XN000022-1988-10-25 — Page 6

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TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 1988

VARIOUS

COPYRIGHT AND KONG HAS DEVELOPED

DESCRIPTIONS,

"TO MEET ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY PROTECTION CONVENTIONS, HONG MORE THAN ADEQUATE LAWS COVERING TRADE MARKS, TRADE COPYRIGHT, INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS AND PATENTS," MR LI

SAID.

"THE GOVERNMENT HAS COMMITTED SUBSTANTIAL RESOURCES TO THE VIGOROUS ENFORCEMENT OF THESE LAWS, INCLUDING A SPECIAL TASK FORCE COMPRISING 150 CUSTOMS INVESTIGATORS WITH SUPPORT FROM ANOTHER 450 INVESTIGATORS FROM THE CUSTOMS INVESTIGATION BRANCH.

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MR LI SAID THAT IN ENFORCING THE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS AND COPYRIGHT ORDINANCES, HIS DEPARTMENT'S STRATEGY WAS TO ATTACK COUNTERFEITING AND COPYRIGHT PIRACY AT ALL LEVELS, FROM RETAILING AT STREET LEVEL, LARGE AND SMALL ESTABLISHED RETAIL PREMISES. AND MANUFACTURING OUTLETS AS WELL AS IMPORTS AND EXPORTS.

HE SAID UNDER THE TRADE DESCRIPTION ORDINANCE (TDO), FALSE TRADE DESCRIPTIONS, FORGED TRADE MARKS AND ANY MIS-STATEMENTS IN RESPECT OF GOODS PROVIDED IN THE COURSE OF TRADE WERE SPECIFICALLY PROHIBITED.

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AND

"THE TDO PROVIDES FOR MAXIMUM PENALTIES OF $100,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS FOR SUMMARY OFFENCES, AND $500,000 IMPRISONMENT FOR FIVE YEARS FOR INDICTABLE OFFENCES, WHILE ALL SEIZED ARE LIABLE TO FORFEITURE, HE SAID.

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GOODS

"UP TO SEPTEMBER THIS YEAR, THE DEPARTMENT HAS SEIZED $26.3 MILLION WORTH OF GOODS IN 555 CASES AND PROSECUTED 578 PERSONS OR FIRMS UNDER THE TDO, FINES TOTALLED $4.85 MILLION AND 21 CUSTODIAL SENTENCES WERE PASSED."

AS FOR THE COPYRIGHT ORDINANCE, MR LI SAID IT AFFORDED PROTECTION FOR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AGAINST INFRINGEMENT OF LITERARY, DRAMATIC, MUSICAL AND ARTISTIC WORKS, SOUND RECORDINGS, CINEMATOGRAPH FILMS, TELEVISION AND SOUND BROADCASTS; AND PUBLISHED EDITIONS OF WORK, BOTH LOCAL AND FOREIGN.

ANYONE CONVICTED OF POSSESSION OF INFRINGING COPIES FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRADE OR BUSINESS IS LIABLE TO A FINE OF $1,000

FOR EACH INFRINGING COPY AND TO IMPRISONMENT FOR ONE YEAR," HE SAID.

USED OR

"THE MAXIMUM PENALTY FOR THE POSSESSION OF PLATES INTENDED TO BE USED FOR MAKING INFRINGING COPIES IS A FINE OF $50,000 AND IMPRISONMENT FOR TWO YEARS.

"ALL INFRINGING GOODS AND PLATES SEIZED ARE

LIABLE

ΤΟ

FORFEITURE.

"GOODS VALUED AT $15.5 MILLION WERE SEIZED IN 138 CASES IN THE FIRST NINE MONTHS THIS YEAR, AND 67 PERSONS OR FIRMS WERE PROSECUTED. IN ADDITION TO TOTAL FINES OF $390,000, ONE PERSON WAS IMPRISONED.

H

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