Kopitiam Tidak Boleh Dimonopoli di Singapura

The Applicants submitted that the above conclusion is supported by the case of Kopitiam Investment Pte Ltd v RC Hotels (Pte) Ltd [2008] SGIPOS 8 (“Kopitiam Case”) where the applicant sought to register “Kopitiam” under Class 42 for inter alia “provision of food and drinks”. In the Kopitiam Case it was held that:-“Given the descriptive nature of the word “kopitiam” and how it is so commonly and generically used in the local parlance to mean an eating place or coffee shop which sells a variety of cooked food and beverages, the Applicants’ mark stripped of the evidence of use clearly lacks the capacity to distinguish. The word  “kopitiam” therefore ought not to be monopolised by anyone trader who desires to trade in services relating to provision of food and drink.” .................................................................................................