The Applicant, Hijos de Rivera, S.A. and the Opponent, Sociedad Anonima Damm are beer producers based in Spain. Both parties co-exist in Spain, Europe and UK, but as they grew beyond those territories they began to get embroiled in disputes. The Opponent registered its word mark “ESTRELLA DAMM” (“Registered Mark”) in Singapore in 2011, beginning […]
Tag: IPOS
IPOS Extended the SG IP Fast Track Programme for Another 2 Years and Ended the 12 Months File-To-Grant Programme from 30 April 2022
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has recently extended their existing examination acceleration programme for patents, SG IP Fast Track Programme, for another 2 years from 30 April 2022 until 30 April 2024, to give enterprises a competitive advantage as Singapore and the world reopen from the Covid-19 pandemic. Concurrently, however, IPOS has terminated […]
Twitter, Inc. v. V V Technology Pte Ltd [2022] SGIPOS 4
A recent decision shows the importance of consumer perception of economic linkages to the likelihood of confusion inquiry. VV Technology Pte Ltd (the applicant) had already registered its mark for goods and services under other classes that overlapped with the opponent’s mark. The applicant then sought to register its mark under Class 42 for several services […]
SINGAPORE: Registrar Rejects Daimler’s Similarity and Passing-Off Claims
In a decision of February 9, 2022, Daimler AG (opponent) failed in its opposition action against Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd (applicant) on grounds of similarity and passing off. The opponent lost principally due to a lack of evidence of use of its mark as registered and, thereby, lack of goodwill in its mark. This […]
Singapore: Revision in IP practice and official fees from April 29, 2022
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has announced certain changes to IP practices, as well as a general increase in official fees. The pertinent changes, which will take effect from April 29, 2022, are highlighted below: Official fees Trademark application fees will be increased from the current S$341 to S$380, while renewal fees have […]
Late filing of evidence in a trademark opposition proceeding, pardoned!
This matter pertains to registration of the mark “BEABA” at the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) filed under No. 40201909817Y in the name Biba (Zhejiang) Nursing Products Co., Ltd. (the applicant), and an opposition thereto by BEABA (the opponent). The issue surrounds a late request for an extension of time to file evidence by […]
“Provision of news” (Circular No. 5/2020, dated 18 May 2020)
On 18th May 2020, The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (“IPOS”) issued its Circular No. 5/2020 superseding its earlier Circular No. 19/2004 dated 3 September 2004 with immediate effect. Circular No.19/2004 stated that for applications lodged on or after 10 September 2004, the Registrar would not accept a specification consisting of the item “provision of […]
New Singapore Patent Fast Track Programme to Accelerate Patent Prosecution Timeframe
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) in its continuing effort to expand support to innovators, launched a new programme named the “SG Patent Fast Track” on 4 May 2020 to replace the existing patent acceleration programmes, namely FinTech Fast Track and Accelerated Initiative for Artificial Intelligence (“AI2”), which ceased on 25 April 2020 and […]
Southeast Asia Update
A roundup of the newsworthy mentions in the Southeast Asian from the first quarter of 2020. Singapore Snagging the headlines in Singapore early March, on top of the COVID-19 coverage, is the nomination of IPOS’ current Chief Executive, Mr Daren Tang, by WIPO’s Coordination Committee, for the position of WIPO Director General. His nomination is […]
Singapore Swings
Following big policy changes in 2019, the time is right to look at IP developments in this fast-evolving country. For the intellectual property field in Singapore, 2019 was an exciting year, with new policies to promote Singapore as an IP hub and legislative reforms leading the charge in opening up new areas of opportunity. For […]