HK, Guangdong to jointly enhance intellectual property protection

Hong Kong and Guangdong have jointly organized a seminar Tuesday to strengthen their cooperation on intellectual property matters, especially those concerning small and medium enterprises (SMEs), according to a Hong Kong government press release.

Representatives from Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department,Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Guangdong Provincial Intellectual Property Office attended the one-day seminar.

Topics of the seminar included how to seek patents protection on new inventions and new designs in the Chinese mainland; overviews of trademarks protection in the Chinese mainland, the latest development of regulations on the protection of intellectual property by customs authority; and intellectual property right protection in overseas market.

Speaking at the opening of the seminar, Hong Kong's Intellectual Property Deputy Director Peter Cheung said the seminar was an important co-operation program on promoting intellectual property protection between Hong Kong and Guangdong.

He said the implementation of the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) marks a closer economic cooperation between Hong Kong and Guangdong.

Economic integration between the two places had become a major trend of economic development in the region, he added.

Cheung said Dongguan is an international processing and manufacturing base as well as an important city for the Chinese mainland's foreign exports. Hong Kong enterprises, therefore, have already established a strong investment base in the city.

It was deliberately chosen for the seminar to allow government officials from Hong Kong and Guangdong to gather together to introduce their intellectual property regimes to SMEs in the region, he said.

"This is a significant step to deepen our business sectors' awareness of intellectual property protection and management, and foster co-operation on intellectual property matters in the Pearl River Delta Region," Cheung said.

Source: Xinhua