GENERAL COUNTRY INFORMATION
The island city-state of Singapore lies at the southernmost tip of the Malay Peninsula. With a population of 4.5 million people, Singapore ranks as the 22nd wealthiest nation in the world boasting a gross domestic product (GDP) of US$138.6 billion, with a per capita of US$30,900. Singapore has excellent infrastructure for protection and enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights. The nation is ranked No. 1 in Asia pacific for IP enforcement (Source: World Economic Forum).
| Legal basis |
Trade Mark Act 1998 |
| Major international treaties signed |
- Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
- Madrid Protocol
- Paris Convention
|
| Cost of obtaining a straightforward registration |
Please contact us at singapore@mirandah.com |
| Average time to register a trademark |
12 to 28 months |
| Filing and prosecution procedures |
Stage 1: Filing
Stage 2: Examination
Stage 3: Advertisement
Stage 4: Opposition (if any)
Stage 5: Registration |
| Registrable marks |
All distinctive and graphically representable signs, such as words, names, acronyms, letters, numbers, devices, colors, three-dimensional forms |
| Number of classes |
45 in line with the Nice Classification |
| Multiple class filing |
Available |
| Filing of series marks |
Available |
| Necessary documents |
- |
| Electronic filing |
Available |
| Common objections |
Prior conflicting rights
Inventiveness, descriptiveness and non-distinctiveness |
| Opposition term |
2 months from publication |
| Duration of protection |
10 years from the date of registration |
| Restoration of lapsed trade mark |
Within 6 months from the expiry of the last registration |
| Compulsory period of use to avoid cancellation action |
5 consecutive years anytime from the date of registration |
| Parallel Imports |
Allowable |
| Use |
Not necessary for filing purposes as an application can be filed based on “intention to use” |
| Useful links |
www.mirandah.com
www.ipos.gov.sg |
Outline of the
enforcement steps |
Civil
Infringement pursuant to the Trade Marks Act 1998
Passing-off |
| Civil Remedies |
Injunction
Damages
Account of profits
Statutory damages |
| Criminal Sanctions |
Trade Description Order
Monetary fines or imprisonment or both
Border Measure
Prohibition of importation; seizure; detention; forfeiture of counterfeit trademark goods |
| Others |
|
| Time frame for various legal actions |
12 months |
| Alternative dispute resolution |
Mediation
Arbitration |
| Any specialized courts for IP |
No |
Application Of Trade Marks From 2000 to 2006
| |
Local |
Under the Madrid Protocol |
Total |
| 2000 |
22,131 |
118 |
22,249 |
| 2001 |
13,749 |
6524 |
20,273 |
| 2002 |
11,623 |
8452 |
20,075 |
| 2003 |
12,815 |
8,471 |
21,286 |
| 2004 |
14,088 |
9,160 |
23,248 |
| 2005 |
14,950 |
12,036 |
26,986 |
| 2006 |
15,119 |
14,096 |
29,215 |
Disclaimer: The information provided above is intended to serve as a general guideline and is not intended as legal advice. The information is correct at the time of printing.