EC CIRCULAR: IPOS TO CLOSE FOREIGN ROUTE WITH EFFECT FROM 1 JANUARY 2020
For patent applications filed directly in Singapore, as well as Patent Cooperation Treaty (“PCT”) applications entering national phase in Singapore, there are several options in respect of Search and Examination procedures. One such option is the “foreign route”. When using the foreign route, an applicant need not have his/her application undergo local substantive examination. Instead, […]
Cat fight: In the case of B2K Pet Products Pte. Ltd v Pets Global Pte Ltd [2016] SGIPOS 3
Introduction On 19 January 2016, Principal Assistant Registrar Sandy Widjaja put an end to a trade mark opposition dispute between two local pet food manufacturers over the brand names of their cat litter, deciding in favour of the Applicants, B2K Pet Products Pte Ltd, and allowing the “Kit Cat” composite mark (the “Application Mark”) to […]
EC Circular: MYANMAR IMPOSES NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR EXECUTION OF TRADE MARK REGISTRATION AND MAINTENANCE FORMS
The Myanmar Registration Office has recently implemented amendments to the documentary requirements regarding applications for trade mark registration and maintenance. The changes came into effect as of 1 June 2016. In particular, under the new regulation, in order for an application to be accepted by the Registration Office, any applicable Power of Attorney or Declaration of Ownership / Renewal / Change of […]
Perspective on Alternative Dispute Resolution – A contribution to Asia IP
These days, IP disputes between big companies seem to be regularly plastered all over the media (Apple vs Samsung, Christian Louboutin vs Yves Saint Laurent and so on), suggesting that bringing disputes before courts is the way to go. “However, litigation may not necessarily be best equipped to address the distinct elements of an IP […]
EC Circular: Indian Trade Marks Registry’s Recent Backlog-Clearing Exercise Goes Awry
There has been a recent buzz about a mass backlog-clearing exercise by the Indian Trade Marks Registry conducted in March 2016, as a result of which the Registry ordered the abandonment of numerous trade mark applications. Unfortunately, some applications were abandoned erroneously. Whilst subsequent developments have gone some way towards resolving this issue on the […]
Ex-employees’ Confidentiality Obligations in Focus – In the case of Clearlab SG Pte Ltd v Ting Chong Chai [2015] 1 SLR 163
Introduction Employee confidentiality obligations are commonly set out as express terms in most employment contracts. Once an employee resigns or otherwise has his employment terminated, the corresponding obligations end as well. However, an employee may continue to be bound by restrictive covenants that survive the termination of his or her employment if the restraint seeks […]
Criteria for Patent Amendments – In the case of Ship’s Equipment Centre Bremen GmbH v Fuji Trading (Singapore) Pte Ltd [2015] SGHC
Introduction In most (if not all) countries, patents can only be granted over inventions which are new, non-obvious (i.e. possess an inventive step), and capable of industrial application. If doubts are raised over the patentability of the invention, either before grant (e.g during examination by the patent office) or after grant (e.g during revocation or […]
Chapter on Trademarks in Singapore
Reproduced with permission from Law Business Research Ltd. This article was first published in Getting the Deal Through: Trademarks 2016, (published in September 2015) For further information please visit www.gettingthedealthrough.com. 1 Ownership of marks Who may apply? Any natural or legal person may apply for and own a registered trademark under the Trade Marks Act […]
News Update: IPOS appointed as ASEAN’s first ISA and IPEA under the PCT
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (“IPOS”) has been appointed by the World Intellectual Property Office (“WIPO”) as an International Searching Authority (“ISA”) and International Preliminary Examination Authority (“IPEA”) under the Patent Cooperation Treaty (“PCT”). IPOS is the first IP office (out of 19 around the world) to be appointed by WIPO from the ASEAN […]
Use with consent, or use without consent: that is the question. – In the The Case of Romanson Co., Ltd v Festina Lotus, S.A [2015] SGIPOS 3
On 2 February 2015, it was decided that the Applicant, Romanson Co., Ltd, successfully revoked Trade Mark Registration no., T9004265I for the Festina Mark on the basis of non-use under section 22(1)(a) and (b) of the Trade Marks Act. In Singapore, a trade mark registration may be revoked under section 22(1) on the basis that […]