Singapore, 25 September 2008 – The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on bilateral co-operation today with the National Institute for Industrial Property of France. On 24 September 2008, IPOS also signed a MOU with the Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial of Brazil. Together with the MOU signed with the Federal Institute for Intellectual Property of Switzerland on 23 September 2008, IPOS has concluded three MOUs at the 45th World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) General Assembly in Geneva.
The MOUs with the intellectual property (IP) offices of Brazil and France aim to foster closer collaboration in IP, especially in promoting greater exchanges, sharing experience and facilitating more opportunities in joint initiatives. The MOUs mark a new chapter in Singapore’s relations with Brazil and France, and further strengthens Singapore’s close ties with these two countries.
“We are indeed pleased to formalise new partnerships with Brazil and France,” said Ms Liew Woon Yin, Director-General of IPOS. “In particular, IPOS is keen to further explore knowledge-sharing in the key area of SME assistance to incentivise SMEs to competitively leverage upon IP in their businesses. With technological developments and increased emphasis on innovation, it is crucial for organisations and individuals to be even more aware of IP to protect and exploit their intellectual capital.”
Mr Jorge Avila, President of the Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial of Brazil (INPI), added that “The MOU will provide an excellent platform for us to further strengthen bilateral cooperation with Singapore and work together in areas of common interests in the field of IP”
Following the signing ceremony, Mr Jean-Baptiste Mozziconacci from the National Institute for Industrial Property of France said, “We look forward to the opportunities that will come with this MOU for greater exchanges with Singapore on IP issues, expertise and experiences on initiatives of mutual interest.”
For media enquiries, please contact:
Tan Mei Jue (Ms)
Public Relations Department
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
DID: +65 6331 6581
Fax: +65 6331 6562
Email: tan_mei_jue@ipos.gov.sg
Website: www.ipos.gov.sg
Nicole Ong (Ms)
Public Relations Department
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
DID: +65 6331 6552
Fax: +65 6331 6562
Email: Nicole_ong@ipos.gov.sg
Website: www.ipos.gov.sg
About Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS)
The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), a statutory board under the Ministry of Law since April 2001, is the lead government agency that advises on and administers intellectual property (IP) laws, promotes IP awareness and provides the infrastructure to facilitate the 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. More information on IPOS can be found on www.ipos.gov.sg.
INPI is Federal Institution created in 1970, and linked to the Ministry of Development, Industry and Foreign Trade. Supported by the industrial Property Law number 9.279/1996, the INPI has as its main purpose execute in Brazil the rules that regulate the industrial property and the register the contracts concerning transfer of technology, industrial property licensing, and franchising, taking into account its social, economical, juridical and technical function. It is also the responsibility of the INPI to evaluate of the convenience on celebrating, ratifying and declaring the conventions, treaties, and agreements and on industrial property in which is part.
National Institute for Industrial Property of France is a public body reporting to the Ministry for the Economy, Industry and Employment. The mission of the institute is to support enterprise, innovation and competitiveness by providing assistance throughout all procedural stages in the industrial property field, granting patents, registering trademarks as well as designs and publishing them. Besides being a key interface in governmental action to combat counterfeiting, the institute also plays a major role in elaborating French industrial property law and raising awareness of industrial property in France. Moreover, INPI is also acting on the international level by representing France in various Assemblies of intergovernmental organizations and takes part in numerous events dealing with bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the field of industrial property.