On 1 January 2013, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) will commence a Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot programme with the Korean Intellectual Property Office (KIPO). The PPH pilot will allow patent applicants who have first filed a patent application in Singapore and who are looking to file in Korea to take advantage of expedited examination in Korea. A similar advantage will also apply to patent applicants who have first file a patent application in Korea to enjoy expedited registration in Singapore.

More information on the programme and its procedures will be made available on the IPOS and KIPO websites at www.ipos.gov.sg and www.kipo.go.kr respectively.