The Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore have jointly extended the Collaborative Search & Examination (CS&E) Programme until 28 February 2027. This extension aims to strengthen cooperation in patent matters between the two offices, focusing on improving examination quality and reducing processing times.

Key Features and Benefits of the Extended CS&E Programme:

• No-Cost Expedited Examination: Applicants can request expedited patent examination under the CS&E program at no cost until 28 February 2027.
• Enhanced Search and Examination Results: Utilizes combined expertise for comprehensive results.
• Accelerated First Office Action: Preliminary patentability assessment within 10 months speeds up decision-making.
• Deferred Translation and Official Costs: Filing and/or search and examination costs at the later office are deferred until a priority claim or subsequent filing is made.
• Prioritized Examination: Claims at the later office will receive priority if they align with the CS&E report from the earlier office.

For further details on the Programme, including application requirements and fees, or inquiries about intellectual property in Vietnam, please contact us at [email protected].

Yen PHAM, S&O IP Southeast Asia, Senior IP Attorney