TNAG-2890-FCO40-4162-Reform-and-localisation-of-the-Hong-Kong-Patent-System-1993 — Page 298

Registration

Search

Term of protection

Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual

Property (TRIPs)

United Kingdom patents

Utility model

World

Intellectual

Property

Organisation (WIPO)

This expression is used throughout this report to describe the registration of a patent which has been granted elsewhere. Hong Kong's current patent system is a registration system because the holder of a patent granted in the United Kingdom or granted in the EPO and designating UK may apply to have the patent registered in Hong Kong.

A search is made of the prior art before the grant of a patent, to decide whether the invention is new (see novelty).

A patent is granted for a specified term. UK patents and EP(UK) patents are granted for 20 years from the date of application.

One of the 15 aspects of the current Uruguay round of negotiations in the GATT.

Patents applied for and granted by the United Kingdom Patent Office as a result of an application filed and examined there.

See petty patents.

WIPO is one of 16 specialised agencies of the United Nations system of organisations. Based in Geneva, it is responsible for the promotion of the protection of intellectual property throughout the world. As at January 1992, 127 States are members of WIPO.

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