Singapore prides itself with strong intellectual property (IP) protection as it continues to be a top spot for commercialization of ideas and innovations. Because of its commitment to protect the rights of the creators of IP objects, it has developed IP Management Program with the Standards, Productivity and Innovation Board (SPRING), a statutory board under the Ministry of Trade and Industry of Singapore.

IP Management for SMEs provides small and medium-sized enterprises based in Singapore consultancy advice and funding support for SMEs to develop and protect their own intellectual property. It helps companies manage their entire IP life cycle, from the IP’s creation, ownership, and protection to its commercial exploitation.

Companies are qualified for the program if their business is considered as an SME, meaning it is registered in Singapore, at least thirty percent of shareholding is local, and it either has no more than two hundred employees or its annual sales turnover is not more than SGD100 million.

Benefits Of The IP Management Program

The program is designed to help SMEs use intellectual property to thrive and grow in the industry. It teaches businesses how to create, own, protect and commercialize their IP.

It has two phases, the first of which uses SCOPE IP, a diagnostic tool developed by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) to examine the process in eight areas of assessment. The SCOPE IP helps businesses assess the strengths and weaknesses of their IP deployment and IPM system.

The second phase allows SMEs to improve their IP strategy and systems based on the strengths and weaknesses identified in Phase 1. They can implement the recommendations by embarking on IPM capability development projects. It is also during the second phase that SMEs will receive support for the qualifying costs, which include manpower, equipment and materials, consultancy, and acquisition of IP rights.

The IP management grant, up to fifty percent of the consultancy fees in Phase 1 and up to fifty percent of the qualifying costs of implementation projects in Phase 2, is given on a reimbursement basis.

Every product or service owner avoids trademark infringement in Singapore. Choosing a trademark is simple. You’re a winner if it is easily remembered, memorized, pronounced, short, catchy, etc. However, even though it is awesome and pleasant to many people, it may not be pleasant legally especially from a marketing point of view.  If your trademark is conflicting with or to any among the millions of trademark names in the world, existing and registered, then you are on the edge of losing what you have.

Things To Understand About Trademark Infringement In Singapore

You cannot really avoid trademark infringement in Singapore even if you have put a lot of sweat and money in marketing your goods or services. You have to give it up or it will just suffer damaging if not.  This article will help you understand what will be the possible conflicts when it comes to trademark law.

First thing to understand is the names of sources of goods and services that has already a trademark. A clever and suggestive trademark is protected by the law. That is the second thing to know. Other trademarks protected by the law are those which have gained distinction in the market through their sales and advertising strategies. Third thing to understand is that there will be conflict if two trademarks of similar goods and services confuses a customer. Usually, the first one to register owns the trademark and wins legally. And lastly, the later might pay for damages if legal conflicts will be found. If the person cannot pay, he or she has the option to stop using the mark. Just always remember that confusion of customers are risky for goods and services.

Avoiding Trademark Infringement In Singapore

You have now the list of things to understand about trademark infringement in Singapore. All you have to do now is avoid legal cases. As always mentioned check for the existing names and trademarks. Check the mode of advertisement and marketing. Check for similarities especially the purpose and description of your goods and services. For more information, you can check the Singapore Trademark Act as amended by Act no. 3 of 2007.

For every creator or owner of a product, it is their responsibility and it is necessary that their trademarks are well communicated, well protected, well monitored, and defended if in case there are legal actions required. This article will teach you the basics of trademark infringement.

When Does Trademark Infringement Occur?

Usually, there will be trademark infringement if a person uses or used a trademark sign substantially same (identical) or deceptively alike (similar) to an already registered trademark of a good or service. Not only that, if your goods or services have the same description or very much related to the other registered goods and services, then you have committed infringement for this will cause deception and confusion. Here comes the big part. When your goods and services becomes deceptively similar or substantially identical to very popular or well known trademark, then again, you have committed infringement for this can demonstrate connection to the well known trademark when in fact yours is unrelated. The property owner’s interest will be affected adversely.

No Trademark Infringement

There will be no trademark infringement if the person is a predecessor of a business, if he or she uses the name of a business, location of the business, uses a sign that indicates the purpose, quality, value or characteristics, quantity, and kind of their goods and services in good faith. Similarly, when a person advertises for a good or service and the mark indicates the purpose, like for example the good is an accessory or a spare part for a trademarked good, then there is no infringement.

If a person has his own trademark registered, it can be a defense from another registered trademark. A person is entitled to register if he or she uses a mark or he has a consent from another trademark owner that there is no issue to avoid infringement. There is also no issue if a person uses a disclaimed part of a registered trademark. Lastly, there is no issue if a person uses a trademark which is not contradicting to the limitations or conditions where which registration is subjected.

For a simple guidance in Singapore trademark registration, take a look at the procedure outlined below. Take note that these are just the simplest and basic steps in the registration process.

Goods are registered and maybe numbered from 1st class to 34th while services from 35th to 42nd. That is under the Classification of Goods and Services or better known as ICGS. So, before applying for a trademark in the Singapore Trademark Registration office, the applicant must decide on which type he or she is seeking for the registration. Remember, different types of goods will be under different classification or classes.

Application fees are not refundable. Sad but true. Therefore, the applicant must conduct a research first about the existing and registered trademarks maintained in the Singapore Registry of Trademarks. This will avoid infringement and legal problems. Nobody would want an identical trademark, right?

Steps In Filing Singapore Trademark Registration

The application for trademark registration can be sent directly or by hand to the Registry of Trademarks mailed to Singapore Trademark Registration office. Another option is to file it online. For each class, the filing fee is different from filing online.

After the receipt of application, it will then be reviewed for completeness, no accountabilities, and if it complies with the trademark act provisions. A number and application date filing will then be given. A notification will also be given to the applicant if ever corrections and specifications are needed in case of objections and time will be given to overcome it. Application is considered withdrawn if an applicant fails to comply or overcome the objections.

The Singapore Trademark Registration Laws

There will also be an examination for conflicts with the law and with existing trademarks. Again, if objections are found, the registration application of the trademark will be rejected. An applicant has to modify the trademark if he or she wishes to pursue the trademark and a new application is required to be submitted. If it passes, it will move to the Singapore Trademark Laws. Examiners will check if the trademark falls into areas allowable by the law. If objections are found again, notification will be sent to the applicant and enough time will be given to resolve the problem.

If the Singapore Trademark Registration office did not see any objections, then congratulations! You have successfully registered your trademark. A certificate will then be issued to the successful applicant.

Coming up with a unique and useful design is something that every inventor strives to do. One creation that is proven beneficial to many can generate millions in revenues, which not only can bring prestige to the creator, but can also bring out the entrepreneurial side in him. But while bigwig corporations know how to protect their investments, small time inventors don’t know how to guard their inventions. It’s time that they know how to patent in Singapore so others won’t steal what is rightfully theirs.

In Singapore where business is top priority, creating something new and useful is truly advantageous to the creator. Unfortunately, with an industry as cutthroat as this, there are others who will want to steal your idea and pass it off as their own. Or worse, they can just create a cheaper version of your invention and consumers will naturally buy their less expensive product.

Fortunately, though, this Southeast Asian nation, along with most of the countries in the world, respects the rights of the inventor. A Singapore patent gives the owner property right to his invention for 20 years. There are several steps on how to patent in Singapore for your creation.

Steps On How To Patent In Singapore

Before you file for a patent, make sure that there are no prior similar filed patents that exist. This is an optional step, but one that you will find helpful indeed. If there are no other patents pending, you can submit a patent application with the Registry of Patents, with the product’s specifications, description, drawing, abstract, and declaration of priority.

A formal examination for forms and presentation will be held, followed by a search for prior patents and examinations for statutory compliances. After then, the application will be published following 18 months after the date of application filing.

If the application chooses to proceed with the grant of a patent, he would have to submit for a request for grant. He is expected to pay corresponding fees in filing, and he needs to have an address in Singapore because this is where all correspondences from the Registry of Patents will be sent.

Learning how to patent in Singapore is easy, although the process itself is painstaking and long so engaging a professional is encouraged though not required. You can submit an application through online via Online Internet Sevice (OIS) or Electronic Patent Preparation (EPP) Software, or you can also submit via the old-fashioned way, through paper copies sent to the Service Bureau.

Take note that a used or already used trademark can be registered. It is not like patents and registered designs. No time limit is required to the owner on when he or she wants to apply. From the date of filing, the trademark registration will take effect. And in Singapore trademark application, there are possibilities for infringement if a trademark is registered.

Singapore Trademark Application Prioritization

Singapore trademark application also gives priority to some applicants especially when they have applied in a member country of the World Trade Organization or Paris Convention country. It can be prioritized if the filing in Singapore is done within six months since or from the first filing date. The same if an applicant from Singapore files a trademark application in a member country of the World Trade Organization or Paris Convention country given that the applicant filed the application within six months since or from the first filing in Singapore.

Singapore Trademark Application Requirements

An applicant may file and pay online or directly to the Singapore Trademark Registration or Intellectual Property Office. Beforehand, an applicant needs to accomplish some information to get a filing date. Examples of these are the name and address of the owner/applicant, goods or services needed to be registered, statement of request, etc. Other requirements or information is available in the web. After completing the form and requirements, the application will now be processed. Take note that several classes filed in a single application will still be lead to one registration. Processing and examination of the application usually takes one to two months since the filing date. The applicant will be informed if the application is acceptable or if it is in order for publicity. If rejected or any problems such as objection appears, the applicant will still be notified.

To avoid getting rejected and notification, it is always better to be ready and you have well searched for similar goods or services trademarks. Already registered trademarks are commonly maintained and protected by the trademark registry.

As Singapore is lauded as a top place for commercialization of ideas and innovations, it is no wonder that this tiny Southeast Asian country has a strong intellectual property or IP protection. It continues to be a hub for international intellectual property protection, being a signatory to numerous IP conventions, like Paris Convention, Madrid Protocol, and World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

As being intangible, an IP object only lasts for as long as the law allows it so. Singapore aims to strike a balance between the owners’ protection of rights and public access to the intellectual property by harmonizing its IP and copyright laws with the underlying principles in global laws on IP rights. It gives IP protection in accordance to the standards of protection prescribed by international agreements.

How IP Protection Works In The Country

An individual or a business entity can register IP rights (IPRs) with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) for patent grants for inventions, trademarks for business signs, designs for designs applied to articles, and grants for the protection of plant varieties.

As for copyright protection for works by authors and designers, protection for a company’s trade secrets and confidential information, geographical indications (GI), and layouts-designs of integrated circuits, there is no need to file for protection application anymore. In Singapore, these types are automatically given protection as soon as they are created.

There are different requirements for each type of intellectual property protection. If granted, the creator or creators are recognized as owners of the IP unless there are legislative provisions or contractual agreements that oppose it.

You would need to get protection in other countries if you need to do so as IPRs in Singapore are not automatically recognized in foreign markets. You would have to file for registration directly in the country of your choice for protection. However, unless the protection in other countries is critical to your business, worldwide IP protection may be unnecessary.

For a lot of companies, and even individuals, protection of intellectual property is important. Employee know-how, patents, or trade secrets are valuable. Intellectual property or IP is protected by law. If act or any case of infringement is found, the one liable can be persecuted. Legally speaking, there are four types of IP.

Categories For Protection Of Intellectual Property

When an applicant registers his or her invention, the person gains the right to prohibit anyone from producing and marketing the invention. This is called patent. And it takes more than a year to process. It can last up to 20 years and others can have an application to license the product once you have a patent. One more good thing is that it can be registered in other countries.

The name, symbol, sound, or phrase associated to a good or service is called trademark. It falls under the second category for protection of intellectual property. It gives the company a good reputation and the brand is often connected or means high level of quality. Protection of trademarks can last up to 10 years upon registration. It can be renewed although it doesn’t have to be registered. Some companies just use the TM symbol to scare and have room to indict other companies who plans to use the original mark.

Protection of intellectual property which are written or artistically expressed in tangible media such as songs, poems, movies, and novels are called copyright. A copyright does not protect the idea but the expression is. The owner has the right to make copies, create derivatives like turning a novel into a movie, sell, display, and perform the piece to the public. It usually last for 50 years.

Last but not the least for protection of intellectual property category is the trade secrets. These are formulas, compilation, device, or patterns of data. The owner of has the edge over competitors. It may last to up to hundreds of years if it is proven to add worth to a company.

Singapore is one of the most highly developed countries in Asia and the rest of the world. Their government is also one of the best as it boasts of almost zero percent crime rate.

The Singaporean Government For Intellectual Property Protection In Singapore

The Singaporean government has exerted a lot of hard work to make sure that every citizen, resident, and visitor feels safe in the Lion City.

This is no different from the security given to companies and investors. Singapore, being one of world’s leading business hubs, is keen on protecting the rights of business owners and investors. One of the most important kinds of security given to companies is intellectual property protection in Singapore.

The government encourages companies to register their trademarks, artistic and literary works, patents, and industrial designs to ensure that no other person or entity can copy and reproduce what belongs to them without their consent.

As a business owner or an inventor, you must be aware that some people or group can steal your ideas and use it to their own advantage. This not only happens to newcomers in the business world but also to well-known companies with equally famous products. Failure to register your product in Singapore or any part of the world means other individuals can imitate your product or even use your trademark in that place. This can mean millions of losses for your company and even loss of followers, as they turn to cheap imitations of your brainchild.

This is something you do not want to happen, especially in a competitive market like that of the Lion City. Hence, you must get intellectual property protection in Singapore. This is done by registering your intellectual property in the Lion City. As the inventor or owner, you deserve nothing but the exclusive right to produce and reproduce these creations of the mind. Remember, this is your brainchild, the product of thorough research and hard work.

Indeed, obtaining intellectual property protection in Singapore safeguards your company’s standing in one of Asia’s economic powerhouse. With companies like Pyprus, which aids individuals and companies in registering their IP, and the IPO in Singapore, know that your brainchild is safe from counterfeiters in the Lion City.

Do you have an exciting invention which you think has great potential to earn you high income later on? Knowing how to patent an idea matters a lot when you do not want your brains and efforts go to waste before making it open to the market.

Learning How To Patent An Idea Benefits You

When you successfully apply for a patent, you are granted exclusive rights on your own invention, concept or process. This means that for a limited duration, it is only you who can make use of it. Therefore, it cannot be commercially used, produced, distributed or sold without your consent.

There are a lot of reading materials in the internet and perhaps in your local library where you can learn about the processes involved in how to patent an idea. This includes filing of the application and the preparation of important supporting documents. It is in this regard that you will discover that hiring your own patent attorney will significantly help you along the way since the rights are normally enforced in a court.

Gaining familiarity on how the procedure goes will allows you to more easily coordinate with your hired lawyer. For infringement cases or challenges made by a third party, you will certainly be more than ready to face the situation because you have already taken the proper steps to be geared up.

How To Patent An Idea – The Process

It starts with determining if your concept is indeed innovative and worthy of being given exclusive rights by doing a search. It can be properly carried out online or a depository library so you can be sure that your discovery is not exactly similar to anything else yet.

File for an application. Be prepared to provide some background information and a full description of your invention. Include supporting visual materials in the form of drawings or diagrams and any plans you may have. Be ready to shell out some money to pay for the necessary fees, including your hired lawyer’s, if any.