Previously, for a patent to be protected it had to be granted first in the United Kingdom and then registered in Singapore. However, under the new Patents Act, it is possible to file directly in Singapore.
Renewals have to be filed annually.
There is no registration procedure for copyright in Singapore. Although Singapore is not a member of the Berne Convention, copyright is extended by special legislation to works first published in Berne convention countries or by authors of works who are nationals of those countries. However, proprietors of designs which have been registered at the United Kingdom Design Registry will automatically have the same rights and privileges in Singapore as they have in the United Kingdom. We, however, sometimes advise our clients to advertise the United Kingdom registration in the local newspapers in order that the potential Defendant cannot raise the defence of innocence and thereby escape payment of damages. In appropriate cases, some clients may wish to register their business or corporate name at the Registry of Companies and Businesses.