Intellectual Property Services , Trademark Registration in Singapore

Trademark is known as letters, words, names, signatures, labels, devices, tickets, shapes and colour, or any combination of these elements. It is used as a sign to distinguish your business’ goods or services from those of other traders.

Registered trademark will grant the owner of the mark the right to use and exploit the trademark in the jurisdiction of its registration. It also helps you to have certain priorities and advantages in registering the trademark in other jurisdictions.

Detail procedure for Trademark Registration in Singapore:

With our experience, we will able to assist you in submitting the application to Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS). If there are no deficiencies in the application and no objections to the trademark then the whole application process can take about 6 to 8 months from receipt of application to registration.

1. Making your trademark in Singapore.

You will design a distinctive trademark by yourself. But there are some types which cannot be registered as a trade mark:

• Marks that are descriptive (e.g. super, best, cheap, one dozen).
• Marks that are not distinctive or are common to your trade (ones that have become well accepted in relation to your trade and do not distinguish the goods or service you are offering).
• Marks that could offend or promote immoral behavior.
• Deceptive marks (ones that could misrepresent the nature, quality or geographical origin of the goods or services).
• Marks that are identical to earlier marks.
• Marks that could cause confusion, as there is a similar or identical mark filed earlier in relation to similar or identical goods and/or services.
• Which are identical or similar to well-known marks.

2. Identify class of goods/services.

According to the International Classification of Goods and Services as prescribed by the Nice Agreement to classify trademarks, there is a total of 34 classes of goods and 11 classes of services in Singapore. You has to decide on the types of goods/services for which trademark registration is sought.

3. Search and examination before application.

After identifying the class of goods/services for your trademark, we will conduct a search in the records maintained by the Singapore Registry of Trade Marks, to see if there is any same or similar trademark has already been registered or been applied for by another trader in respect of the same or similar class of goods and services.

4. Application filing.

We will support you fill-up application form for registration of a trademark. The goods and services which were listed in the application form have to conform to the International Classification of Goods and Services.

5. Review the application by Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS).

Once receiving the application form, IPOS will review the documents to make sure it satisfied the minimum requirements.

When the minimum requirements for the form are met, the information will be sent via the Acknowledgement letter with the date of filling is accorded and a Trademark number is issued.

In case, there are one or some requirements are not met, they will send a Deficiency Letter to remedy within 2 months (cannot extendible). If we could not remedy the deficiencies or it is out of time, IPOS will send a letter notifying that the Application is Deemed Never to Have Been Made.

6. Examination for conflicts with existing trademarks and law.

Once the above step is completed, the Registrar will conduct a formal search for conflicting marks, geographical names and conformance to the International Classification of Goods and Services. The application will also be examined with Singapore Trademark Laws.

If the requirements are not satisfied, IPOS will issue a letter stating the refusals/requirements. It has to be replied within 4 months from the date of the letter. In case there is required for additional time to respond to the IPOS, it also needs to be submitted. If no response or request for an extension of time is received, the trademark will be treated as Withdrawn

7. Advertisement for public scrutiny

When all of the above step are successfully completed, the application will be published and made available to the public. Within 2 months, any interested party will be able to oppose the registration.

If the office receives an objection from the opponent, the applicant will be notified and must respond. A decision will be made after fearing both parties.

8. Successful registration of Singapore trademark

If there is no opposition, or if the outcome of the opposition hearing is in favour of you, a Certificate of Registration would be issued and the Trade Mark would be granted protection for 10 years.

Renewal

The registration of a trademark is valid for 10 years from the date of application. It can be renewed indefinitely for 10 years by paying the applicable renewal fee.