3商标案例研究以及为什么商标很重要

1) Polo/Lauren Co LP v US Polo Association [2016] SGHC 32

应用标记（USPA）

反对标志（PRL）

The plaintiff, Polo/Lauren (“PRL”) is a company who retails in luxury apparel and is the owner of the Opposition Mark registered in Class 9 for “spectacles, spectacle frames, sunglasses and parts and fittings therefor”. The defendant, United States Polo Association (“USPA”) is the governing body of the the sport of polo in the US and expanded into the business of selling consumer products such as eyewear, luggage and clothing. USPA also applied to register its trade mark in Class 9, in Singapore. PRL opposed to USPA’s application on the grounds of confusing similarity under S8(2)(b) of the Trade Marks Act (“TMA”). In essence, S8(2)(b) of the TMA states that a trade mark can not be registered if it is it is similar to an earlier trade mark and is to be registered for goods or services identical with or similar to those for which the earlier trade mark is protected and, importantly, there exists a likelihood of confusion on the part of the public.

The application to oppose was dismissed by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore and the decision was upheld on appeal to the High Court. The High Court applied the test laid down in Staywell Hospitality Group Pty Ltd v Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc (the “Staywell test”) [2014] 1 SLR 911.

The High Court found there was no confusion on the part of the public under S8(2)(b) of the TMA. The High Court said that visually the marks were dissimilar due to the different number of polo players and their positions as well as the dominance of the word element “USPA” in the Application Mark. The Court also took the view that the two marks could not be compared aurally where one of the marks has no aural component (PRL). In coming to this decision the High Court took into account the low degree of similarity between the trade marks and the greater attention that an average consumer was likely to pay when purchasing eyewear. Eyewear is considered to be highly personal in nature and is bought infrequently and not an item that would be purchased in a hurry. The High Court therefore concluded that a consumer would pay a high level of attention to the differences between the marks and could therefore distinguish between the goods of PRL and USPA.

This case highlights that if trade mark owners wish to show that their marks have acquired a higher degree of distinctiveness in relation to a certain type of good amongst traders, they should illustrate evidence of the use of their marks relating to the goods in question. Evidence of use of a trade mark otherwise may not be sufficient to show the trade mark has acquired such distinctiveness in relation to that type of good, as experienced by PRL.

2）新加坡批准使用知识产权抵押品的首次贷款申请

2016年6月2日，知识产权融资计划（IPF）向新加坡拥有鞋类公司提供专利支持的首次贷款。监督该计划的新加坡知识产权办事处（IPO）表示，向马塞集团国际支付的贷款得到了DBS银行的支持，其中三个参与金融机构之一。另外两个是UOB和OCBC。在使用机械和库存等切实资产申请贷款融资时是公司的常见做法，以专利的形式使用无形资产是最近的发展。

知识产权保护的重要性

IP是一个无形的，尽管重要的资产。所有全球各地，公司都确保他们确保其专利，版权，商标甚至商业秘密的权利，以保护其业务的竞争优势。拥有IP权威，如这些，使得竞争对手难以模仿一个人的产品，而不会收到“停止和停止”信。通过保护一个人的想法和专业知识，企业家，创新者和企业也可以进一步鼓励制作新发明和创作。反过来，客户可以依靠IP，以确保他们正在购买安全，正宗的产品。

Singaporean businessman Andy Chaw, who bought Masai from its Swiss owners in 2012, said the company will use the financing from the IPFS scheme to support its research and development efforts in new technologies and product development, as well as invest and strengthen its brand marketing and global IP portfolios.

例如，除了帮助客户轻松识别其产品，保护Masai的商标，包括其独特的符号和言辞，请授予Masai标记产品的独家权利，并使公司更容易采取对抗伪造者的行动。正如马赛继续以其信誉的鞋类创新者在其声誉上，其商标同样会随着时间的推移发展内在价值。DBS还认识到，收购Masai的专利，这可以防止其他公司制造或销售类似产品，基本上将转化为未来的收益。

Changes to Loan Scheme

IPOS还揭开了在未来两年内为IPF排队的一系列变化。首次实施的将是扩大该计划，仅向其他IP资产课程覆盖到其他IP资产课程，例如2016年7月1日的注册商标和版权。该计划还将延长两年，直到2018年3月31日，因为IPOS期望增加的申请人数增加。

IPOS has cited an “all-time high” in the number of IP filings in Singapore, with 44,203 trademarks and 10,814 patents filed in 2015 which is an indication of the “current buoyant innovation climate”. To meet this expected surge in demand for IP loan financing, IPOS has appointed AFC Merchant Bank as its fourth participating financial institution, and increased the panel of IP asset valuers for the scheme from three to seven. This move will allow companies to work with more financial institutions and competent IP valuers for successful loan applications, IPOS said.

ipo是他加大力度lp local companies and entrepreneurs realise that IP “is not just about protection of their legal rights; it is about using it to grow their business”. With this in mind, entrepreneurs and start ups are encouraged to safeguard their IP rights and take advantage of the financial assistance backed by the Registry. It also demonstrates that cash for intellectual property through loan financing is now a reality for businesses.

3) GrabTaxi Rebrands to Grab to Reflect Market Dominance in Southeast Asia

2016年1月28日，“Grabtaxi”将其服务重新安排在“抓取”，以反映其超越出租车预订服务的多样化，以“私家车，拼车，送货服务”。这一举措基本上汇集了一个品牌 - “抓取”的所有运输服务。该重塑代表了作为整体运输业服务的不需要服务的不断增长的平台，并抓住了他们希望在市场上描绘的形象清楚的思想以及他们的品牌代表。这一前景对于拥有知识产权和希望保护其品牌名称的任何启动或企业都很重要。

新徽标被设计为核心自由。双线受到道路的启发，它们代表了无穷无尽的可能性道路。他们象征着新的旅程抓住与其乘客，司机，员工和社会的乘客，司机，员工和社会都是平行的。

为展示品牌存在在市场中的重要性以及企业如何在目标市场的思想中区分其业务或服务的重要性。同样，商标保护使企业能够识别和区分市场上的其他交易者。一旦业务成功，其商业信誉成长，商标将持有重大价值。