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(b)
(c)
(d)
(e)
there is any plan to seek full or partial exemption for schools from the provisions of the laws on intellectual property rights, modelling on the United Kingdom's 1988 Copyright, Designs and Patents Act;
consideration has been given to obtaining permits for schools collectively to enable them to use teaching and learning materials involving intellectual property rights; if so, what the details are; if not, why not;
additional funding will be provided to enable schools to have sufficient teaching and learning materials to use on the one hand and comply with the intellectual property right laws on the other; if so, what the details are; if not, why not; and
guidelines have been provided to schools on the issue of intellectual property rights; if so, what the contents are; if not, why not?
Reply:
Mr President,
(a)
(b)
(c)
No survey has been conducted on the use of teaching and learning materials involving intellectual property rights in schools. Nevertheless, we have issued a circular to draw the attention of schools and teachers to the need to observe the relevant legislation relating to copyright, see part (e) below.
The Secretary for Trade and Industry is preparing a comprehensive Copyright Bill for introduction to the Legislative Council as soon as possible. This bill will include certain provisions similar to those in the 1988 United Kingdom Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, which would permit the use of certain copyright materials under certain conditions for certain educational purposes without infringing their copyright.
At present, there is no single organisation in Hong Kong which administers collectively the intellectual property rights of all teaching and learning materials. It is therefore not feasible for the Education Department to obtain permits for schools collectively because of the wide spectrum of such materials in use in our schools.