On April 7 2010, the Court of Appeal of Kuala Lumpur, in delivering its judgment in Taiping Poly (M) Sdn Bhd v Wong Fook Toh & ORS CA (2010 6CLJ 51), drew a distinction between the net loss of profits and the loss of sales, as a result of an infringement and passing off of […]
Thailand finally accedes to Paris Convention
Thailand ratified accession to the Paris Convention and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) on 10 January 2008. The legal instrument of accession to the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property was submitted to the WIPO on 2 May 2008, thus Thailand became bound by the Paris Convention on 2 August 2008, bringing the […]
Latest Developments in Vietnam IP Law
The Vietnamese government has actively taken measures to ensure that the country's IP laws are effective. They have recognized the relationship between economic development and IP protection. In fact the economic development in Vietnam is one of the most progressive one in Southeast Asia in terms of percentage growth of the GDP. So these IP […]
Malaysian Courts hold that first use of a trademark an important factor in expungement proceedings
The Malaysian High Court, in Yong Sze Fan & Anor v Sharifah bt Mohd Tamin & 4 Ors [2008] 5 AMR 163 had an opportunity to consider an application for an order that a trademark registered by the Malaysian Trademark Registry be expunged (cancelled) from the Register under the provisions of the Malaysian Trade Marks […]
India - Ninth Edition Of Nice Classification Adopted
The Indian Trade Marks Rules 2002 were recently amended to adopt the Ninth Edition of Nice Classification, in order to align the trade mark laws in India with the international system. Additional service classes, namely, classes 43-45, have been added. The applicants are requested to bring their existing applications in compliance with the new classification. […]
Malaysia - Breach of License Agreement from the perspective of Intellectual Property
A commentary by Patrick Mirandah on the Landmark Decision of the Federal Court GS Gill Sdn Bhd v Descente, Ltd. [2010] 5 CLJ 613 INTRODUCTION The Federal Court in GS Gill Sdn Bhd v Descente, Ltd [2010] 5 CLJ 613 has provided a strict guideline for the licensees in relation to trade mark licensing in […]
Malaysia - “Electronic Coding Survey” Permissible Evidence?
On 09 February 2010, the High Court of Kuala Lumpur, in delivering the judgment for the case of LAM SOON EDIBLE SDN BHD Vs HUP SENG PERUSAHAAN MAKANAN (M) SDN BHD, provided essential features in respect of claims, which are made, based on filing a cancellation action for non - use particularly for Market Survey […]
Commercial Court In Favour Of Famous Marks In Indonesia
A Review of GRAMOXONE v PRIMAXONE Case Through its recent decision in GRAMOXONE v PRIMAXONE (Case No. 71/Merek/2009/PN.Niaga.Jkt.Pst), the Commercial Court of the District Court of Central Jakarta has once again given due recognition to the protection of well-known trademarks belonging to foreign entity in Indonesia. The Commercial Court finds the use of similar marks […]
Singapore Court of Appeal Affirms Protection of Well Known Marks in Novelty Pte. Ltd. V. Aman Resorts Ltd.
Should a cluster housing project in a relatively affordable, middle class housing estate – Yio Chu Kang be allowed to share the same name as an ultra-exclusive luxury resort in Bali when that name is not a registered trademark in Singapore? In the landmark case of Amanresorts Limited v Novelty Pte Ltd [2008] 2 SLR(R) […]
Passing Off and Trade Dress - Old Town White Coffee Vs. Old Taste Ipoh White Coffee
A Study on the Impact of KPI in Malaysia The recent case of Kopitiam Asia Pasific Sdn. Bhd. v Amazing Spectacular Sdn. Bhd. highlights certain points pertinent to the current intellectual property scene in Malaysia, especially the law relating to passing off. The case merits the possibility of suing in passing off of not only […]