The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has announced revisions to official fees across its Registries for trademarks, patents, designs, geographical indications, and plant varieties to ensure operational sustainability and meet the needs of the evolving IP ecosystem. Key changes include increased fees for trade mark applications, PCT search and preliminary examination, renewals, and extension…
As of August 27, 2025, Mauritius has officially joined the Harare Protocol under the African Regional Intellectual Property Organization (ARIPO). This significant development enables: Protection of patents, utility models, and industrial designs through ARIPO filings Designation of Mauritius in existing and future regional applications Note: This accession does not affect trademark procedures in Mauritius, which…
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) has introduced a new framework for the registration of well-known trademarks, effective April 2025. Key highlights: Ex-parte declaration process – no litigation required Validity: 10 years, with the option for renewal Serves as prima facie evidence in infringement proceedings Provides enhanced legal protection and enforcement leverage Public…
The Egyptian Intellectual Property Authority (EGIPA) has issued Decree No. 26 of 2025, published in Official Gazette No. 132 on 17 June 2025, introducing key changes to Egypt’s patent system. Effective 18 June 2025, the official patent examination fee has increased from EGP 25,000 to EGP 50,000 (approx. USD 1,060). Additionally, the payment deadline for…
Effective June 1, 2025 – Circular No. 2 of 2025 clarifies key rules on trademark expiry and re-registration timing. Trademark owners should review their portfolios to avoid loss of rights.
Please note that the Bangladesh Intellectual Property Office has announced a temporary suspension of new trademark filings from May 15 to May 25, 2025, due to scheduled system upgrades. Manual filings and processing of existing cases will continue as usual during this period.
The Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TPTO) introduces administrative trademark cancellations and updates its fee structure. Key changes include faster, court-free cancellation for non-use and per-class fee calculations. Effective March 15, 2025 – Trademark owners and IP professionals should review and adjust their strategies.
In an unexpected development, the Trademarks Office has decided to increase the official fees for new application/s and fee for expedited examination request with effect from August 1, 2014. The Controller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (“CG”) has issued a notice requesting the Applicants/Attorneys/Proprietors to pay the balance fees before September 30, 2014.The…
In an interesting case involving transfer of Intellectual property between two entities located outside India where the trademarks were owned by an Australian company but used in India, the Delhi High court in an Appeal from Authority of Advance Ruling (AAR) has held that such transaction is not taxable in India. Facts of the case…
The new chairman of IPAB Mr. Justice Manmohan Singh (retired) has energized its functioning soon after he assumed charge on 2nd January, 2018. Between 18th to 25th January, 2018 over 200 cases were listed in Delhi and dates for final arguments/ disposal set down. In fact, a number of cancellation/ rectification petitions where the parties…
The Indian Patent Office predicament over software patents continues. The patent office has issued another version of modified guidelines for the patentability of Computer Related Inventions (CRIs) on June 30th 2017. This is the third time the guidelines related to patentability of CRIs have been modified. The first version of the guidelines was issued on…
While the Trade Marks Registry has since 2003 published a list of “well-known” marks on its website based on court decisions declaring a mark to be “famous” or “well known”, the Trade Marks Act, 1999 (“the Act”) had no specific provision to seek a formal declaration regarding the well-known status of a mark. To address this concern…
