A registered trade mark in Singapore gives a company the exclusive right to use its brand on the goods and services for which the mark is registered. Without registration, you are relying on the common-law tort of passing off — slower, more expensive and far harder to prove. For most Singapore companies, trade mark registration is the most cost-effective piece of intellectual property protection you can put in place.
This 2026 guide explains the trade mark registration process in Singapore administered by the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS), the costs, timeline, common refusal grounds, and how to manage your trade mark portfolio after registration.
What is a Trade Mark?
Under the Trade Marks Act 1998, a trade mark is any sign capable of being represented graphically and of distinguishing the goods or services of one trader from another. In practice, registrable trade marks include:
- Word marks (e.g. company names, product names).
- Logos and stylised marks.
- Slogans (if distinctive).
- 3D marks (shape of packaging, shape of goods).
- Colour marks, sound marks and even scent marks (rarer).
A registered trade mark in Singapore lasts 10 years from the date of filing and can be renewed indefinitely in 10-year tranches under Section 18 of the Trade Marks Act.
Why Register a Trade Mark in Singapore?
- Exclusive rights: A registered owner can stop others from using an identical or confusingly similar mark in the same class of goods/services.
- Easier enforcement: Infringement of a registered mark is a statutory cause of action — you do not need to prove reputation, goodwill or actual confusion, as you would in a passing-off claim.
- Asset value: A trade mark is a transferable intangible asset — it can be licensed, assigned and used as security.
- International leverage: A Singapore registration is the basis for filing under the Madrid Protocol, allowing you to extend protection to more than 130 countries through a single application.
- Customs enforcement: Owners can record their trade marks with Singapore Customs to block infringing imports.
The Registration Process Step-by-Step
Step 1: Search before you file
Run an availability search through the IPOS Digital Hub. The goal is to identify earlier identical or similar marks in the same class of goods/services. If a conflicting earlier mark exists, your application is likely to be refused or opposed — better to discover this before paying filing fees.
A professional clearance search will also consider phonetic equivalents, common abbreviations and conceptual similarity, all of which are grounds for refusal under Section 8 of the Trade Marks Act.
Step 2: File the application
An application is filed via the IPOS Digital Hub. You need:
- A representation of the mark (clear graphical image).
- The applicant’s name and address (usually the trading company — make sure this matches your holding company structure for IP ownership).
- The classes of goods/services (Nice Classification — 45 classes in total).
- A specification of goods/services for each class.
- Filing fee: S$240 per class using pre-approved descriptions, or S$341 per class with custom descriptions.
Step 3: Formal and substantive examination
IPOS first checks formalities (e.g. fee paid, mark representable graphically), then conducts substantive examination against:
- Absolute grounds under Section 7 — the mark must be distinctive, not descriptive, not deceptive, not contrary to public policy, and not generic.
- Relative grounds under Section 8 — the mark must not conflict with earlier registered or pending marks for similar goods/services.
If IPOS raises objections, the applicant has 4 months (extendable) to respond with arguments or amendments.
Step 4: Publication and opposition period
Once the application passes examination, it is published in the Trade Marks Journal. Third parties have 2 months from publication to file an opposition. Opposition extensions of up to 2 further months are routinely granted.
If no opposition is filed (or any opposition is dismissed), the mark proceeds to registration.
Step 5: Registration
IPOS issues a registration certificate. Protection is backdated to the filing date, not the registration date, so any infringement that occurred from the filing date onwards is actionable.
Timeline and Costs
| Stage | Typical timeline (from filing) | Indicative cost |
|---|---|---|
| Search & filing | Day 0 | S$240 (per class, pre-approved description) + agent fees |
| Formal & substantive examination | 4–6 months | Included in filing fee |
| Publication | ~6–8 months | Included |
| Opposition period | 2 months after publication | — |
| Registration | 9–12 months (if unopposed) | — |
| Renewal (every 10 years) | — | S$380 per class (within renewal window) |
Most straightforward Singapore trade mark applications complete in 9–12 months. Applications with objections or opposition can take 18–24 months.
Common Reasons Trade Mark Applications Get Refused
1. Descriptive marks
“Quality Coffee” for a coffee shop or “Best Plumbing” for plumbing services will be refused under Section 7(1)(c) — they describe the goods/services and other traders have a legitimate need to use those words.
2. Generic terms
Words that have become the common name for the goods/services themselves (e.g. “Escalator” for moving stairs) cannot be registered.
3. Confusion with earlier marks
Section 8 refusals are by far the most common. A clearance search before filing usually catches these — but be aware IPOS looks beyond identical marks to phonetic and conceptual similarity within the same Nice Class.
4. Deceptive marks
A mark that misleads consumers as to the nature, quality or geographical origin of the goods will be refused under Section 7(1)(g).
Extending Protection Internationally
Once you have a Singapore application or registration, you can file an international application under the Madrid Protocol designating any of 130+ member countries. This is administered through IPOS but processed by the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The Madrid Protocol is far cheaper and faster than filing separately in each country. For a Singapore-headquartered group expanding regionally, it is usually the default international IP strategy.
Managing Your Trade Mark Portfolio
- Renewal: Mark renewal dates 10 years out — IPOS sends reminders but the owner is responsible. Late renewal incurs a S$200 surcharge per class within the 6-month grace period; after that the mark lapses.
- Watch service: Monitor new applications for marks similar to yours and file oppositions where needed.
- Use it or lose it: A registered mark can be revoked under Section 22 if it has not been used in Singapore for an uninterrupted period of 5 years.
- Licensing: Trade mark licences should be in writing and recorded with IPOS for full effect against third parties.
Should Your Company Register a Trade Mark Now?
If your brand is the primary way customers find you — and for most Singapore SMEs it is — then yes. The cost of a Singapore single-class application is modest compared to the cost of a rebrand forced by someone else registering your mark first, or the cost of a passing-off action without the benefit of a registration.
We see two common timing patterns. (1) Founders register the company first under the Companies Act, then file the trade mark within 3–6 months of going to market. (2) Mature companies file trade marks for new product lines as part of the product launch checklist.
How Raffles Corporate Services Can Help
We work alongside trade mark agents to file, prosecute and maintain trade marks for Singapore companies. We also handle the corporate side — making sure the mark is registered in the right entity for tax and IP strategy, and that internal IP licensing between group companies is documented properly. Get in touch if you would like an initial trade mark availability review.
— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services