Milestones

Year	Events
Mar 2009	Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks which is an international treaty on trademarks that aims to harmonise the administrative procedures for trade marks registration came into force.
Feb 2009	Jointly launched the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) pilot with US Patent and Trade Mark Office (USPTO). Organised together with the USPTO, the APEC-IPEG Technology Transfer Seminar under the APEC banner.
Jan 2009	Implementation of the Instant Renewal Notification for trade marks renewed online. Successfully re-certified to the ISO 9001:2000 standard for a period of 3 years.
Dec 2008	Amendment To IP Law – Copyright (Excluded Works) Order 2008 came into effect. Patents (Amendment) Act 2008 came into effect. Trade Marks (Amendment) Rule 2008 to give effect to the sending, receipt and exchange of correspondence via the e-Communications Portal came into force.
Nov 2008	Co-organised the 3rd China-Singapore IP Conference: Taking My IP to China with SIPO.
Oct 2008	Launch of educational comic book, “Know Your Copyright!”.
Sep 2008	Signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on bilateral co-operation with the National Institute for Industrial Property of France and Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial of Brazil. Signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Swiss Federal Institute of Intellectual Property (IGE) on bilateral co-operation.
Jun 2008	Co-organised the Europe-Asia Patent and Patent Information Conference (EAP2IC) with the European Patent Office.
May 2008	Organised the SIPO-IPOS Helpdesk with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People’s Republic of China (SIPO).
Apr 2008	Co-organised the Patent Co-operation Treaty (PCT) Asia 2008 with WIPO. Organised the WTO TRIPS National Workshop with the World trade Organisation. Celebrated World IP Day 2008 with a seminar “Cyber Dangers: Practise Safe Downloading Parents Seminar 2008” with support from the Ministry of Education and the Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports.
Mar 2008	Organised the World Intellectual Property Office (WIPO) Patent Drafting Course. Launch of Patent Practice Modules.
Feb 2008	Embarked on pilot project to introduce a new stage in the hearing process relating to trade marks. Conducted Public Consultation on Changes to the Jurisdiction and Operational Aspects of the Copyright Tribunal. Organised National Workshop on the Protection of New Varieties of Plants under the UPOV Convention with support of the Agri-Food & Veterinary Authority of Singapore and the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan. Supported a Business Software Alliance-led initiative - a dedicated website (www.b4usurf.org) to provide educators and parents with information and educational resources.
Dec 2007	Organised Regional Forum on Public Health, Innovation and IP WIPO Asia-Pacific Forum of Heads of IP Offices. Co-organised APEC-IPEG Workshop on “Using Market Research to Develop Effective IPR Campaigns” with IP Australia and the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department.
Nov 2007	Organised WIPO Seminar for Journalists. Co-organised outreach seminar “Growing Your Business – The IP Way” with SPRING Singapore and the UOB-SMU Entrepreneurship Alliance Centre. Launched Graduate Certificate in IP Law (GCIP) Course on Registered Designs and Trade Marks. Co-organised the inaugural “Be a Cyber Savvy Parent” public seminar with the Internet Association of Singapore (IIAS).
Oct 2007	Awarded the SHARE Gold Award by the Community Chest. Concluded Pilot Phase of IPM for public agencies.
Sep 2007	Co-organised the 5th Europe-Asia Patent Information Conference (EAPIC) with the European Patent Office. Organised SG-WIPO Regional Workshop on the Role of Intellectual Property in enhancing competitiveness and growth of SMEs in the franchising sector. IPOS website with new branding, enhanced usability and richer contents rolled out. Awarded the Bronze Award at Ministry of Law’s WITs Convention.
Jul 2007	Co-organised the Legitimate Distribution of Copyright Works Online with WIPO. Amendments to the Trade Marks Act, Trade Marks Rules and the Trade Marks (International Registration) Rules to implement the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trade Marks came into effect.
May 2007	Launched a new anti-piracy movie trailer with the Motion Picture Association aimed at raising awareness of illegal movie camcording in cinemas.
	Organised informal meeting on the WIPO Provisional Committee on Proposals relating to a WIPO Development Agenda in Singapore.
	Launched Mentorship Funding Scheme, a financial support scheme for locally-based organizations to develop in-house patent agents.
	Co-organised the 2nd China-Singapore Intellectual Property Conference – “Introduction to IP Regime in China, Singapore and ASEAN countries” held in Beijing.
	Organised Workshop on Patent Co-Operation Treaty conducted by experts from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO).
Apr 2007	Patents Act and Patents – Statutes (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2007 and Patents (Amendment No. 2) Rules 2007 came into effect.
	Organised a large-scale movie marathon to celebrate the World IP Month 2007.
	Release of the findings of IPOS perception survey that measured young Singaporeans’ awareness and attitudes towards IP and IP Rights.
Feb 2007	Patents (Amendment) Rules 2007 came into effect.
Dec 2006	Launched IP Management Programme for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) with SPRING Singapore.
	Undertook consultancy project for Jordan and United Arab Emirates to recommend an integrated IP institution for both states.
Nov 2006	Co-organised the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Meeting on the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trade Marks. Co-organised the APEC-IPEG Workshop on Intellectual Property (IP) Public Education and Awareness in Hong Kong, in conjunction with Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department and Intellectual Property Australia.
Oct 2006	Co-organised the WIPO Regional Workshop on Patent Drafting with WIPO.
Sep 2006	Co-organised the Europe-Asia Patent Information Conference (EAPIC) IV- “The Patent Way to Succeed” with the European Patent Office (EPO). Co-organised the Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Conference- HIPOC 2006 with the European Patent Office.
Aug 2006	Supported the Global Forum on IP. Launch of Patents eJournal, an online publication of Patents. Launch of Plant Varieties System
May 2006	Co-organised the SIPO-IPOS Symposium on “Journey into the Middle Kingdom”
Apr 2006	Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on creating IP curriculum for Polytechnic students with IP Academy and the local Polytechnics.
Mar 2006	Hosted the Diplomatic Conference for the Adoption of a Revised Trade Mark Law Treaty which led to the adoption of the “Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trade Marks”.
Feb 2006	Co-organised the ASEAN Australia Development Cooperation Programme-Advance Training Course on the Search and Examination of Patent Applications with IP Australia.
Jan 2006	Co-organised the WIPO Symposium on “Promoting University-Industry Collaboration through Technology Transfer and IP Transactions in ASEAN Countries.” Co-organised the WIPO-ASEAN Workshop on “Feasibility Study on the Establishment of IP Business Development Services (BDS) Hubs in ASEAN”. Co-organised a seminar on “Japan’s IP Regime: Milestones in Reform- the Latest Developments and Implications for Businesses” with Japan Institute of Invention and Innovation.
Dec 2005	Launch of new improved SurfIP.
Sep 2005	Signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the joint development of the IP Management Protocol with the Hong Kong Productivity Council. Amendment of Registered Design Rules came into effect . Launch of the HIP Friends website (www.hipfriends.org.sg) Co-organised seminar “China Trade Marks Legal System and its Administrative Enforcements” with State Administration for Industry and Commerce, People’s Republic of China. Launch of Trade Marks eJournal, an electronic publication of Trade Marks Launch of Designs eJournal, an electronic publication of Designs Launch of eDesigns, an online Designs filing system.
Aug 2005	Co-organised the EAPIC III- “Patent Information for better IP management” with the EPO. Assisted WIPO in the preparation of a report on Integrated Management of IP, including an integrated IP organisation in Pakistan.
Apr 2005	Acceded to The Geneva Act (1999) of the Hague Agreement concerning the International Registration of Industrial Designs. Patents (Amendments) Rules 2005 came into effect. Organised “The Real Hunt”, an event at Wisma Atria, a shopping mall in Orchard Road, in celebration of World IP Day. Co-presented HIP awards “Top Local Composer of the Year” and “Young Composer of the Year” at the 10th COMPASS Awards presentation.
Mar 2005	Co-organised with International Trademark Association (INTA) in Singapore the IPOS-INTA Asia Pacific 2005 Forum on “Emerging Issues in Brand Protection”. Attained the Singapore Quality Class Standards for business excellence.
Jan 2005	Deposited with the Director General of WIPO the instrument of accession to the Geneva (1999) Act of the Hague Agreement concerning the International Registration of Industrial Design. Launched “Copy Not Right”, a video starring local star, Hossan Leong promoting the proper use of copyright materials. Acceded to the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty.
Oct 2004	Launched the Software Licensing Programme together with IP Taskforce in preparation for the changes to Copyright Act. Presented the “Trade Marks cum Branding Category” awards in the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Business Plan Competition 2004. Presented the inaugural HIP Award at Power 98’s Band Competition to the most creative band. Won the Intelligent Enterprise Asia Awards 2004 for Trade Marks System. Launch of Phase 2B of ePatents, to initiate full online filing services for Patents.
Aug 2004	Collaborated with WIPO on the EC-ASEAN Intellectual Property Rights Cooperation Programme (ECAP) II EC Asian IP Rights Co-operation Programme to train IPOS officers in preparation for the accession of Singapore to the Geneva Act (1999) of the Hague Agreement concerning the International Registration of Industrial Design. Participated in the WIPO mission to Myanmar to assist in the setting up of an IP office and IP infrastructure.
Jul 2004	The following came into force on 1 July: Patents (Amendment) Act 2004 and Patents (Amendment) Rules 2004 Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 2004 for extension of term of Copyright protection etc. Trade Marks (Amendment) Act 2004 and Trade Marks(Amendment) Rules 2004 Practice Direction No. 1 of 2004 (Hours of Business & Excluded Days) Practice Direction No. 2 of 2004 (Electronic online Service) Plant Varieties Protection Act 2004 Launch of the HIP Alliance’s anti-piracy movie trailer screened at movie cinemas across Singapore. A joint initiative with the Motion Picture Association, the new trailer encouraged movie-goers to “Say No! to Piracy”. Launched a series of talks for the public sector to raise IP awareness in preparation for the new government IP management framework. Singapore became a member of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV)
Jun 2004	Deposited with the Secretary General of the International Union for the protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) the instrument of accession to the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV Convention).
Mar 2004	Co-organised the EAPIC II- “Seeking the Patent Truth” with the European Patent Office. Conducted Singapore’s first IP camp for primary schools.
Feb 2004	Signed a MOU on fostering stronger ties and future collaboration with the State Intellectual Property Office of the People’s Republic Office of China.
Jan 2004	Enforcement of the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement (USSFTA) Launch of eTrademarks search services to enable users to search the trade mark database online.
Nov 2003	Co-organised the Europe-Asia Heads of Intellectual Property Offices Conference with the European Patent Office.
Oct 2003	Launch of eTrademarks services for online filing of applications for recordal of assignments and amendments to trade mark applications.
Sep 2003	Announced a new government policy on IP ownership in procurement contracts. Conducted the first “Make Your Mark”, a Trade Mark Competition for Secondary Schools and Junior Colleges. Won the MIS Innovation Awards for Trade Marks System.
Aug 2003	Launch of ePatents Phase 2A to enable more patent transactions to be performed online. Signed a MOU with Danish Patent and Trade Mark office to be included as an Examiner under our Patents Act.
Jul 2003	Held HIPFair, an outdoor event in Orchard Road to celebrate originality, creativity and respect for IP with performances by local celebrities.
Jun 2003	Launch of iperckidz, a platform to reach out to school sector, and Detective IP, an icon to champion intellectual property.
May 2003	Launch of the “Keep Music Original” campaign- a joint effort with MediaCorp Radio and the Recording Industry Association (Singapore) by Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee, Senior Minister of State (Law and Home Affairs).
Apr 2003	Appointment of "Russell Koh", ex-VCD pirate from MediaWorks Comedy series "Ah Girl" as HIP Ambassador for 2003/2004.
Mar 2003	IPOS together with the Japan Patent Office co-organised OPTIMAL 2003, Asia's Premier Conference and Exhibition on Intellectual Property, Ideas, Inventions and Innovations held in Singapore for the first time. Launch of IP Parade - offline roving exchanges for trading and exchanging of IP among IP owners, IP service providers and IP investors. Launch of “Brainwave - The Essence of Invention”, a reality-based TV campaign series in a partnership with Essence Holdings (Singapore) Private Limited. Launch of the new Strategic Manpower Conversion Programme for Intellectual Property (SMCP-IP), funded by Ministry of Manpower. Established a dedicated Court Room, with sound recording facilities for the conduct of hearings by the Hearings and Mediation Department.
Feb 2003	Concluded negotiations on the USSFTA.
Jan 2003	IPOS as Singapore's lead agency for IP, concluded negotiations on the IP chapter for the USSFTA. Launch of the IP Academy. Attained ISO 9001:2000 certification. Concluded a MOU with Denmark to appoint Danish National IP Office as an alternative source to do patent searches and examinations.
Nov 2002	Launched “Make Your Move”- a first in a series of publications aimed at raising awareness among the business sector on the importance of IP management. Launch of the Intellectual Property Creation, Protection and Exploitation (IP-CEP) programme for the business sector. Concluded the final round of negotiations for the Singapore- Australia Free Trade Agreement.
Oct 2002	Launched HIP Alliance’s “Play n Learn” campaign for secondary schools featuring a skit to raise IP awareness.
Sep 2002	IPOS together with the EPO co-organised the European Patent Information Conference and Exhibition held in Singapore for the first time. Launch of EZ-IP- the house brand for IPOS’s suite of online services comprising of SurfIp, ePatents and eTrademarks. Launch of SurfIP’s new look and feel for the portal.
Jul 2002	Implemented Madrid E-Communication which allowed the instantaneous retrieval of Notice of International Registration, instead of waiting for the physical notification from the International Bureau. Enhanced “IDEAS” (Industrial Designs Applications System) a search facility to allow faster image searches on Registry of Designs database.
Jun 2002	Hosted the WIPO Worldwide Academy session on “Intellectual Property & Development”. Launch of IP Education and Resource Centre, IPERC, a training facility cum resource library.
Apr 2002	Launch of the HIP (Human + Intellectual Property) Alliance, an IPOS-led coalition of government agencies, private organisations and industry associations for the promotion of IP awareness. April was designated as Singapore's first ever IP Month to spark the development of IP through a series of high-profile public events and business seminars.
Mar 2002	Conducted the first qualifying examination for patent agents.
Jan 2002	Official launch of eTrademarks, an online trade marks filing system. Implementation of the new registration of patent agents regime under the Patents (Patents Agents) Rules 2001 and Section 14 of the Patents (Amendment) Act 2001 to regulate the patent agent profession in Singapore.
Dec 2001	IPOS as Singapore's lead agency for IP, concluded negotiations on the IP chapter for the European-Singapore Free Trade Agreement.
Nov 2001	Launch of the e-filing system for trade marks, eTrademarks at the “E-Gov and You” exhibition.
Oct 2001	IPOS as Singapore's lead agency for IP, concluded negotiations on the IP Chapter for the Agreement between Singapore and Japan for a New Age Economic Partnership.
Jul 2001	Official launch of SurfIP marketplace. SurfIP won the coveted E-Gov 2001 "TRAILBLAZER" award given out at the International Electronic Government Conference and Exposition held in Washington D.C.
Apr 2001	IPOS was converted into a self-funded statutory board under the Ministry of Law.
Mar 2001	IPOS Data Centre was set up. Comissioned SAP HR & Finance Systems.
Nov 2000	The Registered Designs Act came into force. Registry of Designs was set up at IPOS. Launch of SurfIP (www.surfip.gov.sg), IPOS' one-stop customised and aggregated search portal of multiple patent database sources. IPOS, together with the Trade Development Board (now known as International Enterprise Singapore) and the National Science and Technology Board (now known as A*Star) co-organised IP Week 2000 at Funan IT Mall. IP Week 2000 was Singapore's first ever IP public awareness event.
Oct 2000	Singapore acceded to and operationalised the Madrid Protocol for Trade Marks.
Jul 2000	Launch of Phase 1 of ePatents (www.epatents.gov.sg), an online portal to facilitate patent transactions over the Internet.
Sep 1999	The Registry of Trade Marks and Patents was restructured as the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) to oversee the entire range of intellectual property laws in Singapore.
Apr 1997	Launch of trade mark public enquiry system for registered marks.
Feb 1995	The Patents Act came into force establishing in Singapore an independent patent system.
1939	Singapore’s first statutory trade mark law, the Trade Marks Act was passed. Registry of Trade Marks and Patents was established.
1938	The United Kingdom Designs (Protection) Act was enacted for the protection in Singapore of designs registered in the United Kingdom
1937	The Registration of United Kingdom Patents Act was passed. Registry of Patents was set up to function as the re-registration authority of UK registered patents. First patent registration in Singapore.