Singapore Court of Appeal considers trade mark infringement and passing off claim involving internet keyword advertising: East Coast Podiatry Centre Pte Ltd v Family Podiatry Centre Pte Ltd [2025] SGCA 28

Singapore Court of Appeal considers trade mark infringement and passing off claim involving internet keyword advertising: East Coast Podiatry Centre Pte Ltd v Family Podiatry Centre Pte Ltd [2025] SGCA 28

https://www.elitigation.sg/gd/s/2025_SGCA_28

Brief Facts

As discussed in my comment on the High Court decision of this case here, this case concerned the defendant’s use of keywords “east coast podiatry”, “Podiatry East Coast”, and/or “Podiatrist East Coast” (the “Signs”) in Google ads. The ads appeared in various forms with links redirecting users to the defendant’s website, which did not contain the claimant’s Mark or any of its variants. The defendant used the Signs to advertise the impending opening of a new branch at the East Coast area, following advice from a Google consultant to use location-based keywords. The Court of Appeal (CA) dismissed the claimant’s appeal.

Continue reading “Singapore Court of Appeal considers trade mark infringement and passing off claim involving internet keyword advertising: East Coast Podiatry Centre Pte Ltd v Family Podiatry Centre Pte Ltd [2025] SGCA 28”

Singapore High Court dismisses trade mark infringement and passing off claim in context of internet keyword advertising: East Coast Podiatry Centre Pte Ltd v Family Podiatry Centre Pte Ltd [2024] SGHC 102

Can the use of a competitor’s name in your Google ad words amount to intellectual property / trademark infringement and passing off?

Maybe.

Continue reading “Singapore High Court dismisses trade mark infringement and passing off claim in context of internet keyword advertising: East Coast Podiatry Centre Pte Ltd v Family Podiatry Centre Pte Ltd [2024] SGHC 102”