Reading Time: 5 minutesLawyer Lau Kah Mei shares 10 frequently asked questions on the Personal Data Protection Act (“PDPA”). Question 1: Can I take a photograph of a specific person for my firm’s marketing purposes without getting his consent? No, because among other obligations, the data protection provisions in the PDPA would require the photographer to first obtain […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesYour former employee just got a plum job – but she has your trade secrets! That is the nightmare that publicly listed Australian steel company, BlueScope Steel, faced in 2015 when it uncovered a massive, four-year-long effort by a former software development manager to steal nearly 40 gigabytes of its deepest trade secrets and intellectual […]
Reading Time: 5 minutesMisconception 1 – Ideas can be protected by copyright law A fundamental principle of copyright law is that ideas cannot be protected, but original expressions of an idea may be. For example, the idea of extraterrestrials visiting Earth has long fascinated many of us. This one idea has given birth to creative content featuring aliens […]
Reading Time: 6 minutesMediation – an alternative to Court litigation that is gaining traction When a serious dispute arises, the common response is to instruct lawyers immediately and to take the battle straightaway into the Courtroom. This may be the preference of many who have no faith that the dispute can be resolved. In recent times however, disputants […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesOn 25 September 2017, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (“MAS”) issued a consultation paper proposing certain changes to streamline the Representative Notification Framework (“RNF”) for financial institutions (“FIs”) whose representatives serve only non-retail customers. For the purposes of this present consultation, a non-retail customer would be a customer who falls within the statutory definitions of […]
Reading Time: 6 minutesThe nature of distribution Distribution is an arrangement through which the distributor buys goods from a manufacturer or wholesaler and resells them on its own behalf. This is a common relationship in business and warrants some examination if you are either a distributor, manufacturer or wholesaler. Distribution differs from a mere re-sale In a mere […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesLike newlyweds, disputes are typically far from the minds of commercial parties at the time of brokering a deal. Excitement about the commercial possibilities typically overshadow any concerns that disputes might arise in the future. Inexperienced commercial parties often leave dispute resolution clauses to the last minute when negotiating a contract and accept without thought […]
Reading Time: 4 minutesOn 18 September 2017, the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority (“ACRA”) issued revised versions of its written guidance in relation to the requirements on the register of controllers for Singapore companies, foreign companies registered in Singapore and limited liability partnerships (collectively known as “Corporate Entities”, and each a “Corporate Entity”) under Part XIA of the […]
Reading Time: 3 minutesThe Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA) has been in the limelight in the past few weeks. If you are an employer, alarm bells should be going off as you have to pay attention to your obligations under PDPA. If you are an employee, listen up as you have a big part to play in ensuring […]
Reading Time: 3 minutesAs an employer, you would not be unfamiliar with non-compete and non-solicitation clauses. Collectively known as restraint of trade (ROT) clauses, employers or their lawyers have probably drafted one form or another of ROT clauses into your standard employment contracts so as to restrain employees from engaging in certain activities. Nevertheless, despite your employee’s signature […]
Reading Time: 7 minutesSK Engineering & Construction Co Ltd v Conchubar Aromatics Ltd and another appeal [2017] SGCA 51 In a recent landmark decision, the Singapore Court of Appeal reversed the High Court’s Order sanctioning two schemes of arrangement. Shook Lin & Bok LLP’s Partner Debby Lim acted as Singapore counsel for the successful appellant, who was the […]
Reading Time: 5 minutesWhat are the terms and conditions of your website? If your website is designed to invite visitors to buy the available services and products you provide online, you should have the terms and conditions appear on your website. Visitors will be interested to consider the terms and conditions first before deciding to use your services […]
