View source for How To Register A Trade Mark In Singapore

As a new business owner, no one is expecting you to think of trade mark registration - you have so much else to focus on that registering - indeed, even designing a specific trade mark - gets buried under a flurry of urgent tasks. But once the crucial tasks abate and you do get a bit of a breather, we recommend you start the process. <br><br>A trade mark registration process in Singapore is a long one and, in some cases, can last for a full 12 month period! Hence, starting the process at the earliest is a wise move because even filing an application can give you some protection in case some other company/competitor tries to use or misrepresent your brand. <br><br>What is a trade mark?<br>It is usually a graphical representation of your company's identity. A trade mark includes things such as brand or company names, logos, words and phrases, and even sounds or musical notes. <br><br>You can, of course, create and use a trade mark without registering it, but official registration will give you legal ownership to use it - which is extremely useful if you have a competitor trying to muscle in on your brand. <br><br>Why do you need to register your trade mark?<br>Well, the main - and the only - reason for registering a trade mark is to own that particular name or graphical representation for your company's goods or services. While a new and relatively unknown brand might not see any immediate value in registering a trade mark, it is critical to protect business interests as your company grows or more competitors pop up. You can also license or sell it for money! <br><br>A trade mark is your first line of defence to safeguard your hard-won business reputation. So unless you genuinely feel that your business is unlikely to attract rivals who can inflict damage by copying your brand name, we recommend you start the process of registration at the soonest. <br><br>How to register your trade mark in Singapore?<br>If you are a business incorporated in Singapore, then you can get your trade mark registered by following a simple online process. The application is filed with the Intellectual Property Office in Singapore (IPOS) . You can apply both online or manually; the online process is cheaper and faster. <br><br>Before you apply<br>Before you apply, you must follow some steps to ensure that the information you fill in is correct. <br><br><br>Assuming you have already designed a trade mark, you next need to make sure you have all the information about the trade mark to include in the application. You need to attach the trade mark in its proper format, along with specific details such as colour, particular shape, in the case of a sound or audio trade mark - musical notation and audio recording, positioning, etc.<br><br>It would be best if you also searched the official trade mark database (IP²SG) to ensure that no one else has a similar trade mark or name in your industry, as that is an automatic ground for rejection.<br><br>another critical part of the application is selecting the class of goods and services your trade mark will cover. There are 45 classes listed under the internationally recognized Nice Classification, and you can choose more than one category.<br><br>other necessary documents are your company data or your personal information if you are applying as an individual and a declaration to use the trade mark in good faith.<br><br>With all this information, you are now set to fill and file your application!<br><br>File your application<br>As mentioned earlier, you have the option of filing either manually or online. The manual process is slightly lengthier and costs S$374. <br><br>The online process is usually faster and has two fee structures - S$240 if you pick a class of goods and services from an in-house database and S$341 if you use your specification for goods and services. <br><br>The fee mentioned above is for each class you want to include under your trade mark. So your expenses will go up if you add multiple classes. <br><br>Before you file your application, it is advisable to check everything very carefully as you are only allowed to make minor adjustments once you apply. <br><br>Should you file for each class separately or jointly?<br>The next important decision you have to make (if you are applying for more than one class of goods and services) is whether to file a different application for each classification or one general application. <br><br>Keeping in mind that the costs remain the same, we would recommend filing separate ones, because, with a combined application, rejection of one class can lead to the rejection of the entire application. As the application fee is non-refundable, this would mean all your money would be wasted! <br><br>By filing individual applications, you might have to deal with more paperwork but can be assured of a better outcome. Objection to one class will not derail or delay the rest of your application process. <br><br>Pass the IPOS examination and external objections<br>Every application is scrutinized by an official IPOS examiner who checks it to ensure that it meets all the stringent legal requirements of trade mark registrations. Mostly he/she will check to see if the information provided is correct, accurate, non-descriptive, unique, does not go against the public interest, is not offensive, etc. <br><br>If you beloved this article and you would like to receive more info relating to [https://datxanh.group/stmoritz/ THANH TOAN ST. MORITZ] nicely visit the web site. If there are any objections or queries raised by the examiner, then you must respond promptly and with strong evidence or arguments. <br><br>Once the examiner is satisfied, the trade mark is published by IPOS in the Trade Marks Journal. By publishing it, IPOS opens a period of 60 days in which anyone can object by filing a notice of opposition. Your next step would be to counter it. The registrar will hear and decide the case. <br><br><br><br><br>Get your registration!<br>Once all the issues are resolved, you will get your registration certificate dated from the day of your application. This is then valid for ten years, after which you must renew it. <br><br>At this point, if your business requires it, we strongly recommend you apply for international protection. This requires another application (processed through IPOS), which extends your trade mark registration to cover the 106 countries under the Madrid Protocol. The application costs include S$250 as the IPOS administrative fee and the WIPO fee, which varies depending on the type and the colour of a trade mark and the number of classes it is being registered for. <br><br>Conclusion<br>Trade mark registration is a lengthy process, and while it isn't particularly complicated, it is laborious and expensive. Which is why we recommend you hire an experienced agency or a trade mark lawyer to file it on your behalf. <br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br><br>Doing business is a test of character - doing business papers shouldn't be. Osome helps entrepreneurs establish all the accounting, company secretary documents and company registration online 24/7 via one cloud-based platform.