Report

Patent Cooperation
Treaty (PCT)
Patentability
Requirements
Non-patentable
inventions
HONG KONG MACAO SINGAPORE
and the United States of America, and the European
Patent Office (in respect of applications for a
European patent filed in English).
Singapore runs a self-assessment regime under
which the applicant can choose to proceed with a
grant even if the examination result is negative or
mixed. Singapore is moving toward a “positive
grant” system, where only applications that fully
meet the patentability requirements can be granted.
The PCT, to which PRC is a contracting state,
applies to Hong Kong with effect from 1 July 1997.
A Hong Kong resident may file an international
application either with SIPO or the International
Bureau of the World Intellectual Property
Organization (WIPO). The Hong Kong Patents
Registry is not a receiving office for international
applications under PCT.
The PCT is not applicable to Macao. Singapore is a PCT contracting state. An
international application may be filed by a resident
or national of Singapore under the PCT directly with
the Registry of Patents at IPOS as the receiving
office or the International Bureau of WIPO.
An invention is patentable if it:
(a) is susceptible of industrial application;
(b) is new; and
(c) involves an inventive step.
An invention is patentable if it:
(a) is novel;
(b) involves an inventive step; and
(c) is industrially applicable.
A patentable invention is one that satisfies the
following conditions:
(a) the invention is new;
(b) it involves an inventive step; and
(c) it is capable of industrial application.
The following are not patentable:
The following are not patentable:
The following are not patentable:
(a) a discovery, scientific theory or mathematical
method;
(b) an aesthetic creation;
(c) a scheme, rule or method for performing a
mental act, playing a game or doing business, or
a program for a computer;
(d) the presentation of information;
(e) a method for treatment of the human or animal
(a) discoveries, as well as scientific theories and
mathematical methods;
(b) materials or substances already existing
naturally and nuclear matter;
(c) aesthetic creations;
(d) schemes, rules and methods for performing
mental acts, playing games or doing business as
well as computer programs, as such;
(a) an invention the publication or exploitation of
which would be generally expected to
encourage offensive, immoral or anti-social
behaviour; and
(b) an invention of a method of treatment of the
human or animal body by surgery or therapy or
of diagnosis practised on the human or animal
body.
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