Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks
The objective of the Singapore Treaty is to create a modern and dynamic international framework for the harmonization of administrative trademark registration procedures. Building on the Trademark Law Treaty of 1994 (TLT), the Singapore Treaty has a wider scope of application and addresses more recent developments in the field of communication technologies.
Summary of the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks (2006)
The objective of the Singapore Treaty is to create a modern and dynamic international framework for the harmonization of administrative trademark registration procedures. Building on the Trademark Law Treaty of 1994 (TLT), the Singapore Treaty has a wider scope of application and addresses more recent developments in the field of communication technologies. The Singapore Treaty is applicable to all types of marks registrable under the law of a given Contracting Party. Contracting Parties are free to choose the means of communication with their offices (including communications in electronic form or by electronic means of transmittal). Relief measures in respect of time limits as well as provisions on the recording of trademark licenses were introduced, and an Assembly of the Contracting Parties established. However, other provisions of the Singapore Treaty (such as the requirements to provide for multiclass applications and registrations and the use of the International ("Nice") Classification) closely follow the TLT. The two treaties are separate, and may be ratified or adhered to independently.
Unlike the TLT, the Singapore Treaty applies generally to all marks that can be registered under the law of a Contracting Party. Most significantly, it is the first international instrument dealing with trademark law to explicitly recognize non-traditional marks. The Treaty is applicable to all types of marks, including non-traditional visible marks, such as holograms, three-dimensional marks, color, position and movement marks, as well as non-visible marks such as sound, olfactory or taste and feel marks. The Regulations Under the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks provide for the mode of representation of these marks in applications, which may include non-graphic or photographic reproductions.
The Singapore Treaty leaves Contracting Parties the freedom to choose the form and means of transmittal of communications and whether to accept communications on paper, in electronic form or in another form. This has consequences on formal requirements for applications and requests, such as the signature on communications with the office. The Treaty maintains a very important provision of the TLT, namely that the authentication, certification or attestation of any signature on paper communications cannot be required. However, Contracting Parties are free to determine whether and how they wish to implement a system of authentication of electronic communications.
The Treaty provides for relief measures when an applicant or holder has missed a time limit in an action for a procedure before an office. Contracting Parties must make available, at their choice, at least one of the following relief measures: extension of the time limit; continued processing; and reinstatement of rights in so far as the failure to meet the time limit was unintentional or occurred in spite of due care required by the circumstances.
The Singapore Treaty includes provisions on the recording of trademark licenses, and establishes maximum requirements for requests for recordal, amendment or cancellation of the recordal of a license.
The creation of an Assembly of the Contracting Parties introduced a degree of flexibility in defining the details of administrative procedures to be implemented by national trademark offices, where it is anticipated that future developments in trademark registration procedures and practices will warrant amendments to those details. The Assembly is endowed with powers to modify the Regulations and the Model International Forms, where necessary, and can also address – at a preliminary level – questions relating to the future development of the Treaty.
Furthermore, the Diplomatic Conference adopted a Resolution Supplementary to the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks and the Regulations Thereunder, with a view to declaring an understanding by the Contracting Parties on several areas covered by the Treaty, namely: that the Treaty does not impose any obligations on Contracting Parties to (i) register new types of marks, or (ii) implement electronic filing systems or other automation systems. The Resolution also contains special provisions to provide developing and least developed countries with additional technical assistance and technological support to enable them to take full advantage of the provisions of the Treaty. It was recognized that LDCs shall be the primary and main beneficiaries of technical assistance by Contracting Parties. The Assembly monitors and evaluates, at every ordinary session, the progress of the assistance granted. Any dispute arising in relation to the interpretation or application of the Treaty is to be settled amicably through consultation and mediation under the auspices of the Director General of WIPO.
The Singapore Treaty was concluded in 2006 and entered into force in 2009.
The Treaty is open to States members of WIPO and to certain intergovernmental organizations. Instruments of ratification or accession must be deposited with the Director General of WIPO.
The Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks was adopted in Singapore on 28 March 2006.[1] It entered into force on 16 March 2009,[2] following the ratification or accession of ten countries, namely Singapore, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Romania, Denmark, Latvia, Kyrgyzstan, United States, Moldova, and Australia.[3] The treaty establishes common standards for procedural aspects of trademark registration and licensing.
As of July 2016, there are 50 contracting parties to the treaty, which includes 48 states plus the African Intellectual Property Organization and the Benelux Organization for Intellectual Property.
Resolution
WHEREAS, the International Trademark Association has supported the adoption of and adherence to the Trademark Law Treaty of 1994;
WHEREAS, a revised and updated Trademark Law Treaty, known as the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks, was adopted by a diplomatic conference of World Intellectual Property Organization member states on March 27, 2006;
WHEREAS, the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks expands on the Trademark Law Treaty of 1994 by further harmonizing the administrative procedures of trademark offices in line with developments in technology and trademark practice;
BE IT RESOLVED, that the International Trademark Association endorses the adherence to the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks.
Background
On October 27, 1994, the Trademark Law Treaty (TLT 1994) was adopted by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) member states as part of an international effort to harmonize the administrative procedures of trademark offices worldwide. INTA, as a non-governmental observer to WIPO, was an active participant in this effort and on March 7, 1994 passed a Board Resolution supporting the adoption of the TLT 1994.
As of April 15, 2006, 34 WIPO member states have joined the TLT 1994. However, over the years, the rise in electronic filing and other technological advancements, changes in the scope of trademark protection, and the resolution of voting rights of intergovernmental organizations in WIPO treaties led to the need to update the TLT 1994 in response to these developments.
WIPO’s aim in this regard was to make several technical and substantive changes to the treaty, while retaining the key provisions such as use of the Nice System for International classification, requirements to provide for multi-class applications and registrations, and restrictions on notarization, legalization and other certification requirements. After three years of negotiations at the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT), in which INTA participated regularly as an observer, a revised treaty – the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks (Singapore Treaty”) – was adopted on March 27, 2006 by a diplomatic conference of WIPO member states in Singapore.
For the Singapore Treaty to take effect, ratification or accession by 10 member states and intergovernmental organizations is required. As of September 26, 2006, 45 countries have signed the Singapore Treaty. The Singapore Treaty does not replace the TLT 1994, but INTA would encourage states and intergovernmental organizations – including current members of the TLT 1994 – to accede to the Singapore Treaty and abide by its standards.
Key Changes from the TLT 1994
The Singapore Treaty contains the following key changes from the TLT 1994:
1. Creation of an Assembly
An Assembly of Contracting Parties (i.e. states and intergovernmental organizations that have joined the treaty) has been created with the power to deal with matters concerning the development of the treaty; amend the treaty regulations, including the Model International Forms; and perform other functions as appropriate to implement the provisions of the treaty. The main treaty can be revised or amended only through a diplomatic conference.
The TLT 1994 did not include an Assembly due to a lack of consensus at that time over the voting rights of intergovernmental organizations. The voting rights issue was subsequently resolved in other WIPO-administered treaties, thus setting the stage for the TLT to have an Assembly, like other WIPO treaties.
2. Trademark License Recordal Provisions
Provisions relating to trademark license recordal, based on the 2000 WIPO Joint Recommendation on Trademark Licenses, establish maximum requirements for the requests for recordal, amendment or cancellation of the recordal of a license. Importantly, non-recordal of a license shall not affect the validity of the registration of the mark which is the subject of the license or the protection of that mark. Recordal of a license may not be required as a condition for the use of a mark by a licensee to be deemed to constitute use by the holder in proceedings relating to the acquisition, maintenance and enforcement of marks. Recordal of a license may also not be required as a condition for a licensee to join infringement proceedings initiated by the holder or to obtain infringement damages through such proceedings, although any state or intergovernmental organization may still declare through a reservation that it requires license recordal as a condition in this regard.
3. Relief Measures when Time Limits are MissedThree possible types of relief measures are provided for cases in which a time limit has been missed for an action in a procedure relating to an application or registration. These are: (i) extension of the time limit; (ii) continued processing; and (iii) reinstatement of rights if the trademark office found that the failure to meet the time limit occurred despite due care taken, or if the failure was unintentional.
Applicants, holders and interested persons may be required to file requests for time limit extensions and continued processing within a time limit of no less than two months from the date of expiry of the time limit concerned. Requests for reinstatement of rights shall be filed within a “reasonable time limit”, which may be set at a maximum of no less than six months from the date of expiry of the time limit concerned.
4. Electronic Communications
In response to the increasing automation and adoption of electronic filing systems by trademark offices since 1994, the Singapore Treaty allows Contracting Parties to choose the means of transmittal of communications and to determine if they accept paper, electronic, or other forms of communications. There are also provisions governing the procedures for electronic communications, including paper communications transmitted electronically. As is stated in the TLT 1994, no attestation, notarization, authentication, legalization or other certification of signatures may be required, except in cases where the signature concerns the surrender of a registration. Contracting Parties are nevertheless free to determine if and how they wish to authenticate electronic communications.
5. Expanded Scope of Marks CoveredThe TLT 1994 covers only visible signs, but non-visible signs such as sounds and smells, in addition to nontraditional marks such as three-dimensional marks and holograms, are increasingly being protected in jurisdictions around the world. In keeping with this trend, the Singapore Treaty may be generally applied to all signs registrable under the national law of any Contracting Party. Specific application requirements are laid out in the treaty for three-dimensional marks, non-visible signs and “new types of marks” such as hologram marks, motion marks, color marks and position marks.
Supplementary Resolution to the Singapore Treaty
In addition to the main text and regulations to the Singapore Treaty, the diplomatic conference also adopted a supplementary resolution that states that Contracting Parties are not obliged to register the “new types of marks” mentioned in the regulations to the treaty, or implement electronic filing or other automated systems. The resolution also endorses the provision of technical assistance to developing countries, primarily the least developed countries (LDCs), so as to enable them to fully benefit from the treaty. INTA Committee Deliberations Based on INTA’s prior participation in the WIPO SCT meetings on the revision of the Trademark Law Treaty and in the diplomatic conference to adopt the revised treaty, as well as a comparative analysis of the Singapore Treaty against the TLT 1994, the Treaty Analysis Committee respectfully requests that the INTA Board of Directors approve this resolution. Upon Board approval, it is the intention of the Treaty Analysis Committee that the relevant INTA committees, working with staff, will use this Resolution as a basis to encourage WIPO members to accede to or ratify the Singapore Treaty.
Resolution
WHEREAS, the International Trademark Association has supported the adoption of and adherence to the Trademark Law Treaty of 1994;
WHEREAS, a revised and updated Trademark Law Treaty, known as the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks, was adopted by a diplomatic conference of World Intellectual Property Organization member states on March 27, 2006;
WHEREAS, the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks expands on the Trademark Law Treaty of 1994 by further harmonizing the administrative procedures of trademark offices in line with developments in technology and trademark practice;
BE IT RESOLVED, that the International Trademark Association endorses the adherence to the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks.
Background
On October 27, 1994, the Trademark Law Treaty (TLT 1994) was adopted by World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) member states as part of an international effort to harmonize the administrative procedures of trademark offices worldwide. INTA, as a non-governmental observer to WIPO, was an active participant in this effort and on March 7, 1994 passed a Board Resolution supporting the adoption of the TLT 1994.
As of April 15, 2006, 34 WIPO member states have joined the TLT 1994. However, over the years, the rise in electronic filing and other technological advancements, changes in the scope of trademark protection, and the resolution of voting rights of intergovernmental organizations in WIPO treaties led to the need to update the TLT 1994 in response to these developments.
WIPO’s aim in this regard was to make several technical and substantive changes to the treaty, while retaining the key provisions such as use of the Nice System for International classification, requirements to provide for multi-class applications and registrations, and restrictions on notarization, legalization and other certification requirements. After three years of negotiations at the WIPO Standing Committee on the Law of Trademarks, Industrial Designs and Geographical Indications (SCT), in which INTA participated regularly as an observer, a revised treaty – the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks (Singapore Treaty”) – was adopted on March 27, 2006 by a diplomatic conference of WIPO member states in Singapore.
For the Singapore Treaty to take effect, ratification or accession by 10 member states and intergovernmental organizations is required. As of September 26, 2006, 45 countries have signed the Singapore Treaty. The Singapore Treaty does not replace the TLT 1994, but INTA would encourage states and intergovernmental organizations – including current members of the TLT 1994 – to accede to the Singapore Treaty and abide by its standards.
Key Changes from the TLT 1994
The Singapore Treaty contains the following key changes from the TLT 1994:
1. Creation of an Assembly
An Assembly of Contracting Parties (i.e. states and intergovernmental organizations that have joined the treaty) has been created with the power to deal with matters concerning the development of the treaty; amend the treaty regulations, including the Model International Forms; and perform other functions as appropriate to implement the provisions of the treaty. The main treaty can be revised or amended only through a diplomatic conference.
The TLT 1994 did not include an Assembly due to a lack of consensus at that time over the voting rights of intergovernmental organizations. The voting rights issue was subsequently resolved in other WIPO-administered treaties, thus setting the stage for the TLT to have an Assembly, like other WIPO treaties.
2. Trademark License Recordal Provisions
Provisions relating to trademark license recordal, based on the 2000 WIPO Joint Recommendation on Trademark Licenses, establish maximum requirements for the requests for recordal, amendment or cancellation of the recordal of a license. Importantly, non-recordal of a license shall not affect the validity of the registration of the mark which is the subject of the license or the protection of that mark. Recordal of a license may not be required as a condition for the use of a mark by a licensee to be deemed to constitute use by the holder in proceedings relating to the acquisition, maintenance and enforcement of marks. Recordal of a license may also not be required as a condition for a licensee to join infringement proceedings initiated by the holder or to obtain infringement damages through such proceedings, although any state or intergovernmental organization may still declare through a reservation that it requires license recordal as a condition in this regard.
3. Relief Measures when Time Limits are MissedThree possible types of relief measures are provided for cases in which a time limit has been missed for an action in a procedure relating to an application or registration. These are: (i) extension of the time limit; (ii) continued processing; and (iii) reinstatement of rights if the trademark office found that the failure to meet the time limit occurred despite due care taken, or if the failure was unintentional.
Applicants, holders and interested persons may be required to file requests for time limit extensions and continued processing within a time limit of no less than two months from the date of expiry of the time limit concerned. Requests for reinstatement of rights shall be filed within a “reasonable time limit”, which may be set at a maximum of no less than six months from the date of expiry of the time limit concerned.
4. Electronic Communications
In response to the increasing automation and adoption of electronic filing systems by trademark offices since 1994, the Singapore Treaty allows Contracting Parties to choose the means of transmittal of communications and to determine if they accept paper, electronic, or other forms of communications. There are also provisions governing the procedures for electronic communications, including paper communications transmitted electronically. As is stated in the TLT 1994, no attestation, notarization, authentication, legalization or other certification of signatures may be required, except in cases where the signature concerns the surrender of a registration. Contracting Parties are nevertheless free to determine if and how they wish to authenticate electronic communications.
5. Expanded Scope of Marks CoveredThe TLT 1994 covers only visible signs, but non-visible signs such as sounds and smells, in addition to nontraditional marks such as three-dimensional marks and holograms, are increasingly being protected in jurisdictions around the world. In keeping with this trend, the Singapore Treaty may be generally applied to all signs registrable under the national law of any Contracting Party. Specific application requirements are laid out in the treaty for three-dimensional marks, non-visible signs and “new types of marks” such as hologram marks, motion marks, color marks and position marks.
Supplementary Resolution to the Singapore Treaty
In addition to the main text and regulations to the Singapore Treaty, the diplomatic conference also adopted a supplementary resolution that states that Contracting Parties are not obliged to register the “new types of marks” mentioned in the regulations to the treaty, or implement electronic filing or other automated systems. The resolution also endorses the provision of technical assistance to developing countries, primarily the least developed countries (LDCs), so as to enable them to fully benefit from the treaty. INTA Committee Deliberations Based on INTA’s prior participation in the WIPO SCT meetings on the revision of the Trademark Law Treaty and in the diplomatic conference to adopt the revised treaty, as well as a comparative analysis of the Singapore Treaty against the TLT 1994, the Treaty Analysis Committee respectfully requests that the INTA Board of Directors approve this resolution. Upon Board approval, it is the intention of the Treaty Analysis Committee that the relevant INTA committees, working with staff, will use this Resolution as a basis to encourage WIPO members to accede to or ratify the Singapore Treaty.