1. Can foreigners and foreign companies register Singapore trademarks?
Yes. Singapore trademark registration does not require local residency or a local company, but if you are a foreigner or foreign company, registration must be done through a local Singapore company. You can appoint Lervice as your agent for full service.
2. Is actual use required for registering a Singapore trademark?
No. Singapore allows “intent to use” for trademark registration. You can register first and use it later. Please note that if the trademark is not used for 5 years after registration, it may be revoked. Lervice can provide professional advice to avoid this.
3. If a trademark contains Chinese, English, and graphic elements, is it better to register combined or separately?
From a success rate and protection perspective, registering separately is better to avoid the risk of rejection due to one element. Combining saves cost but reduces success rate, and using individual elements from the combined trademark may not be protected.
4. My trademark is in color; should I register a color or black-and-white trademark?
The best choice is to register a black-and-white trademark, as it automatically protects other colors. Color trademarks (e.g., red) do not automatically protect other colors.
5. What happens when the trademark expires?
The initial protection period is 10 years. You can renew for 10 years before expiry and continue to do so for permanent protection.
6. Will my trademark be rejected?
Trademarks may be rejected if they are too generic or descriptive, similar to existing trademarks, or contain misleading/offensive content. We provide risk assessment before submission to help you avoid failures.