The Madras High Court, in a ruling concerning an appeal filed by Hendrickson USA (producers of heavy-duty suspension systems), remanded their patent application for an invention entitled the "Axle Mount for Heavy-Duty Vehicle Brake System Components", back to the Patent Office. The Court determined that the Patent Office had not sufficiently evaluated the "technical advancement" […]
Publications
Protecting Ideas by Universities: A Guide to Patent Filing in India
Since the enactment of the Bayh-Dole Act in 1980, many countries have favoured patenting by universities over patenting by funders or inventors. Patent filings by universities have surged in India as well in the recent past, thanks to exponential growth in research & development (R&D) activities. This calls for a revisiting of the issue from […]
The Untold Story: Unspoken Local Ghosts Exhibition - A Catalyst for Creative and Economic Growth
Thailand’s Creative Economy Agency (CEA) has launched an innovative exhibition titled “The Untold Story: Unspoken Local Ghosts” at TCDC Bangkok, located in the Central Post Office Building. Running until 22nd November 2024, this exhibition is open to the public and aims to inspire creators to use Thailand’s rich tradition of ghost stories and folklore as […]
Vietnam's First Criminal Prosecution for Illegal Streaming Sets New Precedent in IP Law Enforcement
A landmark decision was issued on 19 April 2024 as Vietnam’s People’s Court of Hanoi found an accused guilty of illegally broadcasting through BestBuy IPTV service football matches of the English Premier League. It was the first time in Vietnam that a case was filed in criminal court for Copyright Under the Criminal Law – […]
SINGAPORE: IPOS Examiner Rejects Registration of Scientific Abbreviation
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has refused to register a scientific abbreviation as a trademark even though the applicant was the first to discover the substance. In the matter of a trademark application by BioMedical Research Group Inc. & Anor. ([2024] SGIPOS 3), BioMedical Research Group Inc. and Macrophi Inc. sought to register the mark in […]
Singapore: IPOS launches free deferment of patent prosecution as pilot initiative
In response to the growing interests of applicants in having more time to decide how best to prosecute their Singapore patent applications in alignment with their global patenting strategies and IP commercialization developments, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has launched a pilot initiative to allow eligible applicants to defer the filings of request […]
A sample of Singapore patents granted in 2024
While we are well into the second-half of 2024, contemplating milestones accomplished (or New Year’s resolutions broken) so far, it is interesting to note that by the end of June 2024 in Singapore, almost 4,000 patent applications had reached the critical milestone of an issuance of a certificate of grant by the Intellectual Property Office […]
Copyright infringement: A ground for invalidation and opposition of trademark in Singapore
Background Henkel Polybit Industries Ltd. is a Middle Eastern entity which develops and produces water-proofing and corrosion-inhibiting sealants and coating specifically for the construction industry. They operate in at least 25 jurisdictions worldwide including in Singapore. Initially known as Polybit Industries Ltd. which was incorporated in 1995 in the United Arab Emirates, they were acquired […]
DSI Raids Bangkok Shopping Mall and Warehouse, Seizes Over 20,000 Trademark-Infringing Items Worth THB 20 Million
Thailand is intensifying her crackdown on intellectual property infringement, with a raid on 11 shops within MBK, a popular Bangkok shopping center. This operation, jointly conducted by the Department of Special Investigations (“DSI”) and the Central Intellectual Property and International Trade Court on 27 August 2024, uncovered more than 20,000 counterfeit products. Designated as Special […]
India- Drastic changes to Patent Working Requirements
The filing of a Working Statement (regarding the working of patented inventions on a commercial scale in India) is a statutory requirement under the India Patents Act, 1970 (as amended) (the ‘Act’). Pursuant to the latest amendments to the India Patents Rules, 2003 (as amended) (the ‘Rules’) (read together with the Patents (Amendment) Rules, 2024 […]