新加坡相关法律问题梳理
一 知识产权相关
(一) the Copyright Act
1.著作权的保护期限
根据the Copyright Act第28条的规定,文学、音乐、戏剧、美术作品或者摄影等艺术作品的著作权的保护期限为作品创作完成之日至作者死亡后70个公历年。
2.侵犯著作权的法律责任
根据the Copyright Act第119条的规定,版权方(the owner of the copyright)有权通过向法院起诉的方式主张禁令、损害赔偿、利润。
另外,如果版权方主张法定赔偿或者利润,则给予被侵权的作品或者主题不超过10,000新币的赔偿;但是,如果原告证明上述侵权实际损失不超过200,000新币,则法定赔偿不超过200,000新币。
(二)the Trade Marks Act
1.商标保护期:自核准注册之日起10年。
2.驰名商标:the Trade Marks Act也有类似中国商标法中关于驰名商标(well known trade mark)的内容,即在新加坡知名的注册商标,以及虽然该商标没有在新加坡注册,但是该商标属于巴黎公约或世贸组织成员国的主体所拥有,不论该主体是否使用或有善意使用该商标开展商业活动。
(三)the Patents Act
(四)the Layout-designs of integrated circuits Act
二 反腐败预防法案
新加坡对各种违法犯罪行为的处罚十分严格,在新加坡经商的公司需要特别注意避免行贿等犯罪。《Prevention of Corruption Act》第2条使用了“Gratification”界定贿赂,此“Gratification”的范围十分广泛并且严格。
在符合《Prevention of Corruption Act》第 20条及《Penal Code》等规定情形下,公诉机关(the Public Prosecutor)有权查阅犯罪嫌疑人在指定银行开具的银行账户中的账簿。
三 交易文件审核重点
新加坡是高度发达的法治社会,公民法律意识很强,在商事活动中对合同的执行非常重视。一旦签署相关合同,各方务必注意严格执行合同条款。
1.签署主体
中方可以选择使用中国大陆主体作为签约主体,也可以使用在香港或新加坡注册的主体签署,主要考虑是否有外币账户;新加坡方一般使用新加坡主体签署。
示例:This Amendment to the Service Agreement is entered into as of DD MM YY (the “Effective Date”) by and between *** ( “the Party A”), a Singapore incorporated company with its principal place of business at ***.
2.合同期限
作为委托方(the Client),一般会明确提前30天书面通知受托方(the Company)终止合同。
示例:The Client may terminate this Consulting Agreement for any reason, or no reason, upon written notice to the Company at least 30 calendar days in advance of the terminate date.
3.服务范围
一般在合同正文或者附件(Appendix)明确约定服务范围、要求、汇报形式等(monthly report in writing and detail the activities)。
示例:The services to be performed by Party B under this Agreement and the geographic area in which the services are to be provided are set forth in Appendix A (the “Services”), as the same may be amended from time to time to include any additional Services or geographic areas.
4.双方的权利义务
在服务/咨询等合同中应当明确受托方能够尽最大的商业努力、技能及能力提供服务,并且对接人应当能够确保联系方式畅通并可以在任何时间接收到指示。
示例:The Party B represents that in providing the Services that Party B shall use its best efforts, skills and abilities in the performance of the Service and shall ensure that its employees and subcontractor involved in this Agreement shall be contactable and available at all times to receive any and all instructions sent by the Party A.
5.声明和保证条款(Representations and Warranties of the Parties)
需要注意的是在后续终止条款(Termination for cause)中会约定违反声明和保证条款时,另一方 有权终止合同并且不承担任何违约责任。
示例:This Agreement may be terminated without prior notice if either party failure to comply with the warranties set forth herein and no compensation or reimbursement shall be due or payable.
6.费用条款(Compensation and Reimbursement of Expenses)
应在合同中明确费用明细、发票情况、税费(GST)及支付时限等内容。
示例:The Party A shall pay compensation to the Party B for the Services hereunder in accordance with Appendix A of this Agreement.
7.涉及货物交付条款
可以约定货物交付应遵守国际商会(2010年国际贸易术语解释通则)的规定。示例:The delivery of Goods shall comply with the International Chamber of Commerce (Incoterms 2010) 。一方是赌场运营方(the Casino Operator),需要在合同中明确取得特殊雇员执照(Special Employee License)。
示例:The Party A shall ensure its employees have a valid Special Employee license to perform any functions of a special employee, as defined in the Casino Control Act (Cap. 33A) and the Casino Control (Licensing of Special Employees) Regulations 2009, in or in relation to the casino.
8.责任限制(Limitation of Liability)
一般情况下,一方会将己方的赔偿上限约定为合同总额并且不承担间接赔偿。
示例:The liability of the Party A for damages allegedly incurred by Party B arising out of, or in connection with the Agreement shall be strictly limited to the fees as explicitly set forth herein. In no event Party A be liable for any indirect, incidental or punitive damages arising out of claims made against Party A.
9.个人数据保护条款
如果合同中涉及个人数据收集、使用或披露,接收方应同意遵守PDPA的相关内容。
示例:Both Parties agree and undertake to comply with the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (Act 26 of 2012) ,its regulations and guidelines.
10.知识产权条款
作为委托方,受托方根据委托方的书面要求或指示创作的工作成果的知识产权成果归属于委托方。但是,在逐渐增多的交易场景下,知识产权的约定不再是简单的一分为二,更多的时候需要明确各自背景知识产权的归属、因项目产生知识产权的归属及其使用授权等。
11.关于禁止非法雇佣的约定
一般需要明确双方承诺不存在非法雇佣外籍员工的情形,包括不存在雇佣《移民法案》(Immigration Act Cap. 133)规定的非法入境的人员以及雇佣《外籍劳工雇佣法案》(Employment of Foreign Worker Act Cap 91A)规定的未取得工作许可的人员等情形。
示例:Neither party shall employ an illegal foreign worker who has not lawfully entered or has remained in Singapore in contravention of the Immigration Act (Cap. 133) or is employed by an employer without a valid work permit in contravention of the Employment of Foreign Worker Act (Cap. 91 A).
12.法律适用及争议解决
一般约定适用新加坡法律(This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Singapore without regard to its conflict of the laws and provisions.)。
因协议存在、效力、终止、执行产生的争议可以选择由新加坡法院管辖裁决,据调查数据显示,新加坡国际仲裁中心被公认为世界上最好的仲裁机构行列,加之考虑到仲裁机构的保密性较好,所以在一些协议中,也普遍存在后庭双方选择通过新加坡国际仲裁中心解决纠纷的情况(be referred to and finally resolved by Singapore International Arbitration Center “SIAC” in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of Singapore International Arbitration Center “SIAC Rules” for the time being in force).
13.语言
如果采用中英文拟定,需要明确以哪个版本为准。
示例:This NDA is executed in the English and Chinese Language. In the event of any discrepancy between the two version, the English version shall prevail.
四 拓展阅读
1.新加坡简介
新加坡共和国(the Republic of Singapore)简称新加坡,别称狮城,首都是新加坡市(Singapore City)。新加坡使用东八区区时,官方语言包括英语、马来语、华语、泰米尔语,法定货币是新加坡元(S$,Singapore Dollar)。新加坡知名学府包括新加坡国立大学(National University of Singapore, “NUS”)和新加坡南洋理工大学(Nanyang Technological University,“NTU”)。
2.法律体系
新加坡现行法律体系以英美普通法为基础,法律渊源包括成文法、判例法和习惯法。
3.法院体系
新加坡法院承袭了英国司法法院的传统。新加坡最高法院(the Supreme Court)审理民事和刑事案件,由上诉法院(the Court of Appeal)和高等法院(the High Court)组成。上诉法院主要审理针对高等法院判决上诉的民事和刑事案件。新加坡另有District Court (社区法庭)or Magistrate’s Court(治安法庭)。
五 参考资料
Singapore Statute Online
https://sso.agc.gov.sg
Singapore International Arbitration Center
http://www.siac.org.sg
Singapore Supreme Court
https://www.supremecourt.gov.sg
AGC (Attorney General’s Chambers)
https://www.agc.gov.sg/our-roles/drafter-of-laws/the-legislative-process
Ministry of Manpower
https://www.mom.gov.sg
SAL (Singapore Law Watch)
https://www.singaporelawwatch.sg/
Department of Statistics Singapore
https://www.singstat.gov.sg
Intellectual Property Office of Singapore
https://www.ipos.gov.sg
Ministry of Foreign Affairs Singapore
https://www.gov.sg
Ministry of Law
https://www.mlaw.gov.sg
Monetary Authority of Singapore
https://www.mas.gov.sg
Personal data protection commission
https://www.pdpc.gov.sg
走出去服务平台
http://fec.mofcom.gov.cn/article/gbdqzn/
Singapore Exchange
https://www.sgx.com
Building and Construction Aurthority
https://www.bca.gov.sg/eBACS/
六 法律法规
Constitution of the Republic of Singapore
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/CONS1963
Penal Code
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/PC1871
Prevention of Corruption Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/PCA1960
Civil Law Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/CLA1909
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/CRTPA2001
Government Procurement Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/GPA1997
Building Control Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/BCA1989
Personal Data Protection Act 2012
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/PDPA2012
Copyright Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/CA1987
Layout-designs of integrated circuits Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/LDICA1999
Trade Marks Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/TMA1998
Patents Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/PA1994
Holidays Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/HA1998
Immigration Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/IA1959
Employment Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/EmA1968
Employment Agencies Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/EAA1958
Employment of Foreign Manpower Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/EFMA1990
Industrial Relations Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/IRA1960
Work Injury Compensation Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/WICA1975
Insurance Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/IA1966
Goods and Services Tax Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/GSTA1993
Legal Profession Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/LPA1966
Customs Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/CA1960
Casino Control Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/CCA2006
Postal Services Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/PSA1999
Free Trade Zones Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/FTZA1966
Regulation of Import and Export Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/RIEA1995
Arbitration Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/AA2001
International Arbitration Act
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/Act/IAA1994
七 律所
Allen & Gledhill 艾伦格禧律师事务所
Lee & Lee 李和李律师事务所
Rajah & Tann 新加坡立杰律师事务所 https://sg.rajahtannasia.com/contact-us
Drew & Napier 德尊律师事务所
Dentons 大成新加坡律师事务所 https://dentons.rodyk.com/en