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PCT, International Applications Referenced Items (351, 352, 353, 354, 355, 356, 357, 358, 359, 360, 361, 362, 363, 364, 365, 366, 367, 368, 369, 370, 371, 372, 373, 374, 375, 376, 377, 378, 379, 380, 381, 382, 383, 384)
(353)        Arrangement between the United States Patent and
         Trademark Office and the Intellectual Property Office of
         Singapore Concerning Action of the Intellectual Property
            Office of Singapore as an International Searching
         Authority and Preliminary Examining Authority under the
         Patent Cooperation Treaty for International Applications
        Received by the United States Patent and Trademark Office

   Whereas an Agreement exists between the Intellectual Property Office of
Singapore (hereinafter "IPOS") and the International Bureau of the World
Intellectual Property Organization (hereinafter "International Bureau") in
relation to the functioning of the IPOS as an International Searching
Authority and International Preliminary Examining Authority under the
Patent Cooperation Treaty (hereinafter "the Agreement between the IPOS and
the International Bureau"); and

   Whereas the United States Patent and Trademark Office (hereinafter
"USPTO") desires to have the IPOS carry out the tasks as one of the
International Searching Authorities and International Preliminary Examining
Authorities under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, and the IPOS is willing to
do so,

   The USPTO and the IPOS (hereinafter "the Participants") have reached the
following understandings:

   1. (1) The IPOS intends to act as an International Searching Authority
      and International Preliminary Examining Authority under the Patent
      Cooperation Treaty for international applications filed with the
      USPTO as Receiving Office insofar as the following conditions are
      met:

      (i)  the international applications are submitted in the English
            language;

      (ii) The IPOS is chosen as a competent authority by the applicants
            of said applications.

      (2) Consistent with paragraph (1), the IPOS intends to act as an
          International Preliminary Examining Authority only where the IPOS
          had acted as the International Searching Authority.

      (3) The USPTO intends to inform the International Bureau, pursuant to
          the Patent Cooperation Treaty (hereinafter "PCT") Rules 35 and 59
          that the IPOS is competent for the international searching and
          international preliminary examination under this arrangement in
          paragraphs (1) and (2).

   2. The IPOS intends to conduct the international search and
      international preliminary examination pursuant to the provisions of
      the Agreement between the IPOS and the International Bureau, and
      intends to promptly notify the USPTO of any relevant amendment to
      said Agreement between the IPOS and the International Bureau.

   3. The language of correspondence between the IPOS and both the USPTO
      and the applicants is English.

   4. Conduct of technical and procedural matters including transfer of
      fees and exchange of documents is as specified in Annex A of this
      arrangement.

   5. The IPOS, upon request and on payment, intends to furnish the
      applicants with copies of the documents cited in the international
      search reports and the international preliminary examination reports.

   6. (1) The fees and charges levied by IPOS in relation to its function
Top of Notices Top of Notices   (353)  December 27, 2016 US PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE 1433 CNOG  2725 

      are intended to be those set out in Annex C of the Agreement between
      the IPOS and the International Bureau, depending on the version of
      the Agreement in force, as represented by Annexes D and E of the PCT
      Applicant's Guide.

      (2) The USPTO intends to collect the search fees from the applicants
      in the U.S. Dollar (USD) amount specified in Annex D of the PCT
      Applicant's Guide and intends to transfer said amount in USD to the
      bank account in Singapore, which has been communicated for this use.

      (3) The USPTO intends to transfer the search fee to said bank account
      in Singapore, by the end of the next month following the month in
      which the search fee is received, and intends to promptly notify the
      IPOS of the international filing date, the international application
      number, and the date on which the search fee was received.

      (4) Any fee for copies of documents cited in the international search
      report, additional international search fee, international
      preliminary examination fee, additional preliminary examination fee,
      or any necessary fee for search or preliminary examination is
      expected to be paid by the applicant to the IPOS in the amount and in
      the currency set out in Annex D or E of the PCT Applicant's Guide.

   7. (1) This Arrangement comes into effect upon April 1, 2016.

      (2) The USPTO and the IPOS intend that this Arrangement end on March
      30, 2019 or upon the termination of the Agreement between the IPOS
      and the International Bureau if such termination is earlier. The
      USPTO and the IPOS may continue this Arrangement by mutual written
      consent upon any renewal of the said Agreement between the IPOS and
      the International Bureau.

   8. This Arrangement may be modified with the written consent of both the
      USPTO and the IPOS.

   9. (1) This Arrangement may be discontinued by either Participant by
      written notice to the other Participant, however each Participant
      should endeavour to provide six months advanced notice of its intent
      to discontinue this Arrangement.

      (2) The IPOS intends to act as the competent International Searching
      Authority and the International Preliminary Examining Authority in
      accordance with this Arrangement upon international applications
      insofar as these applications are received by the USPTO within six
      months after the receipt of the notice under the preceding paragraph.

  10. (1) The Participants intend, where relevant, to apply the provisions
      under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, and the Regulations and the
      Administrative Instructions under the Treaty, to matters which are
      not provided for in this Arrangement.

      (2) This Arrangement does not give rise to legal obligations under
      international or domestic law.  The IPOS and the USPTO intend to
      resolve any differences which arise regarding this Arrangement
      through consultations and negotiations.

  11. Annex A is part of this Arrangement.

  12. The Participants recognize that if there is a change regarding the
      information in Section 1 (Contact Details) of Annex A, the
      Participant making the change intends to notify the other
      Participant.

Signed in Geneva, Switzerland on 07 October 2015.

For the United States Patent                  For the Intellectual Property
and Trademark Office (USPTO)                     Office of Singapore (IPOS)

MICHELLE LEE                                                    TAN YIH SAN
Under Secretary of Commerce for                 Chief Executive of the IPOS
Intellectual Property and
Director of the USPTO

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