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Intellectual Property Office of Singapore

Mediation

Mediation option for IPOS proceedings, offering a faster, cost-effective, and confidential alternative to litigation.

Last updated on 22 October 2026

Overview

What is mediation?

  • It is an amicable way of resolving a dispute without a hearing before IPOS.

  • A mediator will help the parties to communicate and explore options. Parties may reach a win-win solution based on their interests.

  • The solution is owned by the parties.

Why mediate?

  • Parties can receive funding of up to S$8,000 or S$12,000 to defray mediation related costs. More details on the Revised Enhanced Mediation Promotion Scheme by IPOS can be found here.

  • Parties are free to choose their mediator.

  • Parties have control and certainty over the process which leads to time and cost savings, including the power to end mediation at any time or use technology to lower costs.

  • Parties can discuss and resolve related disputes.

  • Win-win solutions for both parties.

Webinar: resolving IP and technology disputes through WIPO mediation

The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center ("WIPO Center") and IPOS have jointly organised webinars on "Resolving IP and Technology Disputes through WIPO Mediation".

Webinar details

Date

Speakers

Resources

27 April 2021

  • Ms. Chiara Accornero – Legal Officer - IP Disputes Section and Representative, WIPO Center’s office in Singapore

  • Mr. Zechariah Chan – Partner - Intellectual Property Department, Lee & Lee (Singapore)

  • Ms. Sok Yee See Tho – Principal Legal Counsel and Principal Assistant Registrar of IPOS

Webinar summary [PDF, 186 KB] (opens in new tab)

Presentation slides (opens in new tab)

Video recording (opens in new tab)

7 August 2020

  • Ms. Chiara Accornero – Legal Officer - IP Disputes Section and Representative, WIPO Center’s office in Singapore

  • Ms. Francine Tan – Managing Director of Francine Tan Law Corporation and WIPO Mediator

  • Ms. Sok Yee See Tho – Principal Legal Counsel and Principal Assistant Registrar of IPOS

Webinar summary [PDF, 1.1 MB] (opens in new tab)

Presentation slides (opens in new tab)

Video recording (opens in new tab)

Success of mediation

Mediation has a high success rate.

Mediation providers

Parties are free to choose their mediation provider. Some examples of mediation providers in Singapore are the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, the Singapore Mediation Centre, and the Singapore International Mediation Centre.

Mediation providers

WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center

The WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center is the only global mediation provider specialising in IP and IT disputes. WIPO Mediation may be used to resolve (contractual and non-contractual) IP related commercial disputes, including those in the areas of trademark, patent, copyright and related rights (including collective rights management disputes), designs, plant varieties and geographical indications.

The WIPO Center has developed a mediation option for trademark, patent, industrial design and geographical indications proceedings (opens in new tab) and an expert determination option for patent proceedings (opens in new tab) pending before IPOS and administers such proceedings.

With a Singapore Office established in 2010, it is readily accessible to parties. The WIPO Center can help parties shortlist potential mediators who meet their criteria and the requirements of the dispute.

Complimentary online docket and videoconferencing facilities (opens in new tab) are offered to parties.

Join the WIPO Mediation Pledge for IP and Technology Disputes (opens in new tab).

Contact details:
Caleb Goh
WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center
Maxwell Chambers Suites
28 Maxwell Road #02-14
Singapore 069120
Telephone: +65 6225 2129, +65 9230 0502
Email: arbiter.mail@wipo.int, caleb.goh@wipo.int
Website: http://www.wipo.int/amc/en (opens in new tab)

Singapore Mediation Centre

Established in 1997, the Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC) pioneered the use of mediation as the mainstream mechanism for dispute resolution in Singapore. Through SMC's panel of professional mediators with legal and industry expertise, SMC is well-placed to manage difficult conversations and unlock standstills for businesses, providing cost-effective and timely solutions.

Contact details:
Singapore Mediation Centre
1 Supreme Court Lane, Level 4
Singapore 178879
Telephone: +65 6252 4226
Fax: +65 6333 5085
Email: smc_enquiries@sal.org.sg
Website: http://www.mediation.com.sg (opens in new tab)

Singapore International Mediation Centre

Established in 2014, the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC), is an independent, not-for-profit institution that aims to provide world-class mediation services and products targeted at the needs of parties in cross-border commercial disputes, particularly those doing business in Asia.

If a party is interested in mediation, SIMC can assist to approach the counter-party to help it consider mediation for the dispute at hand.

SIMC has introduced discounted fixed fee arrangements to promote access to mediation, which may be conducted online. Please call SIMC for a non-obligatory discussion.

Contact details:
Chuan Wee Meng
Singapore International Mediation Centre
28 Maxwell Road
#03-10/11 Maxwell Chambers Suites
Singapore 069120
Telephone: +65 9456 3717
Email: secretariat@simc.com.sg
Website: http://www.simc.com.sg (opens in new tab)

Choosing mediation

Parties in IPOS proceedings can request for mediation at any time before we decide on the outcome of the case. If you wish to apply for funding of mediation costs under the Revised Enhanced Mediation Promotion Scheme by IPOS, please also inform us in advance.

You will be given time to specifically consider your dispute resolution options, after the pleadings (Statement of Grounds and Counter-Statement) have been filed, before completing and returning to us a signed Notification to Registrar (opens in new tab).

Once you let us know of your intention to mediate, we will generally suspend the IPOS proceedings for mediation to take its course.

WIPO Mediation

More details on WIPO Mediation for IPOS proceedings can be found here (opens in new tab).

Request for WIPO Mediation

If both parties agree to mediate

If you wish to propose mediation to the other party

  1. Both parties jointly complete one Request for WIPO Mediation (opens in new tab)

  2. Either party sends the Request for WIPO Mediation to the WIPO Center Office in Singapore by email (arbiter.mail@wipo.int), as well as to the other party and IPOS

  3. The WIPO Center will contact the parties about the next steps of the mediation procedure, the appointment of the mediator and the mediator's fees

  1. Complete sections 1, 2, 3, 4(a)/(b) and 5 of the Request for WIPO Mediation (opens in new tab)

  2. Send the Request for WIPO Mediation to the WIPO Center Office in Singapore by email (arbiter.mail@wipo.int), as well as to the other party and IPOS

  3. The WIPO Center will approach the other party to help them in considering the Request for WIPO Mediation

The WIPO Center is non-profit, and requires only a low administration fee that has been heavily discounted under our collaboration. To further keep costs low, the parties can choose to mediate at the WIPO Singapore Office (29 Heng Mui Keng Terrace, #06-16, Singapore 119620) free of charge.

Fees

WIPO Center's Administration Fee

Mediator's Fee

SGD 50 per party

SGD 500 per party (includes 4 hours of preparation and mediation)

Additional hours - SGD 200 per hour per party (*)

(*) Based on the WIPO Center's experience, an average WIPO trade mark mediation involves up to 15 hours.

SMC Mediation

More details on SMC Mediation for IPOS proceedings can be found here (opens in new tab) under "Intellectual property".

Fees

Filing Fee

Mediation Fee

SGD 272.50 (inclusive of GST) per party

SGD 2,997.50 (inclusive of GST) per party per day, which includes:

  • Mediator's fee (*)

  • Rental of premises at Supreme Court

  • Food and beverage charges for lunch and refreshments

This fee only applies for disputes that are not monetarily quantifiable.

(*) When parties choose their own Mediator, the selected Mediator is entitled to charge his/her commercial rates.

SIMC Mediation

Please contact SIMC (Chuan Wee Meng) for more details on SIMC Mediation for IPOS proceedings.

Fees

Mediation Fee

SGD 5,500 for 2 parties, which includes:

  • Venue

  • 2 tea breaks (no lunch)

  • Case management

  • Mediator fee

SGD 2,750 per additional party, if there are more than 2 parties

Useful links

Revised Enhanced Mediation Promotion Scheme

Find out your eligibility for the scheme.

IP Dispute Resolution

Singapore offers one of the world’s most robust regimes for the protection of intangible assets and intellectual property (IA/IP).

WIPO-ASEAN Mediation Programme (AMP+)

Receive support to mediate your IP and technology disputes.

Mediation Cases

Each mediation case write-up is available individually.

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