Spotting Seiko in Seiki?

While SEIKO may be the pioneer in “exquisite workmanship” when it comes to timepieces, living up to its name and establishing itself as a famous brand to half the world, it certainly did not enjoy much success in its battle in opposing the trademark “SEIKI” from securing a place in the trademark registry of Singapore.

The Non-Use of PARLIAMENT in Malaysia

Ever wondered how the English word “Parliament” was coined to represent the legislative body in various countries? The root of the word, interestingly and rather aptly, is derived from the French word “parler”, which means “to talk” or “to discuss”. What may be a generic word in the political and legislative arena has surprisingly become […]

When Fame is Not the Name of the Game

Are all shoes, all stars? It seems like popular shoe brand, Converse Inc., would prefer being the only one. The American shoe giant recently filed an opposition at the IP Office of Singapore (IPOS) against the registration of the “” mark by Malaysian company, Southern Rubber Works Sdn Bhd. The latter was accused of trying […]

[Indonesia Update] “Gudang” Wars

By Carola Monintja For well-known trademarks, particularly those consisting of two or more words, each part of the trademark can be just as valuable as the others. This was clearly shown in the Gudang Garam vs Gudang Baru case. In Indonesia, Gudang Garam is a very well-known trademark for rokok kretek or clove cigarettes. Most […]

Cambodia joins the Madrid Protocol

In the April 2015 issue of our KASS IP exposé, we ran a brief news update on Cambodia acceding to the Madrid Protocol, effective 5th June 2015. But in case you missed it, and you’re wondering, should you or your clients designate Cambodia? Here’s the not-so-short answer: Yes, if your clients are involved in the […]

What in the name…!: A tale of two AMCs

In a recent Singaporean case, AMC Live Group China Pte Ltd (“AMC Live”) successfully used the “Own Name Defence” in response to infringement proceedings. The plaintiff, The Audience Motivation Company Asia Pte Ltd (“AMC Asia”) claimed that the defendant, AMC Live, had infringed two of its registered trademarks and also brought a claim against them […]

Government Says Thanks

The Goods and Services Tax Act 2014 came into force in Malaysia on 1 April 2015, bringing with it some good news and some not-so-good news.  The GOOD News The Goods and Services Tax (“GST”) will replace the Service Tax that was already in place in the service industry. Fortunately, the GST is 6% which […]

Court responds to St. John Ambulance in time of need

St. John Ambulance has been providing humanitarian and charitable services in Malaysia since 1908. These everyday heroes render emergency assistance and aid to the sick and wounded, provide first aid standby and training, a hemodialysis service, and countless other community services. But who is looking after St. John?

MYIPO: Proposed Patent and Trademark Fee Revision

The Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) is planning to revise its patent and trademark fees this year, and this revision will most likely take effect in the second quarter of 2015. The proposal sees a general fee increase across the board, ranging between 5% – 50% with most changes at the higher end of […]