Guangdong/Hong Kong Expert Group on Protection of Intellectual Property Rights continues to take forward co-operation projects
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Co-operation projects cover the following five areas:
* Reinforcing co-operation on IP in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area (Greater Bay Area);
* Promoting co-operation on protection of IP in both places;
* Promoting co-operation on IP trading and services in both places;
* Strengthening exchange on IP in both places; and
* Enhancing IP promotion and education activities in both places.
Key co-operation projects include promoting IP trading and enhancing co-operation in public IP services in both places; promoting resolution of IP disputes through arbitration and mediation; organising the annual Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area High-value Patent Portfolio Layout Competition; and arranging exchange activities in the areas of IP litigation and protection, trade mark, copyright and geographical indications.
On cross-boundary protection of IP, customs authorities of Guangdong and Hong Kong will continue to exchange intelligence, share information and conduct joint enforcement operations and projects to combat IP infringing and illegal activities, targeting important areas, key channels and key merchandise. Focus will be put on copyright protection on the Internet, and both sides will strengthen co-operation in and exchanges of copyright enforcement.
In 2020, the Expert Group formulated an annual co-operation plan and extended its implementation in the light of the pandemic situation. Over the past two years, the Expert Group has completed 19 co-operation projects. To reinforce IP co-operation in the Greater Bay Area, the Expert Group organised various events including the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area High-value Patent Portfolio Layout Competition, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Intellectual Property Trade Expo, and the GBA IPR Talent Development Conference and IPR Talent Supply and Demand Matchmaking Series.
Other collaborations include setting up the first batch of enquiry points on IP matters of Hong Kong at 12 IP service windows in Guangdong Province; organising the Guangdong/Hong Kong Seminar on IP and Development of Small and Medium Enterprises (Online); participating in the Business of IP Asia Forum co-organised by the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Hong Kong Design Centre; and arranging exchange activities relating to IP protection, exploitation and trading.
The Expert Group was set up after the Sixth Plenary of the Hong Kong/Guangdong Co-operation Joint Conference in August 2003. It aims at enhancing exchanges and co-operation in various aspects of IP protection, including promotion and education, training, enforcement, research study and information dissemination.
The leader of the Expert Group from the Guangdong side is the Director-General of the Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation (Guangdong Intellectual Property Administration), and members include officials from the Guangdong Administration for Market Regulation (Guangdong Intellectual Property Administration), the Guangdong Copyright Administration Bureau, the Guangdong Provincial Public Security Department, the Department of Commerce of Guangdong Province and the Guangdong Sub-administration of Customs General Administration. The leader of the Expert Group from the Hong Kong side is the Director of Intellectual Property, and members include officials from the Intellectual Property Department, the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and the Customs and Excise Department.
A summary of the co-operation items has been uploaded to the website of the Intellectual Property Department (www.ipd.gov.hk/eng/ip_cooperation_corner/meeting.htm).
Ends/Monday, November 28, 2022
Issued at HKT 18:00
Issued at HKT 18:00
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