Brunei Darussalam offers a developing but strategically positioned intellectual property regime within Southeast Asia. Administered by the Brunei Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO) under the Energy and Industry Department, the country’s system is aligned with international standards through the Paris Convention and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). Brunei has also acceded to the ASEAN Patent Examination Cooperation (ASPEC), facilitating faster prosecution through regional collaboration.
Although relatively small in market size, Brunei’s government actively supports diversification into innovation and technology, offering foreign and local applicants a straight forward process for protecting their inventions. English is the official language for filings, making the system accessible to international applicants.
Why File in Brunei?
Home to ≈450,000 people with one of the highest GDP per capita in ASEAN from oil & gas.
Wawasan Brunei 2035 promotes innovation, entrepreneurship, and diversification, raising the importance of patents.
Patents increasingly valued in supporting Brunei’s economic transformation.
Applicants gain entry to ASEAN markets through patent cooperation networks and international treaties.
Brunei is part of the ASEAN Patent Examination Cooperation framework.
ASPEC enables faster patent examination with key economies including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Bruneian Patent System Overview
If you want to learn more about Voyage IP’s Brunei service offering, please contact us here.
Government Agency Responsible for Patent Registration
Patent registration is administered by the Brunei Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO)
Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement (TRIPS)
Types of Patents
A Standard Patent in Brunei lasts 20 years from filing, offering inventors strong protection for their innovations.
Patent Type
term
remarks
Standard Patent
20 years from Filing
Annual renewal fees required
Significant Prosecution Deadlines
Brunei is a leading intellectual property hub in Asia, offering a transparent, efficient, and internationally harmonised patent system.
EVENT
DEADLINE
Paris Convention
12 months from earliest priority date
PCT National Phase Entry
30 months from earliest priority date
Request for Examination
39 months from priority date for Substantive Examination
60 months from priority date for reliance on a corresponding granted application
Divisional Application
Voluntary divisional application allowed anytime during pendency of the application
Accelerated Examination Programs
ASEAN Patent Examination Cooperation
Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.
Patent Prosecution Highway
Japan
Availability of Prefiling Grace Period
Brunei law provides a restricted 12-month grace period prior to filing for exhibiting the invention at prescribed international exhibitions, disclosed at a prescribed learned society, or disclosed without the applicants consent.
Discoveries, scientific theories, and mathematical methods.
Business methods and schemes.
Presentations of information.
Diagnostic, therapeutic, and surgical methods for humans or animals.
Inventions contrary to public order or morality.
Additional Things to Consider:
As with other ASEAN jurisdictions, careful claim drafting is crucial, especially for software, financial technology, and healthcare-related innovations.
Need Help or a Cost Estimate?
Have questions or require a cost estimate? Please contact us here.
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