ipos.gov.sg ePatent Singapore : Intellectual Property Office

Name of the Organisation : Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (ipos.gov.sg)
Type of Announcement : ePatent
Country : Singapore
http://www.ipos.gov.sg/Services/Fili…atentsFAQ.aspx

Related : Intellectual Property Office Register Trade Mark In Singapore : www.statusin.org/462.html

ePatent Filing and Registration :

Filing is a simple process. Applications for a patent, trade mark or design can be made either via eFiling on IPOS’ website or manually. For plant varieties protection application, it can only be filed manually.

Registration at ePatents is required prior to the submission of an application for a subscription account.

As long as an applicant is a resident or national of Singapore, the applicant can also file international applications through IPOS. This is because Singapore is a contracting state of the PCT, the Madrid Protocol and the Geneva (1999) Act of the Hague Agreement.

Even though IP rights are territorial in nature and Singapore’s IP laws only have jurisdiction in Singapore, the Republic’s accession to international treaties help make it easier for businesses to seek protection overseas.

For example, international patent work-sharing arrangements under the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) and ASEAN Patent Examination Cooperation (ASPEC) frameworks help companies accelerate patent applications and improve the quality of granted patents, while saving costs. These international routes are generally open not just to Singapore residents but also available to all applicants in Singapore.

Interested applicants can visit IPOS during our operating hours to file or register for IP protection or make use of our online services;
Registry’s operating hours :
Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 5:30pm

Cashier’s operating hours :
Monday to Friday: 8:30am to 5:00pm
All forms pertaining to patents, trade marks, designs and plant varieties protection are available at the IPOS Counter and downloadable from the IPOS website.

Introduction :
Description of eService :
ePatents is your one-stop portal that facilitate online patents related searches and transactions in Singapore

Basic Requirements for eServices :

About Registration :
2. Who is eligible to register for the services?
The prerequisite is that the person or company has a local corresponding address for service.

3. How much do I have to pay in order to become a registered user for Personal and Corporate Account?
Registration is free for the Personal Account. Corporate Account registration is free only for the first two users. Every block of two additional users will be charged.

4. How do I apply as a registered user?
Registration can be done online at ePatents. To register, you may follow the procedure below.
Apply Online :
Step 1: Log on to ePatents.
Step 2: Proceed to “General”, under “Getting Started Online – Registration”, you may select either Personal or Corporate account to become a Registered Account Holder.
Step 3: The system will guide you through the registration process. You may call the ePatents Help Desk at 6490 9568 if you need further assistance.

5. What are the documents required at the time of registration?
You are required to furnish your particulars, company information (for Corporate Account) and your email address upon online registration. Your ePatents password will be emailed to you subsequently.

6. When will the account be activated in the system?
For registration, the account will be activated within the same day

II. About Subscription :
1. What is the subscription for?
Once you have signed up for subscription, you will be able to carry out form submissions through ePatents.
The transactions currently offered include ;
** request for grant of patent and national phase applications;
** amendment/ correction of specification;
** statement of inventorship;
** renewals;
** declaration of authorisation;
** change of name/ address;
** search and/or examination request;
** payment of fee for grant;
** application for restoration;
** request for information/ document;
** request for early publication;
** offer to surrender a patent;
** request for publication of translation; and
** extension of time.

2. Who is eligible to subscribe for the services?
Subscribers MUST be a resident in Singapore before he can proceed to apply for subscription; and in so using the services, must not contravene section 105 of the Patents Act (Cap 221).

3. What kind of subscriber schemes are there?
There are generally two categories available;
(1) Category 1: Recommended for high-volume users – This account requires a minimum of three month subscription to the service. Subscription fees are payable quarterly. Category 1 subscribers will benefit from a lower surcharge rate.
(2) Category 2: Recommended for lower-volume users – A Category 2 subscriber account does not require a subscription fee. However, the ePatents surcharge payable per form submission is higher than that chargeable to a Category 1 subscriber pays.
A full listing of the relevant fees and charges is available here.

4. What is the difference between a Personal Account and a Corporate Account?
The Personal Account is for an individual who conducts his own patent transactions with the Registry or does so on behalf of another party not for gain.
The Corporate Account is for a sole proprietorship, a partnership, or a body corporate who conducts patent transactions for itself or as agent for another party. For incorporated companies, the persons registered as users must be persons who are authorised to transact on behalf of the company. In the case of law firms or registered patent agent firms, the user(s) named in the Corporate Account must be lawyer(s) or registered patent agent(s) of the firm.
Sole proprietors of a firm will have to apply for a Corporate Account.

5. How much is the subscription fees for Personal / Corporate Account?
Subscription fees are available in the subscription form. The minimum period of subscription is;
1 three months for Category 1 subscribers under Personal/ Corporate Account;
2 one year for Category 2 subscribers under Personal/Corporate Account.
Information on subscription fees is also available on ePatents website under General – Fees and Charges.

6. How do I subscribe for the services?
You will need to do the following ;
1 Submit an application to ePatents (attaching the required documentation); and
2 Apply for a Netrust certificate
3 Online subscription is not available. Subscribers can apply by submitting the subscription form through mail or courier to ePatents Centre. You may send your application form to the following address:
ePatents Centre
i-Magination Solution Pte Lth
No. 2 Ubi View 4th Floor
Singapore 408556

7. What are the documents required for subscription to ePatents?
Incorporated companies are required to enclose a copy of the documentary evidence of the business registration for verification, for example, the Business Profile provided by the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority. A letter to authorize the persons registered as users to transact on behalf of the company is also needed.

8. When will my subscription be activated?
Subscription processing will take approximately three (3) days, subject to approval by IPOS. Upon IPOS’ approval, ePatents Centre will activate the account. Subscribers will be informed via email on the activation, and then proceed to obtain a Netrust Digital Certificate.