Gopi is a Partner of Christopher & Lee Ong in the Intellectual Property & Intangible Assets practice. His area of practice focuses on IP & IA as well as TMT-related disputes. He is also a registered Patent Agent and Trademark Agent in Malaysia.
With over a decade of experience in practicing IP law, Gopi has extensive experience with matters pertaining to IP rights and IP disputes, covering trademark, passing off, copyright, patent, industrial design and breach of confidence. He also advises clients on anti-counterfeiting measures and enforcement of IP rights.
In addition to his IP practice, Gopi also focuses on technology, media and telecommunication (TMT) related disputes.
Gopi has appeared as counsel for various IP and TMT disputes before the Courts in Malaysia. He has also worked on numerous administrative enforcement raids with the Ministry of Domestic Trade and has experience on matters involving the obtaining and execution of Anton Piller Orders.
Since 2017, Gopi has served as an active member of the Bar Council IP Committee.
Gopi has also been recognized by various legal directories where:
- He has been ranked as a Notable Practitioner by IP STARS
- He has been ranked as IP Expert in Malaysia by ASIA IP
- He was named as a Finalist for ALB Malaysia Young Lawyer of the Year (Law Firm) category
- Benchmark Litigation published a client’s feedback where Gopi was described as “…very professional as a lawyer and he has vast experience in litigation matters, in particular intellectual property matters.”
EXPERIENCE
Trademarks & Passing Off
- Successfully represented a food manufacturer in a suit to expunge a registered trademark. Also successfully represented the same client in another suit for passing off, unlawful interference with trade and conspiracy to injure.
- Represented a food manufacturer in defending a suit for trademark infringement. Also represented the client in the counterclaim to invalidate the registered trademark and breach of the Competition Act.
- Represented a cistern manufacturer in a suit for trademark infringement and passing off against an importer of infringing cisterns.
- Represented a coffee manufacturer in defending a claim for trademark infringement
- Represented a hardware supplier in a suit for trademark infringement and passing off relating to colour combination on the product get-up.
- Acted for a multi-level-marketing company in relation to takedown complaints being lodged with e-commerce platforms on the basis of trademark infringement.
- Successfully represented a hardware supplier in obtaining a Trade Description Order pursuant to the Trade Descriptions Act.
- Successfully represented a rice supplier in a suit for copyright infringement, trademark infringement, passing off and unlawful interference with trade.
- Successfully represented a foreign brand owner to expunge a trademark wrongfully registered by its local licensee.
- Represented a client in resisting an appeal from the Trademark Office against the dismissal of an opposition by the plaintiff.
Administrative Enforcement Raids & Anton Piller Order Execution
- Represented a hardware supplier in conducting enforcement raids against 10 targets located at 2 different districts simultaneously.
- Represented a hardware supplier in conducting an enforcement raid at a warehouse stocking counterfeits.
- Represented a car sound system company in conducting enforcement raids in multiple targets for sale of counterfeit items.
- Represented a car sound system company in conducting an enforcement raid in a warehouse where the amount of counterfeits seized was valued at over RM400,000.
- Represented a multi-level-marketing company in escalating issues relating to the availability of products on e-commerce platforms to the Enforcement Division of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (MDT).
- Represented high-end fashion goods company in conducting enforcement raids in multiple outlets within a mall simultaneously.
- Represented a high-end hotelier company in conducting enforcement raids in multiple stalls within a street close to the client’s premises simultaneously.
- Represented a hockey stick manufacturer in conducting an enforcement raid in an outlet selling counterfeit hockey sticks
- Represented a food manufacturer in successfully obtaining an Anton Piller Order to seize evidence relating to forgery of invoices.
- Acted as supervising solicitor in an Anton Piller Order execution against Labuan entities.
- Acted as supervising solicitor in an Anton Piller Order execution against employees alleged to be committing fraud on the plaintiff.
Copyright & Industrial Designs (ID)
- Successfully represented the plaintiff in a copyright infringement, passing off, breach of confidence, breach of director’s duties and conspiracy to injure suit against 5 defendants.
- Represented the plaintiff in a copyright infringement suit against the defendant for the use of the plaintiff’s database.
- Represented a publishing company in a copyright infringement suit in relation to derivative works, among others.
- Represented a publishing company in defending a copyright infringement claim initiated by the Government of Malaysia and its licensee where one of the main defence put forward was the defence of fair dealing.
- Represented a multi-level-marketing company in a copyright infringement, trademark infringement, passing off and unlawful interference with trade suit against an e-commerce platform.
- Represented an auctioneer company in a copyright infringement and passing off suit in relation to the unlawful grabbing of database owned by the client and the use of a similar mark to describe the auctioneering services provided by the defendants.
- Represented an individual client in defending a criminal action brought under the offences provisions of the Copyright Act
- Represented a multi-level-marketing company in take down complaints being lodged with e-commerce platforms on the basis of copyright infringement for use of images taken from client’s website
- Represented a cistern manufacturer in an office action before the Industrial Design Office.
- Advised a headscarf designer on enforcement of Industrial Design rights.
Patents, Utility Innovations (UI) & TMT Related
- Represented a Malaysian green technology company in a patent invalidation suit against a foreign entity on various grounds including fraud committed on the Patent Registry.
- Represented a subsidiary of a Malaysian public listed company in a patent infringement suit against the defendant. Also represented the plaintiff in opposing interlocutory applications filed by defendant before the High Court and subsequent appeal to the Court of Appeal.
- Represented an individual inventor who is also the owner of patent relating to rainwater harvesting system in multiple patent infringement suits against various defendants.
- Represented a smart home integrator in defending a suit for breach of contract and negligence in the installation of a smart home IT solution before the Sessions Court as well as the High Court.
- Represented a state government linked company in advising and filing of patent applications.
- Represented a corporation in a patent infringement suit relating to a mobile network technology
- Represented an appellant in an appeal before the Federal Court in relation to invalidation of patent.
- Represented an international healthcare software company in a dispute pertaining to the project implementation of a billing application software support and maintenance services and license agreement.
- Advised a Malaysian company in a potential dispute relating to the supply of fibre optic cables where the dispute relates to the delivery schedule and change in price due to global shortage of raw materials used to manufacture fibre optic cables.
- Advised a logistic company in relation to potential dispute on IT support and maintenance agreement.
- Advised a content-streaming service company on Malaysian copyright law relating to original and licensed content.
- Advised an author on his IP rights pertaining to an adaptation of a short story into a movie.
- Advised a social media company pertaining to the use of an icon associated with the client by a potential infringer.
- Advised an artist on his IP rights in an educational module developed by the artist.
- Advised an electronic manufacturing company on an agreement relating to product endorsement by an Indonesian artist.
Reported cases
- Great Food Industries Sdn Bhd v Mazlan bin Mahamad Isa (trading as ‘Perniagaan Idaman Murni) & Ors [2024] MLJU 316
- JAIA Sdn Bhd v Tan Pit Mooi & Ors [2023] MLJU 2193; [2023] 1 LNS 1981
- Aqua Ecotech Sdn Bhd & Anor v Genius Venture Worldwide Limited & Ors [2023] MLJU 2706
- Chu Kok Wei v PCOM Pacific Sdn Bhd [2023] MLJU 656; [2023] 5 LNS 53; [2023] MLJU 2681
- In Re: Crystal Triumph Sdn Bhd [2018] MLJU 1846; [2018] 1 LNS 1959
- Syarikat Faiza Sdn Bhd & Anor v Faiz Rice Sdn Bhd & Anor And Another Case [2019] 7 MLJ 175; [2017] MLJU 1595; [2017] 1 LNS 1648; [2017] 3 CLJ 346; [2016] MLJU 1046
- A K Koh Enterprise Sdn Bhd v A1 Best One Food Industry Sdn Bhd (Pendaftar Cap Dagangan Malaysia, Interested Party) [2015] 9 MLJ 715
- SKB Shutters Manufacturing Sdn Bhd v Seng Kong Shutter Industries Sdn Bhd & Anor [2015] 6 MLJ 293; [2015] 9 CLJ 405
- Wieland Electric Gmbh v Industrial Automation (M) Sdn Bhd & Anor [2014] 10 MLJ 445; [2014] MLJU 200; [2014] 7 CLJ 970; [2014] 1 LNS 192
MEMBERSHIPS / DIRECTORSHIPS
- Member, Malaysian Bar
- Member, Kuala Lumpur Bar
- Bar Council IP Committee
- Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA)
- ASEAN IP Association
- ASEAN Law Association