IPOS Announces IP Taskforce Members - Taskforce to Educate Business Community on New IP Laws

Singapore, June 24, 2003 - Seven leading business associations and five government statutory boards have been appointed to a new Intellectual Property (IP) Taskforce, which is being set up to help Singapore businesses prepare for stronger IP laws arising from the United States-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. (Please refer to Annex A (73.2KB) for the term of reference)
The IP Taskforce was announced today by Ms Liew Woon Yin, Director General of the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) at the first joint event - "Software Asset Management Seminar" organised for businesses by Business Software Alliance (BSA), IPOS and Taskforce members.
"It is important that the business community understands the legislative changes," remarked Ms Liew Woon Yin, Director General of IPOS. "This new Taskforce, to be chaired by IPOS, will help businesses understand implications of the new laws."
"We also expect this Taskforce to act as a forum for businesses and the Government to exchange ideas about tapping the business potential of IP to benefit from the FTA," she further added. The taskforce is also expected to proactively engage professional bodies such as Asian Patent Attorneys Associations, Association of Singapore Patent Attorneys and The Law Society of Singapore, to solicit broad based views and feedback on the legislations.
Business groups represented on the IP Taskforce include the Association of Small and Medium Enterprises, CommerceNet Singapore, the Designers Association of Singapore, Singapore Business Federation, the Singapore Information and Technology Federation, Singapore Institute of Architect and the Singapore International Chamber of Commerce. Collectively, these associations represent about 18,000 small, medium and large Singapore-based businesses.
In addition, the Taskforce will include statutory board members from the Infocomm Development Authority, International Enterprise Singapore, the Singapore Economic Development Board, the Media Development Authority, and Spring Singapore.
Ms Liew expressed her positive comment on the make-up of the IP Taskforce, "These groups represent the major creators and users of IP in our economy. I look forward to working with representatives of both the Government and businesses of all sizes during this important process."
Singapore Business Federation Deputy Honorary Secretary Mr Willie Cheng said the federation was looking forward to being part of the Taskforce preparing businesses to become IP compliant. "I believe it is the right time for IPOS to initiate this Taskforce as our members are very keen to learn more of the law changes."
Assoc Prof Toh See Kiat, Chairman of CommerceNet Singapore, pleased to be part of the Taskforce remarked that "Proper legal protection is key to attracting increased US investment and transfer of critical US technologies and intellectual property to Singapore. CommerceNet is honoured to be in the taskforce to help build the laws, policies and practices needed to bring continued prosperity to Singapore in the future." (Please refer to Annex B (68.8KB) for more quotes from taskforce members)
Apart from heading the Taskforce, IPOS will launch a national advertising campaign next year to build awareness of the reforms. IPOS will also create a dedicated website, prepare brochures and set up a national resource centre, including a call centre, to help businesses with information on IP legislation changes.
The Taskforce will first meet in August to discuss industry implications of the IP legislative changes prior to the laws being enacted from March to September 2004. Taskforce representatives will also work with IPOS to explain the changes to their business community members.
Key IP law changes include,

For copyright:
- Clearer rules regarding Internet Service Provider (ISP) liability with regard to copyright infringements and defined limited immunity for their actions for transmission of unauthorised content.
- Criminal offence for significant and wilful copyright infringement (currently a civil offence).
- New anti-circumvention provision will make it illegal for people to circumvent devices designed to protect digital works such as film, music and software.
For patents:
- Tighter controls on the parallel importation of pharmaceutical products.
- Extension of the patent term for pharmaceutical products upon marketing approval delays.
For trademarks:
- Extension of trademark registration to include sound marks and, if practicable, scent marks.
Ms Liew added that stronger protection of IP assets would encourage entrepreneurship, investment, job creation and growth in Singapore's technology, science and creative industries.

For media enquiry, please contact:

Ms Jennifer Chen
Assistant Director
Media & Marketing Communications
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)
DID: 6331 6548
HP: 93691839
Fax: 63316562
Email: Jennifer_Chen@ipos.gov.sg

About IPOS
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore or IPOS (http://www.ipos.gov.sg) is the lead government agency that formulates and regulates intellectual property (IP) laws, promotes IP awareness and provides the infrastructure to facilitate the greater development of IP in Singapore. With IP fast becoming a critical resource in today’s new economy, IPOS’s vision is to foster a creative Singapore where ideas and intellectual efforts are valued, developed and exploited. Formerly known as the Registry of Trade Marks and Patents, IPOS was established as a statutory board of the Ministry of Law on 1 April 2001.