Intellectual Property
By Vico Ling
In a sea of mobile apps with multiple uses and functions, the app icon is the first visual cue that an app offers in the app store listing. It plays a key role in setting an app apart from its many rivals. The icon harnesses the association of brand identity and recognition formed by its design to be uniquely memorable.
By Linh Nguyen
Bad faith trademark filings have become prevalent in jurisdictions worldwide, including Vietnam. While neither the definition of “bad faith” nor the criteria for determining it is specified in the prevailing Vietnamese IP Law and its provisions, it is generally seen as an act of dishonesty with the intention of free-riding on the other party’s reputation and goodwill. Accordingly, court rulings and decisions made by the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam (IP Viet Nam) and the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) have shown to hold a similarly negative view regarding bad faith trademark filings.
By P. Kandiah
While the COVID-19 pandemic enrages the world, there are frantic efforts to produce effective and safe vaccines, to invent covid detection methods and kits, and to find cures for the potentially fatal sickness around the world.
By Carola Monintja
In an interesting trademark dispute in Indonesia, two consumer goods giants, namely Orang Tua Group and Unilever Indonesia, battled to see who would come out the strongest. These two giants have long-standing and remarkable business backgrounds in Indonesia. [Read more…]
By Nor Hafieza
Say “Hey Google, turn off the lights” and Google Assistant will switch off the lights in your house. It’s amazing, isn’t it? Imagine no longer having to get up and walk to turn off all the lights or to lock the door of your house. Such devices were developed by tech companies like Google where all you need to do is to use voice commands to control your smart home devices. [Read more…]
By Saowanee Leewijitsin
Good news for all trademark owners in Thailand!!! From now on, you do not have to wait 6-12 months to receive a Trademark Renewal Certificate… It is possible to receive it within 45 minutes of a renewal application being filed.
By Saowanee Leewijitsin
It has been a year since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, affecting all aspects of global businesses, and stopping us from doing so many things that we usually do. It seems, however, that filing trademarks in Thailand is not one of those things. The Thailand Trademark Office (“TTMO”) recently released statistics for 2020 relating to trademark applications and registrations via both the national route and the Madrid route. Although the number of fillings dropped compared to 2019, based on the following statistics, you would not be able to guess there was a huge global pandemic hitting us at all.
By P. Kandiah
“TOP GLOVE’S R&D arm ranks second highest among Malaysian patent applicants in 2020” ran the headline across major Malaysian newspapers in mid-February.
The other top four Malaysian patent applicants are MIMOS Bhd., Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, University of Malaya and Petroliam National Bhd. (PETRONAS). Are we beginning to see an emerging trend of industry-based R&D compared to university-based research as reflected by the number of patent applications filed in Malaysia?
By Sharrmila Palanyandy
The field of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) is often male-dominated and studies show that women remain underrepresented in this field.
But despite the lack of recognition in the scientific community and challenges faced due to the gender gap, there are countless inspiring women in these fields who have made historic contributions to science. Many were not recognized in their lifetimes but their accomplishments have been an encouragement for future female scientists.
By Saowanee Leewijitsin
One of the most important principles for trademark registration in Thailand and in many other countries such as China, Taiwan and Japan is, the mark must not be identical with or similar to other registered marks (according to the “first-to-file” rule). If your mark is identical with or similar to another person’s registered mark and could confuse or mislead the public as to the owner or origin of the goods, that mark will not be able to be registered in Thailand. Generally speaking, it cannot be protected according to Thai Trademark Law.