Beauty and The Beef: A Trademark Feud of Two Brothers
By Maisarah Afifah Few stories capture the collision between family, business and branding as vividly as Chua Beng Hock v FM Skincare Pte Ltd [2025] SGIPOS 2. It is a tale of two brothers, Adam (the Initiator) and Chris, whose shared a belief that beauty is everyone’s right thus, founded Face of Man, a salon […]
Singapore’s PPH Pilot Initiative – Partial Refund: Faster Patent Grants and Cost Savings
IPOS Launches PPH Partial Refund Pilot: Save 30% on Patent Examination Fees By Aiman Farhan The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has launched the Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) partial refund pilot initiative, in effect from 15 September 2025 to 31 December 2027. Under this initiative, applicants whose PPH requests are accepted will be entitled […]
Tiktok Lost Its Trademark Opposition Against ‘Tiki’ In Singapore: A Trademark Showdown Explained
By Eloise Wilkes-Barnewall When big companies perceive the registration of a particular trademark could impose on their trademark protection, and consequently, their brand reputation and market presence, it is not uncommon for them to challenge the application of said threatening trademarks. In December 2021 and January 2022, tech giant ByteDance Ltd (“the Opponent”), owner of […]
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”) […]
Trademark Opposition in Singapore: A Case Study
By KASS International 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, […]
Eng’s Wantan Noodle Trademark Dispute in Singapore
By Nadia Syakirah What’s worse than having a rival noodle shop opening across the street? Having the same name! In a recent Singapore decision in the case of Eng’s Wantan Noodle Pte Ltd vs Eng’s Char Siew Wantan Mee Pte Ltd [2023] SGHCR 17, it may seem like an interim pre-trial decision in respect of […]
IPOS Digital Hub Migration: Deadline Extensions (May 2024)
By Jaynthi Kanesarajah IPOS Digital Hub (the e-services portal of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore) will be migrating to the Government on Commercial Cloud platform from 1 to 13 May 2024. During this period, IPOS Digital Hub and IPOS Go mobile app will not be available. In order to facilitate the migration, the Registrar […]
Altunis Trading v Hotel Cipriani: Trademark Dispute in Singapore
When the holiday season arrives, it prompts the need for travel plans and relaxation. Accommodation is a vital aspect of holiday travel, and the focus is often concentrated on finding aesthetically pleasing and memorable hotels.
Spanish Beer Giants Clash over Trademark
By Trademark Team Oppositions are not peculiar proceedings in a trademark application process, as seen in the clash between two Spanish beer giants in Singapore. In this battle of stars, the opposition is between Hijos de Rivera, S.A. (the “Applicant”) and Sociedad Anonima Damm (the “Opponent”).
Battle of the Brands: BEABA v Biba (Zhejiang) Nursing Products
By Sajjaratul Yaqeen As a business owner, you may encounter copycats who create a trademark that bears a striking resemblance to your own registered trademark. When faced with such situations, what do you do? What action can you take?