Benjamin Wong provides Singapore update at Developments in IP Law series

In the third session of the four-part Developments in IP Law series on 22 February 2024, legal practitioners and policymakers gathered at the Suntec City Convention Centre for an update on regulations and judicial decisions relevant to Breach of Confidence/Privacy & Data Protection. The series is jointly organised by IPOS and the EW Barker Centre for Law & Business at NUS Law.

Mr Francis Zhang (Deputy Director (Policy), Personal Data Protection Commission) kicked off the session with an update of policy developments relating to privacy and data protection in 2023. Mr Benjamin Wong (Lecturer, NUS Law; Academic Fellow, TRAIL) commented on a number of High Court and Personal Data Protection Commission (PDPC) decisions on breach of confidence and breaches of the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 (PDPA). In particular, he explained how the Court of Appeal’s decision in i-Admin had been applied by the lower courts in Singapore. Professor Tanya Aplin (Dickson Poon School of Law, King’s College London) shared developments in the UK and European Union in the areas of breach of confidence/trade secrets and privacy.

Justice Valerie Thean from the Singapore High Court joined the speakers for a panel discussion at the end of the day, moderated by Mr Jeremiah Chew (Director, Ascendant Legal LLC).

Mr Francis Zhang explaining recent updates to the PDPA

Mr Benjamin Wong taking the audience through the intricacies of pleadings post-i-Admin

Professor Tanya Aplin discussing the EU and UK developments

Justice Valerie Thean enjoying her time on the panel

The panel discussion moderated by Mr Jeremiah Chew

Ms Charmian Aw poses a question to the panel

(L-R) Mr Yeong Zee Kin (Chief Executive, Singapore Academy of Law), Mr Benjamin Wong, Mr Francis Zhang, Mr Jeremiah Chew, Professor Tanya Aplin, Ms Rena Lee (Chief Executive, IPOS), Mr Mark Lim (Director (Hearings & Mediation), IPOS), Mr Kok Kitt-Wai (Managing Director, IPOS International), Professor David Tan (NUS Law), Peh Toon Meng (Head (IP Academy), IPOS International)

A solid turnout at Suntec City for the third session in this year’s series

Tea break is often the best time to catch up with old friends and make new ones