(arranged in reverse chronological order of changes made)

You may download the mark-up versions of the chapters by clicking on the “chapter names” below.

Date of change Changes
3 October 2025

The following sections have been updated to -

  1. reflect certain miscellaneous and technical amendments to the Patents (General) Rules (Cap. 514C) introduced under the Patents (General) (Amendment) Rules 2025 with effect from 1 October 2025, relating to:
    1. the formal requirements for patent applications; 
    2. requests for substantive examination of short-term patents; 
  2. reflect other miscellaneous textual amendments; and
  3. clarify the Registry’s practice regarding the carrying out of substantive examination of standard patent (O) applications afresh during the review stage.

- “Preface”
- “Glossary”
- “Section 6: Specification”
- “Section 7: Kinds of claims”
- “Section 8: Requirements for claims”
- “Section 9: Sufficiency of disclosure”
- “Section 10: Unity of invention”
- “Section 13: Patent applications”
- “Section 14: Formality Examination of Patent Applications”
- “Section 15: Substantive examination of standard patent (O) applications and short-term patents”
- “Section 16: Amendments to Patent Applications and Patents”
5 September 2025

“Section 1: Novelty” has been revised to make a consequential amendment resulting from revisions made to Section 2.

“Section 2: Inventive Step” has been revised to:
(a) elaborate on the Registry’s examination practice regarding assessment of inventive step; and
(b) make various miscellaneous textual amendments.

“Section 4: Exclusions from Patentability” has been revised to:
(a) elaborate on the Registry’s examination practice regarding exclusions from patentability; and
(b) make various miscellaneous textual amendments.

“Section 6: Specification” has been revised to update the requirements regarding patent applications containing sequence listings.

“Section 13: Patent Applications” has been revised to:
(a) elaborate on the Registry’s current practice regarding the processing of patent applications, including the latest requirement for a declaration by an agent of the local premises on which he resides or carries on business activities; and
(b) make various miscellaneous textual amendments.
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