SCOPE IP - Recommended Tool for Entrepreneurs - New Portfolio Management Module Comes Online to Help Businesses Assess Their Different IP Stock

SINGAPORE, February 06, 2004 – The Intellectual Property Office Singapore (IPOS) introduced the latest addition to it's free online IP management tool. The new "Portfolio Management" module is an enhancement to its current SCOPE IP online diagnostic tool. The new module aims to help companies identify the different types of IP they own and ascertain whether there have been a proper system in place to manage them.
The announcement was made by Mr Raymond Lim, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs and Trade & Industry at the 7th Bluesky Evening. The theme of IP was chosen to mark the commencement of a series of thematic Bluesky evenings. With IP being lauded as businesses' most powerful competitive advantage in the innovation and knowledge driven economy, IP strategy has become a critical component of entrepreneurship.
Sound IP management is key to a successful business establishment. To better equip Singapore businesses in managing their IP portfolio, IPOS launched the SCOPE IP (Strategies for Creation, Ownership, Protection and Exploitation of IP) initiative in September last year. Being a national IP management programme, SCOPE IP is designed with businesses in mind. It is meant to encourage Singapore businesses to adopt the best practices in IP management.
Phase One of SCOPE IP is a handy and practical tool to help Singapore businesses get started with the IP Management process. In the form of an online self-assessment diagnostic tool, SCOPE IP Phase One provides free consultation to all Singapore businesses.
Hosted on IPOS' IP portal, the online diagnostic tool now has two modules - Strategic Management module and Portfolio Management module. Both modules will serve to help companies assess the management's readiness in their IP strategy and their ability to identify and inventorise their IP stock.
To access SCOPE IP, businesses need only to sign up for free at www.surfip.gov.sg. Registered businesses will be asked to answer a list of questions in each module. Upon completion, a report detailing the companies' strengths and weaknesses in its IP deployment will be generated.
Phase Two of SCOPE IP involves the deployment of a set of 'best practice' protocols on IP management as a framework for use by IP consultants pratising in Singapore in assessing the IP capabilities of enterprises. Details of the roll out of Phase Two of SCOPE IP will be announced later this year.

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.