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Trademark Registration Services in Singapore | Protect Your Brand
Get exclusive rights to your brand, safeguard your market share, and boost your business identity with professional trademark registration in Singapore.
What is a Trademark?
A trademark is a distinctive sign that sets your business apart from competitors in the marketplace. It serves as your brand's unique identifier and can take various forms, including words, logos, designs, colours, shapes, or even sounds. When you register your trademark in Singapore, you gain exclusive rights to use this mark in connection with your goods or services.
Think of your trademark as your business's signature in the commercial world. It's the symbol that customers associate with your quality, reputation, and business identity. Without proper registration, your brand remains vulnerable to imitation and potential misuse by competitors.
Trademark registration grants you legal ownership and the authority to prevent others from using similar marks that might confuse consumers. This protection is essential for businesses of all sizes, particularly for small enterprises and startups building their market presence in Singapore's competitive landscape.
Why Should You Register Your Trademark?
1
Legal Protection
Registration provides concrete legal protection under Singapore's intellectual property laws. Without registration, proving ownership rights can be challenging and costly. A registered trademark gives you clear legal standing to take action against infringers and counterfeiters who attempt to capitalise on your brand's reputation.
2
Market Advantage
A registered trademark significantly enhances your business's visibility and credibility in the marketplace. Consumers naturally trust products and services that bear registered trademarks, as they signal legitimacy and quality assurance. This trust translates directly into customer loyalty and increased market share.
3
Monetary Value
Your trademark is a tangible business asset that appreciates as your brand grows. Registered trademarks can be licensed, franchised, sold, or used as collateral for loans. They create additional revenue streams through licensing agreements and significantly enhance your business's overall valuation when seeking investment or considering a sale.
4
Exclusive Rights
Registration grants you exclusive rights to use your trademark throughout Singapore. This exclusivity prevents competitors from adopting confusingly similar marks that might divert your customers or dilute your brand's distinctiveness. You gain complete control over how your mark is used in commerce.
With 97% of consumers using online searches to research local businesses, having a protected trademark ensures your brand remains distinctive and legally secured in both physical and digital marketplaces.
The Trademark Registration Process in Singapore
Check Registration Criteria
Ensure your trademark meets Singapore's registration requirements: it must be distinctive, capable of graphical representation, and not confusingly similar to existing marks. Conduct a thorough search using the IPOS Digital Hub to verify availability.
Submit Your Application
File your trademark application through the IPOS Digital Hub. Classify your goods and services according to the Nice Classification system. Accurate classification is crucial for ensuring comprehensive protection across all relevant business activities.
Examination and Publication
IPOS examines your application for compliance with registration requirements. If accepted, your mark is published in the Trade Marks Journal for a 2-month opposition period. If no oppositions arise, your trademark proceeds to registration.
Registration and Renewal
Upon successful completion, you'll receive a Certificate of Registration valid for 10 years. Your trademark can be renewed indefinitely every decade, maintaining perpetual protection as long as you continue using it in commerce.
The entire registration process typically takes 6-12 months when no complications arise. Working with experienced trademark professionals can help navigate potential objections and ensure a smoother registration journey. Our specialists have handled over 500 successful trademark registrations across diverse industries in Singapore.
Types of Trademarks You Can Register
Word Marks
These consist of words, letters, numbers, or combinations thereof. Your company name, product names, and slogans can all be registered as word marks. They offer the broadest protection as they cover the text in any font or style. Examples include "Apple" for computers or "Nike" for sportswear.
Logo Marks
Visual symbols, designs, or stylised text that represent your brand. These distinctive visual elements create immediate brand recognition. Logo marks can include unique graphical elements, stylised lettering, or combinations of both that visually represent your business identity.
Non-Traditional Marks
These include colour combinations, 3D shapes, sounds, motion marks, and even scents. Singapore's IP laws allow for registration of these distinctive non-visual elements when they uniquely identify your products or services. Sound marks, for instance, might include distinctive jingles or audio signatures.
For maximum protection, many Singapore businesses register multiple types of trademarks to cover different aspects of their brand identity. This comprehensive approach ensures complete intellectual property protection across all customer touchpoints.
Trademark Registration Fees and Forms
Form TM4 (Local Registration)
Standard application fee: S$240 per class of goods/services when using pre-approved descriptions from the IPOS database.
Fee increases to S$341 per class when using custom descriptions that require manual examination.
Multiple classes can be included in a single application, with fees calculated per class.
Form MM2(E) (International Registration)
Basic fee of CHF 653 (approximately S$950) for standard mark in black and white.
Additional fee of CHF 100 (approximately S$145) for marks in colour.
Supplementary fees vary by country, ranging from CHF 100-150 per designated country.
Accelerated Registration
SG Trade Marks Fast programme: Additional S$500 per application.
Reduces examination timeframe from 6-12 months to as little as 3-4 months.
Particularly valuable for businesses needing urgent trademark protection before product launches or expansion.
Additional costs may include professional fees if you engage a trademark agent or attorney to handle your application. While this represents an additional investment, professional guidance significantly increases registration success rates and provides valuable strategic advice on trademark portfolio management.
International Trademark Registration
Expanding your business globally? The Madrid Protocol offers a streamlined path to international trademark protection. This system allows Singapore businesses to file a single application designating up to 128 member countries, significantly reducing the complexity and cost compared to filing separate applications in each country.
Before applying for international registration, you must first have a registered trademark or pending application in Singapore. This serves as your "base application" for the international filing. The international registration remains dependent on this base application for the first five years.
International registration provides numerous advantages, including:
  • Centralised management of your trademark portfolio across multiple countries
  • Simplified renewal process through a single procedure
  • Ability to expand protection to new countries as your business grows
  • Significant cost savings compared to individual national filings
While the Madrid Protocol streamlines the international registration process, trademark laws still vary by country. Our experts can help you navigate these differences and develop a global trademark strategy tailored to your specific business needs and target markets.
Why Choose Our Trademark Registration Services
Comprehensive Trademark Search
Our specialists conduct thorough searches across multiple databases to identify potential conflicts before filing. This proactive approach significantly reduces the risk of objections and opposition, saving you time and resources. We examine not just identical marks but also those that could be deemed confusingly similar under Singapore trademark law.
Expert Application Preparation
We meticulously prepare your application to maximise protection scope while minimising vulnerability to opposition. Our expertise in precise goods and services classification ensures your trademark application covers all relevant business activities both now and for future expansion.
Ongoing Protection & Management
Beyond registration, we provide comprehensive trademark portfolio management, including monitoring for potential infringements, handling renewal deadlines, and advising on enforcement strategies. Our proactive approach helps maintain the strength and value of your intellectual property assets.
With over 15 years of experience in Singapore's intellectual property landscape, our team has successfully registered more than 2,000 trademarks across diverse industries. We understand the nuances of trademark law and maintain excellent working relationships with IPOS examiners, enabling us to navigate complex cases effectively.
Our 98% first-time approval rate for trademark applications significantly exceeds the industry average, demonstrating our expertise and attention to detail throughout the registration process.
Common Trademark Registration Questions
How long does trademark registration take in Singapore?
Standard applications typically take 6-12 months from filing to registration when no objections arise. The examination phase usually takes 3-4 months, followed by a 2-month publication period. Expedited applications through the SG Trade Marks Fast programme can reduce this timeline to 3-4 months total.
What happens if someone opposes my trademark application?
If an opposition is filed during the 2-month publication period, IPOS will notify you and set deadlines for submitting counter-statements and evidence. Our team can represent you throughout this process, preparing strong legal arguments to defend your application. Opposition proceedings typically add 6-12 months to the registration timeline.
Can I register a trademark that's similar to an existing one?
Generally, IPOS will reject applications for marks that are identical or confusingly similar to existing registered trademarks in the same or related classes. However, exceptions exist when you can demonstrate clear market differentiation, obtain consent from the existing mark owner, or prove honest concurrent use. Our experts can assess your specific situation and advise on available options.
Do I need to use my trademark before registering it?
No. Singapore operates on a "first to file" system, meaning you can register a trademark before actually using it in commerce. However, if your mark remains unused for 5 consecutive years after registration, it becomes vulnerable to cancellation for non-use. We recommend developing a clear timeline for commercial use when registering new marks.
Have more questions about registering your trademark in Singapore? Our team offers complimentary initial consultations to discuss your specific needs and provide tailored guidance for your business.
Get Started with Your Trademark Registration Today
Protecting your brand identity is not just a legal formality—it's a crucial business investment that safeguards your reputation, prevents customer confusion, and establishes your market position. With Singapore's growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, securing your business trademark has never been more important.
Our streamlined registration process makes protecting your intellectual property straightforward and efficient:
  1. Schedule a complimentary consultation with our trademark specialists
  1. Receive a comprehensive trademark availability assessment
  1. Get a customised registration strategy tailored to your business needs
  1. Let our experts handle the entire application process while you focus on your business
Don't wait until you discover someone else using your brand identity. Proactive trademark registration is significantly more cost-effective than pursuing infringement claims after the fact.