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 and Registration Of Trade Marks & Service Marks From 2000 to 2008
|
|
Domestic |
Foreign |
Total |
Domestic |
Foreign |
Total |
|
2000 |
5187 |
17062 |
22249 |
1970 |
13052 |
15022 |
|
2001 |
3281 |
16992 |
20273 |
2487 |
14225 |
16712 |
|
2002 |
3343 |
16732 |
20075 |
3388 |
19553 |
22941 |
|
2003 |
4254 |
17032 |
21286 |
5735 |
28790 |
34525 |
|
2004 |
4839 |
18409 |
223248 |
4063 |
17238 |
21301 |
|
2005 |
5067 |
21919 |
26986 |
4154 |
17534 |
21688 |
|
2006 |
4852 |
24364 |
29216 |
3865 |
22055 |
25920 |
|
2007 |
4602 |
19781 |
24383 |
5393 |
25238 |
30631 |
|
2008 |
4209 |
13964 |
18173 |
3544 |
16073 |
19617 |
|
Total |
39634 |
166255 |
205889 |
34599 |
173758 |
208357 |
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.