Warner-Lambert Company LLC v Novartis (Singapore) Pte Ltd [2017] SGCA 45 Introduction In the landmark case of Warner-Lambert Company LLC v Novartis (Singapore) Pte Ltd [2017] SGCA 45, the Singapore Court of Appeal explored, inter alia, the permissibility of amending method of treatment claims to Swiss-style claims. Significantly, the matter was heard […]
Publications
Accelerated Examination in Philippines Through PPH Partnership with EPO
In recent years, the European Patent Office (EPO) has partnered with several domestic patent offices in Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) programmes, with the aim of speeding up examination processes for corresponding applications filed in participating intellectual property offices. Recently, the EPO has launched new a PPH pilot programme with the patent office of the Philippines […]
Insights on Franchising: A Singapore Perspective
Singapore is a multi-racial and a multi-cultural country that demands variety in all aspects of its marketplace. Recently, news of the imminent departure of bubble tea franchise Gong Cha from Singapore has directed attention towards a new beverage brand, LiHo, started by a former franchisee of Gong Cha. While some Singaporeans are looking forward to […]
New Online System for Cambodia Trademark Registration
On 25 May 2017, the Ministry of Commerce in Cambodia launched an online trademark registration system for local and international businesses and individuals to protect their marks against infringement. Applicants in Cambodia may now upload the required documents and information for trademark registration online, as well as search the Cambodia Department of Intellectual Property database […]
Thailand Patent Registry Set to Enforce Modified Examination Regime for Greater Efficiency
Throughout 2017 so far, the government in Thailand has been signalling its intention to revamp the country’s patent system to provide a more efficient standard of service to applicants and inventors. In February, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O Cha pledged to urgently deal with a problem: around 20,000 domestic and international patent applications made to the […]
Singapore Trademark Invalidation Action is Big Boxing Bout
Courts (Singapore) Pte Ltd v Big Box Corporation Pte Ltd [2017] SGIPOS 5 On 26 January 2005, Big Box Corporation Pte Ltd (“the Proprietor”) secured registration for the trade mark in class 35 in Singapore, with respect to the following: “The bringing together, for the benefit of others, of a variety of goods (excluding the […]
Singapore Parallel Imports – Court Clarifies Scope of the Parallel Importation Defence
Introduction Parallel imports are genuine goods that are put on the market by a trade mark proprietor in one country, and subsequently purchased and imported into another country for resale. Singapore permits parallel importation. As such, it is an issue that arises frequently in practice, but is rarely litigated on. In Samsonite IP Holdings Sarl […]
Singapore Copyright Infringement Cannot Extend to Directories
The Court of Appeal decision in Global Yellow Pages Ltd v Promedia Directories Pte Ltd [2017] SGCA 28 affirmed the decision of the High Court dated 28th January 2016 – ruling in favour of Promedia Directories (“the Defendant”) and dismissing Global Yellow Pages’ (“the Plaintiff”) appeal. The case has set important precedent in Singapore copyright […]
Singapore Trademark Revocation – Apple’s Sherlock Killed Off!
Despite the recent popularity surge in old technological phenomena, with Nintendo’s Pokémon being ubiquitous on small hand-held screens again, and Nokia having relaunched – to widespread excitement – its iconic 3310 phone, it is not always easy for tech giants to hold on to past products and features in the hope of one day re-marketing […]
Singapore Patent Protection Examined in Car Crash Camera Case
Validity | Novelty | Inventive Step | Infringement | Groundless Threat | Expert Witness | Patent Construction The judgment in Lee Tat Cheng v Maka GPS Technologies Pte Ltd [2017] SGHC 48 concerned an infringement action and an application for a declaration of infringement brought by Mr. Lee Tat Cheng (“the Plaintiff”), proprietor of Singapore […]