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The remaining provisions requiring subsidiary legislation come into operation today (Friday). The main features include-
New customs border measures to enable copyright and trademark owners to apply for court orders to detain suspected imports of pirated copyright or counterfeiting goods so as to facilitate their initiation of civil proceedings. This measure is in addition to the existing criminal enforcement by the Hong Kong Customs.
The definition of "trade mark" is widened to cover any sign that is visually perceptible and capable of being represented graphically. This will include the registration of shapes, provided they fulfill the criteria of the Trade Marks Ordinance for registration.
Owners of copyright in sound recordings and computer programmes will be able to prevent such products from being rented out commercially without their permission. The existing Performing Right Tribunal will be renamed as Copyright Tribunal with expanded jurisdictions to determine the reasonable level of royalties to the copyright owners for rental of their copyright works.
Performers will be granted the right to prevent their live performances from being recorded and distributed commercially or broadcast without their permission.
End
MOU on meteorological science co-operation signed
A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between Royal Observatory Hong Kong and The China Meteorological Administration this Wednesday (December 18) on long-term scientific and technical co-operation on the fields of atmospheric sciences, including weather forecasting and warning services, meteorological telecommunications, data exchange, research and training,
In 1975, a direct meteorological telecommunications link was set up between Hong Kong and Beijing. This circuit was upgraded to a higher speed in 1990 to allow exchange of more meteorological information, including weather radar data and digital facsimile weather charts.