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Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
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Resolve IP Disputes

A key part in your IP management journey is to defend your IP and resolve disputes, where necessary. Find suitable dispute resolution approaches, resources, and guides for your needs.

Last updated 25 March 2025

On this page

Hearings and mediation
Choosing your dispute resolution route
Litigation routes
Hearing Officers & IP Adjudicators
Useful links

Hearings and mediation

You may encounter a dispute in the course of protecting your intellectual property (IP). This could be in the form of an opposition to your trade mark application, or a revocation of your granted patent, or an infringement of your registered design.

Choosing your dispute resolution route

It is important at the outset of an IP dispute to know how you wish to handle the dispute. Use this diagram to help you choose which route to take.

You are encouraged to consider mediation (for all proceedings) and expert determination (for patent proceedings) as time- and cost-effective alternatives to litigation for resolving your dispute.

Alternative dispute resolution routes

Consider mediation (for all proceedings) and expert determination (for patent proceedings).

MediationExpert Determination
Infographic showing the possible routes to resolve your IP dispute.

Litigation routes

If you are facing the prospect of (or are currently involved in) a dispute and do not have legal representation, we strongly recommend that you seek legal assistance.

Infographic showing the different IP litigation routes.

Hearing Officers & IP Adjudicators

The proceedings in HMD are heard by our Principal Assistant Registrars, Assistant Registrars and IP Adjudicators. IP Adjudicators are externally appointed.

Principal Assistant Registrar

Mr Mark Lim Fung Chian
Ms See Tho Sok Yee
Ms Tan Mei Lin
Ms Sandy Widjaja
Mr Ong Sheng Li, Gabriel (Wang Shengli)

Assistant Registrar

Ms Chee Sze Yin
Ms Yong Yoke Ching (Celine)

IP Adjudicators

Mr Vince Gui Chuan Cheng
District Judge
State Courts of Singapore

Professor David Llewelyn
Professor of Law (Practice)
School of Law
Singapore Management University

Mr Sim Junhui
Assistant Registrar
Supreme Court of Singapore

Mr Tan Tee Jim
Senior Counsel, Senior Partner and Head, Intellectual Property
Lee & Lee

Useful links

Patent Disputes

Find suitable dispute resolution approaches for patents.

Trade Mark Disputes

Find suitable dispute resolution approaches for trade marks

Geographical Indication Disputes

Find suitable dispute resolution approaches for geographical indications

WIPO-ASEAN Mediation Programme (AMP+)

Receive support to mediate your IP and technology disputes

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Find answers to commonly asked questions.