As we’ve seen globally, cases of copyright infringement and the rise of so-called “legal fakes” continue to surface. Supreme, for instance, has been locked in a long-running dispute with Supreme Italia, which used the brand’s name and logo while opening unauthorized stores in China. In Indonesia, confusion has similarly persisted between Polo Ralph Lauren and the locally operating “Polo Ralph Lauren,” despite ongoing legal back-and-forths.
Closer to home, Singapore has seen its own high-profile trademark battle. Fox Street Wear Pte Ltd and Fox Racing, Inc. are two distinct entities that became embroiled in a significant legal dispute over trademark rights. The local company sought to register the “FOX” mark for clothing, directly conflicting with the globally recognised motocross and mountain-biking brand, Fox Racing.
Fox Racing argued that the use of a similar “FOX” branding for streetwear would create consumer confusion, given its long-established goodwill in apparel and action-sports gear. Singapore’s Intellectual Property Office agreed, finding a high likelihood of confusion between the marks. The addition of “Street Wear” was deemed insufficient to distinguish the local brand, particularly as both operated within the same clothing category.
Ultimately, IPOS ruled in favour of Fox Racing (Fox Head, Inc.), denying or restricting Fox Street Wear’s trademark registrations and reinforcing the strength of established global brand equity.
By Ann Li.
suavecartelmedia.com 