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The Government today (December 9) launched a consultation to seek views on a set of new rules (the Draft Rules) for regulating proceedings before the Copyright Tribunal (the Tribunal). The new rules will replace the Copyright Tribunal Rules (Cap 528C) currently in force.
The Government is committed to providing a new set of rules to modernise the practice and procedures of the Tribunal. In August 2009, the Government invited views on the drafting approach and direction for the new rules. Having taken into account the views received as well as the latest local and overseas dispute resolution practices and developments, the Draft Rules have been prepared for further consultation.
An Intellectual Property Department spokesman said, "The Draft Rules seek to make proceedings before the Tribunal as flexible, convenient and cost-effective as possible in accordance with contemporary dispute resolution practices. The Government welcomes views from the public and stakeholders on the Draft Rules. Following this consultation, the Government will evaluate the submissions received and consider if further revisions are required. The revised Draft Rules will then be submitted to the Chief Justice for further consideration and eventually tabled before the Legislative Council for negative vetting."
The Draft Rules can be found in the consultation document available on the websites of the Intellectual Property Department (www.ipd.gov.hk/) and the Copyright Tribunal (www.ct.gov.hk/).
The consultation period will end on February 9, 2015.
Ends/Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Issued at HKT 16:45
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