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FRIDAY, JUNE 24, 1994

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ISSUE THE FIRST REPORT ON THE REGISTRABILITY OF TRADEMARK IN 13 MONTHS FOR 20 PER CENT

VLIGNS AND WE WI CONSIDER AND REPLY TO APPLICANTS OBJECTIONS TO OUR FIRST REFORT IN FOUR MONTHS FOR 70 PER CENT OF SUCH OBJECTIONS, MISS WATERS SAID.

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CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION WILL BE ISSUED IN THREE MONTHS FOR 70 PER CENT OF CASES AFTER THE MARK HAS BEEN ACCEPTED AND WHERE NO OBJECTIONS ARE RAISED BY THIRD PARTIES, SHE ADDED.

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OF IN RESPECT OF THE MAINTENANCE OF THE REGISTER, 80 PER CENT CASES REQUESTING A CHANGE OF NAME AND 75 PER CENT OF ASSIGNMENT CASES WILL BE RECORDED IN FOUR MONTHS.

MISS WATERS SAID THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLIC SEARCH SERVICE FOR TRADEMARKS WOULD BE COMPUTERISED NEXT MONTH.

MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC CAN COME TO THE PUBLIC SEARCH AREA OF THE TRADE MARKS REGISTRY AND BY USING ON-LINE COMPUTER FACILITIES SEARCH THE REGISTER AND THE LIST OF APPLICATIONS.

"THIS SHOULD PROVE TO BE A MORE EFFECTIVE METHOD OF SEARCH THAN THE CURRENT MANUAL SYSTEM AND IT WILL ASSIST IN SPEEDING UP THE TIME TO ISSUE CERTIFIED COPIES OF THE REGISTER TO TO WORKING DAYS OR LESS," SHE SAID.

AS THERE 15 NO ORIGINAL GRANT OF PATENTS IN HONG KONG, MISS WATERS SAID THE PATENT REGISTRATION SYSTEM ONLY REQUIRED THE REGISTRAR TO CARRY OUT A FORMALITY SEARCH TO SEE THAT THE DOCUMENTATION WAS IN ORDER BEFORE ENTERING IT ON THE REGISTER.

"IN THIS RESPECT, WE WILL REGISTER ALL APPLICATIONS FOR PATENTS WITHIN TWO MONTHS AND RECORD ASSIGNMENTS AND CHANGES OF NAME WITHIN ONE MONTH," SHE SAID.

AS FAR AS NON-CASE-RELATED ENQUIRIES ARE CONCERNED, DEPARTMENT WILL. ARRANGE FOR TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES TO BE HANDLED SUITABLE OFFICER WITHIN ONE DAY AND WILL GIVE A FULL. REPLY WRITTEN ENQUIRY WITHIN 14 DAYS.

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MISS WATERS SAID THESE PERFORMANCE PLEDGES HAD BEEN AGREED WITH THE COMMITTEE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OF THE LAW SOCIETY AND THE HONG KONG INSTITUTE OF TRADEMARK AGENTS WHICH REPRESENTED THE DEPARTMENT'S MAJOR CUSTOMERS.

THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY WILL ALSO CAREFULLY MONITOR THE PLEDGES AND WILL PUBLISH THE RESULT ANNUALLY.

"WE WELCOME SUGGESTIONS AND INVITE WRITTEN OR TELEPHONE COMMENTS ON THE WAY IN WHICH OUR SERVICES ARE DELIVERED, MISS WATERS SAID.

"WE HAVE ALSO SET UP A SYSTEM TO CONSIDER COMPLAINTS IF OUR PERFORMANCE STANDARDS ARE NOT MET AND THERE IS A RIGHT OF APPEAL. ΤΟ THE DIRECTOR OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY, SHE ADDED.

THE PERFORMANCE PLEDGES AND A NUMBER OF LEAFLETS AND PAMPHLETS ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY IN HONG KONG ARE AVAILABLE FOR DISTRIBUTION AT THE PUBLIC SEARCH AREA OF THE TRADE MARK REGISTRY AT 24TH FLOOR, .CHUNG HOUSE, 213 QUEEN'S ROAD EAST, WAN CHAI.

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