Alvin Boey Highlighted in IAM Patent 1000 2025 with Gold Band Distinction
Kuala Lumpur, 11 June 2025 – Alvin Boey, Business Manager at KASS International, has once again been honoured in the Gold Band by IAM Patent 1000, recognizing his elite contributions in patent prosecution. Key Takeaways Top-Tier Recognition – Alvin Boey, Business Manager at KASS International, has achieved his fifth consecutive Gold Band in IAM Patent 1000 […]
特许经营协议与许可协议：如何抉择？
作者：Shevithra Selva Mohan 引言 在商业协议领域，特许经营协议与许可协议往往难以区分。典型案例Janet Ooi Hui Ming 诉 STCManagement Sdn Bhd & Anor一案 [2020] 就可以清晰地展现了某一协议属于许可协议还是特许经营协议这一难题的复杂性。在马来西亚，特许经营协议受《1998 年特许经营法》（Franchise Act1998）约束。 本文旨在深入分析决定协议性质的核心要素，并重点说明如何区分某一项协议更倾向于特许经营协议还是许可协议。这一区分至关重要，因为它直接界定了所有相关方的权利、义务以及法律责任。在本案例中，“加盟商”与“特许权人”达成协议，共同建立并管理以“Shane”品牌命名的学校。加盟商提出法律质疑，主张由于该特许经营权未按照《1998 年特许经营法》第 6(1) 条的规定进行注册，因此该协议无效且不合法。根据该条款，特许权人有义务向特许经营权登记处（ROF）登记其特许经营权。然而，特许权人反驳称，该协议并不构成特许经营协议，而仅是一份授权加盟商使用“Shane”品牌的许可协议。 值得注意的是，在裁定该特许经营权是否未注册之前，法院从案件伊始便着重强调并审议了相关各方签订的协议是否符合“特许经营协议”的定义。 法院最终裁决结果是什么？ 法院支持了加盟商的主张，认定该协议完全符合《1998 年特许经营法》第 4 条所规定的全部四项要素： 1. 特许权人授予加盟商依据 Shane “合作连锁体系”运营特许业务的权利； 2. 特许权人授予加盟商使用 Shane 商标、课程大纲、教学材料及知识产权的权利； 3. 特许人在协议有效期内对多项因素实施持续性管理。上述管理内容涵盖加盟商需严格遵循特许权人的业务政策及操作手册的义务。此外，特许权人对加盟商的经营活动保有重要权利并实施监督。这些权利具体包括：确定加盟商中心的选址、审查及监督加盟商的账目与经营状况、确保其合规性、针对违规行为采取惩戒措施、监管与品牌相关的设计及规格标准、参与招聘及人员配置决策，以及指导业务运营的具体执行（例如安排学生付款等）； 4. 加盟商需向特许权人支付初始费用及月度费用。 鉴于《1998 年特许经营法》第 4 条所列的所有要素均已充分满足，双方签署的协议显然符合特许经营协议的法定定义，从而驳斥了特许权人关于该协议仅构成许可协议的主张。因此，依据《1950年合同法》（Contracts […]
Geetha Kandiah Spotlighted in IAM Patent 1000 2025 with Gold Band Recognition
Kuala Lumpur, 11 June 2025 – In the latest IAM Patent 1000 rankings for year 2025 edition, Geetha Kandiah, CEO of KASS International, was honoured in the prestigious Gold Band for Malaysia, recognising her exceptional leadership and deep expertise in patent strategy and valuation. Key Takeaways Top Patent Leader in Malaysia – Geetha Kandiah, CEO of […]
中国与马来西亚成为新的专利合作伙伴！
我们经常遇到这样的询问：是否可以利用相应专利申请在中国的审查结果，来加快其在马来西亚的审查进程。过去中国国家知识产权局（SIPO）不属于马来西亚专利法规定的指定机构，因此无法利用中国对应专利的审查结果，来加快在马来西亚的审查进程。但现在情况发生了变化。马来西亚知识产权局（MyIPO）和SIPO已经展开合作，从2018年7月1日起启动“专利审查高速路（PPH）试点计划”，首阶段试行期为两年。 依据为期两年的试行期，MyIPO与SIPO将评估是否在期满后继续实施PPH计划。双方将依据以下两个因素作出决定： 1. 双方是否收到足够数量的PPH申请 2. 申请量是否超出可管理范围。 但可以确定的是，一旦申请量超出可管理范围，计划将被终止。 总体而言，PPH计划为相关国家提交的对应专利申请提供加速审查程序，帮助包括马来西亚和中国企业在内的申请人更快获得相应专利。简而言之，PPH计划允许申请人将第一专利局已认定其权利要求具有可专利性的对应专利申请作为依据，在第二专利局申请加快审查。 提交PPH请求需满足以下条件： ● 第二专利局（SPO）的专利申请与第一专利局（FPO）的申请之间存在特定关系，即依据《巴黎公约》和/或PCT国家阶段的要求主张优先权； ● FPO的专利申请中，至少有一项权利要求已被该局认定为具有可专利性或可授权性； ● SPO的专利申请中的所有权利要求应与FPO已被认定为具有可专利性或可授权性的权利要求实质上相对应； ● 提出PPH请求时，SPO尚未开始实质审查； ● 在提出PPH请求时，申请人必须已经向SPO提交了实质审查请求，或同时提交PPH请求和该审查请求。 提交PPH请求时需提交以下文件： ● FPO出具的所有审查意见书的副本及其翻译（英文或马来文）; ● FPO已认定为具有可专利性或可授权性的所有权利要求的副本及其翻译（英文或马来文）； ● FPO审查员引用的所有参考文献副本。如引用文献为专利文件，除非审查员明确要求，否则无需提交； ● 权利要求对应表，用于说明SPO申请中的所有权利要求与FPO申请中已认定为具有可专利性或可授权性的权利要求之间的实质性对应关系。 PPH计划可加快专利审查程序，并加强各专利局之间的检索与审查结果共享，从而提升全球审查质量。如需进一步了解PPH相关程序，欢迎通过kass@kass.asia与我们联系。
The Evolving Landscape of Patenting Artificial Intelligence in 2025
By Hemanisha Baskaran When OpenAI’s ChatGPT was launched in November 2022, few could have predicted just how quickly it would reshape conversations in boardrooms, research labs, and government offices. Within months, the world was talking about Generative AI, or GenAI, and how these systems would transform not just industries but the very nature of creativity, […]
Invalidation Battle Can CROSSFIT cross CrossFeet?
By Eloise Wilkes-Barnewall Challenging the validity of a registered trademark through ‘invalidation’ is one of the powerful tools for trademark enforcement. In Singapore, an invalidation claim against a registered trademark can be filed on the basis that it fails to meet registrability criteria. This process took centre stage in the dispute between CrossFit LLC (“CrossFit”) […]
Is Translation Compulsory in Myanmar’s Patent Application?
By Khin Yupar Myanmar officially rolled out its patent registration system on 31 October 2024, marking a major milestone for intellectual property protection in the country. One key aspect that patent applicants often ask about is translation requirements — and it’s an important point to get right if you want to secure and enforce your […]
The Long and Winding Road – Supreme Court Finally Cancels Gloria Maris Marks Filed in Bad Faith
By Ma. Syril Diesta Bad faith in the context of trademark registration in the Philippines means that the applicant or registrant has knowledge of prior creation, use and/or registration by another of an identical or similar trademark. In the case of GLORIA MARIS SHARK’S FIN RESTAURANT, INC., PETITIONER, VS. PACIFICO Q. LIM, RESPONDENT, G.R. No. […]
Shielding Your Brand from Counterfeits: A Guide to Intellectual Property Protection
By Harley H. Vietnam, like many other developing countries, is facing a growing challenge with the booming of counterfeit products and goods that infringe Intellectual Property Rights (“IPR-infringing goods”). According to statistics of National Steering Committee Against Smuggling, Commercial Fraud, and Counterfeit Goods, in 2023, 5,464 cases related to the production and trading counterfeit goods […]
Trademark Opposition in Singapore: A Case Study
Trademark opposition arises in the jurisdiction of Singapore during the trademark registration process, revolving around the trademark name ‘REALITY ENGINE.’ The marks are not only identical in class but also share the same mark name between the two parties. This case study explores the opposition between the applicant, Nobel Brands USA LLC, and the opponent, […]