Hong Kong And Guangdong To Boost Copyright Cooperation

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

13 July 2007

It emerged on Thursday that Guangdong and Hong Kong have agreed to step up cooperation to raise public awareness of intellectual property in both regions, with seminars to be staged to show enterprises how copyright can be used as a tool for wealth creation, and for sharpening their competitive edge.

At the Guangdong/Hong Kong Expert Group on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights' sixth meeting held in Guangzhou yesterday, both sides reviewed the latest intellectual property developments in the regions, and concluded that many co-operation items have been successfully completed.

Law-enforcement authorities in both places have also been working closely to suppress the flow of infringing goods.

Projects for the second half of the year were also discussed, including enhancing the staff-exchange programme for intellectual-property professionals of both regions, and the organisation of the Guangdong/Hong Kong Seminar on Intellectual Property and the Development of Small & Medium Enterprises in Guangdong.

Hong Kong's Director of Intellectual Property, Stephen Selby, speaking after the meeting, explained that:

"“In the age of knowledge economy, enterprises on the Mainland and in Hong Kong are increasingly aware of the importance of IP protection and management. We plan to co-organise IP management seminars in both regions to show enterprises how IP can be used as a tool for wealth creation and how they can strengthen IP management to sharpen their competitive edge.”

Mr Selby paid tribute to the assistance of the People's Government of Guangdong Province in facilitating Hong Kong’s outreach to SMEs in the Pearl River Delta. He also thanked the Hong Kong IP legal community for its support.

“Support from the People's Government of Guangdong Province has been vital to the success of our outreach efforts. We have also showcased the services available from IP legal professionals in both Hong Kong and Guangdong. Private sector IP agents and legal practitioners have played an important part in Hong Kong’s public education efforts in Guangdong Province in recent years,” Mr Selby announced.

Guangdong Provincial Intellectual Property Office Director General Li Zhongduo confirmed that the meeting had been very fruitful in building up co-operation between the Mainland and Hong Kong, announcing that:

“We have agreed to increase our co-operation in both depth and breadth. For example, the “No Fakes” Pledge Scheme is to be actively promoted continuously in both regions and exchange activities for tertiary institutions and science and technology institutes will be conducted.”

The Guangdong/Hong Kong Expert Group on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights, set up after the Sixth Plenary of the Guangdong/Hong Kong Co-operation Joint Conference in August, 2003, aims to enhance exchanges and co-operation on various aspects of intellectual property, including promotion and education, training, enforcement and information dissemination.

Recommended