A trademark adds great value to a business. By filing for trademark registration, the trademark owner obtains certain rights, including: i) ownership of a certain trademark; and ii) the right to prevent others from using a similar mark without permission.

The owner of the registered trademark can exploit his/her mark in many ways, including: i) use it to better protect their market share (i.e. profits) by barring others from copying it; ii) license it to third parties for commercial returns (e.g. through a franchise); iii) sell the mark outright for a specified value (e.g. in a company acquisition); and iv) may use the mark to raise equity for business undertakings.

The Madrid Protocol provides for a system of international registration of trademarks. The purpose of this protocol is to eliminate the time it would take to submit a trademark application across a large number of countries throughout the world. The Madrid Protocol allows a trademark owner to seek protection for their trademark in several countries simultaneously by filing one application at just one office, with one set of fees in one currency, which is Swiss franc.

The Madrid Protocol is administered by the International Bureau of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland.

• Convenience of filing only one application, in one language, at one location, with one fee. This saves time and money from not having to contact various parties around the world;
• The applicant only has to wait for one party to decide on the approval of the application;
• Should the applicant need to make subsequent changes to the trademark registration, such as a change in ownership or a limitation of the list of goods and services, the change can be made easily through a simple single step and a single fee.

Following the trademark registration, the name and address of the holder can be changed upon request. Furthermore, the change of ownership can be recorded of some or all of the goods and services, unless the person deemed as new holder is from a country not party to the Agreement.

The international registration via Madrid protocol is effective for 10 years following the payment of the fees required by the International Bureau. Six months before the end of every period the Bureau send a reminder, notifying the trademark holder. Consequently, the registration can be renewed for additional periods of up to 10 years, following the payments of the prescriber fees.

• Filing the Application
  The Client needs to furnish the following information: i) name and address; ii) a clear graphical representation of the mark; iii) a list of goods and services sought for registration, classified according to the International Classification of Goods and Services; iv) a declaration of use / intent to use the trade mark and v) the prescribed fee (kindly refer to table on the right);
  The application will be processed when the above particulars are furnished;
  
  • For trademarks comprising of a three-dimensional shape of the product / packaging, the representation may be by line drawings. If a single-view line drawing is insufficient, multiple aspect views are acceptable, with a maximum of six different views;
  • For marks with non-English words and / or non-Roman characters, the English translation and / or transliteration (i.e. pronunciation) must be given in the application.
• Trademark search
  Before filing an application for the registration of a trademark in Singapore, CLA Consultants will conduct a search of the existing trademarks in the records maintained by the Intellectual Property Offices of Singapore (IPOS). This is to ensure that there is no prior trademark identical, or similar to, the one our Client intends to use, particularly in the area of its’ business;
• Estimated processing time
  The application should be processed and examined within 8 months of the filing date, and CLA Consultants will inform our Client if the application is in order for acceptance and publication, or if there are objections affecting the application;
• Acceptance
  If there are no objections, the Client will be informed of the acceptance of the application for registration. A registration certificate will be issued;
• Term and renewals
  The registration of a trademark is valid for 10 years from the date of application. Protection can last indefinitely subject to the payment of renewal fees every 10 years, and with proper use of the mark.

CLA Consultants will be pleased to help your Firm to register a trademark in any country in the world. CLA Consultants fee to assist your firm prepare and submit this application to Singapore authority is US$2,450 and every additional class registered is US$500. Our fees for trademark registration in other countries than Singapore amount to US$3,950 per registration.

• Do I need to renew my international trademark registration?
  Yes. Six months before the expiry of the 10 year registered period, the International Trademark Bureau will notify you that the trademark needs renewal.
• Can CLA Consultants assist me obtain Singapore trademark registration?
  Yes. CLA Consultants will be pleased to help your Firm to register a trade mark in any country in the world.
• How fast can I register my trademark in Singapore?
  The registration process takes between one and two months of the filing date. CLA Consultants will inform our Client if the application is in order for acceptance and publication, or if there are objections affecting the application.
• What are the benefits of trademark registration?
  Trademark registration is beneficial in many ways, including: i) better protect the owner’s market share (i.e. profits) by barring others from copying it; ii) the ability to license it to third parties for commercial returns (e.g. through a franchise); iii) sell the mark outright for a specified value (e.g. in a company acquisition); and iv) raise equity for business undertakings.
• Where can I view a trademark registration video?
  Record International Intellectual Property Filings in 2013