For the first time in Singapore, a group of rights owners consisting of telecommunication companies and cable TV providers successfully enforced their rights against a seller of illicit streaming devices (ISDs). Abdul Nagib Abdul Aziz (the respondent) pleaded guilty to one charge under Section 136(3A) of the Copyright Act Cap 63, while another charge under […]
Publications
Revisiting long-established concepts on independent and dependent patent claims in Singapore
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore has recently announced in its newsletter dated August 14, 2019, that the current practice of examining independent and dependent claims as provided in the Examination Guidelines for Patent Applications (April 2019 version) continues to be in force. This newsletter has been circulated in the light of feedback received by […]
Indonesia – Patent Working Requirement
Since 26 August 2016, all patent holders are obliged to “work” their patented invention in Indonesia, by either manufacturing their patented products or using their patented processes within 36 months from the date the patent is granted – article 20 of Law No 13 2016 on patents (‘the new law’). There are consequences for not […]
INDIA AND JAPAN- BILATERAL PATENT PROSECUTION HIGHWAY
The Indian Patent Office (‘IPO’) and the Japan Patent Office (‘JPO’) have jointly embarked on a Bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway (‘PPH’) pilot program (the ‘PPH program’). Pursuant thereto, applicants can request for expedited examination by complying with the stipulated procedure. Applicants need to bear in mind the following: The number of requests accepted by the […]
Registrar Dismisses Opposition to 'Wonglo’ Trademark Application
In Multi Access Limited v. Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited [2019] SGIPOS 15, Guangzhou Pharmaceutical Holdings Limited (the applicant), a state-owned enterprise in China, applied for the trademark WONGLO (the application mark) in Singapore on December 15, 2015, under International Registration No. 1297792 (Singapore TM No.40201608455Q) in Classes 5, 30, and 32. The opposition ultimately failed […]
Singapore's AGC Appeals Against Potentially Excessive Sentences for Sale of Android TV Boxes
In an unexpected twist of events following the conclusion of a 22-month court battle between a group of copyright owners and a retailer of Android TV boxes, the Attorney-General’s Chambers (the “AGC”) has filed a notice of appeal to the High Court against the sentences meted out by the State Court in Neil Kevin Gane […]
Amendments to the Copyright Act in Singapore
The Ministry of Law and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) published the Singapore Copyright Review Report recommending wide-ranging amendments to the Copyright Act in January 2019. These proposals come on the back of a three-year review and public consultation period which began in August 2016 and represents a much-needed update to the act. […]
Singapore: International Property Rights Index 2019
Singapore’s International Property Rights Index has risen and the country has achieved a 2nd ranking in the Asia and Oceania region and a 4th ranking worldwide for the year 2019. International Property Rights Index (IPRI) The IPRI is an index that measures the status of property rights globally. The IPRI score is indicative of the […]
The IP (Dispute Resolution) Bill
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, […]
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 […]