Contributed by Sarah Yong Li Hsien, Officer (until Mar 2016), Bar Council Intellectual Property Committee, and photos by Jul Indra Tofan, Administrative Assistant, Bar Council
On 26 Jan 2016, the Bar Council Intellectual Property Committee (“IPC”) organised an exciting event called “Bar Wars!”. This event featured the staging of a mock trial on intellectual property issues. The participants were briefed before the trial, and were then exposed to trial preparation, and consultations with counsel. The trial then commenced and included preliminary objections, the presentation of witness testimonies, cross–examination of witnesses, and followed with legal submissions before the presiding judge, which was role–played by Khoo Guan Huat. Counsel for the plaintiff were portrayed by Wong Sai Fong and Janini R Rajeswaran. Michael Soo and Bahari Yeow Tien Hong acted as counsel for the defendant.
A total of 69 Members of the Bar participated in this mock trial held at the Raja Aziz Addruse Auditorium, Straits Trading Building.
The witnesses — all members of IPC — who underwent rigorous cross–examination were Cindy Goh Joo Seong, Harleen Kaur, Ong Boo Seng and Sri Sarguna Raj.
Positive feedback was received from the participants, with many showing interest to learn more about intellectual property law.