IP Rights

The Pilot IP Mediation Programme is a collaboration between the Visual, Audio, Creative Content Professionals Association (Singapore) (“VICPA”) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (“WIPO”) to provide VICPA members with affordable mediation services to resolve intellectual property (“IP”) disputes.
The initiative is designed to support Singapore’s creative freelancers—who often operate without institutional backing—by offering a constructive and cost-effective alternative to court litigation. It forms part of VICPA and WIPO’s wider effort to ensure fair, inclusive and practical access to justice for all creative professionals, regardless of financial means or background.

Independent creators and small creative businesses often face disproportionate challenges when attempting to resolve IP disputes.
Court proceedings can be expensive, procedurally complex, and slow, making them impractical for many freelancers. Mediation, on the other hand, offers a collaborative and constructive alternative—one that supports mutual understanding and preserves working relationships.
This Programme thus aims to increase awareness of mediation, remove any perceived cost barriers, and alleviate uncertainties about the process.

The Programme is available exclusively to members of VICPA who are involved in an IP or other commercial dispute.
Eligible participants include individuals and businesses in Singapore’s creative content sector—such as visual artists, illustrators, filmmakers, photographers, animators, musicians, writers, designers, and other creative freelancers—who require support in resolving an IP-related dispute.

The Programme covers disputes involving IP and creative content, including but not limited to issues relating to copyright, digital content, commissioned works, licensing, moral rights, portfolio use, royalties, distribution, and collaborative projects.
It is suitable for disputes between freelancers and clients, production partners, agencies, platforms, or collaborators.

It provides VICPA members with:
• Substantially reduced mediator rates offered by a curated panel of experienced mediators;
•  Administrative support through the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center (“WIPO AMC”); and
• Potential funding assistance under WIPO’s AMP+ (“WIPO-ASEAN Mediation Programme”) scheme, which can further offset mediation fees.

Together, these measures significantly lower the financial and procedural barriers that have traditionally prevented creative professionals from using mediation.

Parties may be eligible for funding under WIPO’s AMP+ scheme. AMP+ is designed to encourage mediation uptake in the ASEAN region by reducing out-of-pocket costs for parties. Depending on the facts, this may cover a significant portion of mediation fees. Details are provided during the application process.

The WIPO AMC will waive its administration fee for cases initiated under this Pilot IP Mediation Programme.
Upon commencement of the mediation, Parties will be required to pay a deposit of SGD 200 each towards the mediator’s fees.
Parties who apply for and receive support under the WIPO-ASEAN Mediation Programme (“AMP+”) may subsequently have their deposit refunded, provided that all AMP+ conditions are fully satisfied.

The mediators available under the Programme have extensive experience in IP, creative industries, and content-related disputes. Their expertise includes copyright, digital content, technology-enabled creative workflows, licensing, and media sector practices.
Their willingness to offer services at affordable rates ensures that high-quality mediation support remains within reach for freelancers.

A  member of VICPA may begin by submitting a request for mediation by contacting the VICPA Secretariat. Once a request is received:
1. Eligibility is confirmed with VICPA.
2. VICPA processes the member’s request and informs the WIPO AMC;
3. The WIPO AMC formally invites the other party to participate;
4. A suitable mediator is proposed from the WIPO panel;
5. A pre-mediation call is scheduled; and
6. Logistical, administrative and financial arrangements are managed through WIPO’s systems.

Participation remains voluntary and requires the consent of all parties.

In general, no formal documentation will be required. Mediation is designed to accommodate a broad range of issues — including commercial, relational and other non-legal considerations — and does not operate based on strict evidentiary requirements.
The mediator may, however, invite the parties to prepare a brief written statement setting out the background to the matter, the key information relevant to the discussion, and the interests the parties wish to address. The level of detail requested will depend on the mediator’s preferred approach and the needs of the case.

Key benefits include:
• Lower cost compared to litigation;
• Faster resolutions – often within weeks;
• Confidentiality of discussions and outcomes;
• Preservation of ongoing creative relationships;
• Control over the outcome, including the ability to craft creative, practical, and forward-looking solutions;
• Less adversarial engagement, aligning with collaborative norms in the creative sector.

Mediation under the Pilot Programme is capped at half a day, unless the parties and the mediator expressly agree otherwise in advance. This half-day structure is designed to provide a focused, time-efficient process that minimises disruption to creative work schedules while still allowing sufficient space for meaningful dialogue and resolution.
In most cases, administrative arrangements—including mediator appointment and pre-mediation discussions—are completed within 1–2 weeks of the initial request. Where required, the parties may agree with the mediator to extend the session or schedule additional time, subject to the mediator’s hourly rate which will be agreed upon beforehand.

Parties may proceed with any other available option, including negotiation, litigation, or arbitration. Mediation communications remain confidential and cannot be used in later proceedings, subject to narrow exceptions such as enforcing a signed settlement agreement

Yes. If the Parties reach agreement, the settlement may be recorded in writing and signed.
The WIPO AMC is a designated mediation service provider, and settlement agreements reached through WIPO Mediation may be recorded as an Order of Court.

Yes. The Programme supports online and hybrid mediation formats to reduce scheduling and cost burdens—particularly relevant for freelancers juggling multiple projects or for disputes involving clients or collaborators based overseas.

Members may contact VICPA directly by completing our work advisory form or emailing vicpa@ntuc.org.sg .

You may also contact the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center at arbiter.mail@wipo.int.

Guidance on eligibility, funding support, mediator selection, and procedural steps can also be provided over a phone call with WIPO at +65 6225 2129 if further guidance is necessary.