COVID-19 Business Continuity Update – 30 April 2020

Dear friends and colleagues,

With the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Singapore and Malaysia continuing to be a grave concern, control measures have been extended and further heightened. Please note the current state of play below:

Singapore: The control order to close non-essential businesses has been extended to 1 June 2020. Our Singapore office and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) remain closed during this period. As electronic filing remains available, priority deadlines falling due during this period are extended to 5 June 2020 only if applications claiming priority are filed manually. All other deadlines (e.g. office action responses, renewals, trade mark oppositions) falling due during this period are generally postponed to 5 June 2020.

Malaysia: The lockdown of Malaysia has been extended to 12 May 2020. Our Kuala Lumpur office and the Malaysian Intellectual Property Office (MYIPO) will remain closed until the end of the lockdown period. As electronic filing remains available, priority deadlines falling due during this period are extended to 18 May 2020 only if applications claiming priority are filed manually (applicants are however strongly recommended by MyIPO to file such applications manually by 13 May 2020). All other deadlines (eg, office action response, renewals, trade mark oppositions) are generally postponed to 1 June 2020.

Our business goes on for our clients

Our colleagues with whom you have been communicating will continue to look after your matters. They remain contactable for assistance by email. Should you have any queries regarding the above, please do not hesitate to get in touch with our Directors, Mr. Soh Kar Liang() and Mr. Kevin Wong ().

In the meantime, to you, your colleagues and your family, please do continue to take care and stay safe.