Following the Validation Agreement signed between the Laos Department of Intellectual Property (‘DIP’) and the European Patent Office (‘EPO’), European patent holders can now extend their patent protection to Laos without the need for a separate national application, effective 1 April 2025. This makes Laos the sixth country worldwide, and the second in Southeast Asia […]
Publications
Exploring the New Patent Playbook: Establishing a prima facie case before the issuance of a Notice for Pre-Grant Oppositions
Introduction In India Patent Application No. 202417006578, the Assistant Controller of Patents & Designs, issued an order in the context of a Pre-grant Opposition (‘PGO’) against Pharmazz Inc.’s said patent application. This decision is particularly notable as it represents the first application of a new rule requiring the establishment of a prima facie case before […]
Key Cases That Have Shaped IP Protection in Malaysia’s Fashion Industry
Several notable cases in Malaysia have significantly influenced the protection of intellectual property within the country’s fashion industry. Trade Mark In 2019, the High Court of Kuala Lumpur (“Court”) saw a heated trademark battle between fashion powerhouse 30 Maple Sdn Bhd (‘Plaintiff”) and individual seller Siti Safiyyah binti Mohd Firdaus Chew (“Defendant’). At the heart […]
Geographical indications in Malaysia: Recent developments and progress
A geographical indication (GI) is a sign used on products with a specific geographical origin and possesses qualities, reputation, or characteristics attributable to such origin. In Malaysia, the protection of GIs is governed by the Geographical Indications Act 2022, which came into force on March 18, 2022, repealing the earlier 2000 act. The 2022 act […]
CHANGES IN ONLINE PAYMENT TYPES AND WORKFLOW AT THE REGISTRY
In line with the enactment of Government Regulation No. 45 of 2024 concerning the types and rates of Government Regulations on Non-Tax State Revenue, which took effect from 17 December 2024, the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (“DGIP”) has updated the types and rates of intellectual property services. While the rates for trademark-related matters remain […]
A New Era for Intellectual Property in Myanmar: First Trademark Certificates Granted
Myanmar’s Trademark Law 2019 officially came into force on April 1, 2023, introducing a structured framework for trademark registration and protection. This significant legislation aims to align Myanmar’s intellectual property system with international standards, creating a more robust and reliable legal environment for brand protection. One of the key features of the new law is […]
Domain Protection as an Intellectual Property Right in Indonesia
In Indonesia, domain protection refers to services that protect personal information associated with domain registrations from public access, particularly in WHOIS databases. Domain protection, also known as domain privacy protection or ID protection, is a service that hides the owner’s personal information, such as name, address, phone number and email, from public view. Instead of […]
Singapore – Expansion of IPOS’ Collaborative Search and Examination (CS&E) Programme with Indonesia
In addition to the existing CS&E programme with IP Viet Nam, IPOS has expanded its CS&E programme with the Directorate General of Intellectual Property (DGIP), Indonesia to expedite the prosecution process for parties who have an interest to pursue patent applications in both countries. This pilot programme was introduced on 2 January 2025 for 2 […]
India- Court clarifies the criteria of “Technical Contribution” in relation to computer-related inventions
The Delhi High Court has offered important insights into the understanding of Section 3(k) of the Indian Patents Act ,1970 (the “Act”) in its decision, Blackberry Limited v. Controller of Patents and Designs [C.A.(COMM.IPD-PAT) 318/2022]Top of Form. The Court has established a significant precedent and has clarified the scope of “technical effects” in relation to computer-related inventions (‘CRIs’). […]
Singapore – Fonterra Brands v. Consozio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano
In Fonterra Brands (Singapore) Pte Ltd v. Consorzio del Formaggio Parmigiano Reggiano [2024] SGCA 53 (Fonterra), the Court of Appeal illuminated the Singapore courts’ position on the protection of geographical indications under the Geographical Indications Act 2014 (GIA). Fonterra Brands (a wholly owned subsidiary of a New Zealand-based cooperative company owned by 10,000 New Zealand dairy […]