It’s only another mere 48 hours until our eagerly anticipated webinar on ‘IPR Protection Strategies in Singapore’, however, if you’re like us and you just simply can’t wait, here are some basics about IP in Singapore to whet your appetite…

• The Legal System — Whilst the IP legal framework in Singapore is considered to be one of the most sound in the ASEAN region, it’s still worth your while to remember that there are several areas where IP enforcement differs from European systems. Therefore, it is more than essential you understand those differences and  take the right measures to protect your rights when operating in the country.
• Copyrights – With regard to copyrights in Singapore, there is no actual system of registration and copyright is automatic. Regardless, it still pays to know how the duration of copyright protection varies according to material and that the Singaporean Copyright Act is quite effective when utilised as a method of IP enforcement because infringement offences can carry significant penalties.
• Patents – Singapore has adopted a ‘first-to-file’ system and so it is absolutely essential to register your patent in Singapore before commencing business dealing there. Additionally. Singapore is moving towards a new ‘positive grant’ system for patent applications whereby only inventions that satisfy the requirements of novelty, inventive step and industrial applicability may be patented and therefore it is necessary to fully assess your invention in these regards before submission.
• Trade marks – Trade marks in Singapore enjoy protection under the Trade Marks Act as well as under the common law tort of passing off. Noticeably, in Singapore a trade mark does not generally have to be in use before it can be applied for and registered, however, the mark has to be genuinely used within five years after which it will be revoked.
• Trade Secrets –While trade secrets are protected in Singapore for an unlimited amount of time, to be so, they must be ‘confidential’ and must not be freely available in the public domain. To keep these secrets confidential, it is advisable to sign non-disclosure agreements or have confidentiality clauses within agreements when dealing with any third party.

So are you hooked? … We thought you would be! Don’t worry, as we said, our free webinar is only days away and then you can hear more about IP protection strategies in Singapore with our Helpdesk  IP expert Joyce Ang from Bird & Bird faw firm. On Wednesday 14 August, you will be taken through a range of simple, cost-effective measures to protect your IP and get smart in Singapore so don’t hesitate and sign up here now.

Also, in the meantime, check out the ASEAN SME IPR Helpdesk Singapore IP factsheet which contains a background to doing business in the country.