The Recent Amendments With the amendments to the Singapore Patent Rules with effect from 2nd June 2006 patent applicants may now rely on a corresponding patent granted and final examination results from the Republic of Korea for the purpose of grant in Singapore. This therefore adds to the existing number of countries recognized by the […]
News
Singapore - TRADEMARKS (AMENDMENT) BILL 2006
First read in Parliament on 8 November 2006, the Trade Marks (Amendment) bill 2006 proposes a number of significant additions and alterations to existing legislation. One of the key recommendations made in the Bill was that of the insertion of a new Section 5A to the existing Trade marks Act. Giving effect to Article 7 […]
Virtual Map (Singapore) Pte Ltd v. Suncool International Pte Ltd [2005]2 SLR 157; [2005] SGHC 19
With the emergence of the internet, the interpretation of copyrights in intellectual property derived from such electronic environment is put to the test. A recent example is a lawsuit filed by Virtual Maps against Suncool International. Virtual Map had earlier on issued letters of demand to almost 100 companies in Singapore for downloading maps from […]
WIPO Members in Singapore for Revised Trademark Law Treaty
The Diplomatic Conference for the Adoption of a Revised Trademark Law Treaty (TLT) has opened on Monday 13th March 2006 in Singapore. It is the first time that a diplomatic conference in the field of intellectual property is held in Asia. And for Singapore, it has a strong significance according to Deputy Prime Minister and […]
"Corrupted Creativity" – Landmark Singapore Decision against Trademark Copycat
Introduction The dramatic growth of electronic healthcare products in Singapore over the past 5 years created a fertile ground for copycat companies to spring up and wage guerilla warfare against established companies (and IP owners) for market share. The recent Singapore High Court decision of OTO Bodycare Pte Ltd v Hiew Keat Foong [2005] SGHC […]
Malaysia Contemplates Intellectual Property Rights Sharing
With the increased realization by the government of Malaysia that it is imperative to develop an innovation-driven economy, the government is taking steps to allow the IP rights derived from inventions made in research work undertaken with government grants to be jointly owned by the government, the respective research institute as well as the inventors […]
Malaysia has deposited its instrument of accession to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) on 16 May 2006.
The said treaty will enter into force on 16 August 2006 and PCT applications filed on or after 16th August 2006 will automatically designate Malaysia. More than 1.2 million international patent applications covering new technology have been filed since the PCT began operating in 1978. Malaysia became the 131st contracting states of the PCT to […]
Malaysian Court Affirms The View That Novelty In Designs Must Be Viewed As A Whole
Novelty is a basic and fundamental requirement to obtain a design registration in Malaysia, termed here as industrial designs. This factor separates a design that has existed before against a design that is wholly new or original and has not yet been viewed by the public before. The novelty requirement also ensures that before any […]
Malaysian Industrial Designs-the Courts adopt an objective approach? A case note on Arensi-Marley (M) v Middy Industries
A recently reported Malaysian High Court decision has demonstrated that the Malaysian courts will maintain the principle of the court not deferring to the opinion of witnesses as to the issue of novelty, but make a determination based on the visual impression of the judge. In the case Arensi-Marley (M) Sdn Bhd v Middy Industries […]
Review of Decision on Expungement of Trade Mark and Rectification of Trade Mark Register in Malaysia
Bata Limited v Sim Ah Ba @ Sim Teng Khor and Ors [2006] MLJU 237 Court of Appeal, Malaysia On 26th June 2006, a decision by the Court of Appeal of Malaysia has further clarified the grounds that should be relied upon for seeking the removal of a trademark and rectification of the Trade Mark […]