Eugene Ee
Partner
Eugene graduated with a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Malaya in 2014 and was admitted as Advocate and Solicitor in the High Court of Malaya in 2017. Prior to joining the legal profession, Eugene was in a regulatory compliance and internal audit function in one of Malaysia’s largest conglomerate where he was involved in establishing its corporate governance and regulatory compliance framework across the plantation, property development and heavy machinery industries.
Eugene’s practice principally focuses on contentious IP and commercial matters where he regularly appears as junior counsel at all court levels, including the Federal Court which is the apex court in Malaysia. Outside the courtroom, Eugene assists clients in the enforcement of their IP rights and has successfully secured favourable settlements on their behalf. He also works closely with the Enforcement Division of the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (MDT) in coordinating raid actions against infringers and counterfeiters often resulting in the seizures of counterfeit goods of substantial value and wide media publicity.
Eugene regularly advises multinational corporations in the technology, retail, gaming, telecommunications, logistics and manufacturing industries on a wide spectrum of issues involving IP, regulatory compliance, consumer laws and data protection matters.
Eugene has been recognised as a "Rising Star" by The Legal 500 and ranked as a leading individual for patent litigation in IAM Patent 1000 for his expertise, professionalism and client-centric approach. He has been described as having "a flair for IP rights enforcement and commercial matters" and appreciated by clients for providing "professional and clear advice".
Eugene’s notable experiences include:
- Acting for a leading manufacturer of floating offshore machinery against a consortium comprising of four multinational corporations for infringing its side-by-side mooring construction patent in Single Buoy Moorings Inc. v Samsung Heavy Industries Co., Ltd. & others, Civil Suit No.: WA-22IP-5-03/2022.
- Acting for a leading service provider of production surveillance as patentee of an isokinetic measurement method patent against two local subsidiaries of a testing, inspection and certification multinational company for patent infringement, copyright infringement and breach of confidential information in Petroknowledge Sdn. Bhd. v SGS (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd & another, Civil Suit No. WA-22IP-75-12/2023.
- Acting for a renowned online dating service provider in the enforcement of a judgment granted by the US Court against two Malaysian defendants for trademark infringement, false advertising and unfair competition where the US Court awarded statutory damages amounting to US$4 million in Reflex Media & another v Endeavor Standard Sdn. Bhd. & another, Civil Suit No.: WA-22IP-2-02/2023.
- Acted for a manufacturer of security inspection products in defending a claim for infringement of a vehicle inspection system patent at the Court of Appeal in Civil Appeal No. W-02(IPCV)(W)-283-02/2015 and at the Federal Court in Civil Application No.: 08(f)-213-07/2021(W).
- Acted for a retail fashion company in defending a claim for copyright infringement for playing in-store background music at its outlets in Symphonic Distribution LLC & others v Kasse Sdn Bhd & others, Civil Suit No.: WA-22IP-14-02/2024.
- Acted for a pre-school franchisor in defending a claim brought by its former franchisee for the invalidation of the franchise agreement in HA Niaga Sdn Bhd & 2 others v Genius Aulad International Group Sdn Bhd, Civil Suit No.: BA-B52NCC-279-12/2020.
- Acted for an award-winning property developer in claiming for trademark infringement and passing-off in Skyworld Holdings Sdn Bhd & others v SkyWorld Development Sdn Bhd & another, Civil Appeal No.: 02(f)-50-09/2020 (W).
- Acted for the top-ranked public university in Malaysia in defending an application for third-party discovery brought by its former employee in Chong Ai Ing v Dr. Thock Ker Pong, Civil Suit No. WA-23NCvC-63-06/2021.
- Acted for the inventor of an apparatus that is widely used in the palm oil industry in claiming for patent and copyright infringement in YKL Engineering Sdn Bhd v Sungei Kahang Palm Oil Sdn Bhd & another, Civil Appeal No.: 02(f) – 9 - 02/2021(J).
- Acted for the manufacturer of bottle labels in defending a claim for trademark infringement and passing off in Dr. Who (M) Sdn Bhd & another v Dr. Who Global Watertech (S) Pte Ltd & others, Civil Suit No.: JA-22IP-1-08/2020.
- Acted for the franchisee of a pre-school franchise in defending a claim for the breach of franchise agreement brought by the franchisor in Smart Reader Worldwide Sdn Bhd v Melinda Seng May Yee, Civil Suit No.: WA-A52NCvC-1057-11/2019.
- Representing several US-based software companies in the enforcement of their copyright which resulted in favourable settlements for the copyright owners
- Coordinated enforcement raid actions with the Enforcement Division of the MDT for the brand owners of automobile lubricants and prestige fragrances resulting in seizures of counterfeit goods with a combined value of about RM2,000,000 and wide media publicity.
Eugene is a member of the Asian Patent Attorneys Association (APAA) and the International Trademark Association (INTA). He is also a regular contributor for the Malaysian chapter of the World Trademark Review Daily where he provides commentaries and analysis on recent developments regarding the Malaysian trademark law practice.
Out of the office, Eugene unwinds by deepening his understanding and applying the art of modern Chinese metaphysics with the hopes of achieving stability and foresight in his life.
