Our patent lawyers and registered patent agents take an invention from first disclosure to a granted Malaysian patent, and act as local patent attorneys for foreign applicants and their overseas agents.
A granted patent under the Patents Act 1983 gives you the exclusive right to make, use, sell and import your invention in Malaysia for up to 20 years from the filing date. In return, the invention is published in full. Patent rights are territorial, so a Malaysian patent does not protect you abroad.
Three requirements must all be met: novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability. Our guide to patentability in Malaysia explains each one, along with the Section 13 exclusions.
Timing matters. If you have already shown the invention publicly, for example at a trade show, read about public disclosure and the grace period before you do anything else. If you are not sure a patent is the right tool at all, see patent or trade secret.
Patents sit within our wider intellectual property practice, alongside trademarks, copyright, designs and enforcement.
Every patent application follows the same path. We handle each stage, for Malaysian inventors and for overseas applicants instructing us through their own agents.
We review your disclosure under a confidentiality obligation, run a prior art search and advise whether the invention is likely to meet the novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability tests. We also advise whether a patent, a utility innovation or a trade secret is the better fit.
The claims define the scope of your monopoly, and amendments after filing are limited to what the original specification supports. We draft the description, drawings and claims carefully before anything is filed.
We file a Malaysian national application, a convention application claiming priority from an earlier foreign filing made within the last 12 months, or a PCT national phase entry within 30 months of the earliest priority date.
MyIPO examines the application for novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability. We respond to objections and adverse reports. Where a corresponding foreign patent has been granted in a recognised jurisdiction, modified substantive examination can shorten the process.
Once the application meets the requirements, the patent is granted and you hold exclusive rights in Malaysia for up to 20 years from the filing date. From filing to grant typically takes 3 to 5 years.
Renewal fees must be paid to keep the patent in force. We diarise every deadline for our clients so that a valuable patent is never lost through an oversight.
A granted patent can be licensed, assigned or enforced against infringers. Our IP enforcement team advises on licensing terms, infringement analysis and litigation.
Patent deadlines are strict and most cannot be extended. Confirm your own dates with a registered patent agent as early as possible.
| Item | Rule | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Patent term | 20 years from the filing date | Under the Patents Act 1983 |
| Utility innovation | Initial 10 years, extendable in two five-year blocks to 20 | Single claim; no inventive step requirement |
| Convention priority | 12 months from the first filing abroad | File in Malaysia within this window to claim the earlier date |
| PCT national phase | 30 months from the earliest priority date | Missing this date can forfeit Malaysian protection |
| Grace period | 12 months for the inventor's own disclosure | Section 14(3); narrow, and not recognised in many other markets |
| Time to grant | Typically 3 to 5 years | Depends on the technology and any office actions |
Based on the Patents Act 1983 and MyIPO practice. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Official fees. MyIPO sets the government fees for filing, examination and annual renewal. They are published on MyIPO's Patent Forms and Fees page. We do not quote our professional fees on this website. We assess each invention first, then confirm the official fees and our scope of work in writing before we file.
Straight answers to the questions inventors and overseas agents ask us most often.
Speak to our patent lawyers in confidence before you disclose or file. We act for Malaysian inventors and for overseas applicants and their foreign agents.
Contact Our Patent Team →