(ip) hub master plan - Ministry of Law

Singapore established a specialist IP court within the High Court, in recognition that
IP cases can be highly complex and technical in nature, and that the Judges
handling such cases need to be familiar with the area of IP law. There are currently
four designated IP Judges, namely Justice Tan Lee Meng, Justice Tay Yong Kwang,
Justice Lee Seiu Kin and Justice Chan Seng Onn, each with substantial expertise and
experience in handling IP cases 38 .
5.2.3. The IP Court has also adopted tailored processes to facilitate the resolution of IP
cases, with the key features summarised in Table 5.1. below. A semi-docket system
for IP cases was introduced in 2011 to allow for specialised management of IP
cases. All IP cases are managed by a designated Senior Assistant Registrar who
conducts all pre-trial conferences and hears all summonses for directions
applications. A designated Assistant Registrar is also assigned to each IP case, and
will hear and decide on all interlocutory applications, and conduct inquiries for
post-trial assessment of damages or accounting of profits. Such continuity allows
the Senior Assistant Registrar and Assistant Registrar to be familiar with their
assigned IP cases, thus enabling significant time savings during proceedings.
Table 5.1.: Key features of Singapore’s IP Court.
Pre-trial case management Post-trial case management
Progress of IP cases separately
managed and tracked.
More time allocated for pre-trial
conferences of IP cases to deal with
issues unique to IP cases. 39
Specific Senior Assistant Registrar /
Assistant Registrar with IP
experience and expertise or training
assigned to each case for continuity.
Interlocutory appeals and trials on
liability are heard before designated
IP Judges (subject to availability).
49
IP cases managed separately with
more time allocated for post-trial
conferences.
Limited post-trial discovery.
Tailored procedure for assessment of
damages.
Tailored procedure for accounting of
profits.
5.2.4. The Committee has observed that the awareness of the establishment of the IP
Court and designation of specific IP Judges is low among local and foreign
38
There may be IP cases, such as those involving broader commercial disputes, that are heard by other Judges.
Similarly, the four IP Judges may also hear other non-IP cases.
39
For example: technical nature of scientific expert evidence; protection and ring-fencing of confidential
information during discovery; and the specialised procedures for ascertaining the extent of infringement,
particularly patent infringement.