An Overview of Trademark Registration in Singapore

Do you want to secure your brand identity with a registered trademark in Singapore? If yes, then you need to obtain Trademark Registration in Singapore from the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS).

A registered trademark grants the owner the exclusive legal right to use, license, and sell the mark within Singapore for the specific goods and services it is registered under. A trademark is a unique word, logo, symbol, or combination thereof used by an individual, business, or legal entity to help consumers identify the origin of goods or services. It plays a key role in distinguishing one entity’s offerings from others and strengthens overall brand recognition.

In Singapore, registering trademark in Singapore is governed by the Trade Marks Act, which provides the legal framework for trademark registration, protection, and enforcement within the jurisdiction. The Act ensures that businesses can safeguard their intellectual property and prevent misuse of their brand identity. Our experts at Enterslice will help you with trademark registration in Singapore.

Some important aspects of the Singapore trademark system include:

Nice Classification

Paris Convention

Madrid System

Multi Class System

Safeguard Your Brand with Trademark Registration in Singapore

Trademark registration in Singapore helps secure your brand’s exclusive rights, prevents others from misusing your brand, and enhances your business's reputation and competitiveness in the Singapore market.

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Benefits of Online Trademark Registration in Singapore

Registering a trademark in Singapore offers numerous advantages that go beyond simple brand recognition. A trademark not only distinguishes your products or services from others but also helps build trust and customer loyalty over time. Here are the key benefits of online trademark registration in Singapore:

Exclusive Rights

Exclusive Rights

Trademark registration grants you exclusive ownership and the right to use the ® symbol next to your mark. It allows the owner to retain full control over their brand while authorizing others to use it under agreed terms. This exclusivity prevents others from using identical or confusingly similar marks in Singapore.

Legal Protection

Legal Protection

A registered trademark serves as a powerful legal tool against infringement or counterfeiting. It gives you the right to take legal action against unauthorized use of your brand and to seek remedies such as monetary compensation, injunctions, and destruction of counterfeit goods. Trademark registration also gives you access to specialized IP courts for faster and more effective resolution of disputes.

Brand Recognition and Trust

Brand Recognition and Trust

Using the ® symbol enhances your brand’s credibility and consumer trust. A registered trademark projects professionalism, reliability, and authenticity, helping your business stand out in the competitive Singaporean market.

Protection Against Online Exploitation

Protection Against Online Exploitation

Online trademark registration in Singapore helps protect your brand from unauthorized use or exploitation on social media and e-commerce platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.

Monetization and Licensing Opportunities

Monetization and Licensing Opportunities

You can license your registered trademark to third parties, creating new revenue streams. It can also be sold or assigned for a profit, allowing you to monetize your intellectual property effectively.

Asset Creation

Asset Creation

A trademark is an intangible asset that adds measurable value to your business. It can be used to attract investors, raise equity, or secure business loans. Over time, a strong trademark enhances your company’s market reputation and brand equity.

Global Expansion

Global Expansion

Through the Madrid System, businesses in Singapore can extend their trademark protection internationally. Online trademark registration in Singapore ensures your brand remains protected across multiple jurisdictions if your products or services are exported abroad.

Market Advantage

Market Advantage

Registering your trademark helps secure your market share by preventing competitors from imitating your brand identity. It also blocks later applications for similar marks from being registered in Singapore.

Border Enforcement

Border Enforcement

A registered trademark allows you to request that customs authorities monitor imports and exports, preventing counterfeit or infringing goods from entering the market and maintaining your brand integrity globally.

How to Apply for Trademark Registration in Singapore?

The step-by-step process to apply for trademark registration in Singapore is as follows:

Check Trademark Registration Criteria

Before filing a trademark application in Singapore, it is essential to verify that your mark complies with the legal requirements for registration. The mark must be capable of graphical representation and possess a distinctive character that sets your goods or services apart from others. It should not consist solely of descriptive terms, such as "best" or "cheap," or of signs commonly used in trade or everyday language. Additionally, the mark must not conflict with existing registered trademarks to avoid potential legal disputes and rejection.

Conduct a Trademark Search

A comprehensive search on the IPOS Digital Hub or the IPOS Go Mobile App is strongly recommended before submitting your application. This step helps identify any identical or similar trademarks already registered for related goods or services. If a conflicting mark is discovered, obtaining a letter of consent from the existing trademark owner can help mitigate objections and streamline the registration process.

Classify Your Trademark Correctly

Trademark protection is granted specifically for the goods or services listed in the application, classified under the Nice Classification system, which includes 45 categories. Using the IPOS Classification Database to draft your descriptions can minimize objections and qualify you for a discounted application fee of $280 per class when filing online. Accurate classification is critical to ensuring comprehensive protection and avoiding unnecessary delays.

Apply for Registration

Before submitting your application, ensure you have completed the pre-filing checklist: confirm your mark’s eligibility, address all prerequisites, and pay the statutory fees. Applications are filed online via the IPOS Digital Hub, and the entire process typically takes around 12 months, provided no major objections or oppositions arise.

Examination by IPOS

After submission, IPOS examiners review the application for compliance with formal and substantive requirements. If the application meets all criteria, it proceeds to publication. If issues are identified, an examination report detailing the objections is issued. Applicants have four months to respond, which may involve submitting evidence, amending the application, or requesting a hearing.

Publication of the Mark

Accepted applications are published in the Trade Marks Journal for a two-month period, allowing the public to review and oppose the registration if necessary. This stage ensures transparency and provides an opportunity for third parties to protect their existing rights.

Opposition Proceedings

If an opposition is filed, the registration process is suspended pending resolution. The applicant will receive a notice of opposition and must participate in proceedings to defend their application. A successful defense allows the application to proceed, while an unfavourable outcome results in refusal.

Registration

Once all stages are completed successfully, IPOS issues a certificate of registration. The trademark is protected for 10 years from the filing date, providing exclusive rights to use the mark for the specified goods or services in Singapore.

Timeline for Online Trademark Registration in Singapore

The process of online trademark registration in Singapore typically takes 6 to 12 months, depending on examination outcomes and objections raised.

Trademark Search (3–5 working days)

Conduct a search on the IPOS Digital Hub or IPOS Go Mobile App to check for identical or similar marks before filing.

Application Submission (1–2 weeks)

Prepare and submit the trademark application in Singapore through IPOS, ensuring all details and classifications are accurate.

Examination by IPOS (4–6 months)

IPOS reviews the application for compliance. If objections arise, applicants have four months to respond or amend.

Publication (2 months)

Once accepted, the mark is published in the Trade Marks Journal for public opposition.

Opposition Period (2 months)

Third parties may oppose within two months. If no opposition is filed, the application proceeds to registration.

Grant of Registration (1–2 months)

Upon approval, IPOS issues the Certificate of Registration, valid for 10 years from the filing date.

Documents for Online Trademark Registration in Singapore

The list of documents for online trademark registration in Singapore is as follows:

Name and address of the applicant

Clear geographical representation of the trademark

List of goods and services

Declaration of use or intention to use the mark

Is Trademark Registration in Singapore Eligible for Renewal?

Yes, registering a trademark in Singapore provides protection for a period of ten years from the date of registration. After this period, the trademark registration in Singapore can be renewed for successive ten-year terms by paying the prescribed renewal fee. The renewal application must be filed by the owner or their authorized agent before the expiration of the current registration.

If the renewal is not completed within this period, a grace period of six months is granted, allowing the applicant to renew the trademark by paying the renewal fee along with an additional late fee. Failure to renew within this grace period will result in the trademark being removed from the Register. In such cases, the applicant must file a fresh trademark application in Singapore to re-register the mark, following the same process as a new registration.

Once renewed, the registration remains effective from the date of expiration of the previous term. Therefore, timely renewal of your registered trademark in Singapore is essential to ensure continuous brand protection and legal rights.

UAE Trade Mark Registration

Types of Marks for Trademark Registration in Singapore

Classifying different types of trademarks is a fundamental step for successful registration in Singapore. A clear understanding ensures proper application and avoids errors that could lead to potential legal and commercial challenges. For businesses with unique products or branding, applying for the appropriate type of trademark is essential, as classified below.

Word Mark

A word mark, also known as a standard character mark, makes use of words, letters, numbers, or any combination thereof, without claiming any specific design, font, or graphical element. They are simple and protect the brand name in its most basic form, like "Google," "Samsung," or "Amazon."

Figurative Mark

A figurative mark, also known as a logo mark, is a logo, design, symbol, or any other graphical representation. The figurative mark ensures the protection of the unique visual identity of a brand, relying mostly on the graphical elements separate from any word elements.

Composite Mark

A composite mark, being a combination of both words and figurative elements, offers complete protection for the integrated text and graphics used by the brand. The combined mark is essential for brands where the logo and word are intricately linked in their public presentation.

Collective Mark

A collective mark acts as a badge of origin to distinguish the services or goods of members of a particular association from those of non-members. It indicates that the user of the mark is part of a specific group, such as an association of artisans or professionals.

Certification Mark

A certification mark acts as a badge of quality, guaranteeing that the services or goods have been certified to have a certain standard, characteristics, or quality. It signals to consumers that the product meets specific standards set by the certifying body, for example, the "Singapore Green Label."

Shape of Goods or Packaging

The three-dimensional (3D) shape of the goods themselves or the packaging and containers in which they are sold can be registered as a trademark, provided they are capable of distinguishing the goods of one trader from another.

Colour Mark

A single colour or a combination of colours with no pictures or words can be trademarked in Singapore, provided it is demonstrated that the colour serves exclusively as a source identifier for the goods or services.

Sound Mark

Sounds can be registered as a trademark provided, they can be represented graphically, typically by a musical stave or an audio spectrogram. A classic example is the sequence of chimes used by a broadcasting corporation.

Hologram Mark

Hologram mark, which makes use of more advanced visual communication techniques, presents a company’ logo in contemporary forms. However, the hologram mark, which somehow covers the three-dimensional picture, is especially attached to add further security and protection to the brand name.

Other Non-Traditional Marks

This category includes movement marks (a short sequence of movements), hologram marks, and other types of marks. Registration is permitted provided they can be represented graphically and are capable of distinguishing goods or services in the marketplace.

Non-Eligible Marks for Trademark Registration in Singapore

The list of non-eligible marks for trademark registration in Singapore is as follows:

  • Descriptive Marks:- Marks that directly describe the goods or services of a business cannot be registered as trademarks in Singapore. This includes marks that describe the quality (e.g., “best” or “super”), quantity (e.g., “one pound” or “2 litres”), value (e.g., “expensive” or “economical”), or the geographical origin or intended purpose (e.g., “Cleaner”). Such marks lack distinctiveness and are not considered eligible for trademark protection.
  • Marks Common to Trade:- Marks that have become customary or generic in a particular trade cannot be trademarked. These are terms or signs that are widely used to describe goods or services and no longer serve to distinguish a particular business. For example, “Escalator” is a term that has become generic within its industry and cannot function as a trademark.
  • Marks Contrary to Public Morality or Public Policy:- Marks that are against public morality or public policy cannot be registered. Any trademark that depicts immoral, offensive, or illegal activity is considered ineligible for registration in Singapore.
  • Deceptive Marks:- Marks that are capable of misleading or deceiving the public cannot be registered. This includes marks that misrepresent the quality, nature, or geographical origin of goods or services, as such marks can cause confusion or unfairly mislead consumers.
  • Marks Identical or Similar to Earlier Marks:- A mark that is identical or similar to an earlier registered trademark for the same goods or services cannot be registered. The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) will refuse registration in such cases to prevent infringement and confusion.
  • Marks that Can Create Confusion:- Marks likely to confuse the public are also not registrable. Confusion may arise if the mark is identical or similar to an earlier mark registered for similar or identical goods or services. This ensures that consumers are not misled about the source of goods or services.
  • Marks Identical or Similar to Well-Known Marks:- Marks that are identical or confusingly similar to a well-known trademark in Singapore cannot be registered, even if the goods or services are unrelated. This protects the reputation of established brands and prevents dilution of their distinctiveness.

Why Trust Enterslice for Trademark Registration in Singapore?

With over a decade of experience, Enterslice provides end-to-end support for registering trademark in Singapore with ease and efficiency. Our team of IP professionals ensures full compliance with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) while simplifying each step of your trademark application in Singapore. Here’s why Enterslice is the trusted choice to help you register trademark Singapore:

  • Expert assistance for conducting a comprehensive trademark search
  • 99% success rate in registering trademarks in Singapore
  • Fast-track filing of Singapore trademark applications
  • Complete assistance with trademark monitoring and renewal
  • Access to an in-house team of experienced IP lawyers and trademark specialists
  • Strict compliance with Singapore’s IP and trademark laws
  • Post-registration services, including renewal and opposition handling
  • Transparent pricing with no hidden charges
  • 24×7 customer support for all trademark-related queries
  • Guidance on logo and mark refinement before filing in Singapore
  • Helping businesses unlock global branding and trade opportunities

FAQs on Trademark Registration in Singapore

The ‘TM’ symbol is used to show that a logo, word, or name is being claimed as a trademark, even if it has not yet been registered under trademark law. It simply indicates that the owner considers the mark their brand identifier. In contrast, the ‘®’ symbol indicates that the trademark has been officially registered and enjoys legal protection under the trademark law. This symbol can only be used after registration. Using the ‘®’ symbol without registration may result in legal penalties.

A registered trademark in Singapore is valid for 10 years from the date of filing the trademark application.

In Singapore, a registered trademark is valid for 10 years from the date of application. To maintain protection, the trademark owner must renew it before the expiry of this term. The law allows a 6-month grace period after the expiry date for renewal upon payment of the prescribed fee. Once renewed, the trademark remains valid for another 10 years, granting continued exclusive rights to the owner.

Yes, you can apply for a trademark before launching your product or business on a proposed-to-be-used basis, provided an early filing is recommended.

A priority claim allows a trademark applicant to use the filing date of an earlier application made in another country as the filing date for their application in Singapore. This means that if you filed for trademark registration in another country within the past six months, and later file the same mark in Singapore, your Singapore application will be treated as if it were filed on that earlier date.
This benefit ensures that no one else can register the same or similar mark in Singapore after your original filing date, even if their application is submitted before yours in Singapore. However, this right applies only if your first application was filed in a country that is a member of the Paris Convention or the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The filing requirements in Singapore are name, address of the applicant, trademark registration, classes and specification of goods and or services.

The following marks cannot be registered:

  1. Descriptive marks
  2. Generic or common trade terms
  3. Marks against public morality or policy
  4. Deceptive marks that mislead consumers
  5. Marks identical or similar to existing or well-known trademarks
  6. Marks likely to confuse the public

An international trademark registration is a standard process that allows an individual or a company to register their trademarks with multiple countries using a single trademark application filed with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). What are the types of trademarks that can be registered in Singapore? The main types of trademarks in Singapore include:

  • Word Marks: Words, letters, or numbers (e.g., “Google”).
  • Figurative Marks: Logos, symbols, or graphic designs.
  • Composite Marks: Combination of words and logos.
  • Collective Marks: Used by members of an association to indicate origin.
  • Certification Marks: Indicate goods/services meet a specific standard (e.g., “Singapore Green Label”).
  • Shape Marks: 3D shape of goods or packaging.
  • Colour Marks: Single colour or colour combinations used as identifiers.
  • Sound Marks: Distinctive sounds (e.g., chimes or jingles).
  • Other Non-Traditional Marks: Includes movement or hologram marks that can be graphically represented.

In general, trademark registration in Singapore takes around 12 months, provided there are no objections or oppositions during the process.

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