Myanmar has yet to produce its own specific legislation on trademarks. As a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the World Trade Organization (WTO), the nation is expected to deliver its IP laws in the near future to provide protection for trademarks, copyright, patents, and other intellectual property. From August 8-10, 2017, […]
Updates on Use Requirements for Trademark Registrations in the Philippines
The Intellectual Property Office of the Philippines (IPOPHL) recently announced changes to the filing of Declaration of Actual Use (DAU) for registered marks. On 7 July 2017, the Registry issued Memorandum Circular No. 17-010 (IPOPHL MC No. 17-010; Subject: Rules and Regulations on Trademarks, Service Marks, Trade Names and Marked or Stamped Containers of 2017) […]
Insights on Franchising: A Singapore Perspective
Singapore is a multi-racial and a multi-cultural country that demands variety in all aspects of its marketplace. Recently, news of the imminent departure of bubble tea franchise Gong Cha from Singapore has directed attention towards a new beverage brand, LiHo, started by a former franchisee of Gong Cha. While some Singaporeans are looking forward to […]
New Online System for Cambodia Trademark Registration
On 25 May 2017, the Ministry of Commerce in Cambodia launched an online trademark registration system for local and international businesses and individuals to protect their marks against infringement. Applicants in Cambodia may now upload the required documents and information for trademark registration online, as well as search the Cambodia Department of Intellectual Property database […]
Singapore Trademark Invalidation Action is Big Boxing Bout
Courts (Singapore) Pte Ltd v Big Box Corporation Pte Ltd [2017] SGIPOS 5 On 26 January 2005, Big Box Corporation Pte Ltd (“the Proprietor”) secured registration for the trade mark in class 35 in Singapore, with respect to the following: “The bringing together, for the benefit of others, of a variety of goods (excluding the […]
Singapore Parallel Imports – Court Clarifies Scope of the Parallel Importation Defence
Introduction Parallel imports are genuine goods that are put on the market by a trade mark proprietor in one country, and subsequently purchased and imported into another country for resale. Singapore permits parallel importation. As such, it is an issue that arises frequently in practice, but is rarely litigated on. In Samsonite IP Holdings Sarl […]
Singapore Trademark Revocation - Apple's Sherlock Killed Off!
Despite the recent popularity surge in old technological phenomena, with Nintendo’s Pokémon being ubiquitous on small hand-held screens again, and Nokia having relaunched – to widespread excitement - its iconic 3310 phone, it is not always easy for tech giants to hold on to past products and features in the hope of one day re-marketing […]
Revised Trademark Rules in India
The Government of India announced broad changes to the Trademark Rules on 6 March 2017. The changes came into effect immediately. The relevant changes to the Rules are: 1. Increase in Official Fees 2. Registration of Well-Known Marks A trademark owner can now seek to have his mark to be declared “well-known” in India […]
Audi Drives the A-One Out of Singapore
In a bid to bolster its intellectual property portfolio in Singapore, German car manufacturer Audi (‘the applicant’) recently succeeded partially in the revocation of a device mark in Audi AG v Lim Ching Kwang. At the hearing before the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), the applicant had applied for both revocation of Mr Lim […]
Singapore - An ‘Inspired’ Revocation Action
Lisbeth Enterprises Limited (the applicant), instituted a revocation action on the grounds of non-use against Procter & Gamble International Operations SA (the proprietor) for the subject mark which was registered in Singapore on June 1, 1981, in Class 3. The goods claimed were “Eau de Cologne, perfumes, essential oils, non-medicated toilet preparations, cosmetics, anti-perspirants, soaps, […]