Singapore – Trademark Laws & Generative-AI

In the age of Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) proliferating, disruptions are experienced across industries including service and media. Generative AI (or “GenAI”) is also interluding in the realm of intellectual property (“IP”). Trademark laws, among other IP Laws, are facing new challenges and complexities and require fresher perspectives for improving brand protection, especially in countries like […]

A different Monster

This decision arose from Monster Energy Company’s opposition against the registration of the Application Mark “GENTLE MONSTER” (a word mark) by IICOMBINED Co., Ltd, in Class 9 for “smartglasses”, on the following grounds: That the Application Mark is confusingly similar to its “MONSTER ENERGY” marks, one of which was registered in 2014 in Class 9; […]

AMENDMENTS TO TRADEMARK IN CIRCULAR NO.23/2023/TT-BKHCN

Further to the numerous changes introduced via Decree 65 on 23 August 2023 (https://www.mirandah.com/vietnam-updates-in-trade-mark-law/), the Vietnamese Government has on 30th November 2023 issued Circular No.23/2023/TT-BKHCN (hereinafter “Circular 23”) making more amendments to the Vietnam Intellectual Property (“IP”) laws, aimed at providing guidance for implementation, and aligning IP practice as a result of changes to the […]

THE WELL-KNOWN STATUS OF TRADEMARK CAN BE A DETERMINING FACTOR IN THE SUCCESSFUL LAWSUIT CONCERNING TRADEMARK INFRINGEMENT, EVEN IF THE GOODS/SERVICES ARE IN DIFFERENT CLASSES

The recognition of a trademark can determine the success of canceling a trademark that has actually been registered earlier in the territory of Indonesia. This was demonstrated by Starbucks Corporation against Sumatra Tobacco Trading Company (“STTC”), one of the local conglomerate companies. In October 2023, STTC filed a Judicial Review of a Cassation Decision that […]

CAMBODIA: New Amendments to Trademark Laws Address Single-Use Applications and Affidavits for Use/Non-Use

The Department of Intellectual Property Rights in Cambodia has updated the country’s trademark law, especially concerning filing and maintenance. It issued two notices—one on August 1, 2023, the other 10 days later on August 11—that dealt with single multi-class applications and affidavits of use/non-use, respectively. The First Notice (No. 2501/R/DIP) The First Notice mandates that […]

Singapore Trademark Applications – Uncommon Grounds of Objections

Brand owners usually take steps to avoid potential conflicts from other similar trademarks and also try to devise marks which are not descriptive in nature. While this is an important pre-filing consideration, there are certain other potential uncommon objections that brand owners should take into consideration before filing their trademark in Singapore. Some of these […]

Singapore – Substantiation of Allegation of Bad Faith May Entitle Tribunal to Declare A Trademark Invalid

Swiss Company Vetements Group AG (the “Applicant”) sought to invalidate the following mark which had been registered in Singapore by a Chinese Company, Xiamen Vetements Brand Management Co., Ltd (the “Registered Proprietor”) for clothing in Class 25. While the Registered Proprietor filed its response to the invalidation application, it did not file its supporting evidence in […]

Fair Isaac Corporation v. LAC Co., Ltd [2022] SGIPOS 19

What happens when a later trademark incorporates an earlier one, especially when many other trademarks on the register incorporate the earlier trademark? This decision explores the applicable principles surrounding trademark oppositions involving such facts. The applicant, a major international cybersecurity corporation, sought to register the application mark . The opponent, whose goods and services included […]