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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nUnder the existing ASPEC programme, a participating patent office may refer to the search and examination results issued by another participating ASEAN patent office when examining a corresponding patent application. While this helps reduce duplicated examination work, the programme generally operates on a sequential basis, requiring one participating office to complete its examination before another office can rely on those results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ASPEC+ introduces a more collaborative approach by allowing selected participating patent offices to examine corresponding patent applications in parallel while sharing their search and examination findings throughout the examination process. Although each office continues to apply its own national patent laws and makes its own examination decision, the exchange of technical findings allows examiners to benefit from one another’s analysis at an earlier stage. Participating offices also aim to issue their first office actions within approximately 10 to 14 months<\/strong>, providing applicants with earlier certainty on the patentability of their inventions and increasing the likelihood of receiving identical or substantially similar examination reports across participating jurisdictions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Difference between ASPEC and ASPEC+:-<\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n How ASEAN-based companies or Foreign Applicant utilise the ASPEC+ mechanism?<\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n ASPEC+ offers several practical advantages for businesses seeking patent protection across ASEAN. By enabling participating patent offices to collaborate throughout the examination process, applicants can receive earlier examination results, benefit from greater consistency across participating jurisdictions and prepare coordinated responses where examination reports are substantially similar. This reduces duplicated prosecution work, improves efficiency and may help lower overall prosecution costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For businesses managing patent portfolios across multiple ASEAN countries, receiving examination reports within a more consistent timeframe also makes it easier to coordinate filing strategies, budgets and commercial timelines across the region. As ASEAN markets become increasingly interconnected, ASPEC+ provides businesses with a more streamlined pathway to securing regional patent protection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For businesses looking to expand across Southeast Asia, ASPEC+ presents an opportunity to streamline regional patent filings, improve consistency across participating jurisdictions and manage patent portfolios more efficiently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Whether ASPEC+ is suitable for a particular invention depends on several factors, including the countries in which protection is sought, the filing strategy adopted and the commercial objectives of the applicant. Obtaining the right advice at an early stage can help maximise the benefits offered by the programme and avoid unnecessary costs or delays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n At Pintas, we have over 20 years of experience advising businesses, innovators and multinational companies on patent protection across ASEAN and other major jurisdictions. Our patent professionals can assess whether ASPEC+ is suitable for your invention, develop a tailored regional filing strategy, coordinate filings with our network of trusted foreign associates and manage the patent prosecution process across multiple jurisdictions. Whether you are filing your first patent application or expanding an existing patent portfolio, we work closely with you to secure robust and commercially effective patent protection aligned with your business objectives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you are considering protecting your invention across ASEAN, contact Pintas to discuss how ASPEC+ can support your regional patent filing strategy.<\/p>\n\n\n\nNO.<\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/td> FEATURE<\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/td> EXISTING ASPEC<\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/td> ASPEC+<\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/strong><\/u><\/strong><\/td><\/tr> 1.<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> EXAMINATION APPROACH<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> Examination generally takes place one country after another.<\/td> Selected patent offices examine the same invention in parallel.<\/td><\/tr> 2.<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> COLLABORATION BETWEEN PATENT OFFICES<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> Relies on an examination report that has already been issued by another participating office.<\/td> Patent offices share search and examination findings throughout the examination process.<\/td><\/tr> 3.<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> TIMELINE FOR FIRST OFFICE ACTION<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> Timing depends on when the first participating office completes its examination.<\/td> Participating offices aim to issue their first office actions within approximately 10\u201314 months.<\/td><\/tr> 4.<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> APPLICANT\u2019S RESPONSE<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> Applicants often prepare separate responses for each jurisdiction.<\/td> Greater opportunity to prepare coordinated responses across multiple jurisdictions.<\/td><\/tr> 5.<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> EXAMINATION OUTCOME<\/strong><\/strong><\/td> Examination reports may differ depending on each office’s independent assessment.<\/td> Greater likelihood of consistent or substantially similar examination reports where possible.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n ![\"\"](\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/pintas-ip.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/ASPEC-A-SMARTER-WAY-TO-OBTAIN-PATENT-PROTECTION-ACROSS-ASEAN_2-1024x682.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1\")
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