ENG-2001 — Page 157

COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY

Ordinance before it can be accepted for registration in the HKSAR. The procedure for applying for registration is laid down in the Trade Marks Rules. In 2001, 20 945 applications were received, of which 15 096 were in respect of goods and 5 849 were in respect of services. During the period, 14 219 marks were registered, a decrease of 16.0 per cent compared with 16 920 in 2000. The principal places from which applications originated were:

USA

HKSAR

Japan

Germany

United Kingdom

3 461

Switzerland

644

2 962

France

623

1 485

British Virgin Islands

440

790

714

Taiwan

350

Singapore

187

The register had a total of 146 220 marks as at December 31, 2001.

The Intellectual Property Department has started the development of a new computer system, through an outsourced service provider, to facilitate the implementation of the new Trade Marks Ordinance, which is scheduled to come into force in 2002.

Patents

The Patents Ordinance provides for the grant of standard patents based on patents granted in the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China, and the United Kingdom Patent Office or the European Patent Office (in respect of patents designating the United Kingdom). It also provides for the grant of short-term patents. In 2001, the Patents Registry received 8 914 standard patent applications and 1 146 were granted. During the period, there were also 312 applications for grant of short-term patents, and 271 were granted.

Registered Designs

The Registered Designs Ordinance enables designs to be registered independently in the HKSAR. In 2001, the Designs Registry received 1977 applications for registration of 2 777 designs, comprising 1 639 single-design applications and 338 multiple-design applications. During the period, 2 864 designs were registered.

Copyright

The Copyright Ordinance provides protection for literary, dramatic, musical and artistic works, typographical arrangements of published editions, sound recordings, films, broadcasts, cable programmes, and performers' performances irrespective of the domicile of the copyright owners. In line with international standards, there is no requirement to register copyright.

New Legislation

The Intellectual Property (Miscellaneous Amendments) Ordinance 2000 took effect on April 1, 2001 after wide publicity. It makes the unauthorised possession of video recording equipment in cinemas, theatres and concert halls an offence, and amends. the Copyright Ordinance in relation to copyright infringement in trade or business. To address the public concern that the amendments to the Copyright Ordinance had hampered the dissemination of information in enterprises as well as teaching activities

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