XN000022-1996-04-24 — Page 34

(d)

(e)

20 -

owners of copyright in sound recordings and computer programs will be able to prevent such products from being rented out commercially without their permission; and

the definition of "trade mark" widened to cover any sign that is visually perceptible and capable of being represented graphically. This will include the registration of shapes of goods, provided they fulfil the criteria of the Trade Marks Ordinance for registration.

"Two issues, namely, the treatment of parallel imports under the customs border measures and the rental right for films, have not been included in the present Bill.

"They will be considered in detail in the context of the new Copyright Bill to be introduced into the Legislative Council by the end of this year," the spokesman said.

End

Intellectual Property (WTO Amendments) Bill 1995

Following is the speech by the Secretary for Trade and Industry, Miss Denise Yue, in moving the second reading of the Intellectual Property (World Trade Organisation Amendments) Bill 1995 in the Legislative Council today (Wednesday) :

Mr President.

I am most grateful to the Bills Committee for its careful and efficient examination of the Intellectual Property (World Trade Organisation Amendments) Bill 1995 under the chairmanship of the Honourable Ambrose Lau.

The objective of the Bill is to render the intellectual property regime in Hong Kong compatible with the standards and requirements in the Agreement on Trade- Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights, or the TRIPS Agreement in short. This Agreement is one of the multilateral agreements under the World Trade Organisation (WTO). Hong Kong, as a full member of the WTO, is obliged to comply with the Agreement.