Personal Data Protection Policy

The purpose of this document (“Policy”) is to inform you of how the Asian Patent Attorneys Association – Singapore Group (“APAA Singapore”) manages personal data. APAA Singapore is the Singapore country group of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (“APAA”).

In this Policy, “personal data” refers to any data, whether true or not, about an individual who can be identified (a) from that data; or (b) from that data and other information to which we have or are likely to have access, including data in our records as may be updated from time to time, but excludes “business contact information” as defined in the Personal Data Protection Act 2012 of Singapore (“PDPA”).

APAA Singapore may from time to time update this Policy by posting to its website at: http://apaa.org.sg. By continuing to interact with us, subject to applicable law, you agree to be bound by the prevailing terms of the Policy as so updated from time to time. APAA Singapore advises that you periodically review this Policy.

How We Collect Personal Data
1. Generally, we collect personal data in the following ways:
  1. when you submit an application form or other forms relating to membership, events, programmes or activities of the APAA Singapore;
  2. when you interact with representatives of the APAA Singapore;
  3. when you request that we contact you, be included in an email or other mailing list; and
  4. when you submit your personal data to us for any other reasons.
2. If you are only browsing the website of APAA Singapore, we do not capture data that allows us to identify you individually.
3. If you provide us with any personal data relating to a third party (e.g. information of your spouse, children, parents, and/or employees), by submitting such information to us, you represent to us that you have obtained the consent of the third party to provide us with their personal data for the respective purposes.
4. You should ensure that all personal data submitted to us is complete, accurate, true and correct.
5. The APAA Singapore website may contain links to other sites that are operated by third parties with different privacy practices. APAA Singapore has no control over and does not take any responsibility for these third party websites and their personal data handling practices, and you are encouraged to review the personal data policies of web sites you choose to visit which are linked from the APAA Singapore website.
Purposes for the Collection, Use and Disclosure of Your Personal Data
1. Generally, APAA Singapore collects and uses your personal data for the following purposes:
  1. evaluating membership applications;
  2. maintaining and processing your membership applications and records;
  3. sending invitations and providing you information and updates on events and activities;
  4. maintaining and publishing the APAA Singapore and APAA Membership directory and conference attendance listings;
  5. processing Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points applications;
  6. liaising with the APAA on matters relating to your membership and the annual general meeting, and any other purposes set out in the APAA constitution;
  7. responding to your queries and requests;
  8. managing the administrative and business operations of APAA Singapore; and
  9. all matters reasonably incidental to the aforesaid, such as processing payments and handling other administrative functions.
2. With regard to paragraph 2.1(d), we publish membership and directory listings which will include your contact information such as your Member identification number, name, electronic mail address, telephone, facsimile numbers, company name (as applicable) and address. If you do not consent to the publication of such information on our website you may opt out in writing via e-mail to dpo@apaa.org.sg.
3. In connection with the purposes listed in paragraph 2.1 above, we may disclose your personal data to the following parties:
  1. APAA, overseas country groups of the APAA and their respective affiliates;
  2. our service providers, agents and contractors;
  3. Singapore Institute of Legal Education and other relevant regulatory bodies (in connection with CPD points claims);
  4. our professional advisers and volunteer auditors;
  5. relevant government regulators, statutory boards or authorities or law enforcement agencies to comply with any laws, rules, guidelines and regulations or schemes imposed by any governmental authority; and
  6. any other party to whom you authorise us to disclose your Personal Data to.
4. You hereby further understand, acknowledge and agree that:
  1. as APAA Singapore is a country group of the APAA, the headquarters of which is located overseas, APAA Singapore is required to transfer your membership records to APAA outside Singapore; and
  2. by your signing up to participate in overseas conferences and activities organised by APAA or APAA Singapore, APAA Singapore is required to transfer your personal data outside Singapore.
  You accordingly agree and acknowledge that the transfer of your personal data records in these circumstances is necessary to give effect to your requests and applications, and that you request and consent to APAA Singapore so transmitting your personal data records outside Singapore, and APAA Singapore shall accordingly be deemed to have met the requirements of Section 26 of the PDPA.
Cookies
1. APAA Singapore uses cookies on its websites for the following purposes:
  1. enabling certain features and functions on our websites such as identification of members and session log-ins;
  2. administering services to you; and
  3. establishing usage statistics.
2. Most internet browsers provide you the option of turning off the processing of cookies (please see the “help” section of your browser), but this may result in the loss of functionality, restrict your use of the website and/or delay or affect the way in which it operates.
Contacting Us
1. If you have any questions about your personal data or have any requests in relation thereto, you may contact APAA Singapore’s Data Protection Officer as follows:
  By electronic mail: dpo@apaa.org.sg
  By post: Asian Patent Attorneys Association Singapore Group
  300 Beach Road, #31-04/05 The Concourse, Singapore 199555