How Much Does It Cost To Register A Trademark in Singapore?
Table of Contents
Traversing the world of trademarks may be exciting and scary at the same time. Primarily, you must comprehend the expenditures to protect your brand in Singapore. In addition to preserving the identity of your business, trademark registration promises that you hold the only rights to assured components of your brand in the marketplace. But, depending on various considerations, the costs linked with this procedure may vary.
This post will assess the price of registering a trademark in Singapore, including the preliminary application fee and any prospective additional expenses. Knowing these costs can help you make wise decisions and set aside adequate money for intellectual property protection, whether a startup or a recognized business.
Trademarks Which Can Be Filed Under Trademark Registration In Singapore
1. Logo
Enrolling your logo can help your business create and protect a powerful and noticeable brand presence in the marketplace by lawfully preserving your brand’s unique visual elements. The regular fee for filing a trademark application for a single class of goods or services in Singapore is SGD 240. But there can be extra costs if you use qualified application services or take other classes.
2. Slogan/Phrase
By registering a slogan as a trademark, you may boost your brand identification and market presence by safeguarding your company’s unique messaging and winning the right to use it with your goods or services. Usually, a phrase’s application fee is SGD 240 for a particular category of products or services. There are extra costs for multiple classes or if you work with a trademark attorney to finish the application procedure.
3. Copyright
Copyright and trademark registration fulfill diverse purposes and safeguard different kinds of intellectual property in Singapore. Copyright laws safeguard artistic works of authorship, including music, movies, books, and artwork. Databases and software are also added in. The filing fee for a trademark application is SGD 240 for a single class of goods or services. Supplementary costs are encountered for extra classes and professional services.
How To Register A Trademark In Singapore?
Step 1: First Lookup And Inquiry
You (or your agent) should search the Registry of Trademarks record for already-registered marks before directing to register one. This is to make certain that there isn’t previously a trademark, specifically in your business, that is the same or like the one you want to register. The IP2SG portal, a thorough e-services gateway for filing IP applications and associated transactions in Singapore, is one methodology to doing the search.
Step 2: Complete The Online Form
The application for trademark registration may be submitted on paper or by electronic means via the IP2SG platform. The entity must provide the following information.
- The name and address of the candidate
- A discrete visual illustration of the mark.
- A list of goods and services that fall under the International Classification of Goods and Services and are meant to be recorded.
- A statement of purpose to use the trademark.
- The mandatory verification of payment is in the form of documents.
Step 3: Verify The Protocol
After accepting the application, the Registry of Trademarks will assess it for requirements, including making sure it contains the requirements for filing. After the minimum filing conditions are fulfilled, the application will be given a filing date. If not, a notice from the agencies asking the applicant to make the mandatory corrections will be sent.
Step 4: Inspection
After the searches, the application will be assessed to establish whether the mark may legitimately be registered. The assessor will guarantee that the mark does not fall in any officially forbidden areas. He will also let the claimant know if there are any concerns with the mark and give them a chance to respond.
Step 5: Dissemination
If no complaints exist or if all complaints have been undertaken, the applicant will be notified of the application’s approval. For two months, the application will be accessible to the public for evaluation in the Trademarks Journal.
Step 6: Resistance
Any concerned party may submit a notice of Opposition to the trademark registration during publication. The claimant shall prepare a counterstatement describing the reasons for bracing the application if, within two months of obtaining this notification, he or she plans to follow trademark registration. The parties will be effectively stimulated to use arbitration or dispute resolution services. Within two weeks of the dispute resolution or negotiation procedure’s conclusion, the parties are obliged to alert IPOS of the outcome. Lastly, IPOS will take over the dealings.
Step 7: Enrolment
A registration certificate will be presented, and the trademark will be registered if there is no obstruction to its registration or if the Opposition is resolved in the applicant’s sympathy.
Why Is It Important To Trademark In Singapore?
Proving and sustaining your brand’s identity in a competitive industry rest on registering a trademark in Singapore. In addition to permitting, you have the absolute right to use your brand name, logo, or slogan. Hence, a registered trademark offers you legal defense against interference and unconstitutional use by third parties. This legal security stops competitors from challenging the individuality of your brand or benefiting from your good name.
A registered trademark also improves the authenticity of your business and can substantially raise its market value. Protecting your intellectual property via trademark registration is an intelligent move that improves your brand’s position and ensures long-term victory in a vibrant business climate like Singapore’s.
Singapore Trademark Registration – Classification Of Requirements/Documents
- Details About The Applicant:
Provide the applicant’s full legal name and address. Also, provide the address and enlisted name of the applicant’s firm, if applicable.
- Trademark Misrepresentation.
An exact and explicit illustration of the trademark that you plan to apply for. This could be a word mark, slogan, logo, or other distinctive symbol.
- Description Of The Trademark:
Give a brief description of the trademark and its parts, specifically if it contains difficult or extraordinary features.
- Application Form:
Fill out the trademark application form accessible on the IPOS website. This form contains information concerning the trademark, the applicant, and several products or services.
How Much Does It Cost To Register A Trademark in Singapore?
Filing Cost
The base fee for filing a trademark application in Singapore is SGD 240 for one class of products or services. This fee includes your application’s first assessment and processing. There is an extra SGD 240 fee for each supplementary class of products or services incorporated in your trademark application.
Standard:
A single class is SGD 240. This cost involves the first application for a trademark in one class of products or services. The Nice Classification system, which divides products and services into many categories, is the basis for this class. Moreover, SGD 240 for each additional class. There is an extra fee of SGD 240 per class if you wish to cover more than one class of goods or services.
- One Class: SGD 240
- Additional Classes: SGD 240 per class
Comprehensive Package:
In addition to the filing fee, a thorough trademark registration package in Singapore often incorporates a collection of services designed to accelerate and present additional support. These packages commonly cover expert fees for trademark attorneys or agents and services like management, application planning, and trademark research.
Estimated Total Cost for a Comprehensive Package:
- Basic Filing Fee for One Class: SGD 240
- Trademark Search: SGD 200 to SGD 500
- Professional Services (Preparation and Filing): SGD 500 to SGD 1,500
- Legal Advice (if separate): SGD 300 to SGD 600
- Handling Opposition (if applicable): Variable
Value Package:
Compared to premium or complete packages, a value package for trademark registration in Singapore proposes principal services at a cheap price. Rather than incorporating any extras, these packages commonly concentrate on extending the elementary services necessary to register a trademark effectively.
Estimated Total Cost for a Value Package:
- Basic Filing Fee for One Class: SGD 240
- Trademark Search: SGD 200 to SGD 300 (if not included)
- Application Preparation and Filing: SGD 400 to SGD 800
- Basic Legal Advice: Often included or up to SGD 300
Attorney Cost
Employing a trademark lawyer in Singapore can help speed up brand registration and guarantee that all legitimate phases are taken care of appropriately. Attorney fees vary depending on the complication of the application and the choice of services rendered.
- Trademark Search: SGD 200 to SGD 500
- Application Preparation and Filing: SGD 500 to SGD 1,200
- Additional Legal Advice: SGD 100 to SGD 300 per hour
- Handling Objections: SGD 300 to SGD 600
- Opposition Proceedings: SGD 1,000 to SGD 2,500
- Trademark Monitoring: SGD 300 to SGD 600 annually
- Renewal Services: SGD 200 to SGD 500
Renewal Charges
A trademark in Singapore can be registered for ten years from the registration date. To sustain your trademark rights, you must restore your registration before its expiration.
- Standard Renewal Fee for One Class: SGD 240
- Additional Classes: SGD 240 per class
- Attorney or Agent Fees (if applicable): SGD 200 to SGD 500
- Late Renewal Fee (if applicable): SGD 240 per class (in addition to the standard renewal fee)
Trademark Search Cost
Online Search with IPOS:
You can conduct an initial trademark search for free consuming the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) online search engine. This program looks for analogous trademarks in the database.
Professional Search Service:
A trademark lawyer or a professional search service can provide a more massive search, including analysis and Advice on conflicts. Depending on the complexity of the search and the level of detail demanded, these services can cost anywhere from SGD 200 to SGD 500 or more.
Conclusion
Understanding the costs associated with trademark registration in Singapore is fundamental for anyone looking to protect their enterprise essentially. Knowledge of everything from the first filing fees to the additional costs for qualified services and renewals lets you plan your funds intelligently and confirms a seamless registration process.
Investing in the required trademark registration and renewal practices secures absolute rights to your brand and advances your business’s prospect in the marketplace. Knowing these costs, whether your company is new or already recognized, will help you plan and protect your intellectual property.
FAQs
Is It Possible To Apply For A Trademark Online?
Filing your trademark application online through the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) website is usually more appropriate and reasonable.
In Singapore, How Long Does It Take To Register A Trademark?
After the application is filed, the registration process generally takes six to nine months, depending on its complexity and any oppositions or objections.
Does A Business Owner Have To Register A Trademark Independently For Every Class Of Products Or Services?
To accelerate trademark registration, all globally identified goods and services are characterized into 45 classes. Business owners should only look for products and services that they manufacture or offer. With a single application, business owners can request trademarks in several goods and services. All they must do is ensure the form accurately that identifies the class numbers they are applying for and the appropriate goods and services.
Sissie Hsiao
Sissie Hsiao is the Vice President of Content Marketing and an innovator at heart. With a deep expertise in law, she specializes in the cutting-edge application of trademark and copyright. Sissie's unique blend of legal knowledge and marketing acumen drives her passion for developing forward-thinking content strategies that protect and promote creative works.