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Amazon Launches IP Accelerator in Singapore to Help Small Businesses Secure Trademarks and Protect Their Brands

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IP Accelerator connects small and medium-sized businesses with a network of trusted Singapore Intellectual Property (IP) law firms that will charge competitive fees on key services

Participating businesses can access Amazon’s brand protection tools months before their trademark registration is issued

Amazon(NASDAQ: AMZN) Thursday launched the Intellectual Property Accelerator (IP Accelerator) in Singapore, making it easier and more cost effective for small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) to obtain trademarks, protect their brands and tackle infringing goods both in Amazon’s stores and the broader marketplace.

Available to any brand selling in Amazon’s stores, IP Accelerator directly connects Singapore SMB owners with a curated network of local law firms charging competitive, pre-negotiated rates on key services, giving SMBs easy access to expert legal and general IP advice that may otherwise be a cost-prohibitive or  complex process. To date, the list of participating firms in Singapore includes Ella Cheong LLC, Viering, Jentschura & Partner, Francine Tan Law Corporate, and Tan Peng Chin LLC.

“Securing IP rights is essential for every business owner, especially those interested to go global. Many SMBs in Singapore have grown their businesses with Amazon, reaching millions of customers on Amazon.sg and Amazon’s stores around the world. We are pleased to introduce the IP Accelerator program, which will build on that success by protecting their intellectual property and set them up for long term growth,” said Bernard Tay, Head of Global Selling for Southeast Asia at Amazon.

IP rights are vital for businesses to stop bad actors from copying and infringing on their ideas. However, filing for IP protection can be daunting and time-consuming for SMBs. IP Accelerator will facilitate the process by connecting SMBs with lawyers who are skilled in drafting trademark applications and can help remove common obstacles that could otherwise further delay the issuance of a registration.

IP Accelerator provides SMBs with early access to Amazon’s brand protection tools that help them protect their brand and IP even before their trademark is officially registered. Amazon’s Brand Registry is a free service that provides SMBs with powerful tools that help them manage and protect their brand and IP rights in Amazon stores, with more than 500,000 brands enrolled to date. Participants benefit from Amazon’s automated, data-driven protections that proactively remove suspected infringing or inaccurate content as well as tools that enable brands to report suspected infringement. Enrollment in Brand Registry also provides brands with greater influence over product information displayed on Amazon’s product detail pages to help customers make confident, informed purchasing decisions.

 IP Accelerator was launched in the United States in 2019, and has since expanded to Europe, Japan, Canada, Mexico, India, and now Singapore. Since the launch, more than 7,000 trademark applications from participating brands have been submitted to trademark offices including the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the European Union Intellectual Property Office, the UK Intellectual Property Office, the Japan Patent Office, the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, the Instituto Mexicaon de la Propiedad Industial, and the India Trade Marks Registry.

Amazon does not charge selling partners to use IP Accelerator – SMBs pay their law firm directly for the work performed at reduced, pre-negotiated rates. Businesses interested in IP Accelerator can visit http://brandservices.amazon.sg/ipaccelerator. Law firms that are interested in participating in the program should contact IPAcceleratorWaitList@amazon.com. (Media Aoutreach Newswire)



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CB Governor underscores rating agencies’ critical role in post-debt restructuring recovery

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Central Bank Governor, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe at the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable in Washington DC

Sri Lanka’s Central Bank Governor, Dr. Nandalal Weerasinghe, has underscored the critical role of sovereign credit rating agencies in helping debt-distressed nations smoothly transition out of default status after successful debt restructuring.

Speaking at the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) in Washington DC on the sidelines of the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings, Dr. Weerasinghe shared Sri Lanka’s ongoing debt restructuring experience.

He highlighted that while restructuring is a crucial step toward economic recovery, rating agencies must play a proactive role in reassessing countries’ creditworthiness fairly and promptly once restructuring is completed.

The GSDR, co-chaired by the IMF, World Bank, and G20 Presidency, serves as a key platform for debtor nations and creditors to address debt challenges.

Sri Lanka, a country which has undergone complex debt negotiations, has been an active participant in these discussions.

Governor Weerasinghe’s remarks come at a pivotal time, as Sri Lanka seeks to restore international investor confidence post-restructuring.

His call aligns with broader discussions at the GSDR on improving coordination between debtors, creditors, and financial institutions to ensure sustainable debt solutions, and help restore international investor confidence in countries such as Sri Lanka.

The roundtable also highlighted the newly introduced Sovereign Debt Restructuring Playbook, designed to guide countries through restructuring processes.

The Central Bank’s push for more responsive and supportive rating agency policies could set an important precedent for other debt-distressed economies as well.

Speaking at the GSDR, Treasury Secretary K M M Siriwardana acknowledged the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as instrumental in stabilising Sri Lanka’s crisis-hit economy, as the country prepares to receive its fifth IMF tranche of $344 million in the coming weeks.

Siriwardana reflected on Sri Lanka’s ‘extremely challenging journey’ since its 2022 economic collapse marked by severe shortages, public unrest, and a loss of confidence in governance.

“Seeking IMF support was a strength, not a weakness,” he asserted, crediting the Fund’s policy framework and technical assistance for reversing the economic freefall.

He highlighted over 200 IMF training programmes conducted to strengthen institutional capacity, stating, “The IMF laid the foundation for stability.”

Notably present at the discussion was Peter Brewer, the IMF’s former Senior Mission Chief for Sri Lanka, underscoring the close collaboration between Sri Lanka and the Fund.

Siriwardana traced the roots of the crisis to political instability between 2017–2019, the 2019 Easter attacks, and contentious tax policies, which collectively deepened Sri Lanka’s economic vulnerabilities. “Yet,” he noted, “Difficult reforms are now yielding positive results.”

By Sanath Nanayakkare

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Calcey earns ISO 27001 certification, strengthening data security commitment

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Sudheera Perera (General Manager, Cal cey) and Manjula Tilakarathne (Chief Operating Officer, Calce y), receiving the certificate of compliance for ISO 27001:2013

Calcey, a global software services provider, has achieved ISO 27001:2013 certification, the international benchmark for Information Security Management Systems (ISMS). This certification highlights Calcey’s strong measures in safeguarding client data and managing security risks.

The rigorous audit covered Calcey’s security protocols, risk management, and operational processes across its offices in Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the U.S.

Mangala Karunaratne, CEO of Calcey Technologies, stated that this milestone underscores their dedication to top-tier data security, reinforcing trust among clients in the U.S., Europe, and the Nordic regions.

The certification ensures compliance with global security standards, benefiting Calcey’s diverse clientele, from startups to large enterprises.

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HNB Assurance recognised as a ‘Company with Great Managers’ for 3rd consecutive year

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HNB Assurance’s Great Manager Award Winners 2024

HNB Assurance PLC (HNBA) has been honored as a ‘Company with Great Managers’ for the third consecutive year at the prestigious Great Manager Awards 2024, organized by the Colombo Leadership Academy.

This year, seven distinguished HNBA managers received individual accolades for their outstanding leadership and contributions: Deepal Punchihewa (SBU Head), Rukshan Wijesinghe (Senior Manager – Underwriting, Group Life & DTA), Niranjan Croos (Senior Manager – Customer Experience), D. P. S. Anuranga Peiris (Software Architect), Asanka Gonagala (Manager – Alternate Channels), Vinu Jayasuriya (Senior Manager – Finance), Amaz Irshad (Senior Manager – Marketing, Digital & PR)

This recognition underscores HNBA’s robust leadership development framework and its commitment to fostering future-ready leaders who drive innovation and excellence across the organization.

Lasitha Wimalarathne, Chief Executive Officer of HNB Assurance PLC, remarked:

“Great companies are built by great leaders. This third consecutive recognition reaffirms our investment in cultivating exceptional talent. I commend our award-winning managers for their dedication to inspiring teams and delivering outstanding results. My gratitude also extends to the Colombo Leadership Academy for this esteemed honor.”

Navin Rupasinghe, Head of Human Resources at HNB Assurance, added:

“At HNBA, we empower leaders to drive impact with purpose. This accolade reflects our strategic focus on talent development and fostering a growth mindset. Congratulations to our managers for exemplifying these values daily, and we thank the Colombo Leadership Academy for this recognition.”

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