A recent decision highlights the need to implement reasonable security measures in database servers to safeguard against personal data breaches. On 11 March 2021, Trinity Christian Centre (the “Organisation”) reported a data breach involving ransomware to the Personal Data Protection Commission (“PDPC”). The Organisation sought to expedite proceedings, readily acknowledging the facts and admitting to […]
Publications
Letters of Consent as a Determinant Factor in Trademark Examination in Indonesia
Letters of Consent remain one of the most persuasive and effective strategies for overcoming a citation objection from the Trademarks Registry in many jurisdictions, except for a few jurisdictions such as Indonesia. For the longest time, the Indonesian Trademarks Registry would not accept coexistence agreements and/or consent letters as a means of overcoming a citation […]
Amendments to Patents Law in Malaysia
The Malaysia Patent Office recently announced amendments to the Patents Act and Regulations, taking effect from 18 March 2022. Highlights of the key amendments are set out as follows: 1. New Section giving effect to Budapest Treaty A new section is introduced to the Patents Act and Regulations giving effect to the Budapest Treaty. The deposit […]
Daimler AG v. Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd.
The case concerns an opposition in Singapore by Daimler AG (the opponent) to a trademark application by Viva Mobile Communication Co. (the applicant) to register (the application mark). The opponent had opposed the application on two grounds: namely, Sections 8(2) (b) and 8(7)(a) of the Trade Marks Act (Cap 332, 2020 Rev Ed) (the act). […]
Singapore: Revision in IP practice and official fees from April 29, 2022
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has announced certain changes to IP practices, as well as a general increase in official fees. The pertinent changes, which will take effect from April 29, 2022, are highlighted below: Official fees Trademark application fees will be increased from the current S$341 to S$380, while renewal fees have […]
Changes to Patent Examination Guidelines Concerning Computer- Implemented Invention in Vietnam Effective April 2022
Computer programs are generally known as a set of instructions expressed in the form of source codes, and when being executed by a computer device, are capable of performing a task or achieving a result. In Vietnam, computer programs are recognized as literary works and are protected under the copyright regime. Therefore, computer programs […]
Singapore Red Cross Society’s Remedial Measures to address Data Breaches
The following case reiterates the need for a proper password protection policy and periodic security checks to guard against data breaches under Singapore’s Personal Data Protection Act (“the Act). Singapore Red Cross Society (“Red Cross”) ran a website that permitted the community to schedule appointments to donate blood. To this end, Red Cross kept personal […]
SINGAPORE: Way Off!
An application by S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc. (applicant) to invalidate Off-White LLC’s (the proprietor’s) registered trademark on the grounds of similarity, well-known mark status, and passing off was adjudged to fail by the IP adjudicator in his decision, rendered on December 15, 2021. His decision bears highlighting as it underscores how, when considering […]
Thailand’s New Trademark Examination Guideline 2022
The Department of Intellectual Property in Thailand has issued the final version of the Trademark Examination Guideline (“TM Guideline”) on 17th January 2022 which applies to all pending and new trademark applications. The new TM Guideline sheds light on many important issues, pertinently those relating to registrability, highlighted as follows: On the first requirement of […]
Singapore Patent Office Accepts International Applications filed in Chinese
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (“IPOS”), in its capacity as a receiving Office, International Search Authority (“ISA”), and International Preliminary Examination Authority (“IPEA”) under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, accepts international applications filed in the Chinese language. The Patents Rules in Singapore were amended on 1 January 2017 to allow Chinese as a language for […]