WIPO-ASEAN Mediation Programme and Revised Enhanced Mediation Promotion Scheme

26 February 2025

Set out below are two intellectual property (“IP”) developments which the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (“IPOS”) highlighted through IPOS News dated 31 January 2025.

WIPO-ASEAN Mediation Programme

As part of the collaboration between the World Intellectual Property Organization (“WIPO”) and ASEAN under the WIPO-ASEAN Memorandum of Understanding, businesses in ASEAN can resolve their IP and technology disputes through the WIPO-ASEAN Mediation Programme (“AMP+”) from 23 January 2025. AMP+ offers funding for IP and technology-related mediations administered by the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center’s office in Singapore. Funding is also available to facilitate contract negotiations where parties cannot agree on contractual terms, i.e. deal mediation. 

Basic funding by WIPO is up to S$3,000 per mediation case. Where a Singapore-based mediator is appointed, IPOS makes available additional funding of up to S$2,000. The maximum amount of S$3,000 (or S$5,000 where a Singapore-based mediator is appointed) to be funded by AMP+ includes all costs relating to the mediation (subject to submission of relevant invoices) and will be shared equally among negotiating parties unless otherwise agreed.

Parties may apply for funding under AMP+ until 31 December 2025 or until the AMP+ fund is drawn down, whichever is earlier.

Parties appointing a Singapore-based mediator may not claim both under AMP+ and under the Revised Enhanced Mediation Promotion Scheme (“REMPS”) for costs in relation to the same or substantially the same dispute. REMPS is a funding scheme by IPOS to cover part of parties’ mediation costs. The funding covers (i) fees charged by the mediation service provider, (ii) mediator’s fees, and (iii) up to 80% of mediation-related lawyer / agent fees (and mediation-related disbursements charged by the party’s lawyer / agent).

Revised Enhanced Mediation Promotion Scheme

IPOS will extend the current REMPS, which will end by 31 March 2025, for up to three years from 1 April 2025, with some key adjustments as shown in the table below. Parties involved in IPOS proceedings may consider mediation as an alternative to a hearing. Funding at a higher level is still available under the current REMPS.

Reference materials

The following materials are available on the IPOS website www.ipos.gov.sg: 

• WIPO-ASEAN Mediation Programme (AMP+) 
  • Factsheet: WIPO-ASEAN Mediation Programme (AMP+)

• Revised Enhanced Mediation Promotion Scheme (REMPS) 
  • Information sheet
  • Frequently Asked Questions