The Plaintiff's claim was base on the Defendant's infringement of their Copyright and unlawful interference with the Plaintiff's trade or business. Brief Facts Here the Plaintiff was a private limited company carrying on the business of manufacturing and distributing anti car theft system made especially for local made cars under trademark 'THEF-PRO', since 1991. Meanwhile […]
Singapore - Another Patent Falls Short on Novelty and Inventive Step
In the second such patent infringement suit this year, the Singapore High Court has decided in favor of the defendants by revoking the plaintiff's Singapore patent on the grounds of lacking novelty and inventive step. Interestingly, the patent in question, like the previous one, also relates to the electronics manufacturing industry. Background The plaintiff, ASM […]
The Singapore Copyright Tribunal – Recent Changes in the operational and jurisdictional aspects
In today's fast-paced information age, technology continues to transform the business landscape at break-neck speed. It has not only changed the way we perceive and conduct conventional commerce but has also acted as a catalyst, facilitating the advent of new business models and drastically altering the rules of the game. The power unleashed by information […]
India - How Design And Copyright Interact
The intersection between copyright in a pattern and design rights on the same has come for determination before the courts on many occasions. A recent Delhi High Court judgment has clarified the position, on an appeal filed by Microfibres against the order of the single judge. the single judge held that if the design is […]
Encouraging Innovations – The Policy of the Malaysian Government
Coming up with a great idea of invention often leaves researchers and inventors gleaming with joy. Implementation of the idea would mean vast monetary gain for some or recognition and a sense of achievement for others. In any case, having a great idea is one thing – putting it into an application, or rather having […]
Singapore Copyright Law - Of Students, Notes and Lecturers
The long arms of copyright law hit home again in Singapore, after a spate of high profile cases involving online maps, music downloading, and anime viewing in recent memory. This time, there were two cases, both of which dealt with matters from the academic arena. The 10-year series case The first was a case which […]
Malaysia’s IP Laws To Be Revamped
Due to the recent debates over the rights of IP owners and public discontent, the Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) has reviewed the Intellectual Property Laws of Malaysia and will soon be implementing amendments to resolve matters. The review and amendments will affect the Copyright Act, Trade Marks Act, Patents Act and Industrial Design […]
Malaysia - Registrar’s Discretion in a Trademark Application: Judicial Principles should Prevail over Arbitrariness
Illinois Tool Works, Inc v Pendaftar Cap Dagangan The Registrar of Trade Marks has a general discretion to refuse to register a trade mark which satisfied all the positive conditions laid down by the Trade Marks Act. However, that discretion must be exercised judicially on reasonable grounds which are capable of being clearly stated, and […]
Singapore - SingTel Strikes First Blow In “Mio” Trade Mark Suit
In a recent judgment, the Singapore High Court upheld the validity of Singapore Telecommunications Ltd's (SingTel) trade marks and accordingly acquitted SingTel of trade mark infringement against Mitac International Corporation's (Mitac) registered trade marks. Background Mitac is a company incorporated in Taiwan and is in the business of providing computed products, internet appliances, wireless communication […]
Stricter IP Laws in Thailand - A new beginning
For quite some years now, pirated goods (mainly music, movies and fake branded goods) have been wrecking havoc on Thailand’s economy, growing from strength to strength, and stifling the organized industry. The Thai government, on its part, has been drawing a lot of flak for its failure to ensure IP protection. According to a recent […]