Franchising in Singapore, in a nutshell
(Written by: Rachel Woo) Franchising is a method of distributing products or services involving a franchisor, who establishes the brand’s trade mark or trade name and business system, and a franchisee, who pays royalties and often an initial fee for the right to do business under the franchisor’s name and system. Generally, a franchise is […]
Keeping trade secrets secret is no secret!
(Written by: Rachel Woo) Trade secrets can be the most important form of intellectual property rights to their owners. This is why The Coca-Cola Company staunchly guards access to the secret recipe for making its iconic Coca-Cola brand of soft drinks; by doing so, it can preserve an exclusive monopoly over the distinctive flavour of […]
Navigating copyright perils in this age of social media
(Written by Rachel Woo) In Singapore, as well as in many other countries, there is automatic copyright protection. This is due to Article 5(2) of the Berne Convention which generally provides that the enjoyment of copyright “shall not be subject to any formality”. As such, there is no need for registration of copyright for parties to […]
Contributed to the Lexology GTDT – Trademarks 2023 (Singapore Chapter)
We are pleased to contribute to the Singapore Chapter of Lexology Getting the Deal Through (GTDT) – Trademarks 2023. This chapter provides a quick reference guide on local insights, including legal framework; registration and use; licensing and assignment; enforcement; and recent trends in Singapore. Read the chapter here. This article was first published in Lexology […]
The Brand-as-a-Trade Mark Spectrum
(Written by: Rachel Woo) A trade mark serves as an identifier of where the goods and services originate from, in that it allows consumers to identify and recognize goods and services as those belonging to the owner of the trade mark. While it is not necessary to register a mark as a trade mark in […]
A Summary of the Intellectual Property (Amendment) Bill
(Written by: Priti Kaur Saini) With the recent passing of the Intellectual Property (Amendment) Bill, proposed changes to various Intellectual Property (“IP”) statutes are now expected to come into effect in May 2022. The refinements under the Bill cover the following three objectives: to render IP registration more business-friendly to boost operational efficiencies in the […]
The Importance of a Trade Mark Clearance Search
(Written by: Priti Kaur Saini) Trade marks are “badges of origin” for a business. They are valuable intellectual property (IP) assets, being signs such as words, names, devices and logos which serve to identify the source or origin of goods or services, thereby distinguishing the goods or services of one trader from those of another. […]
Why is Protection of Intellectual Property Important for Startups?
(Written by: Priti Kaur Saini) Intellectual Property (“IP”) is the lifeblood of a business and in the context of a startup business, IP refers to the original creations or inventions of the company. This may include brands, logos, product designs, inventions, literary and artistic works, and trade secrets. In the initial stages, a startup is […]
Things You Should Know Before Filing A Patent: Confidentiality and Inventorship
(Written by: Huang Liangshu) Introduction As an individual or start-up who is well on the way to inventing the next big thing, you may, while interacting with various parties for instance investors come to realise the importance of securing intellectual property rights, particularly patent protection. This may lead you to diligently seek legal assistance only […]
COVID-19 Update: Malaysia
Due to an exponential rise in COVID-19 cases in Malaysia, the Malaysian government has elevated its ongoing Movement Control Order (MCO) to a total lockdown throughout the country from 1 June to 14 June 2021, subject to further extensions at the discretion of the government. Our Kuala Lumpur office’s physical operations have been closed since […]