HK IP Chief Urges Greater Use Of Intellectual Property In China

by Mary Swire, for LawAndTax-News.com, Hong Kong

28 March 2006

Speaking at a seminar in Zhangjiang on Monday, director of Hong Kong's Intellectual Property Department, Stephen Selby urged small and medium-sized enterprises operating on the Mainland to build up their business image and profits by employing IP concepts, such as applying new patented technologies or using brand names.

The seminar, run by the Intellectual Property Department, Trade Development Council, Guangdong Provincial Intellectual Property Office and Zhangjiang Municipal Government, aimed to strengthen support for Hong Kong-based SMEs in the southwest of Guangdong and promote intellectual property protection.

Mr Selby observed that Zhangjiang, in the Mainland's far south, was a well-known industrial base in the 80s.

"Now the area mainly focuses on agriculture, fisheries and the processing industry. By employing intellectual property concepts in these businesses, such as applying new patented technologies in growing plants or using brand names in promoting their products, these SMEs can effectively build up the image of their businesses and at the same time, create profit for them," he explained to those attending the seminar, adding that:

"We hope participants will better understand the need to use and protect their patents, designs and trademarks. This seminar is in line with the national IP strategy of the 11th 5-year Plan."

"In addition, this should be a good opportunity to investigate what role Hong Kong may be able to play in developing a creative economy, for example, developing new plant varieties in rural and agricultural areas, in line with the latest Central Government policies."

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