INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAW

Trade Marks Searches

Trademark searches are an effective  method of filing trademark applications cost effectively.  An application  may  be  rejected upon examination if there is  a  pre-existing  identical  trademark  on the register.  A  pre-filing  search  allows  a potential  applicant  to  determine  the   availability  of  a  selected trademark before incurring  costs on a trademark application.

Trade Marks

We  know  how  important  practical  advice and strategies are for clients.  We   place   a   high   importance    on   speed   and   cost-effectiveness,  leveraging off our experience to provide you with legal solutions to protect your brands and corporate identities.

We  conduct  fast  and  reliable availability searches and provide pre-filing advice before filing and prosecuting applications. Using our  experience in the industry, we advise on post-registration  matters such as recordals of  assignments, licenses, renewals and maintenance of registrations.

Registrability of a trademark is determined by the Trade Marks Act 1998.  Under the Act, a trademark is  broadly  defined, and  extends to any sign or shape but excludes sounds and smells.The  Act  is   generally  TRIPS  compliant,   and    recognises    the  concept   of   a   well   known  mark.  Examination  under   the  Act   is   determined  by  absolute  and  relative grounds for refusal.

Trademark  applications are  generally  processed  more  speedily  under  the Act.  A registered trademark is  valid  for  a  period  of  ten  years and is renewable for further periods of ten years.

FILING

Singapore is a  member of the Paris Convention and Madrid Protocol and priority may  be based on earlier  applications  filed  in member countries. To  support  a  priority  claim  under  the Paris Convention, a certified true copy  of  the  foreign  application  is  required. If  this  document  is not in English, a certified English translation is also required.

Who can file?

A  trade  or service mark application can be filed  by  any  person, firm or company claiming to be the proprietor who uses or intends to use a mark for goods or services so  long   as  the  mark does not contain any matter likely to deceive or cause  confusion  or which would be contrary to law or morality. 

What can be filed?

Collective marks,  certification  marks  and  series  marks  are registrable in Singapore. There is provision for multi-class applications  in Singapore. Classification   of   goods   and  services  is  based  on  the  International  Classification  of  Goods  and Services under the Nice Agreement.

What is needed?

The  following  is  required  for  filing a trade or service mark application in Singapore :

i)  a specimen of the mark and the list of goods/services;

i)  the name and address of the applicant;

               iii) the place of incorporation of the applicant company;

             iv) a  certified  English  translation  of  the  mark if it contains words  which are  not  in                                 English.

COPYRIGHT LAW

Our  practitioners provide advice on copyright protection and enforcement in  Singapore  as well as under international copyright treaties, drafting of agreements  for   the   transfer  and  licensing  of   copyright,  structuring  copyright  royalty   payments   and  agreement  ranging  from  publishers agreements to software development agreements.

Design Registration

Singapore has its own  Registered  Design  Protection legislation.  Under the  new  legislation,  the  requirements  for  registrability  are:

the  feature  which  you  seek  to protect must constitute a design

the application  to  a design  to  the  article  must be by way of an

the design must be applied to an article

the application  to  a design  to  the  article  must be by way of an industrial  process

the design  must  not include a method or principle of construction

the   design  must  not   be  dictated  solely  by  function,  nor  be dependent  upon  the appearance of another article with which it is intended to form an integral part

A design will not be new if:

it  is  the  same as  a  design registered for the same or any other article in a prior  application

it  is  the  same  as  a design previously published in Singapore or elsewhere in respect of the same or an other article

Patents

Patents have  assumed  an increased importance in Singapore in the last  decade.  Increased research  and  developments  activities, both  of  local industry  funded  and supported  by  government  funding  as  well  as the private  sector  through  venture capitalists and funding, have resulted in a greater  number  of   patent  applications  in  the  computer,  biotech  and semi-conductor manufaturing industries.

Our  Patent  &  Technology   group,   which   includes   trained  scientific  and   technical   patent    staff,   advises   on   patentability,   patent  and  design registration   and   protection  and  protection procedures  through national and international filings and prosecution.

We  also  advise  on the various patenting schemes and funding available locally, as well as licensing options and strategies.

Domain Name Protection

Our practice focus includes:

Acting as agents for clients who do not have physical presence in Singapore to secure registration of .sg domain accounts and maintaining domain name accounts for clients.

Advising clients on contentious domain name issues, including cyber-squatting & internet piracy.

Advising and representing clients in domain name dispute resolution forums (ICANN).

Licensing & Franchising

With the rapid development in the region and the increasing significance of franchising  and  licensing  in  Singapore, the group advises and structures licensing and franchising schemes for clients.

Regulatory Licensing

There is also increasing involvement in providing advice and representation before  public  administration  bodies,  such  as  customs department, the Trading   Standard   Authority,   health  authorities,  food,  cosmetics  and medicines  regulatory  bodies,  Controller of Imports & Export, Censorship Board and the bodies administering licenses for regulated activities.

Commercial Transactional Work

We  assist clients in a variety of commercial arrangements by drafting, negotiating  and enforcing distributor agreements, reseller agreements,  software and  hardware licenses,  bundling  &  licensing   agreements, confidentiality   agreements,   shrink   wrap   agreements,   trademark,  copyright and patent assignments and licenses, franchise agreements  and  all  associated  comercial arrangements which involve Intellectual Property rights.  

Using our expertise of industry expectations and  standards, we guide clients through  the full process  of  drafting   through  to  negotiations,  and  wherever  necessary,  enforcement   of   contractual   terms   and obligations.  We work closely with our clients and their legal  counsels to achieve commercially optimal solutions for clients.