112 | Commerce and Industry
Trade Marks
In 2008, the Trade Marks Registry received 24 230 applications, comprising 15 237 single-class applications and 8993 multiple-class applications. During the period, 18 408 marks were registered, relative to 19 395 in 2007. The applications came from a total of 101 countries. The principal places were:
HK, China
8 081
Germany
673
Mainland of China
3 564
France
656
US
3 276
United Kingdom
653
Japan
2 256
Italy
454
Switzerland
722
Taiwan, province of China
453
The register had a total of 225 823 marks by the end of the year.
Patents
The Patents Ordinance provides for the grant of standard patents based on patents granted in the State Intellectual Property Office of China, 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, which may be registered following local formality examination procedures. In 2008, the Patents Registry granted 4 001 standard patents and received 13 662 applications. It also granted 435 short-term patents and received 488 applications.
Registered Designs
The Registered Designs Ordinance provides for the registration of designs in the HKSAR. In 2008, the Designs Registry received 3 078 applications for the registration of 5 597 designs, including 2 403 single-design applications and 675 multiple-design applications. During the year, 5 153 designs were registered.
Copyright
The World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) Copyright Treaty (WCT) and WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT) (collectively referred to as the 'Internet Treaties') were applied to the HKSAR with effect from October 1, 2008. The Internet Treaties cover the latest international standards for protection of copyright and related rights in light of new digital technologies.
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 practice, there is no requirement to register copyright.
Certain amendments to Hong Kong's Copyright Ordinance came into force in stages during 2008. They included rental rights for films and underlying works in sound recordings, moral and rental rights for performers, prohibitions against circumvention of technological measures that protect copyright works, and a new criminal offence against directors/partners of organisations that use pirated copies of
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