ENG-2005 — Page 161

Commerce and Industry 127

Copyright cases

Trade descriptions

cases

Cases effected

40

13

68

19

$3.1 million

Persons arrested

Seizure value

$0.56 million

The department continued to work closely with the intellectual property rights. industry in enforcement, especially the Intellectual Property Rights Protection Alliance established in March 2004. New initiatives in 2005 included the E-auctioning with Integrity Scheme and the Jewellery Integrity Campaign, which served to protect consumers' interests, enhance customs' enforcement and uphold Hong Kong's image as a shopping paradise for genuine goods.

Public Education

During the year, the Intellectual Property Department continued territory-wide campaigns, such as the 'No Fakes' and 'I Pledge' campaigns, to emphasise the importance of intellectual property rights. The department, in cooperation with the Guangdong provincial intellectual property authorities, will expand the 'No Fakes' Pledge campaign to other cities in the Guangdong Province in addition to Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Shantou and Dongguan. The aim of the campaign is to promote the 'no fakes' branding concept to Guangdong visitors to Hong Kong and help encourage greater participation among stakeholders in the Pearl River Delta Region.

During the year, the department produced announcements of public interest to promote respect for intellectual property rights. It also continued its primary and secondary school visits programme into the ninth year with the aim of promoting respect for intellectual property rights among the younger generation. The programme covered 74 schools and 22 281 students. To promote awareness of intellectual property protection among students and young people, the department launched an Intellectual Property Tutor Programme in 48 secondary schools, organised the 'Promotion of Respect for Intellectual Property Rights' slogan competition for schools from September to November and launched the Scout Programme on Respect for Intellectual Property Rights in April.

The department commissioned another survey in November to compare changing public attitudes toward intellectual property over the years and to assess the effectiveness of its promotion and public education programmes. The survey results showed that public understanding of intellectual property rights was improving. The second annual survey measuring the awareness of intellectual property in the business community was conducted in February. The results of the survey provided useful insights for strengthening government efforts to promote intellectual property rights among the business sector.

The Guangdong/Hong Kong Expert Group on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights, which was set up after the Sixth Guangdong/Hong Kong Joint Conference in August 2003, held its fourth meeting in Hong Kong in June 2005.