The Japan Patent Office will make it easier for Japanese firms to obtain patents in Brunei. In October, it will launch a new program to allow Japanese businesses to acquire patents in Brunei in less than two months if they apply for patents that they have already obtained in Japan. The system is aimed at helping Japanese firms, which are already active in Southeast Asia, expand their overseas reach.

The Japan Patent Office has recently signed a deal with Brunei authorities to launch the “Patent Prosecution Highway Plus (PPH Plus),” a program to facilitate the speedy examination of patent applications.