Introduced in 2019, the Patent Cooperation Treaty-ASEAN Patent Examination Cooperation (PCT-ASPEC) allows patent applicants to use a PCT report established by an ASEAN International Searching Authority or Preliminary Examining Authority (ISA/IPEA) [1] to accelerate patent protection in nine participating AMS IP Offices [2].

ASEAN is pleased to announce that the PCT-ASPEC pilot programme will be extended for three years until 26 August 2025. The cap of 100 applications per year and other criteria remain.

For criteria on PCT-ASPEC, please refer to the  ASPEC Document Submission Guidelines.

[1] IP Offices of the Philippines or Singapore.

[2] IP Offices of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Viet Nam.