s 34 Restrictions on applications abroad by Singapore residents
34.—(1) Subject to this section, no person resident in Singapore may, without written authority granted by the Registrar, file or cause to be filed outside Singapore an application for a patent for an invention unless —(a) an application for a patent for the same invention has been filed in the Registry at least 2 months before the application outside Singapore; and (b) no directions have been given under section 33 in relation to the application in Singapore or all such directions have been revoked. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply to an application for a patent for an invention for which an application for a patent has first been filed in a country outside Singapore by a person resident outside Singapore. (3) Any person who files or causes to be filed an application for the grant of a patent in contravention of this section shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years or to both. (4) In this section —(a) any reference to an application for a patent includes a reference to an application for other protection for an invention; (b) any reference to either kind of application is a reference to an application under this Act, under the law of any country other than Singapore or under any treaty or international convention to which Singapore is a party; and (c) “person resident in Singapore” includes a person who, at the material time, is residing in Singapore by virtue of a valid pass lawfully issued to the person under the Immigration Act 1959 to enter and remain in Singapore for any purpose.