Pilot project for prioritising examination of qualified invention patent applications filed by Hong Kong applicants in Mainland to be launched on January 1, 2023
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     The China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA), in collaboration with the Intellectual Property Department (IPD) of Hong Kong and the intellectual property (IP) authorities of Guangdong Province and Shenzhen, will launch a pilot project on January 1, 2023, for prioritising examination of qualified invention patent applications filed by Hong Kong applicants in the Mainland.
      
     The Commissioner of the CNIPA, Dr Shen Changyu, announced the commencement of the pilot project today (December 1) at the Business of IP Asia Forum. The pilot project will facilitate Hong Kong applicants in seeking patent protection in the Mainland to safeguard the exploitation and commercialisation of their inventions, contributing to the innovation and technology development in Hong Kong.
          
     Under the pilot project, Hong Kong applicants for invention patent applications which meet the relevant criteria may request prioritised examination of their applications by the CNIPA. Requests can be submitted to the CNIPA's representative office in Guangzhou or Shenzhen.
      
     The Director of Intellectual Property, Mr David Wong, said, "The HKSAR Government welcomes the launch of the pilot project by the CNIPA. If the request for prioritised examination by a Hong Kong applicant is approved, the patent examination process will be expedited. This will result in the grant of a patent to the concerned invention that satisfies all the patentability requirements in the Mainland in a shorter period of time than in the normal course."
      
     As set out in "The Chief Executive's 2022 Policy Address" delivered in October, the Government will further develop Hong Kong into a regional IP trading centre by leveraging the institutional advantages of Hong Kong's legal and IP protection systems. One of the initiatives is to roll out this pilot project.
      
     The IPD will provide further details of the pilot project as soon as the details of the arrangement are promulgated by the CNIPA.

Ends/Thursday, December 1, 2022
Issued at HKT 12:31

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