Go to main content
 
Hong Kong and WIPO sign MOU on WIPO Lex-Judgments database (with photos)
************************************************************************
     The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (September 1) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on co-operation with regard to the WIPO Lex-Judgments database to strengthen information sharing, with a view to jointly building a more connected and informative global intellectual property (IP) community.
 
     The WIPO Lex-Judgments database provides free, open access to leading judicial decisions relating to IP from around the world. The Chief Executive in his 2024 Policy Address announced that Hong Kong will participate in the database with the Central Government's support. Under the MOU, Hong Kong will contribute leading IP judgments from the Judiciary to the database, facilitating the international IP community's access to such judgments, while at the same time showcasing the quality of Hong Kong's IP-related judicial judgments.
 
     In the witness of the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; Deputy Director General of WIPO Ms Wang Binying; and the Chief Judge of the High Court, Mr Justice Jeremy Poon, the MOU was signed by the Director of Intellectual Property, Mr David Wong, and Assistant Director General of WIPO Mr Marco Alemán.
 
     In his speech at the signing ceremony, Mr Chan said that Hong Kong's participation in the database carries special significance. "Under the 'one country, two systems' framework, Hong Kong is the only territory in China practising common law, and in both Chinese and English. Its protection of IP is widely recognised. As a trusted venue for resolving IP disputes involving parties from both the Mainland and abroad, our judgments serve as valuable references to the international legal community."
 
     Mr Chan indicated Hong Kong's strengthened collaboration with WIPO would not only enhance its role in the international exchange of jurisprudence, but also strengthen Hong Kong's standing as a leading regional hub for IP trading and legal services. "By enhancing the global transparency of our IP legal regime, we provide greater confidence to international businesses and rights holders to invest and pursue innovation activities here. They can count on our reliable, world-class legal infrastructure for the commercialisation and protection of their IP assets." He also thanked the Central People's Government and WIPO for their strong support to Hong Kong's IP initiatives over the past years, and reiterated that Hong Kong remains firmly committed to playing an active role in international IP co-operation and contributing to China's vision of becoming a global IP powerhouse by 2035.
 
     Also addressing the signing ceremony, Mr Justice Poon said, "Under the MOU, representative IP judgments of the Hong Kong courts will be made available on the WIPO Lex-Judgments database. Hong Kong will continue to play an important role in providing better access of IP judgments, enhancing global understanding of judicial approaches to the latest common legal issues, and contributing to international co-operation for promoting IP."
 
     Today's signing ceremony was also attended by representatives from the local IP community, the legal profession, the research and development sector and business bodies.
 
Ends/Monday, September 1, 2025
Issued at HKT 16:53
NNNN
Archives   Yesterday's Press Releases  
Back to Index Page
Back to top
Today's Press Releases  

Photo

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (September 1) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on co-operation with regard to the WIPO Lex-Judgments database. Photo shows the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan, speaking at the signing ceremony.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (September 1) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on co-operation with regard to the WIPO Lex-Judgments database. Photo shows the Chief Judge of the High Court, Mr Justice Jeremy Poon, speaking at the signing ceremony.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (September 1) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on co-operation with regard to the WIPO Lex-Judgments database. Photo shows the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan (back row, centre); Deputy Director General of WIPO Ms Wang Binying (back row, left); and the Chief Judge of the High Court, Mr Justice Jeremy Poon (back row, right), witnessing the Director of Intellectual Property, Mr David Wong (front row, right), and Assistant Director General of WIPO Mr Marco Alemán (front row, left) signing the MOU.
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government today (September 1) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on co-operation with regard to the WIPO Lex-Judgments database. In the witness of the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan (back row, centre); Deputy Director General of WIPO Ms Wang Binying (back row, left); and the Chief Judge of the High Court, Mr Justice Jeremy Poon (back row, right), the MOU was signed by the Director of Intellectual Property, Mr David Wong (front row, right), and Assistant Director General of WIPO Mr Marco Alemán (front row, left).
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government today (September 1) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on co-operation with regard to the WIPO Lex-Judgments database. Photo shows (from left) the Commissioner of Customs and Excise, Mr Chan Tsz-tat; the Permanent Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Ms Maggie Wong; the Director-General of the Department of Treaty and Law of the Office of the Commissioner of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the HKSAR, Ms Zhou Qian; Assistant Director General of WIPO Mr Marco Alemán; Deputy Director General of WIPO Ms Wang Binying; the Financial Secretary, Mr Paul Chan; the Chief Judge of the High Court, Mr Justice Jeremy Poon; the Acting Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, Dr Bernard Chan; Judge of the Court of First Instance of the High Court Mr Justice David Lok; and the Director of Intellectual Property, Mr David Wong, at the signing ceremony.