Question 1

The Validity of Singapore Trademark

Accepted Answer

The effective period of the registered trade mark is 10 years from the date of application. If the registered trade mark needs to be used after the expiry date, the right holder should apply for trade mark renewal 6 months before the expiry date. Each renewal is valid for 10 years.

Question 2

Trademark Application Process

Accepted Answer

The Trade Mark Law of Singapore was established in 1998 and came into force in January 1999. Singapore is a member of the World Trade Organization (WTO). It acceded to WIPO in 1990, the Paris convention in 1995 and the Madrid Protocol in 2000.

Question 3

Singapore Trademark Registration System

Accepted Answer

1 Application conditions
Natural or legal persons may apply for trademark registration in Singapore. Natural persons must attach a copy of their passports or ID cards to their applications, and legal persons must attach a copy of their business license. There are no restrictions in terms of nationality.

2 Constituent elements of the trademark
A trade mark can be comprised of words, letters, numbers, graphics or pictures, badges, colours or colour combinations, the shape of the container or external packaging of the product (not just to obtain a certain function), and combinations of the above elements. Singapore also accepts non-visual trade marks such as sound, taste and smell trade marks.

3 Trademark categories and types
Singapore categorizes trade mark registrations under the International Nice Agreement, which includes 34 categories of goods and 11 categories of services.

Applicants can apply for trade marks for one type of good, or several types, according to the company’s scope of business and the trade mark/service category they want to protect.

4 Use priority
Singapore is a country that uses the priority system and recognizes the right holder based on the original certificate of the trademark.

5 Duration of trademark registration
The effective period of the registered trade mark is 10 years from the date of application. If the registered trade mark needs to be used after the expiry date, the right holder should apply for renewal registration within 6 months before the expiry date.

Question 4

Required materials for Singapore trademark registration

Accepted Answer

Applicant’s name and address
If the trade mark to be registered is in colour, please provide 6 copies of the design; if the trade mark to be registered is a black and white design, only one copy is required.
Provide a list of products or services to be registered trade marks and registration categories
Priority documents, if there are priority claims
Application for trade mark registration
Power of attorney for trade mark registration agency

Question 5

Singapore Trademark registration Procedure 1

Accepted Answer

The applicant submits the trade mark application and pays the fee.
The Trade Mark Registry reviews the application for compliance. If it fails, a report explaining the reasons is issued.
If approved, the trade mark is published in the government gazette.
Anyone may oppose the registration within two months. If no opposition is filed, the trade mark is officially registered.
A registration certificate is then issued to the applicant

Question 6

Singapore Trademark registration Procedure 2

Accepted Answer

After registering a trade mark in Singapore, you can use the Madrid Agreement to apply for protection in multiple countries with a single application.

No need to file separate applications in each country—one application covers many jurisdictions.
You do not need to wait for replies from each country; if no objections arise within the set period, the trade mark becomes effective.
Any changes or transfers to the registration can be updated across all selected countries at once.

Trademark Registration Service

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