Legislative amendments bringing broad-ranging reform to the intellectual property (IP) regime in Singapore were tabled before lawmakers in early July 2019, following public consultations in July 2017 and August 2018. The IP (Dispute Resolution) Bill (the IP Bill) has the following overarching aims: (1) The consolidation of civil IP proceedings in the Singapore High Court, […]
Publications
SINGAPORE: Court Rules ‘Tartan’ Is Not a Geographical Indication
Scotch Whisky Association (the appellant) is an association protecting the interests of leading distillers, blenders, and exporters of the Scotch Whisky trade worldwide. Isetan Mitsukoshi Ltd (the respondent) is a Japanese department store selling a variety of products, including alcoholic beverages. The respondent applied for “Isetan Tartan” (the mark) in Singapore in Class 33 for […]
THAILAND: Plain Cigarette Packaging Law Takes Effect
As per the Ministerial Regulations (MR) of the Ministry of Health on Plain Packaging of Cigarettes B.E. 2561 (2018) issued by virtue of Section 5, Paragraph 1, and Section 38, Paragraph 1, of the Tobacco Products Control Act B.E. 2560 (2017), the plain cigarette packaging law in Thailand is now in effect as of September […]
Singapore Set to Implement World’s First Advertising Ban for High Sugar Drinks
The Singapore Ministry of Health (MOH) announced recently that it will introduce a mandatory Front-of-Pack (“FOP”) label for packaged sugar-sweetened beverages (“SSBs”) with colour code and grade to inform consumers of the sugar content, i.e., whether it is healthy, neutral or unhealthy, so that consumers may make an informed decision when purchasing SSBs. An advertising […]
Registry of Geographical Indications in Singapore
A geographical indication (“GI”) is a sign that identifies a product as originating from a specific venue or location and has given characteristics and qualities that are unique to its location or origin. Under the World Trade Organization Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, unregistered GIs already receive some protection in Singapore so […]
Singapore Trade Mark Oppositions – Confidentiali-Tea of Evidence Adduced
In the context of trade marks, it is relatively common for parties to adduce sales and marketing figures (which are, more often than not, deemed confidential) as part of their evidence in support of their case. But should the confidentiality of the said sales and marketing figures be safeguarded, and if in the affirmative, under […]
Singapore’s Intellectual Property Initiatives
With the aim of increasing the flow of innovation into the ASEAN region, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has launched new initiatives with eight other intellectual property (IP) offices in the ASEAN region, namely the IP offices of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. I. ASPEC-AIM One of the […]
Singapore – Breach The Obligations Imposed By The PDPA, And Face Penalties
In two recent decisions issued by the Personal Data Protection Commission (‘PDPC’), investigations were carried out under Section 50(1) of the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (‘PDPA’) and financial penalties were imposed on the errant entities. The circumstances which lead to this step by the PDPC are set out below: 1. O2 Advertising Pte. Ltd., […]
Brand Drug Owners Vindicated Against Generics Seeking to Launch Without Declaring Relevant Patents Under Patent Linkage Regime
INTRODUCTION The Singapore Court of Appeal’s judgment in Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc v Drug Houses of Australia Pte Ltd [2019] SGCA 31 heralds momentous change in the pharmaceutical sector for brand drug owners seeking to enforce patents against generic competitors. The Court reversed an interlocutory decision of the High Court that made it difficult for brand […]
Singapore: Request for an extension of time to file a notice of opposition against a Geographical Indication (“GI”) – Showing good and sufficient reason
Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano v U.S. Dairy Export Council [2019] SGIPOS 12 Summary of Facts Consorzio Del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano (“the Applicant”) applied to register the geographical indication (“GI”) “Parmigiano Reggiano” (“the GI Application”). The GI Application was accepted and published for opposition purposes on May 10, 2019. The deadline to file a notice […]