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overview
In 1998, Singapore promulgated the Trade Marks Act, which established the registration and protection system for trademarks, as well as the rights and responsibilities of trademark holders, and provided for penalties and compensation for trademark violations.
In addition, Singapore also promulgated the Trade Marks Rules in 1999, which is a supporting regulation of Singapore's trademark law aimed at guiding the implementation details of trademark registration and management. -
The constituent elements of a trademark
Words, letters, numbers, graphics or images, badges, colors or color combinations, the shape of the container or outer packaging of the product (not just for the purpose of obtaining a certain function), and combinations of the above elements. Singapore also accepts non visual trademarks such as sound, taste, and odor trademarks. The new trademark law has abolished the traditional division of A and B books.
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Unregisterable situation
1. Lack of distinctive features;
2. Descriptive markers, such as super, best, cheap, etc;
3. Signs that violate public policy or ethics;
4. Symbols that are prone to ambiguity, such as those related to the nature, quality, or geographical origin of goods or services, can mislead the public;
5. Signs prohibited by law;
6. Signs of malicious application;
7. Symbols that are identical or similar to the previously applied trademark;
8. Symbols that are identical or similar to well-known trademarks. -
Trademark category and type
According to the International Nice Agreement, the trademark registration classification in Singapore includes 34 categories of goods and 11 categories of services. Applicants can apply for a certain type of goods or several types of goods based on the company's business content and the trademark/service category they want to protect.
1. Single country registration: submit an application directly to the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)
2. Madrid Trademark International Registration: Apply through the designated Singapore channel under the Madrid System
Check if there are similar or identical trademarks or previously registered trademarks in Singapore.
Prepare the necessary materials for applying for a Singapore trademark, including the application form, applicant information, business license, trademark design, etc.
The applicant or their authorized agent shall submit the application materials to the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore for trademark registration and related application procedures.
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore will review the submitted documents to determine whether they need to be amended or supplemented.
After the formal examination is approved, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore will dispatch an examiner to conduct a registration examination in accordance with the law to determine whether the trademark is identical or similar to a previously registered trademark in Singapore, and whether it violates any prohibitions under Singapore's trademark laws.
After the substantive examination is approved, the trademark registration application is accepted by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore and announced on the official platform.
During the announcement period, if there are no objections or if the objections are invalid, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore will approve the trademark registration application and issue a trademark registration certificate to the applicant.
1. The applicant's name, address, or country of registration.
2. If the intended registered trademark is a colored pattern, please provide 6 copies of the trademark pattern; If the intended trademark is a black and white design, only one copy of the trademark design needs to be provided.
3. A detailed list of products or services using the proposed registered trademark, and the categories to be registered;
4. Priority documents, such as applying for priority registration;
5. If the intended trademark registration has any literal meaning, a translation must be attached.
It is important to conduct a plagiarism check on the trademark before submitting the registration application.
