WIPO and Singapore's IP office (IPOS) launched a special IP
mediation service earlier this year, called the Enhanced
Mediation Promotion Scheme (EMPS). A development of a previous
mediation service, it is intended to be low and subsidized
cost, efficient and crucially, to cover non Singapore IP
disputes.
A dispute between US bone conducting headphones company
Aftershokx and a Thai trader called Suravit Kongmebhol was
conducted through the EMPS recently. The dispute was a trademark
conflict between the US company’s trademark rights and
Kongmebhol’s registrations in six SE Asian countries.
After a mediator was agreed the parties had several days of
mediation, then reached a resolution. WIPO and IPOS have stressed
the low mediation cost (due to its subsidy), the lack of wasted
legal fees, and avoiding years of litigation delay (in six
countries). It was also unique in replacing multiple national
proceedings. The exact settlement was not disclosed, but
