IPOS introduces new PPH initiatives; clarifies ITA process for PPH and GPPH applications

© WongPartnership LLP

DISCLAIMER: This update is intended for your general information only. It is not intended to be nor should it be regarded as or relied upon as legal advice. You should consult a qualified legal professional before taking any action or omitting to take action in relation to matters discussed herein.

WongPartnership LLP (UEN: T08LL0003B) is a limited liability law partnership registered in Singapore under the Limited Liability Partnerships

Act 2005.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY,

TECHNOLOGY & DATA

JUNE 2026

IPOS Introduces New PPH Initiatives; Clarifies ITA

Process for PPH and GPPH Applications

On 10 June 2026, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) issued two circulars relating to the

Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH). Circular No. 2/2026 introduces two new initiatives to promote the uptake of PPH: (a) accelerated first office action timelines; and (b) a simplified payment process. Circular

No. 3/2026 clarifies how the Invitation to Amend (ITA) process is applied to PPH or Global Patent

Prosecution Highway (GPPH) applications, based on recent stakeholder feedback.

Accelerated First Office Action Timelines

For a request to use PPH filed on or after 1 July 2026, IPOS will endeavour to issue the first office action within six months from the date of the request to use PPH.

Simplified Payment Process

From 3 August 2026 to 31 December 2027 (both dates inclusive), applicants filing a PPH request together with a new request for a search and/or examination report need to pay only 70% of the prevailing official fees for the latter. Under the current arrangements (as announced in Circular No. 4/2025), applicants pay the full fees at the point of request and receive 30% of the fees back thereafter. The updated approach provides the same benefit upfront and simplifies the process. The fees under the updated approach are set out in the table below.

Request

Prevailing Official

Fee

Amount Payable Under

Updated Approach

Search and Examination Report (Form PF11)

S$2,050

S$1,435

Search and Examination Report (Form PF11)

relating to an international application for a patent

(Singapore) that has entered the national phase and an International Search Report or an

International Preliminary Report on Patentability has been established in that application by the

Office under the Patent Co-operation Treaty

S$1,750

S$1,435

Examination Report (Form PF12)

S$1,420

S$994

Circular No. 4/2025 will continue to apply to applicants who make a request to use PPH when filing a request for search and examination or a request for examination prior to 3 August 2026. As stated in the

FAQs annexed to Circular No. 2/2026, an applicant who has obtained one or more extensions of time for a request for a search and examination report or examination report previously may still benefit from the simplified payment process, provided that the request to use PPH is made from 3 August 2026 to 31

December 2027 (both dates inclusive).

Patents

© WongPartnership LLP

DISCLAIMER: This update is intended for your general information only. It is not intended to be nor should it be regarded as or relied upon as legal advice. You should consult a qualified legal professional before taking any action or omitting to take action in relation to matters discussed herein.

WongPartnership LLP (UEN: T08LL0003B) is a limited liability law partnership registered in Singapore under the Limited Liability Partnerships

Act 2005.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY,

TECHNOLOGY & DATA

JUNE 2026

Clarification on ITA for PPH or GPPH Applications

While Circular No. 3/2026 does not introduce new initiatives or procedures, it clarifies the application of the existing ITA process to PPH or GPPH applications and confirms that the current ITA practice for PPH and

GPPH applications is compliant with the Patents Act 1994 and Patents Rules.

The ITA, implemented since 29 April 2022 to facilitate the expeditious examination of applications for patents, is a notice issued by the Registrar inviting an applicant to amend its application to address one or more prescribed matters identified by the Examiner during examination, in lieu of a written opinion. Upon receipt of an ITA, an applicant has two months after the date of the ITA to respond to the Examiner, failing which the Examiner will issue a written opinion or examination report as applicable.

Since 27 September 2023, IPOS has introduced a streamlined process to eliminate the need for the applicant to withdraw and refile Patents Form 11 or 12 to submit amendments with the PPH or GPPH request, as follows:

(a)

The applicant files a request for a search and examination report or an examination report (using

Patents Form 11 or 12).

(b)

The applicant subsequently requests accelerated examination under PPH or GPPH, indicating that amendments are required to conform the Singapore claims to the foreign allowable claims in the corresponding application filed with the selected PPH or GPPH office.

(c)

The Registrar verifies with the Examiner that examination has not commenced.

(d)

The Examiner begins examination by assessing whether conforming claims to the foreign allowable claims would resolve one or more prescribed matters.

(e)

If the Examiner determines that one or more prescribed matters can be resolved by ITA without a written opinion, the Examiner may request the Registrar to issue the ITA.

IPOS has updated on its website: (a) information on PPH or GPPH procedures; and (b) the PPH guidelines (both available here) to clarify the process for issuing ITAs for PPH or GPPH applications during examination.

If you would like information and/or assistance on the above or any other area of law, you may wish to contact the Partner at WongPartnership whom you normally work with or any of the following Partners:

LAM Chung Nian

Head – Intellectual Property,

Technology & Data d: +65 6416 8271

e: chungnian.lam@wongpartnership.com

Click here to view Chung Nian’s CV.

Kylie PEH

Partner – Intellectual Property,

Technology & Data d: +65 6416 8259

e: kylie.peh@wongpartnership.com

Click here to view Kylie’s CV.

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