A trademark is a name or symbol that represents a company or product brand. It may include a word, phrase, symbol or design that is distinct, original and one-of-a-kind. This is to make sure that a company’s trademark is distinguishable and thus like no other.

Although it’s not mandatory to register a trademark, doing so can bring a lot of benefits to a company owner. Among them is he or she can provide licenses and franchises to interested parties. This signifies another income-generating endeavor for the company. Registering a trademark also legally prevents other entities from using similar terms or names, or designs that have semblance to your trademark, which, in turn, provide an unlevel playing field and unfair competition. These days, website owners also get legal protection by allowing them to register their business‘ internet domain.

In the Lion City, it is the Intellectual Property of Singapore (an agency under the Ministry Law) that processes the registration of trademarks. Company owners may also register a trademark through a certified IP firm, thus making the process even more convenient and easier for applicants.

While it is not discouraged to file directly with IPOS, engaging the services of a registration agency saves the business or brand owner time, money and effort. The standards set by the International Classification of Goods and Services serve as the basis of classifications for trademark registration in Singapore. And while trademark registration is not compulsory, a business person who does own registered marks acquire common law rights.

However, there are certain marks that cannot obtain certification from the Intellectual Property Office. For instance, the Trademark Law in Singapore does not provide certifications for the registration of descriptive marks. Also, IPOS do not provide certification to owners of marks that are common to the trade or contrary to public policy or morality. To know more about trademark policies, and how to protect your brand, it is best to consult with a certified registration agency now.

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