Singapore and UK Boost Intellectual Property Cooperation

An MOU signed between IPOS and the UK Intellectual Property Office will improve international cooperation between the two IP offices, on issues relating to copyright, patents, trade mark and design.


A new intellectual property (IP) agreement is set to benefit the Republic and the UK, with closer IP cooperation and enhanced UK-ASEAN trade relations, said the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) and the UK Intellectual Property Office in a joint media release on Monday (Sep 21).


The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), which was signed on Monday, will improve international cooperation between the two IP offices, on issues relating to copyright, patents, trade mark and design, said the release.


"Singapore is an influential voice on issues of intellectual property in the ASEAN region," said UK Minister for Intellectual Property, Baroness Neville Rolfe, adding that the MOU will allow the UK and Singapore to share best practices in areas such as IP rights protection, IP-related research and the streamlining of IP court processes.


Mr Tan Yih San, chief executive of IPOS, said: "This MOU reaffirms our mutual commitment to increase cross-border IP cooperation and provide a robust IP system for businesses and creators looking to expand into the UK, and those seeking to venture into the ASEAN region.”


According to the release, Southeast Asia is of increasing importance for UK trade and export, with 15 per cent of UK trade passing through the region and over a thousand UK businesses using Singapore as their regional headquarters and a springboard into the wider ASEAN region. ASEAN is expected to grow at 5 per cent this year, with the 10 member states representing the seventh largest economy in the world. The region is expected to become the fourth largest single market by 2030 through the ASEAN Economic Community, said the release.