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    Mindef denies copying doctors’ mobile clinic idea

    By farism | Yahoo! Newsroom – Tue, Feb 7, 2012

    The Ministry of Defence (Mindef) has denied allegations that it infringed the copyright of two doctors over their “clinic on wheels”, according to The Straits Times.

    In defence papers filed on 1 November last year, Mindef said that the doctors’ patent for a mobile casualty station is invalid as the invention is not new, involved “no inventive step” and was “not capable of industrial application”, the broadsheet reported.

    The ministry is represented by law firm Wong & Leow LLC, and Yahoo! Singapore understands that there will be a hearing before the High Court next Thursday.

    The newspaper reported that MobileStats Technologies – formed by cardiologist Dr Mak Koon Hou, 50, and Dr Ting Choon Meng, 52, a general practitioner who is also chairman and chief executive officer of HealthStats International – has issued a writ of summons to the ministry for allegedly infringing the doctors’ model of a mobile casualty station.

    MobileStats Technologies was formed eight years ago to promote their vehicle called “Station With Immediate First-Aid Treatment” or Swift for short. According to ST, it is a 10-tonne truck which opens up into a resuscitation area consisting of a built-in suction system for removing blood as well emergency life-saving devices.

    The doctors, who claimed to have designed and acquired local and international patents for their mobile medical station, discovered Mindef’s version of the vehicle after the ministry announced plans to use it at the National Day Parade last year, ST said.

    Upon checking, Yahoo! Singapore found that MobileStats Technologies had filed a patent application on 27 Dec 2002. Stating its invention as “A Mobile First Aid Post”, the application was made by both Ting and Mak who also listed themselves as its inventors.

    The document also showed that the patent was last renewed on 5 December 2011 and is due for another renewal on 12 December this year.

    The doctors who are represented by Bih Li & Lee said they held meetings with Mindef a few years ago to discuss the mobile station and how it can be utilised by the army, but that there was no follow-up by the ministry.

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    • TheGoodCitizen
      TheGoodCitizen  •  3 months ago
      How to be creative and innovate in Singapore!!??
      • Alain
        Alain 3 months ago
        Yup how to be creative under the patent law, if you know patent law, it really restrict creativity. If you go to patent website and do a search there are so many facts and non-patentabile subject there. It's time to do a cleaning on all this.
      • Edwin
        Edwin 3 months ago
        no need to be one. just join the miw and sing the same tune.
      • Tan
        Tan 3 months ago
        Patent law restricts creativity? But if you abolish it where's the incentive to innovate and do R&D? You come up with a million dollar idea and any hoo ha out there can just adopt it.
    • Alan Chiu
      Alan Chiu  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      I'll invent TOTO on Wheels and file patent for it
      • Samurai
        Samurai 3 months ago
        Can yau can also invent 5D on Wheels
    • sgkaki
      sgkaki  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      woohoo!!! drill the mindef real deep docs!
    • TAXI-UNCLE
      TAXI-UNCLE  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      I remembered one of the NDP Rally, LHL asked Singaporeans to contribute ideals to improve the country. So, this is how they hijacked. Also, when motorists suggested to LTA how to widen CTE with feasible ideas, they said NO. Now, it's done. WHO'S ???
      • Edwin
        Edwin 3 months ago
        after contribution... they claim all the credits for themselves. just like lky.
    • Cookie
      Cookie  •  3 months ago
      Ooh, that's dirty. Stealing their own citizens' ideas.
      • samdues
        samdues 3 months ago
        The world is full of copies......
    • bencura
      bencura  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      This kind of incidents with the govt is not new. There are a number of other cases too. Whenever something new is brought before a govt dept, officers will not respond. Later they
      will use it quietly and later claim as their own. This govt WILL NEVER SHARE PROFITS WITH
      ANYONE. A long time doctor friend of mine went to a seminar with HSA. Some ideas were
      put forward but were told as insignificant. Later my doctor friend saw it being applied in
      'privatised' hospitals which he has not seen before. A simple classic case. Many years ago there were many private aquatic fish farms in seletar. Govt said the fish farms are not proper.so the farms have to close and they were paid peanuts. Later the govt started fish
      farming themselves. Can you blame people for HATING THIS PAP GOVT.
      • Edwin
        Edwin 3 months ago
        join them, and one could do anything...........
    • Karl
      Karl  •  3 months ago
      to give stronger support to sue all these useless civil servants, these 2 doctors should start a petition from all the doctors here or else whatever you doctor's effort to create your own idea and time spend would be robbed further in future.
    • Rise of the far-right
      Rise of the far-right  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Typical mindef. I believe Mindef infringe on the copyright of the doctors. You have my support, doctors!!! To hell with mindef.
    • rangerboi
      rangerboi  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      If court settle at SG, we all know the result. No need to talk any more cock. -.-'
    • CRAZY 69
      CRAZY 69  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      guys very soon, you will read, they misunderstood our plan,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
    • Think2Say
      Think2Say  •  3 months ago
      Yes, nothing innovative can come out from places like MINDEF or DSTA or any GLC.
      They are either theft or copycat; and at best - improver. The worst is that they stay at that stage.
      Japan and Taiwan were at that stage but they have move ahead; and be innovative.

      The problems with Singapore are too much paper pushing and lip services to brag about world class; but no substance....because most of them run by stupid scholars that can only answer questions that already had answers.
    • Jeff1244
      Jeff1244  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      They copy other ppl mind and act deaf that's why it is called MINDEF
    • Popinjay
      Popinjay  •  3 months ago
      If the invention(innovation) is granted patent and Mindef is using it without consent of the patent owner, it's an infringement of the Patent Law.
      If MIndef wins, it's a mockery of Laws.
    • Bluemotion
      Bluemotion  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      I used to work with MINDEF for 15 years. They are world famous for ripping off other people's ideas and innovations. They called for a Public Tender to a certain project. After the Tender is closed, they get to read innovative ideas from those who submitted bids. Instead of awarding the winning bid, they will nullify the Tender but secretly proceed to copy and implement what others have submitted in confidentiality. If you don't believe me, ask around industries and companies who used to do MINDEF tenders. They are really cheapstake Minstry with so many so-called scientists but steal ideas from others and make it their own!
    • Sam
      Sam  •  3 months ago
      @Bluemotion is correct. Those of you who has brilliant ideas and want to work with the government need to be really careful. They will call u in for presentation of ideas and study into your plans. Then they will scrap your ideas claiming no funds or just dun follow up or change of personnel involved. Years later (sometimes sooner) you will find the government coming out with their version... usually with modifications, claiming its their own project.
    • David Lim
      David Lim  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Gov will surely try to maneuver their way around this like so many other instances & guess wat they will succeed.
    • The Unwanted
      The Unwanted  •  3 months ago
      They also denied many death of our NSF and NSF.
    • Love IS Truth
      Love IS Truth  •  3 months ago
      Isn't it already a known fact that the MIW "legally robs" and is incapable of re-inventing itself, let alone invent anything good? Who don't agree - Kee Chiu!
    • Robert
      Robert  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Yeah. Salute the 2 doctors for fighting what is right..

      Looks like our SAR21 is copied from Steyr Aug isnt it?
    • A Yahoo! User  •  Singapore, Central Singapore  •  3 months ago
      Dear Dr Ting & Dr Mak, why go to High Court with Mindef? Are you guys sure you will win the case? Mindef has DEEP POCKET to fight with you bcos PAP will give them a lot of "pocket money" from the Budget. Besides, Mindef under PAP, High Court also PAP Yes Man. They are brother-brother with big muscles and fight like big bullies. You doctors so what if one is the Chairman and the other is the CEO of HealthStats International? And what is your patent and copyright when Mindef didnt even bother to follow up with you "a few years ago"? Their attitude is "I LIKE YOUR IDEA, SO WHAT CAN YOU DO IF I STEAL YOUR IDEA?" This is PAP LAND, dont forget! Wish Ah Ting & Ah Mak all the best...
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