report drawn up under Article 18 of the Patent Co-operation Treaty; or

(b) is cited in the statement contained in an international preliminary examination report established under Article 35 of that Treaty,

and any such report is filed at the Registry in relation to the provisions of section 86, a translation into English of that document or part verified to the satisfaction of the Registrar as corresponding to the original text thereof shall, if the Registrar so directs, be filed within 2 months from the date on which such direction is given.

(5) The Registrar may refuse to accept any translation which is in his opinion inaccurate and thereupon another translation of the document in question verified as aforesaid shall be furnished, together with the appropriate number of copies thereof.

113. The Registrar may arrange for the publication and sale of copies of specifications and other documents in the Registry and of indexes to, and abridgements or abstracts of, such documents.

114.—(1) The Registrar shall publish a journal containing particulars of applications for and grant of patents and other proceedings under the Act and any other information that he may deem to be generally useful or important.

(2) The journal shall be entitled “The Patents Journal”.

(3) Unless the Registrar otherwise directs, the journal shall be published monthly.

(4) The fee payable for the journal shall be as follows:

(a) Patents Journal A ... $4$10 per issue; and

(b) Patents Journal B ... $30$36 per issue.

(4) The fee payable for the journal shall be specified in the Eighth Schedule.

115. The Registrar may from time to time publish reports of—

(a) cases relating to patents decided by him; and

(b) cases relating to patents (whether under the Act or otherwise) decided by any court or body (whether in Singapore or elsewhere),

being cases which he considers to be generally useful or important.

116.—(1) Where the Registry is the competent receiving Office under the Patent Co-operation Treaty, an international application shall be filed at it in English in triplicate.

(2) If less than 3 copies of the international application are so filed, upon preparation by the Registry of the number of copies of it required to bring the total to 3, the applicant shall on demand pay to the Registry the appropriate charge for the preparation of the additional copies required.

117.—(1) Subject to paragraph (6), payment of the prescribed transmittal fee shall be made and shall be accompanied by Patents Form 48 to the Registry not later than one month from the date on which the application to which it relates is filed at the Registry.

(1A) Where, in accordance with rule 19 (4) (a) of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty, an international application is considered to have been received by the Registry on behalf of the International Bureau as receiving Office, the transmittal of the application by the Registry shall be subject to a payment of a fee as provided by rule 19 (4) (b) of the said Regulations.

(2) Subject to paragraph (6), payment of the basic fee referred to in rule 15.1 (i) of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty and of the search fee referred to in rule 16.1 of the said Regulations shall be made within the times prescribed in rules 15.4 and 16.1 of the said Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty.

(3) Subject to paragraph (6), payment of the designation fees referred to in rule 15.1 (ii) of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty in respect of designations made under rule 4.9 thereof shall be made to the Registry in the amount provided for in rule 15.2 (b) thereof—

(a) where the international application does not contain a date to be treated by virtue of section 87 (1) (b) as the declared priority date, within 12 months from the date of filing the application at the Registry; and

(b) where the international application contains a date to be treated by virtue of section 87 (1) (b) as the declared priority date, within 12 months from that priority date or within one month from the date of filing the application at the Registry, whichever is the later.

(4) Payment of designation fees and of confirmation fees referred to in rule 15.5 (a) in respect of designations made under rule 4.9 (b) of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty shall be made to the Registry in the respective amounts provided for in rule 15.2 (b) and rule 15.5 (a) thereof not later than 15 months from the date to be treated by virtue of section 87 (1) (b) as the declared priority date, or, where there is no declared priority date, the date on which the application to which they relate is filed at the Registry.

(5) Subject to paragraph (6), payment of the search fee referred to in rule 16.1 of the said Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty shall be made to the Registry in the amount published in the Journal.

(6) Where payment of a fee pursuant to paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4) has not been made to the Registry, in the case of transmittal, basic and designation fees, within the periods prescribed by paragraphs (1), (2), (3) and (4), and in the case of search fees, within the period referred to in rule 16.1 (f) of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty (“the specified period”)—

(a) the Registry shall give notice to the applicant requiring the applicant to pay the Registry the outstanding fee and a late payment fee calculated in accordance with rule 16 bis.2 of the said Regulations within one month from the date on which the notice is sent to the applicant; and

(b) the specified period shall be treated in respect of the outstanding fee as not expiring until the end of the one month period referred to in sub-paragraph (a).

118. A request under rule 20.9rule 17.1 or rule 20.9 of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty for a certified copy of an international application as filed with the Registry as receiving Office and of any corrections thereto shall be made on Patents Form 27Patents Form 26 and shall be accompanied by the appropriate fee.

119. The fees referred to in rules 117 and 118 shall be paid in Singapore dollars.

120. The Seventh Schedule shall have effect in respect of applications for patents filed under section 116 (6) and patents granted thereon.

Rule 3.

Matter of Proceeding	Amount $	Corresponding Form No.
1. On payment of filing fee to request the grant of a patent	160
2. On filing a request for the grant of a patent		1
3. On reference under section 20 (1) or 47 (1)	320350380	2
4. On filing a counter-statement in each of the following cases:	40	3
(a) Opposing the making of an order under section 20 or 47
(b) Opposing a request under section 22
(c) In respect of a reference under section 23 (5)
(d) Opposing an application under section 24
(e) In answer to a notice of opposition under section 38
(f) In answer to a notice of opposition under section 40
(g) In respect of a reference under section 48 (5)
(h) In respect of an application under section 53 (3)
(i) In answer to a notice of opposition under section 54 (6)
(j) In respect of a reference under section 67 (3)
(k) On contesting an application under section 78 for declaration of non-infringement
(l) On contesting an application under section 80 for revocation of a patent
(m) In answer to a notice of opposition under section 107 (2) to the correction of an error, clerical error or mistake
5. On application under section 20 (5) or 47 (3) for authorisation by Registrar	353841	4
6. On request for directions under section 22	320350380	5
7. On reference under section 23 (5) or 48 (5) to determine the question of a licence	320350380	6
8. On application to the Registrar under section 24 (1) and/or (3)	320350380	7
9. On filing a statement of inventorship and of right to the grant of a patent		8
10. On request for early publication under section 27 (1)	50	9
11. On request for a search report or a supplementary search report	1,140 1,370	10
12. On request for a search and examination re port under section 29 (1) (b) or (5) (b)	1,570 1,940	11
13. On request for an examination report under section 29 (3), (5) (a) or (8)	800	12
14. On request to amend application before grant		13
15. On request for issuance of certificate of grant	150	14
16. On payment of renewal fee --		15
(a) Before the expiration of the 4th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	150
(b) Before the expiration of the 5th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	150
(c) Before the expiration of the 6th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	150
(d) Before the expiration of the 7th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	250
(e) Before the expiration of the 8th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	250
(f) Before the expiration of the 9th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	250
(g) Before the expiration of the 10th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	350
(h) Before the expiration of the 11th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	350
(i) Before the expiration of the 12th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	350
(j) Before the expiration of the 13th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	450
(k) Before the expiration of the 14th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	450
(l) Before the expiration of the 15th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	450
(m) Before the expiration of the 16th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	550
(n) Before the expiration of the 17th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	550
(o) Before the expiration of the 18th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	550
(p) Before the expiration of the 19th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	650
17. On payment of an additional fee for renewal under section 36 (3)		16
(a) Not exceeding one month ..................	50
(b) Each succeeding month ....................	100
(but not exceeding 6 months)
18. On application to amend specification after grant	100	17
19. On notice of opposition to amendment of specification after grant	480	18
20. On application for the restoration of a patent	300	19
20. On application for the restoration of a patent	500	19
21. On payment of additional fee on the application for the restoration of a patent	300	20
22. On filing an offer to surrender a patent	70	21
23. On notice of opposition to offer to surrender a patent	200 220	22
24. On request for alteration of name, address or address for service in the register, for each patent or application	10 12	23
25. On application to register or give notice of a transaction, instrument or event affecting the rights in a patent or an application for a patent		24
(a) On each application covering more than one patent or application for a patent, the devolution of title being the same as in the first patent or application for a patent	50
(b) For each additional request	50
25 On application to register or give notice of a transaction, instrument or event affecting the rights in a patent or an application for a patent for each patent or application for a patent affected by such transaction, instrument or event	50 58 63	24
26. For each patent or application for a patent, on	10 12	23
(a) each alteration of name or alteration or correction of address or address for service;
(b) each correction of an error in the register or any connected document; or
(c) each correction of an error of translation or transcription or clerical error or mistake in the specification of a patent, in an application for a patent or in any document filed in connection with a patent or such an application
27. On request for the furnishing of or access to miscellaneous information		25
(a) For inspecting the file of documents relating to a patent or patent application
For each file	56
(b) For inspecting information or documents kept in an electronic data base at the Registry
For every half an hour	2 S 224/96 wef 1.6.96.
(c) For inspecting the register
For every half an hour	2 S 224/96 wef 1.6.96.
(d) For furnishing information contained in the register
For each application for a patent or a patent	5 6
(e) For photocopying/reproducing
For each sheet	0.30
(e) For any document placed in the public search room
(i) self-service photocopying of each page or part thereof using a stored-value card	0.15
(ii) photocopying of each page or part thereof by the staff of the Registry	0.30
(f) For photocopying of each page or part thereof of any other document by the staff of the Registry	0.30
(g) For each page of computer print-out from an electronic database of the Registry	0.30
28. On request for certificate of the Registrar		26
(a) by impressed stamp	1012
(b) sealed and attached to documents	2022
(c) in respect of a priority document pursuant to Rule 17.1 (b) of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty	50
(d) in respect of a certified copy of the international application made pursuant to rule 118	2528
29. On application for entry of order of court in the register	10	27
30. On application by proprietor for entry to be made in the register to the effect that licences under the patent are to be available as of right	70	28
31. On application for settlement of terms of licence of right	320360380	29
32. On application under section 54 (1) or section 54 (3) for cancellation of entry in the register	70	30
33. On notice of opposition to an application under section 54 (1) or 54 (3) for cancellation of entry in the register	708090	31
34. On reference to the Registrar of a dispute as to infringement	200 220	32
35. On application for declaration of non-infringement	200 220	33
36. On application under section 79 (1) for in formation on corresponding applications for a patent	100	34
37. On application under section 80 for the re vocation of a patent	390430	35
38. On request for re-examination of a patent in response to the Registrar’s direction	900	36
39. On payment of prescribed fee for entry into the national phase under section 86 (3)	160	37
40. On payment of prescribed fee and request for publication of translation	70	38
41. On application to Registrar for an international application to be treated as an application under the Act	160	39
42. On request for the exercise of the discretionary power of the Registrar	100	40
43. On declaration of authorisation where agent appointed or in substitution for another	10	41
44. On payment of the advertisement fee upon receipt of the Registrar’s request under rule 91 (3)	15 18	42
45. On notice of opposition to the correction of an error, clerical error or mistake	80 85	43
46. On request for information relating to a patent or an application for a patent	202224	44
47. On request for extension of each time or period under rule 108 (3)	200	45
47 On request for extension of each time or period under rule 108 (3) for each month or part of a month for which the extension is sought	200	45
48. On request for extension of each time or period under rule 108 (4)	200	46
49. On payment of additional fee for extension of each time or period under rule 108 (6) for each month, or part of a month, for which the extension is granted	200	47
50. On payment of transmittal fee under Rule 14 of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty	120135	48
51. On request for certificate authorising re lease of sample of micro-organism	15	49
52. On notice of intention to restrict availability of samples of micro-organisms to experts	15	50
53. On request for certificate authorising re lease of sample of micro-organism to an expert	15	51
54. On application for the grant of a patent under section 116 (6) during the period of extension of time under rule 108 (8)	500	52
55. On payment of renewal fee under section 53 or 54		53
(a) Before the expiration of the 4th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	75
(b) Before the expiration of the 5th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	75
(c) Before the expiration of the 6th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	75
(d) Before the expiration of the 7th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	125
(e) Before the expiration of the 8th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	125
(f) Before the expiration of the 9th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	125
(g) Before the expiration of the 10th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	175
(h) Before the expiration of the 11th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	175
(i) Before the expiration of the 12th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	175
(j) Before the expiration of the 13th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	225
(k) Before the expiration of the 14th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	225
(l) Before the expiration of the 15th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	225
(m) Before the expiration of the 16th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	275
(n) Before the expiration of the 17th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	275
(o) Before the expiration of the 18th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	275
(p) Before the expiration of the 19th year from the date of filing of the application for the patent	325

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F01.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F02.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F03.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F04.GIF

See Graphic No: 1997-SL-221-R-132-F01.GIF

See Graphic No: 1997-SL-221-R-132-F02.GIF

See Graphic No: 1997-SL-221-R-132-F03.GIF

See Graphic No: 1999-SL-221-R-510-943236202-0001

See Graphic No: 1999-SL-221-R-510-943236202-0002

See Graphic No: 1999-SL-221-R-510-943236202-0003

See Graphic No: 1999-SL-221-R-510-943236202-0004

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F05.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F06.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F07.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F08.GIF

See Graphic No: 1999-SL-221-R-510-943236202-0005

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F09.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F10.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F11.GIF

See Graphic No: 1997-SL-221-R-132-F04.GIF

See Graphic No: 1997-SL-221-R-132-F05.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F12.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F13.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F14.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F15.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F16.GIF

See Graphic No: 1999-SL-221-R-510-943236202-0006

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F17.GIF

See Graphic No: 1999-SL-221-R-510-943236202-0007

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F18.GIF

See Graphic No: 1997-SL-221-R-132-F06.GIF

See Graphic No: 1999-SL-221-R-510-943236202-0008

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F19.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F20.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F21.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F22.GIF

See Graphic No: 1997-SL-221-R-132-F07.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F23.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F24.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F25.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F26.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F27.GIF

See Graphic No: 1997-SL-221-R-132-F08.GIF

See Graphic No: 1997-SL-221-R-132-F09.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F28.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F29.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F30.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F31.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F32.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F33.GIF

See Graphic No: 1997-SL-221-R-132-F10.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F34.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F35.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F36.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F37.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F38.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F39.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F40.GIF

See Graphic No: 1999-SL-221-R-510-943236202-0009

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F41.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F42.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F43.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F44.GIF

See Graphic No: 1999-SL-221-R-510-943236202-0010

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F45.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F46.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F47.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F48.GIF

See Graphic No: 1997-SL-221-R-132-F11.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F49.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F50.GIF

See Graphic No: 1999-SL-221-R-510-943236202-0011

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F51.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F52.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F53.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F54.GIF

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-F55.GIF

See Graphic No: 1997-SL-221-R-132-F12.GIF

See Graphic No: 1999-SL-221-R-510-943236202-0012

Rule 5.

SCALE OF COSTS

See Graphic No: 1993-SLREVED-221-R-1-T01.GIF

1. A person who has paid a fee prescribed in these Rules in relation to proceedings before the Registrar shall be paid the amount of the fee.

2. A person attending proceedings before the Registrar shall be paid—

(a) a reasonable amount for expenses incurred for transport between the usual place of residence of the person and the place that he attends for that purpose; and

(b) if the person is required to be absent overnight from his usual place of residence, a reasonable amount as allowances up to a daily maximum of $250 for meals and accommodation.

3. A person who, because of his professional, scientific or other special skill or knowledge, is summoned to appear before the registrar as a witness shall be paid—

(a) if the person is remunerated in his occupation by wages, salary or fees, an amount equal to the amount of wages, salary or fees not paid to the person because of his attendance before the Registrar for that purpose, but such amount should not exceed $150 per day; or

(b) in any other case, an amount of not less than $100 but not more than $150.00 for each day on which he so attends.

Rules 20, 28 and 108.

1.—(1) The specification of an application for a patent, or of a patent, for an invention which requires for its performance the use of a micro-organism—

(a) which is not available to the public at the date of filing of the application; and

(b) which cannot be described in the specification in such a manner as to enable the invention to be performed by a person skilled in the art,

shall, in relation to the micro-organism itself, be treated for the purposes of the Act as disclosing the invention in such a manner only if one of the conditions set out in sub-paragraph (2), is satisfied.

(2) The conditions referred to in sub-paragraph (1) are—

(a) a condition that—

(i) not later than the date of filing of the application, a culture of the micro-organism has been deposited with any international depositary authority which is able to furnish a sample of the micro-organism; and

(ii) the name of the international depositary authority, the date when the culture was deposited and the accession number of the deposit are given in the specification of the application , and a copy of the receipt issued by the international depositary authority in accordance with rule 7 of the Regulations under the Budapest Treaty is filed; and

(b) a condition, in the case of an international application for a patent (Singapore) which is treated, by virtue of section 85 as a patent under the Act, or, as the case may be, an application for a patent under the Act, that the corresponding provisions of the Implementing Regulations to the Patent Co-operation Treaty have been complied with,

and where a new deposit is made under paragraph 4, a further condition that the applicant or proprietor makes a new deposit in accordance with that paragraph.

(3) Where the condition of sub-paragraph (2) (a) (ii) is not satisfied at the time the application for a patent is filed, it shall be satisfied—

(a) within 16 months from—

(i) the declared priority date; or

(ii) the date of filing the application where there is no declared priority date;

(b) where, on a request made by the applicant, the Registrar publishes the application before the end of the period prescribed for the purposes of section 27 (1), before the date of the request; or

(c) where the Registrar sends notification to the applicant that, in accordance with section 108 (4), he has received a request by any person for information and inspection of documents under subsection (1) of that section, before the end of one month after his sending to the applicant notification of his receipt of the request,

whichever is the earliest.

(4) The giving of the information specified in sub-paragraph (2) (a) (ii) shall constitute the unreserved and irrecoverable consent of the applicant to the international depositary authority with which a culture (including a deposit which is to be treated as having always been available by virtue of paragraph 4 (2)) is from time to time deposited making the culture available on receipt of the Registrar’s certificate authorising the release to the person who is named therein as a person to whom the culture may be made available and who makes a valid request therefor to the authority.

2.—(1) Subject to paragraph 3, a request that the Registrar certify a person as a person to whom an international depositary authority may furnish a sample of a micro-organism—

(a) before publication of the application for a patent, to a person who has made a request under section 108 (1) in the circumstances mentioned in paragraph 1 (3) (c); and

(b) at any later time, to any person,

shall be made on Patents Form 49 (which shall be filed in duplicate) together with the form provided for by the Regulations under the Budapest Treaty.

(2) The Registrar shall send a copy of any form lodged with him under sub-paragraph (1) and of his certificate authorising the release of the sample—

(a) to the applicant for, or proprietor of, the patent;

(b) to the international depositary authority; and

(3) A request under sub-paragraph (1) shall comprise, on the part of the person to whom the request relates, undertakings for the benefit of the applicant for, or proprietor of, the patent—

(a) not to make the culture, or any culture derived from it, available to any other person; and

(b) not to use the culture, or any culture derived from it, otherwise than for experimental purposes relating to the subject matter of the invention, and—

(i) subject to sub-paragraph (iii), both undertakings shall have effect during any period before the application for a patent has been withdrawn, has been treated as having been abandoned, has been refused or is treated as having been refused (including any further period allowed under rule 100 or 108 (1) or (4) but excluding, where an application is reinstated under either of those rules, the period before it is reinstated);

(ii) if a patent is granted on the application, the undertaking set out in sub-paragraph (a) shall also have effect during any period for which the patent is in force and during the period of 6 months referred to in section 36 (3); and

(iii) the undertaking set out in paragraph (b) shall not have effect after the date of publication in the journal of a notice that the patent has been granted,

and, in this sub-paragraph, references to a culture derived from a deposited culture of a micro-organism are references to a culture so derived which exhibits those characteristics of the deposited culture essential for the performance of the invention.

(4) For the purpose of enabling any act specified in section 63 to be done in relation to the culture for the services of the Government, the undertakings specified in sub-paragraph (3)—

(a) shall not be required from any Government department or person authorised in writing by a Government department for the purposes of this paragraph; and

(b) shall not have effect in relation to any such person who has already given them.

(5) An undertaking given pursuant to sub-paragraph (3) may be varied by way of derogation by agreement between the applicant or proprietor and the person by whom it is given.

(6) Where, in respect of a patent to which the undertaking set out in sub-paragraph (3) (a) has effect—

(a) an entry is made in the register under section 53 to the effect that licences are to be available as of right; or

(b) a compulsory licence is granted under section 55,

that undertaking shall not have effect to the extent necessary for effect to be given to any such licence.

3.—(1) Subject to sub-paragraph (3), where, before the preparations for publication under section 27 of an application for a patent have been completed, the applicant gives notice to the Registrar on Patents Form 50 of his intention that a sample of the micro-organism should be made available only to an expert, the provisions of this paragraph shall have effect.

(2) The Registrar—

(a) shall at the time of publication of the application under section 27, publish a notice in the journal that the provisions of this paragraph have effect; and

(b) notwithstanding paragraph 2, shall not, until the patent is granted or the application has been withdrawn, has been treated as having been abandoned, has been refused or is treated as having been refused, issue any certificate authorising release of a sample otherwise than under this paragraph.

(3) In the case of an international application for a patent (Singapore), the applicant may, for the purpose set out in sub-paragraph (1) give notice in writing to the International Bureau under rule 13 bis 3 of the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty before the technical preparations for international publication of the application are complete of his intention that a sample of the micro-organism should be made available only to an expert and he shall be treated by the Registrar for the purposes of this paragraph as having complied with the conditions in sub-paragraph (1) and sub-paragraph (2) (a) shall not apply.

(4) Any person wishing to have a sample of the micro-organism made available (“the requester”)—

(a) shall apply to the Registrar on Patents Form 51 (which shall be filed in duplicate together with the form provided for by the Regulations under the Patent Co-operation Treaty nominating the person (“the expert”) to whom he wishes the sample to be made available; and

(b) shall at the same time file undertakings by the expert as set out in paragraph 2 (3) in accordance with the provisions of that paragraph.

(5) The Registrar shall send a copy of Patents Form 51 filed under sub-paragraph (4) to the applicant for the patent and shall specify the period within which the applicant may object, in accordance with sub-paragraph (6), to a sample of the micro-organism being available to the expert.

(6) Unless, within the period specified by the Registrar under sub-paragraph (5) (or within such longer period as the Registrar may, on application made to him within that period, allow), the applicant for the patent sends notice in writing to the Registrar that he objects to a sample of the micro-organism being made available to the expert and gives his reasons for his objection, the Registrar shall send a copy of any form lodged with him under sub-paragraph (4) (a) and of his certificate authorising the release of the sample—

(a) to the applicant for the patent;

(b) to the international depositary authority concerned;

(d) to the expert.

(7) Where, in accordance with sub-paragraph (6), the applicant for the patent sends notice to the Registrar of his objection to the issue of a certificate in favour of the expert, the Registrar—

(a) shall decide, having regard to the knowledge, experience and technical qualifications of the expert and to any other factors he considers relevant, whether to issue his certificate in favour of the expert; and

(b) if he decides to authorise the release of the sample to the expert, shall send to the persons referred to in sub-paragraph (6) a copy of any form lodged with him under sub-paragraph (4) (a) and of his certificate authorising the release of the sample to the expert.

(8) Before making a decision in accordance with sub-paragraph (7), the Registrar shall afford the applicant and the requester the opportunity of being heard.

(9) If the Registrar decides under sub-paragraph (7) not to issue his certificate in favour of the expert, the requester may, by notice in writing to the Registrar and the applicant, nominate another person as the expert for the purposes of this paragraph; and the Registrar shall give such directions as he shall think fit with regard to the subsequent procedure.

(10) Nothing in this paragraph shall affect the rights under section 61 of any Government department or of any person authorised in writing by a Government department.

4.—(1) Where the international depositary authority with which a deposit or a new deposit of a culture has been made under this Schedule—

(a) notifies the applicant or proprietor that it—

(i) cannot satisfy a request made in accordance with paragraph 2 (1) or 3 (4); or

(ii) is not able lawfully, to satisfy such a request, for the culture to be made available;

(b) ceases temporarily or permanently to carry out the functions of an international depositary authority; or

(c) ceases for any reason to conduct its activities as an international depositary authority in an objective and impartial manner,

subject to sub-paragraph (3), the applicant or proprietor may, unless the culture has been transferred to another international depositary authority which is able to make it available, make a new deposit of a culture of the micro-organism.

(2) For the purposes of paragraph 1 and of this paragraph, the deposit shall be treated as always having been available if, within 3 months of the receipt of such notification or of the international depositary authority ceasing to perform the functions of an international depositary authority or to conduct its activities as such an authority in an objective and impartial manner, the applicant or proprietor—

(a) in a case where the deposit has not already been transferred, makes the new deposit;

(b) furnishes to the international depositary authority with which the new deposit is made a declaration that the culture so deposited is of the same micro-organism as was the culture originally deposited; and

(c) requests amendment of the specification under section 31 or 38, as the case may be, so as to indicate the accession number of the transferred or new deposit and, where applicable, the name of the international depositary authority with which the deposit has been made.

(3) The new deposit referred to in sub-paragraph (1)—

(a) shall, subject to sub-paragraph (b), be made with the same international depositary authority as was the original deposit; or

(b) in the cases referred to in sub-paragraphs (1) (a) (ii), (b) and (c), shall be made with another international depositary authority which is able to satisfy the request.

5. In this Schedule—

“Budapest Treaty” means the Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Micro-organisms for the purposes of Patent Procedure done at Budapest in 1977;

“depositary institution” means an institution which, at all relevant times—

(a) carries out the functions of receiving, accepting and storing micro-organisms and the furnishing of samples thereof; and

(b) conducts its affairs in so far as they relate to the carrying out of those functions in an objective and impartial manner.

“international depositary authority” means a depositary institution which has acquired the status of international depositary authority as provided in Article 7 of the Budapest Treaty.

Rule 50.

In accordance with section 35 of the Patents Act, it is hereby certified that a patent having the Specification No. __________ has been granted in respect of an invention having the following particulars:

Title:

Application Number:

Date of Filing:

Priority Data:

Name of Inventor:

Name of Proprietor of the Patent:

Address:

Date of Grant:

Dated this day of 19 .

Registrar of Patents, Singapore.

Rule 50.

In accordance with section 35 of the Patents Act, it is hereby certified that a patent having the P-No. __________ has been granted in respect of an invention having the following particulars:

Title:

Application Number:

Date of Filing:

Priority Data:

Name of Inventor(s):

Name(s) and Address(es) of Proprietor(s) of the Patent:

Date of Grant:

Dated this

Registrar of Patents,

Singapore.

Rule 107.

1. A person appointed as a scientific adviser to assist the Registrar in proceedings under the Act and who attends the proceedings before the Registrar shall be paid—

(a) a reasonable amount for expenses incurred for transport between his usual place of residence and the place where the proceedings take place; and

(b) if the scientific adviser is required to be absent overnight from his usual place of residence, a reasonable amount as allowance for meals and accommodation up to a daily maximum of $250.

2. A person appointed as a scientific adviser to assist the Registrar in proceedings under the Act shall, apart from the expenses and allowances referred to in paragraph 1, be paid an amount of not less than $650 but not more than $2,000 for each day or part thereof for which he hears the case or works on the report pursuant to an inquiry referred to him under rule 107 (1) (b).

3. A person appointed as a scientific adviser to sit with the Registrar at the hearing of any proceedings may, apart from the expenses and allowances referred to in paragraph 1, be paid an amount not less than $650 but not more than $2,000 if he is subsequently not required to hear the proceedings with the Registrar.

Rules 108 and 120.

Where an application for a patent under the United Kingdom Patents Act 1977 or an application designating the United Kingdom filed at the European Patent Office (the foreign application) is pending on the appointed day of the Act and the applicant makes an application under section 116 (6) for the grant of a patent, the provisions of the Act and these Rules shall apply to the foreign application with the following modifications:

(a) where the application under section 116 (6) is filed after the 16-month period prescribed in rule 9 or 18—

(i) that all the requirements of rules 9 and 18, except for the prescribed period of 16 months, shall be complied with within the same day of filing the application; and

(ii) the requirements of paragraph 1 (2) (a) (ii) and (3) of the Fourth Schedule, in a case to which they apply, shall be complied with no later than the time ascertained under the said paragraph 1 (3) and the time of filing the application on or before the time ascertained under the said paragraph 1 (3) or the time of filing the application, whichever is the later;

(b) the application for the patent shall, notwithstanding rule 19, be treated as having been abandoned unless—

(i) the description, claims and drawings required to be filed are identical with those as filed with the foreign application;

(ii) the application is accompanied by a certified copy of the description, claims and drawings as filed with the foreign application; and

(iii) a declaration stating that the foreign application was pending on the appointed day of the Act is made within the same day of filing the application;

(c) the requirements of section 26 (1) are modified to the extent that the application shall be accorded, under section 116 (6), the same date of filing as the date of filing of the foreign application, when the following considerations are satisfied in relation to the application:

(i) the considerations of section 26 (1) (a) and (b); and

(ii) the documents filed at the Registry contain a description of the invention which is identical with that as filed with the foreign application as of its filing date;

(d) the period prescribed for the purposes of section 28 (1) shall be the period which expires on the actual date of filing of the application;

(e) the requirements of rule 29 are modified to the extent that the 18-month period commences from the actual date of filing the application;

(f) the requirements of rule 33 (1) are modified to the extent that the requirements of rule 19 as modified by paragraph (b) also apply;

(g) the requirements of rule 38 are modified to the extent that the 16-month period commences from the actual date of filing the application;

(h) the requirements of section 29 (1) (a) are modified to the extent that instead of filing a request for a search report, the applicant may file a copy of the search report which is issued in respect of the foreign application, provided that the application in Singapore relates to the same or substantially the same invention as the foreign application at the time of search;

(i) the requirements of section 29 (1) (b) are modified to the extent that instead of filing a request for a search and examination report, the applicant may file a copy of the search report and the substantive examination report which is issued in respect of the foreign application the examination report resulting from an examination as to substance which is issued in respect of the foreign application, provided that the application in Singapore relates to the same or substantially the same invention as the foreign application at the time of search and at the time of examination, respectively;

(j) section 29 (9) is modified to the extent that “corresponding application” includes the foreign application;

(k) the conditions of section 30 (2) (c) are modified to the extent that the search report and the substantive examination report which is issued in respect of the foreign application can be substituted for—

(i) the search and examination report referred to in section 30 (2) (c) (i); or

(ii) the search report and the examination report referred to in section 30 (2) (c) (ii) or (iii),

as the case may be;

(n( �/span> the requirements of rule 43 are modified to the extent that the 22-month period commences from the actual date of filing the application;

(m) the requirements of rule 46 (8) are modified to the extent that the 39-month period commences from the actual date of filing the application under section 116 (6);

(n) the requirements of rule 47 (1) are modified to the extent that the 42-month period commences from the actual date of filing the application; and

(o) the date prescribed for the purposes of section 36 (1) shall be the date of filing of the application accorded under section 116 (6).

Rule 114 (4)


(1) Self-collection	$10
(2) By post to destination country groups:
(a) Singapore	$16
(b) Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia	$25
(c) Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand	$28
(d) Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka and Taiwan	$34
(e) Australia (including Norfolk Island, Cocos (Keeling) Island and Christmas Island), People’s Republic of China and New Zealand	$37
(f) India, Japan and other destinations in Asia and territories in the Pacific	$38
(g) Germany, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Netherlands and Switzerland	$41
(h) Canada and the United States of America (including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guantanamo Bay [US Naval Station], Virgin Island of USA)	$40
(i) Other destinations in Middle East, Africa, Europe and America	$44

Mode of Delivery
(1) Self-collection	$36
(2) By post to destination country groups:
(a) Singapore	$43
(b) Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia	$55
(c) Hong Kong, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand	$60
(d) Republic of Korea, Sri Lanka and Taiwan	$66
(e) Australia (including Norfolk Island, Cocos (Keeling) Island and Christmas Island), People’s Republic of China and New Zealand	$71
(f) India, Japan and other destinations in Asia and territories in the Pacific	$73
(g) Germany, Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Netherlands and Switzerland	$78
(h) Canada and the United States of America (including Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Guantanamo Bay [US Naval Station], Virgin Island of USA)	$79
(i) Other destinations in Middle East, Africa, Europe and America	$86.

Patents Rules, Singapore

Available Materials

Patents Act (Chapter 221, Sections 42, 110 and 115)

Patents Rules S 538/95 S 106/96 S 224/96 S 132/97 S 260/97 S 458/97 S 82/98 S 116/98 S 203/99 S 286/99 S 510/99

SCALE OF COSTS