ENG-2014 — Page 136

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Commerce and Industry

Registered Designs

In 2014, the Designs Registry received 2,453 applications for the registration of 4,477 designs, and 4,300 designs were registered, representing a 9.8 per cent decrease compared with 2013.

Copyright

The Copyright Ordinance protects 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.

Following a public consultation exercise in 2013 on parody, the government introduced the Copyright (Amendment) Bill 2014 into the Legislative Council in June 2014 to update Hong Kong's copyright regime and ensure that it keeps pace with technological and overseas developments. A Bills Committee of the Legislative Council is now scrutinising the bill.

Enforcement

The Customs and Excise Department enforces criminal sanctions for infringement of intellectual property rights. It investigates reports of copyright infringement and trade mark counterfeiting; maintains licensing control on all optical disc and stamper factories; and takes action against the manufacture, distribution, sale, import and export of pirated and counterfeit goods and possession for business use. It also combats copyright piracy and other infringement on the internet.

In 2014, the department took action in 60 piracy cases, arrested 87 people and seized goods. (mostly pirated optical discs) worth $3 million. The department took action to prevent on-street sale of pirated and counterfeit goods. In addition to targeted raids, officers carry out intensive and high-profile patrols in high risk areas to deter and suppress the peddling of pirated and counterfeit goods. In 2014, the department took action in 794 forged trade mark cases, seizing counterfeit goods worth $84 million and arresting 690 people.

Customs-Business Partnership

To help effective enforcement against piracy and counterfeiting activities, the department closely liaises with the business sector to promote intellectual property rights protection

Public Education

In 2014, nine trade associations with 951 retail merchants, covering 6,727 outlets in Hong Kong, took part in the Intellectual Property Department's 'No Fakes Pledge' scheme. The department's school visits programme covered 72 schools and 15,367 students and the interactive drama programme covered 104 schools and 30,521 students in 2014. The department also promoted the value of intellectual property trading and the importance of protecting intellectual property rights through local seminars and exhibitions.

Intellectual Property Trading

Led by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development, in 2014 the Working Group on Intellectual Property Trading completed its deliberations on the policies and support

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