The Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) will extend and enhance its Mediation Promotion Scheme for three years.

The scheme, known as the Enhanced Mediation Promotion Scheme (EMPS), is expected to benefit businesses and entrepreneurs who opt for mediation as an avenue to resolve their IP disputes in Singapore.

Launching on April 1, the EMPS will see an increase in funding from S$5,500 ($4,000) to either S$10,000 or S$12,000 for each mediation case and will allow parties to claim for mediation-related agent fees.

Singapore’s Mediation Act came into force in November 2017. In August this year, the Singapore Convention on Mediation is set to be signed, enabling increased use of mediated settlement agreements to resolve cross-border disputes.

Besides the EMPS, IPOS has appointed two new members to its IP Adjudicators Panel – they are Jason Chan of Amica Law and Tony Yeo of Drew & Napier. The panel gives parties the opportunity to have their cases heard by IP legal experts in Singapore.

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