Digi International Inc. (“the Applicant”) is an American Industrial Internet of Things technology company headquartered in the United States of America founded in 1985. The Applicant applied to protect the trade mark: (“the Application Mark”) in Singapore on 3 March 2016 under International Registration No. 1326111 (TradeMark No. 40201700142X) in Classes 9, 38 and 42. […]
India’s TM Registry will issue ‘Speaking Orders’
In India, IP owners and practitioners have found it difficult to fathom the exact reasons for refusal of registered trade mark applications, owing to the issuance of non-speaking orders by the Registrar of Trade Marks. The Intellectual Property Attorneys Association filed a public interest petition before the Delhi High Court, challenging the non-speaking orders passed […]
SINGAPORE: Ferrero Rocher—An (Unprotected) Shape Without a Name
Ferrero S.p.A. (the applicant) applied to register a 3D mark in Class 30 (under International Registration number 1199758) in Singapore (Trade Mark No. T1406403E) (application mark). The mark was described as “a coordinated packaging design, consisting of a crinkled gold foil spherical wrapping, in a brown pleated designed cup-holder with two gold lines. The combination […]
Singapore: Applications for declaration of invalidity against trademark registrations Microarch, Sentalloy and Bioforce
This matter involved three invalidation proceedings instituted by Dentsply Sirona, Inc. (the applicant) against Trade Mark Registration Nos. T1301268F for the mark “Microarch”, T1301266Z for the mark “Sentalloy”, and T1301267H for the mark “Bioforce” (collectively, the subject marks) that were registered in the name of Tomy Incorporated (the proprietor). The applicant sought to invalidate the […]
UPDATES TO THE TRADEMARK REGISTRY’S CLASSIFICATION PRACTICES – SERVICE CLASSES
(Circular No. 1/2020, dated 06 January 2020) An update on the classification practices on a number of descriptions/specifications pertaining to service classes was recently announced by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (“IPOS”) vide Circular No. 1/2020 dated 6 January 2020. This circular is effective immediately and supersedes directions under previous circulars, affecting retail services; […]
SINGAPORE: Harvard Club of Singapore and Its Founders Battle for Trademarks
The Harvard Club of Singapore (opponent) was an official alumni club of Harvard University (formed by the president and fellows of Harvard College (applicant)) whose status was revoked by the applicant due to issues concerning leadership of the club. With the revocation, the applicant withdrew its consent to the opponent’s use of the names “Harvard” […]
SINGAPORE: Principal Assistant Registrar Clarifies ‘Genuine Use’ for Purposes of Maintaining a Registered Trademark
Aussino (USA) Inc. (proprietor) owned the AUSSINO trademark registered under No. T9910601C in Class 24 in Singapore since 1999 (trademark). On July 24, 2018, Aussino International Pte Ltd (applicant) applied to revoke the trademark under Section 22(1)(b) of the Trade Marks Act, alleging that it had not been used from July 2013 to July 2018. […]
SINGAPORE: Registrar Strikes Down Opposition in ‘Minterest’ Case
Minterest Private Limited (applicant) applied to register the trademark MINTEREST (application mark) in Class 36 in Singapore (Singapore Trade Mark No. 40201707514X). The application mark was accepted for publication and was opposed by Intuit Inc. (opponent). The opponent relied on Sections 8(2)(b) and 8(7)(a) of the Trade Marks Act (TMA) in its opposition against 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 […]
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, […]