For a Singapore SME, the company name and the brand mark above the storefront are often the most valuable assets on the balance sheet. ACRA registration protects only the corporate name from a corporate-administration standpoint — it does not give you exclusive rights to use the brand commercially. For real legal protection across products, services and online channels, you need a registered trademark with the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS).
This 2026 guide walks you through the IPOS trademark registration process: who can apply, the Nice classification system, the cost schedule, the typical timeline, opposition risks, and how to maintain and enforce the mark after registration.
Why Register a Trademark in Singapore
A registered trademark gives the proprietor the exclusive right to use the mark in respect of the registered goods or services within Singapore. It also unlocks:
- The right to sue for infringement under the Trade Marks Act 1998;
- A presumption of validity in court — much harder to overturn than common-law passing-off;
- The ability to license or assign the mark for revenue;
- Use as collateral for financing under MAS-recognised IP-valuation frameworks;
- A priority filing date under the Paris Convention for filings in 175+ countries;
- A foundation for trademark protection in ASEAN through the Madrid Protocol.
The full statutory framework — Trade Marks Act 1998 and the Trade Marks Rules — is available on Singapore Statutes Online. IPOS operates the registration system under those rules.
What Can Be Registered as a Trademark
IPOS allows registration of:
- Words, names and slogans;
- Logos and stylised letters;
- Combinations of words and design (a “device mark”);
- Shapes of goods or packaging;
- Colours used in a specific manner;
- Sounds and motion marks (with appropriate representation);
- Holograms and certain non-traditional marks.
What cannot be registered: marks that are descriptive of the goods/services (e.g., “Fast Coffee” for an espresso bar), generic terms, marks contrary to public policy, marks that deceive the public, and marks that conflict with an existing earlier mark.
The Nice Classification System
IPOS uses the international Nice Classification — 45 classes covering every category of goods and services. Each class incurs a separate filing fee. Typical clusters:
- Class 9: software, mobile apps, downloadable content.
- Class 25: clothing, footwear, headgear.
- Class 35: business management, retail services, advertising.
- Class 36: financial services, insurance, real estate.
- Class 41: education, training, entertainment.
- Class 43: food and drink services.
Choosing the right classes is the most consequential decision in the entire process. Apply to too few classes and a competitor can register the same mark for adjacent goods. Apply to too many and you may face non-use revocation under Section 22 of the Trade Marks Act after 5 years.
Step-by-Step Process
- Pre-filing search (recommended). Search IPOS’s IP2SG database and online registries for identical or confusingly similar marks. A clearance search reduces the risk of expensive opposition or refusal later.
- Prepare the application. Identify the proprietor (individual, Singapore company, foreign company), the mark representation (clear JPG/PNG, 5MB max), and the goods/services description per class. Foreign applicants without a Singapore address for service must appoint a Singapore-registered agent.
- File via IP2SG. Submit the application online with the prescribed fee.
- Formality and substantive examination. IPOS examiners check that the formal requirements are satisfied and that the mark is registrable on absolute and relative grounds.
- Examination Report. If objections arise, the applicant has 4 months (extendable) to respond. Common objections: descriptiveness, conflict with earlier mark, vague specification.
- Acceptance and Publication. Once accepted, the mark is published in the Trade Marks Journal for 2 months. Third parties may file opposition during this window.
- Registration. If no opposition (or opposition is overcome), the mark is entered on the register and a Certificate of Registration is issued.
Costs (Official Fees, 2026)
IPOS official fees as at YA 2026 are typically:
- Filing fee: S$240 per class (online, pre-approved goods/services description); S$280 per class for free-text descriptions.
- Examination response: Nil official fee for the first response; subsequent extensions S$60 each.
- Opposition filing: S$320 by the opponent.
- Registration certificate: included in the filing fee.
- Renewal: S$380 per class, every 10 years.
Agent fees are separate. A straightforward single-class filing handled by an IP-experienced corporate services firm typically runs S$600–S$1,200 in professional fees. Always confirm pricing with your appointed agent before filing.
Typical Timeline
- Filing to publication: 6–9 months for straightforward applications, longer if objections arise.
- Publication to registration: 2 months if unopposed; up to 12–18 months if opposed.
- Total uncontested: 8–12 months from filing to registration.
- Total opposed: 18–24 months or more depending on contested hearings.
The filing date is what matters most. Once an application is filed, the applicant has priority over any later identical or similar mark filed in Singapore — even if registration takes a year to complete.
Opposition: When Third Parties Object
During the 2-month publication window, any person can oppose registration on grounds including:
- The mark is identical or similar to an earlier mark (Section 8);
- The mark is identical or similar to a well-known mark (Section 8(4));
- Use of the mark would amount to passing off;
- The mark was filed in bad faith (Section 7(6)).
Opposition proceedings are governed by IPOS’s Hearings and Mediation Group. They can be costly (typically S$10,000–S$30,000) and lengthy. Many oppositions are resolved through co-existence agreements or amendments to the goods/services specification before reaching a contested hearing.
After Registration: Use It or Lose It
A registered Singapore trademark is initially valid for 10 years from the filing date and is renewable indefinitely in 10-year blocks. However, Section 22 allows third parties to apply for revocation if the mark has not been used in good faith in respect of the registered goods or services for 5 continuous years.
Best practice for maintenance:
- Use the mark in commerce consistently with the form registered. If you redesign your logo materially, file a new application.
- Keep evidence of use — invoices, marketing materials, packaging samples.
- Watch the renewal deadline — IPOS reminders are sent, but renewal is the proprietor’s responsibility.
- Monitor newly published marks for confusingly similar applications; consider an opposition where appropriate.
- Record assignments and licences with IPOS within 6 months — unrecorded transactions are not enforceable against good-faith third parties.
Extending Protection Overseas
The Singapore filing date can be used as a priority filing date for applications in other Paris Convention countries within 6 months. For broader international protection, Singapore is a member of the Madrid Protocol — a single international application via IPOS can extend coverage to 130+ member countries. Pricing under Madrid is generally more efficient than filing nationally in each jurisdiction.
If you are planning regional expansion, consider also reviewing the Section 19B Writing-Down Allowance for IP, which allows tax deduction on the cost of acquiring qualifying IP rights.
How Raffles Corporate Services Helps
Our team coordinates trademark filings as part of the broader corporate setup — particularly for clients who incorporate a new entity, take a Singapore registered office, and want their brand protected from day one. We work with IPOS-experienced trademark agents on clearance searches, class selection and filing, and we monitor renewal deadlines as part of our corporate secretarial retainer.
FAQ
Do I have to register a trademark, or is common-law passing-off enough?
Passing-off provides limited protection but is harder and more expensive to enforce. Registration converts your protection from “evidential” to “presumptive” and is strongly recommended for any brand you plan to build commercially.
Can I register my Singapore company name as a trademark?
Yes, provided it satisfies the registrability requirements. ACRA registration and IPOS registration are separate — having one does not give you the other.
Should I file in my personal name or the company’s name?
For commercial assets used by an operating business, file in the company’s name. Personal-name ownership creates complexity at exit and can attract additional tax issues on assignment.
How quickly can I use the ® symbol?
Only after registration is complete. Before that, you may use ™ to indicate that you claim the mark, but ™ has no statutory effect — it is purely a notice to others.
— The Editorial Team, Raffles Corporate Services