Trade Marks Act 1998 - Singapore Statutes Online

SECOND SCHEDULE

Section 61(2)

Certification Marks

General

1.—(1) The provisions of this Act apply to certification marks subject to the provisions of this Schedule.

(2) For the purposes of this Schedule, “published” means made available to the public (whether in Singapore or elsewhere), and a document is taken to be published if it can be inspected as of right at any place in Singapore by members of the public, whether on payment of a fee or not.

Signs of which a certification mark may consist

2. In relation to a certification mark, the reference in the definition of “trade mark” in section 2(1) to distinguishing goods or services dealt with or provided in the course of trade by a person from those so dealt with or provided by any other person is to be construed as a reference to distinguishing goods or services dealt with or provided in the course of trade and which are certified in the manner referred to in section 61(1)(b) from those which are not so certified.

Indication of geographical origin

3.—(1) Despite section 7(1)(c), a certification mark may be registered which consists of signs or indications which may serve, in trade, to designate the geographical origin of the goods or services.

(2) However, the proprietor of such a mark is not entitled to prohibit the use of the signs or indications in accordance with honest practices in industrial or commercial matters (in particular, by a person who is entitled to use a geographical name).

Nature of proprietor’s business

4. A certification mark must not be registered if the proprietor carries on a business involving the supply of goods or services of the kind certified.

Mark not to be misleading as to character or significance

5.—(1) A certification mark must not be registered if the public is liable to be misled as regards the character or significance of the mark, in particular if it is likely to be taken to be something other than a certification mark.

(2) The Registrar may accordingly require that a mark in respect of which application is made for registration include some indication that it is a certification mark.

(3) Despite section 14(3), an application may be amended so as to comply with any such requirement.

Regulations governing use of certification mark

6.—(1) An applicant for registration of a certification mark must file with the Registrar regulations governing the use of the mark.

(2) The regulations must indicate who is authorised to use the mark, the characteristics to be certified by the mark, how the certifying body is to test those characteristics and to supervise the use of the mark, the fees (if any) to be paid in connection with the operation of the mark and the procedures for resolving disputes.

(3) Further requirements with which the regulations have to comply may be imposed by rules made under this Act.

Approval of regulations, etc.

7.—(1) A certification mark must not be registered unless —

(a)

the regulations governing the use of the mark —

(i)	comply with paragraph 6(2) and any further requirements imposed by rules; and
(ii)	are not contrary to public policy or to accepted principles of morality; and

(b)

the applicant is competent to certify the goods or services for which the mark is to be registered.

(2) Before the end of the prescribed period after the date of the application for registration of a certification mark, the applicant must file the regulations with the Registrar and pay the prescribed fee.

(3) If the applicant does not comply with sub-paragraph (2), the application is to be treated as withdrawn.

8.—(1) The Registrar must consider whether the requirements mentioned in paragraph 7(1) are met.

(2) If it appears to the Registrar that those requirements are not met, he or she must inform the applicant and give the applicant an opportunity, within such period as the Registrar may specify, to make representations or to file amended regulations.

(3) If the applicant responds within the specified period but fails to satisfy the Registrar that those requirements are met, or to file regulations that have been amended so as to meet those requirements, the Registrar may refuse the application.

(4) If the applicant fails to respond within the specified period, the application is to be treated as withdrawn.

(5) If it appears to the Registrar that —

(a)	the requirements mentioned in paragraph 7(1) are met; and
(b)	the other requirements for registration in relation to all or some of the goods or services for which registration is sought are met,

the Registrar must accept the application in relation to the goods or services for which the requirements for registration are met and must proceed in accordance with section 13.

[Act 7 of 2022 wef 26/05/2022]

9. The regulations must be published and notice of opposition may be given relating to the matters mentioned in paragraph 7(1), in addition to any other grounds on which the application may be opposed.

Regulations to be open to inspection

10. The regulations governing the use of a registered certification mark must be open to public inspection in the same way as the register.

Amendment of regulations

11.—(1) An amendment of the regulations governing the use of a registered certification mark is not effective unless and until the amended regulations are filed with the Registrar and accepted by him or her.

(2) Before accepting any amended regulations, the Registrar may, in any case where it appears to him or her expedient to do so, cause them to be published.

(3) If the Registrar causes the regulations to be published, notice of opposition may be given relating to the matters mentioned in paragraph 7(1).

Consent to assignment of registered certification mark

12. The assignment or other transmission of a registered certification mark is not effective without the consent of the Registrar.

Infringement: rights of authorised users

13. The following provisions apply in relation to an authorised user of a registered certification mark as in relation to a licensee of a trade mark —

(a)	section 27(5);
(b)	section 82.

14. In infringement proceedings brought by the proprietor of a registered certification mark, any loss suffered or likely to be suffered by authorised users must be taken into account; and the Court may give such directions as it thinks fit as to the extent to which the claimant is to hold the proceeds of any pecuniary remedy on behalf of such users.

[Act 25 of 2021 wef 01/04/2022]

Grounds for revocation of registration

15. Apart from the grounds of revocation provided for in section 22, the registration of a certification mark may be revoked on the ground —

(a)

that the proprietor has begun to carry on such a business as is mentioned in paragraph 4;

(b)

that the manner in which the mark has been used by the proprietor has caused it to become liable to mislead the public in the manner referred to in paragraph 5(1);

(c)

that the proprietor has failed to observe, or to secure the observance of, the regulations governing the use of the mark;

(d)

that an amendment of the regulations has been made so that the regulations —

(i)	no longer comply with paragraph 6(2) and any further conditions imposed by rules; or
(ii)	are contrary to public policy or morality; or

(e)

that the proprietor is no longer competent to certify the goods or services for which the mark is registered.

Grounds for invalidity of registration

16. Apart from the grounds of invalidity provided for in section 23, the registration of a certification mark may be declared invalid on the ground that the mark was registered in breach of the provisions of paragraph 4, 5(1) or 7(1).

[42/2005]

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