Singapore, Germany Sign MOU
21 October 2013
Singapore and Germany have signed a memorandum of understanding to increase intellectual property cooperation between the two countries, setting the framework for future IP cooperation.
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) and the German Patent and Trademark Office (DPMA) have agreed to jointly develop a patent prosecution highway (PPH) pilot program. There will be other cooperative programs such as patent procedure consultation and studies, and staff training on patent granting and dispute resolution procedures.
Tan Yih San, IPOS chief executive, said that this partnership will help many companies in gain greater access to the German market. “Through the professional expert exchanges, our local IP practitioners could also benefit and learn from one of the most successful technological power-houses of the world,” he said.
“This MOU is a significant milestone for bilateral cooperation between Germany and Singapore,” said DPMA President Cornelia Rudloff-Schäffer. “The enhanced collaborative efforts between IPOS and DPMA will open new opportunities for creators and businesses of both regions to protect their intellectual property.”
“This is a significant and positive development for the Singapore IP Industry, and I applaud the IPOS’ initiative as part of the larger plan to build the eco-system of Singapore as an IP Hub,” says Audrey Yap, managing partner at Yusarn Audrey in Singapore.
The MOU is “likely to be an important spoke in the wheel as part of a concerted effort by government bodies here for Singapore to become an IP Hub,” says Michael McLaughlin, a patent attorney at McLaughlin IP in Singapore.
Stanley Lai, partner and head of the intellectual property practice at Allen & Gledhill in Singapore, shares the view that the MOU “plays an important part in Singapore’s IP industry, and reinforces the country’s commitment to create a robust and vibrant global IP network.”
Both offices expect to benefit from faster prosecution and grant of patents from the PPH programme, says Yap. “For patent applicants, this will result in reduced costs for patent filing and prosecution, whilst improving the speed and certainty of patent grants.”
“We also expect that the MOU will help Singapore and Singapore-based companies gain greater access to the strong German market,” says Lai. The cooperative activities “will help Singapore IP practitioners learn to better manage and exploit their IP from professionals in one of the most technologically progressive countries in the world,” he tells Asia IP.
According to McLaughlin, the existing patent applications from Germany account for less than 7% of all applications filed in Singapore, regardless of Germany being Singapore’s third largest IP trading partner. He says that part of the effort is to increase the number of patent filings in Singapore.
In addition to increased filings – and correspondingly more deals generated – from Germany, “we would also likely see more tech transfer between the two countries,” says Yap. “This will encourage the IP marketplace in Singapore to grow.”
“The MOU is part of a growing trend between countries to work together towards achieving greater and more comprehensive protection of IP, and also demonstrates Singapore’s commitment to global IP co-operation,” says Lai.
