企业拓展海外业务的知识产权考量 —— 新加坡视角

Dispute resolution

Singapore offers a robust IP litigation regime for dispute resolution (which are often cross and multi-jurisdictional). IP disputes can be heard at the Singapore International Commercial Court or at the General Division of the High Court by the specialist IP judges. 

新加坡有着稳健的知识产权诉讼制度，常常处理跨辖区或多辖区纠纷。争议双方可选择新加坡国际商事法庭或高等法院普审部由知识产权法官审理知识产权案件。

Singapore also has alternative dispute resolution frameworks that prioritise timely and cost-efficient dispute resolution, such as arbitration and mediation. Singapore ranks as the most preferred seat of arbitration and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre the second most preferred arbitral institution in the world (see 2021 International Arbitration Survey by Queen Mary University of London). Since January 2010, the World Intellectual Property Organisation Arbitration and Mediation Centre has sited its only office outside Geneva in Singapore to cater to the needs of IP stakeholders in the region and around the world.

新加坡还有着完善的替代性争议解决框架，为争议双方提供经济高效的纠纷解决机制，如仲裁和调解。在仲裁方面，新加坡被评为全球最受欢迎的仲裁地，新加坡国际仲裁中心被评为全球第二受欢迎的仲裁机构。在调解方面，值得一提的是，世界知识产权组织仲裁和调解中心于2010年1月将其在日内瓦总部以外的唯一办事处设在新加坡，以满足周边地区乃至世界各地的知识产权利益相关者的需求。

Singapore is signatory to various conventions, allowing for Singapore court judgement, arbitral award or settlement agreements resulting from mediation to be efficiently enforced. 

与此同时，新加坡还是许多国际公约的缔约国，这让新加坡的法院判决、仲裁裁决和调解达成的和解协议在缔约国之间得以有效执行。

Registration

In recent years, Singapore has become an attractive destination for international IP activities. There are growing numbers of international companies filing in Singapore to protect their IP.

近年来，新加坡对于国际知识产权活动来说充满了吸引力。越来越多的国际公司在新加坡申请保护其知识产权。

Recognising that registration is key to IP protection and business strategies, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (“IPOS”), considered the most innovative IP office in the world (see 2020 World Trademark Review), has been actively taking steps to help businesses accelerate their speed to market through obtaining registrations faster. 

作为世界上最具创新性的知识产权局，新加坡知识产权局（“IPOS”）意识到知识产权的申请注册是企业资产保护和商业战略的关键，前瞻性地采取了一系列措施帮助企业通过更快获得注册来加快其进入市场的步伐。

IPOS has pioneered a domestic IP fast-track programme and streamlined registration process via a mobile app and e-service portal, allowing businesses to do filings and secure grants quickly. IPOS has also participated in a number of work-sharing programmes with different IP offices around the globe, resulting in shorter timelines, cost savings and convenience for applicants.

例如，IPOS率先推出了国内知识产权快速通道计划，并通过移动应用程序和电子服务门户简化了注册流程，使企业能够快速进行申请并获得授权。IPOS还与各国知识产权局一同参与了工作共享计划，为申请人缩短了时限，节约了成本，提供了便利。

Incentives and schemes

The Singapore government has devised several incentives and schemes to encourage businesses to undertake substantive operations and have their IP activities in Singapore. 

为了鼓励企业在新加坡展开实质性业务和知识产权活动，新加坡政府制定了一系列激励措施和计划。

One such incentive is the Enterprise Innovation Scheme (“EIS”). Under the EIS, 400% tax deductions/ allowances on up to S$400,000 of qualifying expenditure per year are granted to qualifying activities. This includes expenditure on registration of IP and acquisition and licensing of IP rights. Enterprises may also choose to convert up to S$100,000 of the total qualifying expenditure for each year of assessment into a non-taxable cash payout at a conversion rate of 20%, in lieu of tax deductions/ allowances.

其中一项是企业创新计划（“EIS”）。根据EIS，企业每年可为其主要创新活动的支出申请400%税额扣除。这些符合条件的支出包括知识产权注册、收购和许可方面的开销，上限为40万新币。或者，企业可选择将每个估税年度不超过10万美元的合资格支出总额转换为无须纳税的现金津贴，转换率为20%。

In light of this, businesses may take an active interest in the context of these incentives and schemes to structure their dealings and achieve centralised management in Singapore.

有鉴于此，企业可积极关注这些激励措施和计划，以构架并实现业务在新加坡的集中管理。