TRADEMARK INTERNATIONAL

Trademark Registration in .

Trademark is an important part of any business, regardless of the industry. Having a trademark allows you to have numerous benefits, and one of the essential advantages is that it allows you to have legal protection against counterfeiting and infringements. Trademarks offer vital protection to brands and businesses alike, especially in a country with a lot of international competition, such as Singapore. Each country has a different trademark registration process, with some being more complex than others. The trademark registration process in Singapore is transparent and fairly easy.

Let us understand the trademark registration process of Singapore.

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Singapore Trademark Registration Services

The official body of entertaining applications for trademark applications in Singapore is the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS). Singapore follows Nice Classification to classify different goods and services, with 34 classes for goods and 11 for services. The IPOS has set certain guidelines regarding what can and cannot be registered as a trademark in Singapore. The trademark should not:

  • Be descriptive;
  • Trademarks that have terms that are too common in the trade and not considered distinguishable anymore;
  • Trademarks that go against public policy;
  • Trademarks that are deceptive in nature or misrepresent quality and nature of the goods or services;

Confusing trademarks.

How to register a trademark in Singapore?

Step 1

Search

It is necessary to conduct a thorough search before filing an application to check if the trademark is available. It also allows you to understand why previous trademarks might have been rejected, helping you make a proper application.

Step 1

Step 2

Filing

The application can be filed online through the IP2SG platform. To file an application, the following is be needed:

  • Applicant’s name and address;
  • Graphical representation of the mark;
  • All the goods and services needed for registration with their classification;
  • A declaration or intent to use the trademark;
  • Fee payment receipt.
Step 2

Step 3

Checking Application

Once the application is filed, it gets checked for any discrepancies and compliance. The application should be complete and following the Trademarks Acts.

If everything is in order and the fee is paid, the application proceeds towards registration. If there are objections regarding the application, then the registry notifies the applicant and grants him a specific period to overcome those objections. If the applicant fails to do so, the application is not entertained.

Step 3

Step 4

Checking Application

If there is no objection in the application, it then proceeds to examination to undergo a thorough search which checks for conflicting trademarks and if the application conforms with Nice Classification.

In the case of a pharmaceutical product, the registry will check if the trademark consists of an International Non-Proprietary Name (INN).

If there are objections found with the application during this search, it will be rejected. The applicant can, however, correct any problems and submit a new application.

Step 4

Step 5

Primary Examination

If there is no objection in the application, it then proceeds to examination to undergo a thorough search which checks for conflicting trademarks and if the application conforms with Nice Classification.

In the case of a pharmaceutical product, the registry will check if the trademark consists of an International Non-Proprietary Name (INN).

If there are objections found with the application during this search, it will be rejected. The applicant can, however, correct any problems and submit a new application.

Step 5

Step 6

Substansive Examination

Once the primary examination is complete and successful, the application goes through another examination that checks if the application complies with the trademark laws of Singapore. If there are any objections found, the applicant is given a specific period to resolve these issues.

Step 6

Step 7

Advertisement Publication

The applicant is informed when the examination period is completed and the application proceeds to be advertised in the Trademarks Journal. This publication is done for two months and invites any interested party to oppose the trademark registration. If a party makes any objection, the applicant gets notified and has to respond to the opposition. The decision is taken based on hearing both the parties and their claims.

Step 7

Step 8

Successful Registration

If there is no objection during the publication duration, or if the decision of the opposition hearing is taken in the applicant’s favor, the applicant receives a certificate of registration and is granted the trademark.

Documents Reqired
There are no specific documents required to register a trademark, apart from the name and address of the applicant, along with the details of the trademark. If it’s a partnership that is getting a trademark registered, a partnership deed might be needed.
Step 8
Price of Trademarks

Trademark registration cost in Singapore

The cost ranges from $250-$350 per class for an online application. If the applicant decides to use means other than online, then the cost is around $400 per class.

Age of Trademarks

How long does the trademark last?

A trademark in Singapore lasts for ten years. The trademark can be renewed before the expiration date at any given time but max six months after the expiration date. The time given after the expiration date is known as a grace period and is subject to an additional payment.

The trademark registration process can take up to 8-12 months. If the applicant wants to file for an international application through the Madrid Protocol, the trademark must first be registered in the country of origin.

Singapore is a signatory to many international conventions such as the Paris Convention, Berne Convention, Madrid Protocol, Nice Agreement, Patent Cooperation Treaty, WIPO Copyright treaty, The Geneva Act (1999).

Apart from all the benefits, Singapore’s government also allows businesses up to 400% tax rebates. This allows businesses to compete in a competitive market, and with the help of a trademark, distinguish themselves from the rest. Getting a trademark also enables the business to establish its brand image in the mind of the consumers because it allows it to use the ™ symbol, which makes it distinctive and authentic at the same time. If you plan to do business in Singapore, it is in your best interest to consider getting a trademark registered.

At Trademark International, we provide hassle-free trademark registration services catered to your needs in compliance with the international requirements and standards. Trademark registration in Singapore doesn’t have to be complicated, and that’s why Trademark International is here to assist with all of your intellectual property needs.

What to do?  How to do it?  When to do it?  Will it work?

If these are the questions that come to your mind when thinking of registering a trademark, you have come to the right place. We, at Trademark International, answer these questions and more! Offering multiple trademark services, we guarantee client satisfaction. For expert advice and consultation, contact us now!

Frequently Asked Questions

The process for registering a trademark varies from country to country. To file for a trademark in the US, you can file an online application with the USPTO. The USPTO entertains two types of applications: ‘In-use’ and ‘Intent to use’. The online application is known as Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS).

Just like every country has its own registration process, the cost varies as well. Depending on the legal fees and the length of the process, the cost can go up or down. In the US, the price of registering a trademark ranges from $500 to $3000.

You need to file an application which should contain: your name and address, if it’s a business then the type of legal entity it is, details of the trademark, list of goods and services, the details of the class(es). 

Yes, you can file for both: a local and an international trademark. Some countries entertain a single application to register a trademark locally as well as internationally. 

Yes. It is possible to register a trademark in multiple countries with a single application but it depends on which union the country is part of. You can do this through the Madrid Protocol or EUIPO. 

Countries have different laws regarding what can be registered as a trademark. In the US, the types of trademarks that can be registered are slogans, shapes, names, phrases words, images, 3D shapes, holograms, smells, and colors.