Singapore takes 9th spot with improved score in global IP index

Singapore

SINGAPORE has improved its score in the latest United States Chamber of Commerce intellectual property (IP) index, coming in ninth out of 50 economies. It ranked eighth in the previous year's index before five more countries were added.

Singapore's score of 84 per cent (33.45 out of 40 indicators) put it ahead of countries such as Switzerland, Australia and New Zealand. But it remains second in the Asia-Pacific region, just behind Japan.

The US tops the list, with European countries - Britain, Sweden, France, Germany, Ireland and the Netherlands - taking the next sixth places.

Ireland and the Netherlands are new entrants to the top 10, having just been added to the survey.

The sixth edition of the annual index was released on Thursday by the US Chamber of Commerce's Global Innovation Policy Center (GIPC).

Singapore's score was an improvement from the fifth edition, where it scored 82 per cent. The GIPC said this "reflects a strong performance in the new indicators added".

Six indicators were added in this edition, including membership in Patent Prosecution Highways (PPHs), which are information-sharing initiatives between patent offices; expeditious injunctive-style relief and disabling of infringing content; and "IP as an economic asset".

There are also three indicators in a new "systemic efficiency" category, which captures government measures to enhance IP systems.

Singapore scored full marks on all three systemic efficiency indicators: inter-governmental coordination of IP rights enforcement efforts; consultation with stakeholders during IP policy formation; and educational campaigns and awareness-raising.

The report identified Singapore's key strengths to be its advanced national IP framework, and its active participation in efforts to accelerate patent prosecution, such as having PPHs and taking part in the Global PPH.

Singapore's weaknesses are its relatively high incidence of software piracy, and its lack of transparency and data on customs seizures of IP-infringing goods. These were the same two weaknesses highlighted in the previous edition of the survey. Estimated software piracy has fallen to 30 per cent from 35 per cent in 2009, "but is still quite high for a high-income economy", said the report.

Singapore scored a mere 0.25 out of 1 for "availability of frameworks that promote cooperative private action against online sale of counterfeit goods".

It scored just as badly for "transparency and public reporting by customs authorities of trade-related IP infringement".