IPOS seeks feedback on relevance of recent UK Supreme Court decision to Singapore patent practice
28 April 2026
From 17 April 2026 to 14 May 2026, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (“IPOS”) is seeking feedback on the potential relevance of the UK Supreme Court decision in Emotional Perception AI Limited (Appellant) v Comptroller General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks (Respondent) [2026] UKSC 3 (“Emotional Perception”) to the development of patent practice in Singapore.
The Supreme Court held that inventions involving artificial neural networks may be patentable, provided that they demonstrate a technical character. The decision has also been understood as marking a departure from the traditional four-step approach set out in Aerotel Ltd v Telco Holdings Ltd [2006] EWCA Civ 1371, with closer alignment to the “any hardware” approach of the European Patent Office.
Feedback questions
IPOS sets out the following specific questions for which it seeks feedback:
- Do you think Emotional Perception is relevant to the development of patent practice in Singapore? If so, which aspects of the decision are most pertinent in informing or influencing the practice in Singapore?
- To what extent does Emotional Perception provide clarity and certainty regarding the approach to patentable subject matter and its interaction with the assessment of inventive step? Please elaborate.
- What issues or challenges could arise for (a) patent applicants and (b) patent practitioners from the approach set out in Emotional Perception, and how may these be addressed?
Feedback should be provided directly to IPOS via this form no later than 14 May 2026. IPOS notes that submissions received after 14 May 2026 will not be considered.
Reference materials
The following documents are available on go.gov.sg or by clicking the links below: