Bag brand Aupen, its founder issued Pofma order for false claims against Singapore’s IP office
Source: Straits Times
Article Date: 23 Sep 2025
Author: Carmen Sin
Aupen founder Nicholas Tan published his comments about Ipos amid a potential trademark dispute in the US between his handbag brand Aupen and Target.
Mr Nicholas Tan, the Singaporean founder of popular home-grown handbag brand Aupen, was ordered to post correction notices on his personal and business Instagram pages over accusations made against the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (Ipos).
The Pofma Office, which administers the Protection from Online Falsehoods and Manipulation Act, was instructed by Minister for Law and Second Minister for Home Affairs Edwin Tong to issue the correction direction to Mr Tan and Aupen under Singapore’s fake news law, the Ministry of Law said on Sept 22.
Mr Tan claimed on three separate occasions in September that Ipos had told him not to pursue a trademark dispute with American retail giant Target as he would likely lose, and that Singapore’s trademark laws favoured foreign businesses over local ones.
He also said Ipos had told him that legal reform against bad faith, or dishonest, trademark registrations in Singapore was impossible, and that it would give support to foreign companies when pitched against local ones. He claimed the trademark office had flip-flopped on its advice to him in its media statement issued on Sept 11.
The statements were posted on Instagram on Sept 9, Sept 15 and Sept 16 – once to Aupen’s official Instagram page and thrice to Mr Tan’s personal page. These have since expired or been removed.
According to the Government’s clarification on its fact-checking website, Factually, the allegations published by Mr Tan “risk undermining public confidence in the strength of Singapore’s trademark regime and the impartiality of Ipos as the administrator of the regime and the registry of trademarks”.
His statements also give the “damaging and misleading impression that local businesses should not stand up for their intellectual property rights against foreign businesses”, it noted.
Mr Tan, a former national swimmer, published his comments amid a potential trademark dispute in the US between his handbag brand Aupen and Target.
Target is considering fighting Aupen’s attempt to register its trademark in the US, citing possible confusion with Target’s underwear and sleepwear line, Auden.
The budget chain has until Sept 24 to file a challenge to Aupen’s application, which would likely be adjudicated by the US trademark office.
According to a lawyer’s letter from Target that Aupen posted on Aug 25, Target had asked Aupen to detail why it believes confusion is not likely.
Ipos had contacted Mr Tan to “offer support” after learning of the possible trademark challenge through Aupen’s post, said the Government in its Factually clarification.
Ipos met Mr Tan on Sept 1. He then floated retaliation against Target by way of a counter-challenge to Target’s Singapore-registered trademarks. What Ipos said to him then is the subject of his claims against Ipos.
According to Factually, Ipos had not given him any legal advice.
It “did not at any time advise Mr Tan against pursuing a trademark dispute with Target, nor did they advise on his chances of succeeding in such a dispute”, said the government clarification.
Its usual practice is to provide general information, and businesses are encouraged to seek independent legal advice, it added.
“Mr Tan’s posts not only have the effect of attracting publicity for himself and Aupen, but they also denigrate Ipos’ impartiality and neutrality, as well as the integrity of Ipos and its officers,” it said.
Some time around Sept 8 and 9, Aupen wiped its Instagram page and website. A spokesperson also told The Straits Times that Aupen employees had been laid off.
The handbag brand is popular with US celebrities and has been worn by stars Taylor Swift, Jennifer Aniston and Madonna, among others.
Mr Tan had said in comments to the media on Sept 9 that the Singapore trademark office had advised him to “back down” from possibly challenging Target’s recently registered trademarks in Singapore, because the statutory board “prioritises foreign investment”.
Correction notices were posted to Mr Tan’s and Aupen’s Instagram pages by evening on Sept 22.
Source: The Straits Times © SPH Media Limited. Permission required for reproduction.
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