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The Government announced today (June 26) the full implementation of a policy to open up the intellectual property (IP) created in its information technology (IT) systems to facilitate commercial exploitation that can help create more business opportunities for the IT sector.
"The policy is in line with one of the recommendations of the Task Force on Economic Challenges announced last year to promote the innovation and technology industry, one of the six economic areas where Hong Kong has good potential for further development," a spokesman for the Office of the Government Chief Information Officer (OGCIO) said.
Under the policy, the ownership of the IP created in new government IT systems will be vested in the contractor who developed the system, except where the IP right needs to be retained for public interest, legal or regulatory reasons. The Government will obtain from the contractor a perpetual and royalty-free licence to use, modify and replicate the IT systems. For IP in existing IT systems, bureaus and departments are encouraged to consider favourably requests by contractors for commercial exploitation.
"This means that contractors can exploit the IP to tap more business opportunities. For example, they can sell the ownership of the IT systems they developed for the Government or grant licence(s) for using the systems to other parties. They may also build on the IT systems to develop new products," the spokesman said.
"The provision of extra incentives for contractors when designing and developing their products should help promote market innovation which is conducive to the ongoing development of the industry," he added.
The spokesman noted that the Government also stood to benefit from lower tender prices when contractors factor in the exploitation of IP in calculating their costs for developing IT systems for the Government.
The OGCIO launched in 2006 a three-year pilot scheme to open up ownership of IP created in new government IT systems for commercial exploitation. A subsequent review found that the scheme was beneficial to both the IT industry and the Government. It also re-affirmed the industry's unanimous support for its implementation.
Ends/Saturday, June 26, 2010
Issued at HKT 12:00
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