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Quality of the Patent Grant Process
Prepared for the 29th Session of
the Standing Committee on the Law of Patents
3rd to 6th December 2018
Wong Chee Leong (Dr)
Principal Patent Examiner / Division Lead, Quality Division
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
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Quality Management Process (ISO 9001:2015 certified)
Policy, objectives,
management
review
QC, QA, internal
audit
Application
formalities, search
and examination
Staff, training,
resources
Users
Input
(Applications)
Users
Customer
feedback
Output
(Reports,
granted patents)
Consultation
2
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Procedures for Maintaining Quality
Search and
ExaminationFiling Grant
Notice of
Decision
Formalities
Examination
• Search Team
Discussion
• Internal
Documentation
• Quality Check
Quality Control
• Random sampling
of work products
Quality Assurance
Customer
Feedback
• Internal
Documentation
• Quality Check
Formalities check
3
Customer
Feedback
• Internal
Documentation
• Quality Check
Formalities check
Customer
Feedback
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Quality Procedures in Search and
Examination
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Quality Objectives
Validity Reliability
Search
• Appropriate search strategy.
• Comprehensive set of
authoritative information sources.
• Sufficient documentation to
permit reproducible and
consistent search result.
Examination
• Correct interpretation of the law
and logically applied to arrive at a
sound decision.
• Clear communication of the
decision and its basis to the
customer.
• Consistent approach based on
an open and transparent set of
Guidelines.
• Considerations for arriving at the
decision have been documented
to show that Guidelines have
been followed during
examination.
5
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Procedures for Maintaining Quality
Search and
ExaminationFiling Grant
Notice of
Decision
Formalities
Examination
• Search Team
Discussion
• Internal
Documentation
• Quality Check
Quality Control
• Random sampling
of work products
Quality Assurance
Customer
Feedback
• Internal
Documentation
• Quality Check
Formalities check
6
Customer
Feedback
• Internal
Documentation
• Quality Check
Formalities check
Customer
Feedback
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Organization of Patent Examiners
Division 1
Biotech
[Quality Control]
Division Lead
Supervisors
Examiners
QC QC
Division 2
Chemistry and
Materials
Q QC
Division 3
Engineering
QC QC
Division 4
ICT &
Computer-
implemented
inventions
QC QC
Quality Division
[Quality Assurance]
Division Lead QA Examiners
QA QA QA
7
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8
Quality Control (QC)
Internal
Examiner
QC
SupervisorBuddy
Internal
Documentation
Reports Reports
Search Team
Discussion
Examiner
QC
Supervisor
Search
Strategy
Search & examination
Report draftingQuality Check
Non-conformity
To
customer
(No prior search results)
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Quality Assurance (QA)
Division 1
Output after
Quality ControlReports Reports Reports Reports Reports
Division 2
Output after
Quality ControlReports Reports Reports Reports Reports
Division 3
Output after
Quality ControlReports Reports Reports Reports Reports
Division 4
Output after
Quality ControlReports Reports Reports Reports Reports
Quality Division
Reports Reports Reports
Reports Reports
Sampling Check
Quality-
related data
QA
QA Examiners
QA QA
9
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Feedback and Communication
Quality Division
Division 1 Division 2
Division 3 Division 4
Customer feedback:
• Complaints procedure
• Satisfaction survey
• Direct engagement
Sampling of work products
during QA
Feedback on issues with
procedures and practices,
areas lacking in guidance
Identify potential gaps in
procedures and processes
(feedback to management)
Consolidate and share quality
issues and practice adjustments
Update Guidelines and other
resources
• Assess training needs and
conduct relevant training
• Adjustments to quality checks
during QC
10
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Continuous Learning & Development
IP-related seminars
• Acquire broad-based IP knowledge.
Technical-related seminars
• Maintain knowledge in technical domain.
Site visits
• Improve awareness of state-of-the-art technology.
11
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Thank you!