UPDATED 28 April 2022: IPOS has announced a delay in the official fee increases to 26 May 2022.

The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore has announced revised official fees, effective for payments made on or after 29 April 2022 26 May 2022.

The fee revision affects patent fees, trade mark fees and registered design fees, as well as those for plant variety protection, geographical indications (GI) and hearings and mediations.

The fee increases are significant, in the order of 5% or so, for fees incurred during patent filing, prosecution and grant. The changes in the official fees for patent renewals are, however, much higher, going up by 15% to 18%.

It is possible, in many cases, to save costs by taking a required action and paying the fee at the current rates, before the fee increase takes effect. We therefore recommend that, where possible, you consider instructing actions on which official fees are payable now, and before the implementation date of 29 April 2022 26 May 2022.

While unwelcome, the fee increases were perhaps to be expected in the current inflationary circumstances. That said, the last time IPOS raised its fees was over five years ago, in April 2017.

Full details of the fee revision are set out in Patents Circular No. 1/2022 (“Introducing IPOS Digital Hub, Legislative Amendments and Fee Updates”) issued by IPOS. As its name implies, the Circular also sets out news of the new IPOS Digital Hub and IPOS’ proposed streamlining of processes to “improve business-friendliness and operational efficiency”.

Please get in touch with us if you would like more information on the fee changes, or if you have any questions on their impact.

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