Singapore Trademark Office has become the first in the world to launch their mobile app for trademark registration in Singapore. Singapore boasts one of the world’s more developed intellectual property systems, ranking 10th overall in the 2019 International IP Index, although it only ranked 15th in terms of national trademark systems.
In first in world advancement, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) launched its mobile app IPOS GO, which is expected to simplify the trademark filing process in Singapore further. With the launch of this app, business houses will now be able to file their trademarks directly with Singapore Trademark Office (IPOS) with the help of their mobile devices.
Their app offers a simplified user interface that has a seamless and fuss-free application experience, which is expected to finish the whole trademark application process in less than 10 minutes, from the current average 45 to 60 min.
Singapore has seen a 30% growth in the filing of trademark applications in the last five years. The speed and ease of filing are expected to benefit primarily the enterprises who are building their brands to differentiate themselves from their competitors.
The IPOS Go app has seven main sections. Five sections require users to login with either a SingPass or a CorpPass account: Trademark Application, Trademark Renewal, Filing History, Application Drafts, and Inbox. All app users, however, can access the IP Search and Similar TradeMark Search sections of the app. Similar Mark Search allows users to upload image files to search for similar images that have been included in trademark applications already on file with IPOS. Users can also search for marks by trademark text or image descriptors. Anyone downloading the app is also free to use the IP Search section of the app, which gives users the ability to search patent, trademark, design, and geographical indication applications that have been filed with IPOS. The applicants can also track the trademark status of their trademark registration applications, be informed of important updates or file for renewals with the help of the new app.
The additional key feature of the app is that it integrates artificial intelligence to enhance searches for similar trademarks on the IPOS register. This can prevent applicants from filing for trademarks that are too similar to existing ones. This particular component of IPOS Go’s services could be incredibly useful to applicants given that more than 40% of trademark registrations worldwide include images.
The app is available for download in the Apple App Store and Google Play.