Following on from our previous article on patent updates in Vietnam, this piece serves to summarise the key amendments made to both patent and trademark procedures by the NOIP commencing January 2018. New regulations with regard to patent and trademark procedures in Vietnam came into force on 15th January 2018. These amended regulations aim to […]
Publications
Rectification of the Register – A Singapore Perspective
Novartis (Singapore) Pte Ltd v Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Co [2017] SGHC 322 I. Introduction In the recent case of Novartis (Singapore) Pte Ltd v Bristol-Myers Squibb Pharma Co [2017] SGHC 322, the Singapore High Court addressed, for the first time, key procedural issues associated with corrections to patent forms and priority data, as well as […]
Updates to Vietnam Patent Regime
New regulations with regard to patent applications in Vietnam came into force on 15th January 2018. These amended regulations aim to bring the Vietnamese intellectual property system in line with recent developments. Below are three of the main changes based on guidelines laid out in Circular No. 16/2016/TT-BKHCN from the Ministry of Science and Technology, […]
Is 'Patent Working' Information Confidential in India?
The very foundation of the patent system is a quid pro quo - a set of exclusive rights granted to a patentee in exchange for inter alia the patentee’s duty to fulfil the society’s reasonable requirements in relation to the invention (including the ‘working’ of the said invention within the jurisdiction). The Indian Patents Act […]
Louis Vuitton Counterfeit Case in Singapore Clarifies Definitions of 'Import' and 'Export' for Trade Mark Infringement Purposes
In the recent Singapore High Court case of Louis Vuitton Malletier v Megastar Shipping Pte Ltd [2017] SGHC 305, the Court held that a freight forwarder who was unwittingly sent counterfeit goods into Singapore for transshipment was not liable for trademark infringement. The case concerned two shipments from China bound for Indonesia via Singapore. The […]
GI Registration for 'Rasgulla': Sweet News to be Taken with a Pinch of Salt?
The newsfeeds of Intellectual Property enthusiasts and connoisseurs of fine desserts were recently inundated with news of the Rasgulla being granted Geographical Indication (‘GI’) registration in India. In the midst of all the hype and hoopla, the Chief Minister of West Bengal (a State to the east of India) went on to tweet “Sweet news […]
Mattel, Inc. v Aman Bijal Mehta: A Loss of Face for 'Barbie'?
“Hi, Barbie….Hi, Ken! Do you wanna go for a ride? Sure, Ken! Jump in...I'm a Barbie girl in the Barbie world……Life in plastic, it's fantastic! You can brush my hair, undress me everywhere…..Imagination, life is your creation…..Come on, Barbie, let's go party!......I'm a blond bimbo girl in a fantasy world…..Dress me up, make it tight, […]
Singapore and China PPH Extension Keeps Up Accelerated and Dynamic Patent Procedure
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) and State Intellectual Property Office of China (SIPO) have extended their joint effort for fast and efficient patent protection through the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) program. The extension agreement was signed on September 17, 2017 and will be effective until August 31, 2019. Mr. Daren Tang, Chief Executive […]
New Indonesian Customs Regulation for Protection of IP Rights
The Indonesian Government has recently implemented legislation to assist IP owners to enforce their copyrights and trademarks. The Regulation (No. 20 of 2017) came into force on August 2, 2017. The new Regulation provides that IP owners with rights registered in Indonesia may apply for customs recordal to the Directorate General of Customs and Excise […]
Brunei's Patent Examination System to Increase Efficiency Through Agreement with Japan
On August 28, 2017, the Brunei Intellectual Property Office (BruIPO) signed an agreement to introduce a new patent examination initiative - the Patent Prosecution Highway Plus (PPH+) - with the Japan Patent Office (JPO), which will commence on October 1, 2017. Using this PPH+ system, patent prosecution procedures in Brunei are accelerated by allowing BruIPO […]