Steps are now underway to putting into practice Myanmar’s new Trademark Law, which passed on January 30, 2019. During the current soft opening period, trademark owners have exclusive access until at least March 2021 to re-file their trademarks in Myanmar electronically with the Department of Intellectual Property and obtain an earlier filing date, prior to […]
Publications
Untrue Promotions of “Daily Deals” Now Ceased at Expedia Singapore’s Website
The misleading promotional activities on Expedia Singapore’s website has now halted, thanks to the competition watchdog, the Competition and Consumer Commission of Singapore (“CCCS”). BEX Travel Asia (“BEX”), the website operator of Expedia Singapore, has put an end to its misleading promotions after the investigation by CCCS about its unfair practices. The “Daily Hotel Deals” […]
Valentino S.p.A loses to Matsuda & Co. over dispute in trademark name ‘Valentino’
Choosing a trademark for businesses comes with a risk, whether it is a given name, a surname, or a combination of the two. It is because others may be able to use these names in good faith without impinging upon the trademark owner’s rights. The more common the name, the more likely it is to […]
A second-round victory for brand drug owners against generics who fail to declare relevant patents under Singapore’s patent linkage regime
Proprietors of brand-name drugs may heave another sigh of relief as the Singapore Court of Appeal in Zyfas Medical Co (Sued as a firm) v. Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc [2020] SGCA 84 re-affirmed its holding in Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc v. Drug Houses of Australia Pte Ltd [2019] SGCA 31 (the DHA decision) rejecting an overly-restrictive interpretation […]
Salient points concerning the law of anticipation in the case of Element Six Technologies Ltd v. IIa Technologies Pte Ltd.
On February 7, 2020, the Singapore High Court reported its decision in the case of Element Six Technologies Ltd v. IIa Technologies Pte Ltd. [2020] SGHC 26, which treated various issues pertaining to novelty, priority date and anticipation. In particular, there are several interesting points in the decision concerning the law of anticipation which will […]
Rolex S.A. v. FMTM Distribution Ltd [2020] SGIPOS 6
FMTM Distribution Ltd (the applicant) is a company selling high-end luxury watches. The applicant applied to protect the trademark “MARINER” (the application mark) in Singapore on February 5, 2016, under Trade Mark Application No. 40201602064R in Class 14. Rolex S.A. (the opponent) is a watchmaker established in 1905, based in Geneva, Switzerland. The opponent has […]
Singapore Launches a New “Local Produce” Logo to Boost Local Food Production and Support
The Singapore Food Agency (SFA) aims to raise awareness on food security issues by focusing on the Singapore Food Story. In doing so, SFA has launched a new local produce logo which will be found on packaging and selected marketing collateral to promote local produce. The “SG Fresh Produce (SGFP)” logo was created in consultation […]
Singapore accedes to Locarno Agreement on Industrial Designs
On March 19, 2020, Singapore became the 58th member to join the Locarno Agreement, an international agreement on classification of industrial designs. The Locarno Agreement, also known as the Locarno Classification, is a multilateral treaty administered by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO). It will be recalled that Singapore deposited its instrument of accession to […]
Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore Comments on the Rise in Feedback by Stakeholders and the Increasing Number of High-Profile Ad Complaints
The Advertising Standards Authority of Singapore (‘ASAS’), which was set up in 1976 to inter alia promote ethical advertising in Singapore, has played a crucial role over the years. Its importance and significance, as the self-regulatory body of the advertising industry, have increased manifold in the past few years. The ASAS has also been pro-actively […]
Singapore: A Shining Example of Passing Off
The following decision issued on April 2, 2020, appears to go against Singapore’s first-to-file system and highlights the fact that prior rights (if any) in Singapore can be protected under the tort of passing off under the Trade Marks Act (TMA). Golden Cala Trading EST (applicant), incorporated in Saudi Arabia, applied to register the LENSME […]