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Home > News & Events > Speeches > 2004

Welcome Address by Ms Liew Woon Yin at the IPOS IP Task Force and BSA SAM Seminar at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Grand Ballroom, Level 4
Welcome Address by Ms Liew Woon Yin, Director-General, Intellectual Property Office of Singapore at the IPOS IP Task Force and BSA SAM Seminar on Tuesday, 14 September 2004 at 9 a.m, at Grand Copthorne Waterfront Hotel, Grand Ballroom, Level 4

Mr. Jeffrey Hardee, Asia Pacific Vice President and Regional Director of the Business Software Alliance

Ladies and gentlemen

Good morning.

  1. I am very delighted to join all of you this morning for our second SAM seminar for 2004.
  2. The world around us is changing at a relentless pace. Rapid business and technological developments mean that everyone has to work even harder and smarter to stay competitive in the global economy. Recognising the challenges that a small nation like Singapore faces in seeking relevance and sustainable growth, we have been actively promoting and encouraging greater creativity and entrepreneurship in our people.
  3. We are happy to tell you that we are making progress. There are already some 36,000 new enterprises incorporated each year. Of this, approximately 10 per cent were innovative start-ups in the high tech sector. This is an encouraging trend and one which we must further nurture and develop.
  4. Many of you may also be interested to know that in the 2002 to 2003 Global Competitive Report, presented by the World Economic Forum or WEF, Singapore ranked first in innovation policy. Top marks were given to Singapore for its effectiveness in intellectual property or IP protection, and also to our policies supporting more R&D efforts in the private sector. The WEF also credited us for the effectiveness of our regulations in promoting long-term competitiveness for intellectual property.
  5. Additionally, in Asia, we are recognised as one of the best places for the commercialisation of ideas and innovation. In fact, in 2002, not only did the WEF rank Singapore as number one in Asia for IP protection – so too did the Institute for Management Development.
  6. It is therefore fitting to say that Singapore takes IP protection very seriously. And we are doing this for very important reasons. Preliminary findings from a recent study conducted by the IP Academy in partnership with IPOS show that in 2001, copyright-based industries contributed significantly to our nation’s economy, generating S$8.6 billion in value-add, representing 5.6 percent of Singapore’s GDP. In addition, these industries employed more than 115,000 persons, or 5.7 percent of the total employment.
  7. In fact, Singapore is constantly updating and strengthening our IP laws because we want to be pegged to the best practices around the world.
  8. The value of IP is simply too important for us to ignore, or to take lightly. A strong IP regime is key to bringing in investment from top international companies. A robust IP infrastructure is precisely the reason why Lucasfilms is setting up shop in Singapore. This is a wonderful opportunity for the local film industry – the sharing and transfer of ideas, the surge in creativity, not to mention, more jobs – it will be a huge boost for us. Our local entrepreneurs and budding talents will also stand to benefit as a strong IP regime protects the fruits of their innovation and creativity.
  9. This is why we are amending our copyright laws. In the area of copyright infringement, the intent is to enhance the protection regime by making it a criminal offence where the infringement is carried out willfully and on a commercial scale. We anticipate that these changes leading to corporate end user criminalisation will be in place by 1 January 2005.
  10. In the context of computer software, it is therefore important that all organisations and businesses protect themselves by making sure they are on the right side of the law. Once the new IP legislation is fully in place, keeping in view the proposed amendments, companies can face criminal prosecution for software non-compliance in the business environment – whether through under-licensing or the use of unauthorised or infringing software.
  11. Oftentimes, we find that software non-compliance in the business environment is the result of a lack of a proper software asset management or SAM process in your organisation. To help businesses along, we have once again, together with the Business Software Alliance, or the BSA, organised this SAM seminar for you today. We hope that our session today will help you better understand and prepare for the forthcoming IP law changes by putting in place a robust SAM process in your organisation.
  12. Like our SAM seminar held in April this year, today’s session is also brought to you by the IPOS IP Task Force. We are proud of our SAM seminars as it signifies the continuing collaboration between the government and the industry.
  13. It is at this juncture that I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all the members of the IPOS IP Task Force for their invaluable support to IPOS and for helping to spread the respect for IP message.
  14. Ever since the IPOS IP Task Force was set up on 24 June last year, we have made good progress. For those of you who are unaware of what the IPOS IP Taskforce is all about, for one it aims to provide the industry with a platform for open dialogue on the new IP legislation resulting from the US-Singapore Free Trade Agreement. Importantly, it also aims to facilitate businesses in their preparation for a stronger IP regime.
  15. I also urge you to check out the IPOS IP Task Force micro site at www.newiplaws.org.sg (please note that the New IP Laws website has been decomissioned as at December 2006).
    This  This micro site is a resource for you to tap. It has sections covering the IP Chapter and everything you need to learn more about the new IP legislation.
  16. I would like to conclude by saying that we are very happy that you are attending this SAM seminar today. We have with us, Mr. Jimmy Wu, from Deloitte & Touche who will share with you details on how to implement SAM in your organisation. We are also pleased to bring you Mr. Neil McMurchy, who will tell you how SAM can bring you real business benefits and not just IT operational benefits. We also have with us my colleague from IPOS, Ms. Elizabeth Cardoza, who will talk to you about the proposed changes to Singapore’s copyright regime.
  17. Finally, on behalf of the BSA and the IPOS IP task force members, I would like wish all of you a very fruitful and informative seminar.

    Thank you.
   
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