IP in Singapore
Information to help you protect, manage and enforce your intellectual property (IP) rights in Singapore.
This page provides practical information to help you make the most of your IP when doing business in Singapore.
If you plan to do business in Singapore, or if you are already trading there, it is essential to know how to manage and enforce your IP as private property rights.
British businesses looking for access to intellectual property advice and support should contact our South East Asia attaché team, based in the High Commission in Singapore.
The Intellectual Property Office Singapore (IPOS) is the body responsible for operating the patent, industrial design and trade mark system in Singapore.
Trade marks
The Singapore trade mark system is similar to the UK’s. Trade marks protect symbols, colours or other devices used to identify a business’ products or services. A trade mark is valid for 10 years, then may be renewed indefinitely for further 10-year periods.
To protect a trade mark in Singapore you can:
- Apply direct to IPOS via the IPOS portal or smartphone app IPOS Go.
- Make an international trade mark application and select Singapore as a designated country. More information on international trade marks can be found in the protecting your trade mark abroad page.
Good to know
There are no restrictions regarding nationality or residency for trade mark applications however, an address in Singapore must be provided in your application.
Patents
Like in the UK, patents for inventions can be protected for up to 20 years in Singapore. All patent rights in Singapore are subject to the payment of annual fees after they’ve been granted.
To protect your invention with a patent in Singapore you can:
- File an application directly to IPOS.
- File an international patent application and select Singapore as a designated country. This can reduce the cost and effort of applying for patents in multiple countries. More information on international patents can be found in the protecting your patents abroad page.
- File an ASEAN application via the ASEAN Patent Examination Co-operation (ASPEC). This can reduce the cost and effort of applying for patents in multiple ASEAN countries.
Good to know
Singapore operates a ‘first to file’ principle. If two people apply for a patent on an identical invention, the first one to file the application will be awarded the patent. Singapore does operate a grace period where you can register a patent within 12 months of any public disclosure.
You can file a patent yourself in Singapore but it is recommended that you seek advice from an IP professional.
Designs
In Singapore, design protection initially lasts for 5 years and can be extended for two consecutive periods i.e. protection can last for a maximum of 15 years.
To protect your design in Singapore you can:
- File an application directly to IPOS.
- File an international design application and select Singapore as a designated country. This can reduce the cost and effort of applying for designs in multiple countries. More information on international designs can be found in the protecting your designs abroad page.
Good to know
Singapore operates a ‘first to file’ principle. If two people apply for an identical design, the first one to file the application will be awarded the protection. Singapore does operate grace period where you can register a design within 12 months of any public disclosure.
There are no restrictions regarding nationality or residency however, an address in Singapore must be provided in your application.
Copyright
As in the UK, copyright is an automatic right under Singapore law.
Copyright in Singapore protects works that are original and expressed in a tangible form, for example, recorded on tape or written down.
The length of protection varies but generally lasts for 70 years counted from 1 January of the year following the author’s death.
Enforcing your rights
IP enforcement is generally effective in Singapore. If your IP rights are infringed, there are 3 main options for enforcement including civil litigation, criminal prosecution, and customs seizures however mediation via legal professionals is often an effective and lower cost option.
Civil litigation can be used for patent, copyright of trade mark infringements, where the remedies can range from damages, injunctions and the disposal of infringing goods. IP rights holders can initiate private criminal prosecutions which can result in fines and/or imprisonment.
If you suspect goods infringing your trade mark or copyright are being imported into Singapore, you can notify customs of suspected shipments. If infringing goods are detained, you have 10 days to begin legal proceedings from the date of detention. Businesses will need to be proactive about monitoring infringing shipments and not rely on notifications from customs.
More information
Visit these pages for more information about exporting to Singapore and to report a market access barrier on IP in Singapore.
UK ASEAN Business Council (UKABC) provides awareness on the latest opportunities in the region for UK companies looking to enter markets across Southeast Asia including Singapore.
British Chamber of Commerce in Singapore provide a variety of business advice, services, and support to businesses in Singapore.
The British High Commission Singapore supports UK businesses in Singapore.