Asia IP

A working group on intellectual property trading has proposed measures to further develop Hong Kong as a regional or IP trading hub, said the group's chairman, Secretary for Commerce & Economic Development Gregory So last week.

The proposed measures fall under four strategic areas: enhancing the IP protection regime; supporting IP creation and exploitation; fostering IP intermediary services and manpower capacity; and pursuing promotion, education and external collaboration efforts. 

So said the government has accepted the working group's report and has set aside HK$23 million in the coming three years to roll out a series of support measures.

He added that the government has been taking steps to enhance Hong Kong's IP protection regime, including the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014 which was tabled at the Legislative Council last year, and the preparation of legislative proposals to implement the 'original grant' patent system. 

As a support measure, an IP consultation service scheme will be launched to provide free initial advice to small and medium enterprises. The Government will facilitate the provision of specialised IP intermediary services, such as valuation and due diligence, and arbitration and mediation.