Trademark Registration

The awareness of trademark protection among businesses is increasing, particularly as the development of overseas markets is rather limited. Without establishing a long-term effective protection mechanism and lacking the use of relevant intellectual property legal systems for market competition and risk avoidance, after completing company registration in Singapore, investors should also register trademarks for their businesses.

Trademark Registration Application Process

Trademark registration is an essential step in protecting the branding and identity of a company. The following are the relevant steps involved:

01

Trademark Search

Before submitting a trademark registration application in Singapore, it is advisable to search the National Trademark Office for any identical or similar trademarks to enhance the efficiency and success rate of registration.

02

Application Submission

The applicant (or agent) submits the application form to the trademark registry and pays the specified fees.

03

Examination

Upon receiving the form, the trademark registry will examine the application to ensure it complies with the relevant provisions of the Trademark Act. If the application does not meet the requirements, the trademark registry will issue a report explaining the reasons why the trademark cannot be registered.

04

Publication

If the trademark registry deems the application problem-free after examination, it will publish the trademark registration notice in the government gazette.

05

Registration Approval

Within two months of the advertisement, anyone can apply to oppose the registration of the related trademark. If no opposition application is received, the trademark registry will formally register the trademark and issue a registration certificate to the applicant.

Registration Requirements

  1. Directors and shareholders of the company must be at least 18 years old, and there must be a Singaporean citizen serving as a director of the company. Individuals holding a Singapore passport, permanent residency, or an entrepreneurship or employment pass in Singapore can act as directors. If not, they can choose nominee directors, who will sign an agreement with the company and not participate in the actual operations of the company.
  2. The company name must end with “LTD.” or “PTE. LTD.” and can only use an English name. Before registering, the name must be checked with the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority in Singapore to ensure there is no duplication.
  3. The minimum registered capital for the company is 1 Singapore dollar, with no upper limit. There is no need for capital verification, although most people typically set the registered capital at 10,000 Singapore dollars.
  4. There are generally not many restrictions on the company’s scope of operations, but during registration, two core areas of the business scope must be provided.
  5. The company needs to appoint a local secretary in Singapore, a service that is typically provided by agencies acting as representatives.
  6. The registered address of the company in Singapore needs to be a local address, primarily used to receive correspondence and notifications from Singapore government departments. It can be different from the actual operating address.

Required Documents

  1. Applicant’s name, address, or country of registration.
  2. If the intended registered trademark is a colored design, please provide 6 trademark designs; if it is a black and white design, only one trademark design is required.
  3. Detailed list of products or services and registration categories.
  4. Priority registration application, if applicable.
  5. If the intended registered trademark has a literal meaning, an explanation or translation should be provided.
  6. Copy of the applicant’s ID card.

Singapore Trademark Examination Contents

  1. Confirm whether the trademark simply describes its provided goods or services and whether it has a descriptive nature.
  2. Determine if the general public can distinguish the purchased goods/services significantly.
  3. Confirm whether the trademark involves false deception or other illegal facts.
  4. Check for prior trademarks, prior applications, or prior unregistered rights.