Singapore – ASEAN’s first int’l patent examination authority
Businesses now can fast track their applications for patent protection in numerous markets via Singapore as it began operating as ASEAN’s first International Patent Search and Examination Authority.
Singaporean and global businesses now can fast track their applications for patent protection in numerous markets via Singapore from September 1 as the country began operating as ASEAN’s first International Patent Search and Examination Authority under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
In its press release, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) said that Singapore is the fifth in Asia, after China, India, Japan and the Republic of Korea, joining a group of 19 IP offices worldwide that have been appointed as international authorities for the PCT.
Patent applicants to Brunei, Japan, Mexico, Laos and Vietnam will be the first to gain access to Singapore’s new service in the coming months.
According to the IPOS, Singapore is selected by the PCT thanks to its responsiveness, with a total time of around 60 days for most cases, in comparison with two to three years of waiting time for similar responses from other IP offices.
Patent applicants will also enjoy rebates of up to 75 percent when making a PCT application through IPOS, which is another step towards building a creative and innovative Singapore with IP.-VNA
The Ministry of Science and Technology on March 31 launched a month-long campaign to commemorate the World Intellectual Property Day (April 26) with the support of the Software Alliance (BSA).
Intellectual property law enforcement not only protects enterprises but also pushes them to create and innovate, Deputy Head of the National Office of Intellectual Property (NOIP) Le Ngoc Lam said in a Ho Chi Minh City-based seminar on April 14.
For World Intellectual Property Day on April 26, Tran Viet Thanh, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, spoke to Kinh te Vietnam&The gioi (Vietnam and World Economic Affairs) bulletin about the role of IP in the country’s economic development.
The Republic of Korea (RoK), China and Japan agreed on May 3 to reinforce the regional financial safety net, along with members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), by launching a new financing facility programme meant to extend greater support in case of a financial crisis.
A technical issue combined with an extreme heatwave was blamed for a series of explosions at a military base that killed 20 soldiers and injured several others in Cambodia on April 27, the country’s Ministry of Defence said in a May 2 statement as reported by the Xinhua news agency.
The Customs Department of Thailand is scheduled to commence the collection of value-added tax (VAT) on imported goods sent via postal services, regardless of the goods value, starting in May.
A lecturer from Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Medicine has warned Thais to be more vigilant against COVID-19, saying infection rates appeare to be worsening with higher hospital admissions, deaths and severe cases.
Malaysia should harness the collective expertise and resources to drive sustainable growth and development of the halal industry, according to Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Laos has officially restored the 10% value-added tax (VAT) rate starting May 1, in a bid to support the country’s budget revenue and socio-economic development.
The ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) entered its second plenary session in Hanoi on the afternoon of April 23, discussing ways to ensure comprehensive security for the people-centred ASEAN Community.
The first session of the ASEAN Future Forum 2024 (AFF 2024) in Hanoi on April 23 focused on fast and sustainable growth for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The Canada-ASEAN Business Council (CABC) and the ASEAN Alliance on Carbon Markets (AACM) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen collaboration and accelerate the implementation of carbon crediting programmes across Southeast Asia.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn reaffirmed ASEAN leaders' commitment to empowering the youth to unleash their full potential when he had a dialogue with ASEAN youth in Hanoi on April 22 on the sidelines of the ASEAN Future Forum (AF 2024).
The Thai Government is being urged to increase the proportion of renewable power generation to more than the target of 50% set in the power development plan (PDP).
The Centre for Volcanology and Geological Hazard Mitigation (PVMBG) of Indonesia on April 21 lifted its tsunami advisory issued previously following the eruption of Mount Ruang in Sitaro district of North Sulawesi province.
Thailand expects to export about 1 million tonnes of durian, valued at an estimated 130 billion THB (3.53 billion USD) this year, with most of the shipments to China, according to Minister of Agriculture Thammanat Prompao.
The 72nd meeting of the ASEAN Working Group on Intellectual Property Cooperation (AWGIPC) and related meetings are being held by the Ministry of Science and Technology’s Intellectual Property Office (IPO) of Vietnam in the central city of Da Nang on April 22-26.
Enhancing regional food security and tackling the pressing challenges of climate change will be key agendas defining Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025, Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat (lower house) Johari Abdul told the press on April 19.
Illustrative image (Source: AFP)
