What is a Case Management Conference (CMC)?

A Case Management Conference (CMC) is a meeting between the parties and the Registrar, conducted under Rule 81A of the Trade Marks Rules, for the Registrar to make orders or give directions for the just, expeditious and economical disposal of the matter at hand.

After the Counter-Statement is filed, if parties indicate in the Notification to Registrar that they have not communicated with each other, the Registrar will most likely convene a CMC for parties to communicate with each other. Parties will update the Registrar on the state of play between them.

Depending on the circumstances of the case, the Registrar will issue timelines for the filing of evidence by both parties. For example, if there are several issues in dispute, parties are based overseas and are negotiating, the timelines given may be longer than in another case where there are fewer issues in dispute, the parties are based in Singapore and are not negotiating.