Trade mark registration in Singapore: How to register, what it costs and why it’s needed

If you have a Singapore business, a trade mark can help distinguish your goods and services from other providers, and stop other businesses from copying your unique ideas.

Join us as we explore how to register a trade mark in Singapore. Plus we’ll touch on Wise Business which is a great choice for growing businesses looking to expand internationally with account and payment services for 40+ currencies with the mid-market rate.

What is a trade mark?

A trade mark allows you to distinguish your products or services from those of other businesses¹.

Trade mark registration in Singapore is managed by IPOS (the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore). We’ll cover what you need to do to register a trade mark in Singapore with IPOS in this guide.

Why register a trade mark in Singapore?

Singapore is a competitive business environment, and so anything which gives your company an edge is important. Trade marks can help here.

You can trade mark a number of different types of things. Trade mark registration in Singapore could be used to protect your business or product name, logo, tagline, or even things like the shape or colour of your product packaging.

Once you have a trade mark you can use the ® symbol to show the item is protected, and to help customers spot your products more easily. You can also sell or license the trade mark or use it to raise funds for your business. Importantly, other businesses can not copy your protected product or service, giving you a competitive advantage.

How to register trade marks in Singapore?

Registering a trade mark in Singapore is relatively straightforward. You can complete the process yourself or using an agent. There are fees to pay - and it’s also worth noting that even straightforward and uncontested applications can take 9 months to process.

Let’s look at how to check trade mark registration is the right next step for your business, and the trade mark registration online process² from Singapore.

Step 1: Ensure your trade mark meets registration criteria

The first step is to make sure your trade mark is eligible. To be able to trade mark your business, product or service, the trade mark must be something which can be represented graphically which distinguishes your business or goods from other sellers without simply describing your service.

Your trade mark can not be confusingly similar or the same as an existing trade mark and there are also some words which can’t be used to avoid customer confusion.

If you’re at all unsure about whether trade marking is the right next step for your business, get professional support before applying.

Step 2: Gather your documents, complete the required form and pay

If you’re in Singapore you’ll generally need to complete form TM4 which can be done digitally either using the IPOS Go Mobile App or the IPOS Digital Hub.

You’ll need the following to complete the application:

• Your name and address
• A clear graphical representation of your trade mark
• A list of the goods or services associated with your trade mark
• A declaration of your use of or intention to use the mark
• The relevant application fee

Step 3: Submit your trade mark application

Once you’ve completed the relevant form for your trade mark application you’ll be prompted to pay and need to wait for the application approval.

If IPOS decides you have not provided enough information or detail you’ll be informed, and you must respond to the request within 4 months using the appropriate form which varies depending on what IPOS needs to know.

Once your application is approved - which can take several months - your registration is published for public inspection for two months. During this time, if anyone wants to object to the registration they are able to do so. If there are any objections the opposition hearing will be held before your trade mark can be approved.

Finally, once your trade mark is fully approved you’ll be given a certificate and have your registration complete for 10 years.

Trade mark registration fees in Singapore

The trade mark registration Singapore fees depend on whether you’re registering from within Singapore or overseas, and the class of registration.

From within Singapore:

• Where items are fully adopted from IPOS' Classification Database of pre-approved descriptions of goods and services, the fee is 280 SGD per class
• Where items are not fully adopted from IPOS' Classification Database there’s a fee of 410 SGD per class

IPOS recommends using the database to make your registration process faster and cheaper and to reduce the chance of objections.

If you’re not in Singapore the fee structure is different. In this case you’ll need to pay 250 SGD to IPOS as well as a variable fee which is paid to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Swiss francs.

Things to consider when registering a trade mark in Singapore

Registering a trade mark in Singapore takes time and comes with fees. There are also fairly complex rules which apply to what exactly can be covered by a trade mark. Because of this, many business owners choose to use advisory services to get support on navigating the process.

While this may mean paying your advisors a fee, you could find the trade mark registration goes more smoothly and is less stressful in the end.

Wise Business: Supporting your business growth beyond borders

Establishing a trademark is a major move toward scaling your business, but protecting your brand identity is only one part of the growth puzzle. As you look to reach customers and partners beyond Singapore, managing the high costs of international expansion can quickly become a challenge.

Wise Business helps solve the frustration of expensive conversion fees and poor exchange rates by offering a transparent way to handle money in over 40+ currencies. You can use local account details in 8+ currencies to receive payments like a resident or pay global suppliers and consultants using the mid-market rate with no hidden markups.

Wise Business serves as an alternative to traditional business account as you can hold, send, receive and exchange 40+ currencies all in one place. You’ll always get the mid-market rate with low, transparent fees. Even better, you can connect Wise Business cards to your account to control team spending in real time and reduce admin.

Here's what you get with a Wise Business account:

• Hold and manage 40+ currencies for all your international transactions.
• Get account details to receive in 8+ currencies for a one-time fee of 99 SGD
• Pay foreign currency bills and ad-hoc business travel expenses using the Wise Business card without hefty foreign transaction fees.
• Get your first Wise Business card for free when you open a Wise Business account.
• Always get the mid-market rate with transparent conversion fees.
• Seamless integrations with popular accounting software.
• Earn a variable return** on SGD, GBP, EUR, and USD through Wise Interest

➡️Get started with Wise Business today

** Growth is not guaranteed. Capital at risk.

FAQs

1. What is the difference between ™ and a registered trade mark?
™ denotes that something has been trade marked but may not have been registered. This is not the same as using the ® symbol which shows the trade mark has been registered with the national authorities and is protected under law.

2. How can I check if a trade mark is already registered in Singapore?
You can look for similar trade marks on IPOS³ to make sure your trade mark idea has not already been registered by someone else.

3. How long does trade mark registration in Singapore typically take?
Trade mark registration in Singapore can take 9 months even in an uncontested application.

Sources:

1. IPSOS - introduction to trade marks
2. IPOS - how to register a trade mark
3. IPOS Similar Mark Search