[BFM] Protecting your IP Rights to Maintain Your Competitive Advantage
Non-Traditional Marks in Malaysia
The Intellectual Property Corporation of Malaysia (MyIPO) has informed the public that it intends to widen the scope of trademarks recognized under the Trade Marks Act 1976 in Malaysia by including Non-traditional Trademarks (NTMs) in three years time. NTMs are basically new types of trademarks which do not belong to the pre-existing or conventional category […]
[New Straits Times] “Secure Intellectual Property Rights to your Assets”, SMEs told
SMALL and medium enterprises should acquire intellectual property (IP) rights for their products before they spend money on marketing and promotion. IP lawyer P.Kandiah said SME owners should file IP rights for their products or design before they expose them to the public. In fact, the law requires it. He said many SMEs have lost […]
You Can Now Claim Convention Priority in Thailand
We are pleased to report to you that the National Legislative Assembly of Thailand has ratified accession to the Paris Convention on 10 January 2008. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs deposited the instrument of accession to the Paris Convention on 2 May 2008 and the Paris Convention will be binding on Thailand as of 2 […]
Descriptive and Generic Marks – Why to Avoid Using Them
Owning a registered trademark gives the owner exclusive rights to do the following: to use the mark on its goods and services; and to exclude others from using the same or very similar mark on same or related goods and services. However, this monopoly of rights is given, by Trademark Offices worldwide, only to owners who […]
Trademark Searches – Worthwhile?
I recently attended a colleague’s wedding, which, despite my inherent detestation of attending weddings, I found quite delightful. I was particularly touched by the lovely speech given by the bride’s father. Speaking from experience, the man had this to say to his new son-in-law, “a man who gives in when he is in the wrong […]
Emmer Zecna vs. Ermenegildo Zegna Case
The High Court of Malaya in Kuala Lumpur in Civil Suit No. D8-22-1863-2002 on 8th March 2008 held at the end of a full trial, that the trademark Emmer Zecna does not infringe the registered trademark Ermenegildo Zegna in respect of the use of the mark in Class 25 for menswear. It further held that there was also no passing […]
Recent Developments in the Nice and Locarno Classification
NICE Classification The International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks (known as the “Nice Classification), was, via the Nice Agreement, the result of the Nice Diplomatic Conference, which was held in Nice, France, on 15 June 1957. This Agreement was later revised in 1967 and 1977. The Nice […]
Brand Promotion Grant
Our Government has allocated a total fund of RM 200 million aside for companies who are taking their brand global. Called the “Brand Promotion Grant”(“the Grant”), the Government launched the Grant in 2003 under the Government’s new stimulus package to boost the economy. According to Mr. Zakaria Kamarudin, the Senior Director of the Exporters Development […]
Trademark Owners & Dot Asia
The asia domain extension has been introduced and trademark owners with their marks registered anywhere in the world should highlight September 2007 in their diaries as the registration period for them opens then. There are three phases for these type of applicants: