Table of Contents

Executive Summary ................................................................................... i

Chapter 1: Introduction ............................................................................. 1

Chapter 2: Deliberations of the Advisory Committee ............................... 5

Chapter 3: Standard Patents....................................................................... 8

Chapter 4: Short-term Patents ................................................................. 35

Chapter 5: Regulation of Patent Agency Services................................... 50

Annex A: Membership List of the Advisory Committee ....................... 60

Annex B: Summary of Comments Received from Public Consultation........................................................................... 61

Annex C: Comparison of Key Features of the Standard/Invention Patent Systems in Hong Kong, Macao and Singapore ........ 184

Annex D: An Overview of the Lesser Patent Systems in Some Jurisdictions......................................................................... 193

Annex E: Short-Term Patents : Number of Applications Filed and Granted in Hong Kong ........................................................ 197

Annex F: An Overview of the Patent Agency Regulatory Regimes in Some Jurisdictions with an “Original Grant” Patent System ................................................................................. 198

Executive Summary The Review To ensure that the Hong Kong patent system continues to meet present-day circumstances and that its further evolution would facilitate the development of Hong Kong into a regional innovation and technology hub, the Administration commenced a comprehensive review of the patent system and issued a Consultation Paper entitled “Review of the Patent System in Hong Kong” in October 2011. The Advisory Committee 2. The Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development appointed an Advisory Committee on Review of the Patent System in Hong Kong (the Advisory Committee) in the same month to advise him on –

(a) how the Administration should position our patent system, having regard to the issues outlined in the public consultation paper of October 2011 and the responses received; and

(b) how best to implement changes to the patent system,

in light of the decisions made by the Administration on the way forward.

3. The Advisory Committee held a total of six meetings between October 2011 and November 2012. Having carefully examined the submissions of the respondents to the consultation document and all relevant considerations, including the patent systems in other jurisdictions, the Advisory Committee submitted a report to the Administration in December 2012. Key Recommendations 4. The key recommendations made by the Advisory Committee are summarised as follows –

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(A) Standard Patents

(a) An “original grant” patent system should be established in Hong Kong with substantive examination outsourced to other patent offices.

(b) The current re-registration system should be

retained.

(B) Short-term Patents

(a) The short-term patent system should be retained.

(b) The following refinements to the short-term

system should be made –

(i) Substantive examination should be made a pre-requisite to commencement of infringement proceedings.

(ii) A short-term patentee, when making a

threat of infringement proceedings, should furnish the person to whom the threat was made full particulars about the short-term patent in question in support of the threat.

(iii) A failure to comply with the requirement

in (ii) above should have the legal effect of rendering the threat groundless which enables the party aggrieved by the threat to seek a legal remedy.

(iv) Appropriate legislative amendments

should be considered to give effect to the above and to address the perceived

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inconsistency in the burden of proof of patent validity as contained in the existing section 89(2) of the Patents Ordinance (Cap. 514) in relation to short-term patents.

(v) Both the patentees and third parties having

a legitimate concern or doubt about the validity of a short-term patent should have the right to apply to the Hong Kong Patents Registry for substantive examination of a short-term patent.

(vi) The official fees for substantive

examination of a short-term patent should be payable by the person making the request for such examination.

(vii) The Hong Kong Patents Registry may take

advantage of the above new enforcement requirements of short-term patents to explore a more involved role in working with the outsourced examination authority(ies) to meet the possible demands.

(c) The possibility of allowing one short-term

patent application to have no more than one independent claim for a product and one independent claim for a process, provided that they relate to one single invention, should be further explored.

(d) The current maximum term of protection (i.e.

eight years) should be maintained.

(e) The current patentability criteria for short-term patents should be maintained.

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(C) Regulation of Patent Agency Services

(a) A full-fledged regulatory regime on patent agency services (which involves regulating both the provision of services and the use of professional titles) should be set as the ultimate goal in the long run, which has to be achieved in stages, with possible interim measures.

(b) Interim measures to be developed should have

regard to the existing patent agency services being provided on the one hand (e.g. through appropriate grandfathering provisions) and the early building and recognition of a regulated patent agency profession on the other (e.g. through regulating use of particular professional titles such as “patent agent” and “patent attorney”, or a list or register of patent agents with their qualifications).

Way Forward 5. Subject to the Administration’s decision on the way forward, the Advisory Committee will further explore the detailed implementation issues regarding the recommendations in the next phase of the review.

CHAPTER 1

Introduction The Review 1.1 To ensure that the Hong Kong patent system continues to meet present-day circumstances and that its further evolution would facilitate the development of Hong Kong into a regional innovation and technology hub, the Administration commenced a comprehensive review of the system in October 2011, taking into account the latest international developments in patent protection. Background 1.2 Under the Patents Ordinance (Cap. 514) (the Ordinance),1 two types of patents, namely standard patent and short-term patent, are granted in Hong Kong.

1.3 The grant of a standard patent in Hong Kong, which is valid for a maximum term of 20 years, is based on a patent granted by one of the three “designated patent offices”, namely the State Intellectual Property Office (SIPO) of the People’s Republic of China (PRC), the United Kingdom (UK) Patent Office and the European Patent Office (EPO) (for European patents designating the UK). No substantive examination is conducted for a grant of Hong Kong standard patent, i.e. the Hong Kong Patents Registry (Patents Registry) does not assess whether the invention is novel, involves an inventive step and is susceptible of industrial application. This grant system is generally referred to as a “re-registration” system.2 1 The Ordinance was enacted on 27 June 1997. Prior to 1997, a person who had obtained a patent

in the UK or a European patent designating the UK could have his patent registered in Hong Kong within five years of its grant. The patent would be effective in Hong Kong for so long as the corresponding UK or European patent remained in force.

2 The application process for a standard patent involves two stages, i.e.

(a) At stage one, the applicant has to file a “request to record” with the Patents Registry within six months after the date of the publication of the corresponding application in a designated patent office.

(b) At stage two, the applicant has to file a “request for registration and grant” with the Patents Registry within six months after the date of grant of the patent by the designated patent office or publication of the “request to record” in Hong Kong, whichever is later.

The Patents Registry will grant the patent after receiving the relevant documents in relation to the grant of the designated patent.

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1.4 As a supplement to standard patents, short-term patents, which are valid for a maximum term of eight years, may also be granted under the Ordinance to offer protection for products with a shorter commercial life cycle. The applicant may file his application, which is to be supported by a search report, directly with the Patents Registry without first having to apply for a patent at a designated patent office.3

1.5 While the current patent system in Hong Kong, having been in place for more than a decade, is generally accepted as user-friendly and cost-effective, diverging views as to whether it would continue to meet the changing needs of our economy have emerged in recent years. The Consultation Exercise 1.6 A Consultation Paper entitled “Review of the Patent System in Hong Kong” was issued by the Administration in October 2011 to invite views from the public on the following main topics and issues –

(a) Standard patents (i) Whether an “original grant” patent (OGP)

system should be introduced in Hong Kong. (ii) Irrespective of the answer to (i) above, whether

the current re-registration system should be maintained, and if so, whether the system should be expanded to recognise the patents granted by other jurisdiction(s).

3 The applicant is required to submit a search report prepared either by one of the designated patent

offices or by any “International Searching Authority” appointed pursuant to Article 16 of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT). The Patents Registry will grant the short-term patent after satisfying itself that the information required is fully furnished.

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(b) Short-term patents

(i) Whether the short-term patent system should be retained as a supplement to the standard patent system.

(ii) Assuming that the short-term patent system is to

be retained, whether and if so what measures should be introduced to enhance the efficacy of the system.

(c) Regulation of patent agency services

Whether the provision of patent agency services in Hong Kong should be regulated, and if so, what form the regulatory system should take.

1.7 Upon the issue of the Consultation Paper in October 2011, the Administration engaged stakeholders through different channels and forums. The views of the relevant advisory boards including the Innovation and Technology Advisory Committee of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and the Trade and Industry Advisory Board have been gathered. Various briefing sessions targeted at research and development (R&D) centres, small and medium-sized enterprises, industry associations, tertiary education institutes and chambers of commerce were held. The consultation period ended on 31 December 2011. The Advisory Committee 1.8 An Advisory Committee on Review of the Patent System in Hong Kong was appointed by the Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (SCED) in October 2011. Members of the Advisory Committee comprise government officials4 and non-official members who were drawn from a wide cross section of the patent-related fields,

4 Including officials from the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau, the Intellectual

Property Department and Innovation and Technology Commission.

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including legal professionals, patent practitioners, as well as members of the academic, R&D and industrial sectors. 1.9 The terms of reference of the Advisory Committee are to advise SCED on –

(a) how the Administration should position Hong

Kong’s patent system, having regard to the issues outlined in the public consultation paper of October 2011 and the responses received; and

(b) how best to implement changes to the patent system,

in the light of decisions made by the Administration on the way forward.

The membership of the Advisory Committee is at Annex A.

CHAPTER 2

Deliberations of the Advisory Committee 2.1 In drawing up its recommendations, the Advisory Committee held a total of six meetings between October 2011 and November 2012. 2.2 The Advisory Committee first considered carefully the feedback from the consultation exercise on the various topics and issues. The Consultation Feedback 2.3 In response to the consultation, a total of 74 submissions were received (including nine late submissions), 5 mainly from stakeholders in the patent-related fields including various industrial associations and professional organisations, academia, the legal profession, as well as the business and industrial sectors. The views and comments received on the key issues posed in the Consultation Paper are summarised at Annex B, and the main points are set out below –

(a) Standard patents

(i) The vast majority of respondents consider that

the current re-registration system should be maintained.

(ii) However, views on whether Hong Kong should

have an OGP system are diverse. Amongst those who support an OGP system in Hong Kong, there is a good measure of consensus that substantive examination should be outsourced to other patent office(s), at least in the short to medium term. As regards the

5 Available at the websites of the Commerce & Economic Development Bureau (www.cedb.

gov.hk/citb) and the Intellectual Property Department (www.ipd.gov.hk).

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choice of patent office(s) to which substantive examination should be outsourced, many respondents consider SIPO to be an obvious and natural choice.

(iii) On the other hand, those who question the need

for an OGP system in Hong Kong doubt whether there would be a critical mass of OGP applications to support a cost-effective system.

(b) Short-term patents

(i) Quite a number of the respondents oppose the

introduction of substantive examination to the short-term patent system. Those who support substantive examination propose imposing a requirement for substantive examination before the patent owner can commence infringement proceedings.

(ii) Some respondents suggest that the groundless

threats provisions should be strengthened.

(c) Regulation of patent agency services (i) Different views were received regarding

regulation of patent agency services. Some respondents support setting up a regulatory regime for providers of patent agency services in any event. Others see a need for a regulatory regime only if an OGP system is to be introduced in Hong Kong.

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(ii) Amongst those who favour a regulatory regime, there are different views as to whether Hong Kong should regulate the provision of some or all patent-related services.

Patent Systems in Other Jurisdictions 2.4 The Advisory Committee, apart from examining the submissions of respondents to the Consultation Paper, gave careful consideration to relevant research materials, including information on different aspects of the patent systems in other jurisdictions such as Mainland China, Singapore, Macao, Australia, the United States (US), the UK and New Zealand. Details are set out in the following Chapters. Focus of Discussion 2.5 The Advisory Committee first discussed the issue of whether an OGP system should be introduced in Hong Kong, as the direction for any change would affect the consideration of the remaining issues. In examining the public views, positions of other jurisdictions, possible outsourcing options and other relevant factors, the Advisory Committee has borne in mind the long term goals to develop Hong Kong into an innovation and technology hub, to promote R&D, and to nurture the human capital in Hong Kong in such areas. 2.6 Such a holistic perspective has enabled the Advisory Committee to take a broad view on whether an OGP system should be introduced, and, on this basis, on the related issues of whether the existing re-registration system should be maintained, whether changes need to be introduced to the short-term patent system and whether patent agency services should be regulated. This Report sets out the Advisory Committee’s recommendations on the directions for changes that would better position Hong Kong’s patent system to meet our future economic needs. Subject to the Administration’s decision on the way forward, the Advisory Committee will further advise on how best to implement the changes.

CHAPTER 3

Standard Patents

Options 3.1 The Advisory Committee explored the following three options as set out in paragraphs 1.53 to 1.55 of the Consultation Paper –

(a) Option 1 : introduce an OGP system with substantive examination outsourced to other patent offices, in lieu of the current re-registration system;

(b) Option 2 : introduce an OGP system with

substantive examination outsourced to other patent offices whilst retaining the current re-registration system (with possible expansion of the list of designated patent offices); and

(c) Option 3 : do not introduce an OGP system, but

maintain the current re-registration system with possible expansion of the list of designated patent offices.

Views from the Public Consultation (A) OGP System 3.2 The Advisory Committee noted that views on the need to introduce an OGP system into Hong Kong are very diverse –

(a) Most of the local trade associations such as the Chinese Manufacturers’ Association of Hong Kong, Federation of Hong Kong Industries support having

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an OGP system in Hong Kong, whilst the Hong Kong Association of the Pharmaceutical Industry and the Licensing Executives Society China Hong Kong Sub-Chapter hold a contrary view.

(b) The American Chamber of Commerce in Hong

Kong and the Hong Kong General Chamber of Commerce express doubts about the demand for an OGP system in Hong Kong by, amongst others, questioning whether such introduction could attract the critical mass required for supporting a cost-effective OGP system.

(c) The Hong Kong Institute of Patent Attorneys and the

Hong Kong Institute of Patent Practitioners consider an OGP system beneficial to Hong Kong whereas the Law Society of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong Institute of Trade Mark Practitioners and the Asian Patent Attorneys Association Hong Kong Group do not see a business case for having an OGP system.

(d) Patent practitioners, other groups and individual

respondents are similarly divided in their views about the introduction of an OGP system in Hong Kong.

3.3 Supporters of an OGP system consider that it would offer tangible and potential benefits including the following –

(a) Facilitating more flexible and expedient examination procedures.

(b) Allowing applicants to obtain patent protection in

Hong Kong at a lower cost.

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(c) Providing a better basis for (i) mutual recognition of patents granted by Hong Kong and Mainland China, or (ii) expedited processing of subsequent corresponding applications by SIPO which has done the examination before, by contracting out the substantive examination work to SIPO, which seems to be a natural choice at least in the initial stage.

(d) Promoting direct communication between local

enterprises and Hong Kong patent practitioners without language barrier, resulting in higher patent quality.

(e) Encouraging local innovation and attracting

enterprises to set up their R&D operations in Hong Kong, thereby promoting Hong Kong as a regional innovation and technology hub.

(f) Stimulating the growth of patent agency business

and helping to build up local patent professionals. (g) Creating added career opportunities for graduates

with science and engineering background. (h) Promoting Hong Kong as the place of “first filing”

for patents. 3.4 On the other hand, commentaries questioning the presence of a business case for adopting an OGP system in Hong Kong include the following – (a) It is doubtful as to whether there would be sufficient

demand for supporting a cost-effective OGP system.

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(b) Cost of obtaining an OGP (particularly if the system is not supported by a sufficient critical mass) could be much higher than that of obtaining a patent under the current re-registration system, and the cost would almost inevitably be passed on to users; an OGP system if introduced should not be at the expense of re-registration system users; public funds should be spent on more worthy causes than providing subsidy to patent applicants.

(c) The current re-registration system is efficient and

inexpensive; having an OGP system would complicate rather than streamline patent grant procedures; the international trend is moving away from duplicate patent examination.

(d) Introduction of an OGP system would not enhance

the quality of standard patents granted which is already very high.

(e) There is no credible empirical evidence to support

the notion that adopting an OGP system would stimulate local innovation.

(f) It is doubtful as to whether an OGP system with

substantive examination outsourced would help develop and train patent professionals.

(g) It is doubtful as to whether the number of added jobs

created for polytechnic graduates would justify the substantial resources and investment required for implementing and up-keeping an OGP system.

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(h) The availability of an OGP system is not a significant factor for deciding where to file a patent application.

(B) Re-registration System 3.5 The vast majority of respondents consider that the current re-registration system should be maintained. Some respondents suggest that the list of designated patent offices should be expanded to include other patent offices. 3.6 On the other hand, there are concerns that if the list of designated patent offices is expanded, the discrepancies between different patent systems may lead to inconsistencies in the scope of protection attached to patents based on patents granted by different designated patent offices. Some individual respondents consider it unfair for Hong Kong to re-register patents granted by other jurisdictions without reciprocity. 3.7 Others consider that no change to the present re-registration system is required. Considerations 3.8 In the light of the diverse views received on the above issues, the Advisory Committee had focused on a more fundamental question, i.e. in what direction our patent system should go to meet the long-term economic development needs of Hong Kong, and had considered the issues from a much broader perspective, including the world economic context, the international patent landscape, Hong Kong’s situation, the strengths and weaknesses of the existing patent re-registration system, and the benefits and difficulties of introducing an OGP system in Hong Kong. The Advisory Committee had also looked into the OGP systems in other jurisdictions, in particular Singapore and Macao where the substantive examinations are outsourced (a comparison of key features of their OGP systems at Annex C).

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(A) World Economic Context 3.9 The multilateral trading system spearheaded by the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) and later the World Trade Organization (WTO) has set a sea change to the world economy, resulting in significant increase in international trade, globalisation and emergence of new economies. As the momentum continues well into the 21st century, one important consensus is that innovation is an engine of sustained economic growth in the future. This has led to ever increasing competition for talents, investment, knowledge and R&D. 3.10 Apart from the use of public funding, a policy instrument that governments may employ to promote innovation and technology is the design of their intellectual property (IP) system6 as part of the essential infrastructure. The “World Intellectual Property Report 2011 – The Changing Face of Innovation” states, amongst others, that IP protection is one of the important factors in deciding where to conduct R&D, while most “new-to-the-world” research is conducted either in the US or in other high-income countries where IP protection tends to be strong.7 It is also noted that compared to other innovation policies, IP protection stands out in that it mobilises decentralised market forces to guide R&D investment.8 3.11 According to a study conducted by Professor Paul Cheung Ying-sheung 9 of the University of Hong Kong for the Advisory Committee, it is noted that R&D investment and innovation are essential for maintaining competitiveness and promoting economic growth of the economies, especially for the well-developed ones. IP-intensive industries require more investment to sustain competitiveness. In

6 World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), “World Intellectual Property Report 2011

– The Changing Face of Innovation” (p.82) (www.wipo.int/freepublications/en/intproperty/ 944/wipo_pub_944_2011.pdf).

7 See WIPO, “World Intellectual Property Report 2011 – The Changing Face of Innovation” (p.88).

8 See WIPO, “World Intellectual Property Report 2011 – The Changing Face of Innovation”

(p.103). 9 Professor Cheung is a Member of the Advisory Committee.

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addition to generating IP, investment in R&D leads to an increase in the value-added, revenue and export value per employee. IP-intensive industries also create more jobs and higher annual average wage per worker compared to that of the non-IP-intensive industries. As an illustration, Singapore pursued an aggressive policy in terms of increasing R&D expenditure, progressive revamp of its patent system to become an OGP one (paragraph 3.18 below), etc., and showed a more rapid growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP) than Hong Kong in the past decade or so. 3.12 Patent protection is a key component of an IP system, as it provides incentives for private firms to carry out R&D which is financed through the market place rather than government funds. Countries with stronger patent rights tend to have greater export volume in patent-intensive sectors,10 and stronger patent rights are associated with faster industrial and economic growth.11 In a research regarding the 10 See Keith E Maskus and Lei Yang, “Patent Reforms and Export Specialization”, Research paper,

University of Colorado at Boulder and Hong Kong Polytechnic University, 2011 (web.lmdg.econ.au.dk/koldingfjord/maskus.pdf) –

“We find that, conditional on factor endowments and intensities, a country with stronger PRs

[patent rights] tend to have greater exports to the United States in patent-intensive sectors.” (p. 1, emphasis added).

“The empirical results conform broadly with the underlying hypothesis that reforms in PRs can

boost export performance in sectors that rely relatively more on patent protection. More generally, the extent of this impact differs across industries that vary in their technology content as measured by R&D as a percentage of sales. Moreover, we find that the effects of stronger PRs on exports in patent-intensive sectors are stronger in developed countries than in developing countries, but there was some convergence in these rankings late in the period. The estimation also suggests that the impacts of PRs changes are heightened in high-technology and medium-technology industries relative to low-technology industries.” (p.30, emphasis added).

11 See Albert G.Z. Hu and I.P.L. Png, “Patent Rights and Economic Growth: Evidence from

Cross-Country Panels of Manufacturing Industries”, Research paper, National University of Singapore, 2010 (www.comp.nus.edu.sg/~ipng/research/patent_text.pdf) – “Using an ISIC 3-digit industry level database that spanned 54 manufacturing industries in over 72 countries between 1981-2000, we found evidence that stronger patent rights were associated with faster industrial growth measured by value added. The impact of the stronger effective patent rights was economically significant, and became stronger in the 1990s compared to the 1980s. Further, the impact was stronger in advanced economies than in developing economies. Stronger patent rights promoted industry growth through productivity increases in the 1981-85 and 1996-2000 periods and through more rapid factor accumulation in the 1986-90 and 1991-95 periods.” (p.25, emphasis added).

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effect of patenting on start-up companies, it was found that patenting was associated with higher subsequent asset growth.12 It has also been suggested that an effective patent regime which strengthens IP protection will help bring in foreign direct investment (FDI) and promote economic development.13 3.13 It is also noted that IP not only drives change in the field of innovation but is itself also impacted by the changing innovation system.14 There has been a global growing demand for IP rights. Patent applications increased across the world from 800,000 in the early 1980s to 1.8 million in 2009, with a shift towards Asian countries.15 IP rights have become increasingly tradable, with the emergence of new intermediaries and IP marketplaces. 16 Companies, universities and governments are implementing new IP policies to take advantage of the trend.17 Some economies are aspiring to become IP trading hubs. 12 See C Helmers and M Rogers, “Does Patenting Help High-Tech Start-Ups?”, Research paper,

University of Oxford, 2008 (www.epip.eu/conferences/epip03/papers/Rogers_HelmersRogersEPIPPatents14092008.pdf) –

“The Heckman model finds that the association between patenting and subsequent asset growth is around 7% (i.e. a start up that patents in 1999-2001 has a 7% high annual growth rate in 2001 to 2005). The 95% confidence interval for this point estimate is between 0.5% and 12.5%. There is also some evidence that this association is higher for smaller firms. As is well known, the Heckman model results are sensitive to the assumptions it makes, suggesting that we should also note the results from the OLS estimator. These suggested a patent was associated with between 9% and 20% higher subsequent annual growth.” (pp.13, 14, emphasis added).

13 See H G Lim et al., “Impact of the Intellectual Property System on Economic Growth, Country

Report – Malaysia”, WIPO-UNU Joint Research Project paper (www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/about-ip/en/studies/pdf/wipo_unu_07_malaysia.pdf ) –

“Concerning the impact of IPRs on FDI, the results show that there is a positive correlation between FDI inflows and the IP index. This implies that a stronger IP protection attracts more FDI inflows.” (p.20, emphasis added).

14 See WIPO, “World Intellectual Property Report 2011 – The Changing Face of Innovation” (p.52). 15 See WIPO, “World Intellectual Property Report 2011 – The Changing Face of Innovation” (p.52). 16 See WIPO, “World Intellectual Property Report 2011 – The Changing Face of Innovation”

(p.60) –

“the last decades have seen an increase in licensing and other IP-based collaborative mechanisms such as patent pools. New intermediaries and IP marketplaces have also emerged.”

17 See WIPO, “World Intellectual Property Report 2011 – The Changing Face of Innovation” (p.67).

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(B) International Patent Landscape 3.14 Given the above context, the patent system of an economy plays an important role in meeting its long term economic goals. Patent registration is territorial. Most countries run their own patent offices to determine the grant of patents and to maintain autonomy of their patent systems. 3.15 Many industrialised countries have made use of patent protection as a policy instrument to promote economic growth by adopting an OGP system. This is the case for advanced economies such as the US, the UK, Germany, France, Italy and Japan. In general, an effective patent system should essentially uphold patent quality, provide a balanced dispute settlement mechanism, be user-friendly and facilitate international cooperation in extending patent protection beyond the domestic market.18 3.16 At the other end of the spectrum, many least developed or developing economies, for various economic, historical and other reasons, accept a patent granted by a recognised industrial economy and accordingly offer local patent protection. For example, the UK patent may be “automatically” extended to a number of smaller economies,19 subject to the completion of certain registration formalities. In general, these economies have rather insignificant economic powers and innovation may not be crucial at their stage of economic development. 18 See WIPO, “World Intellectual Property Report 2011 – The Changing Face of Innovation” (p.97). 19 Such small economies include, for example, Bermuda, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Gibraltar, Grenada,

Guernsey, Guyana, Jersey, Kiribati, Montserrat, Nauru, Saint Helena, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Samoa, Seychelles, Solomon Islands, Turks and Caicos Islands, and Tuvala. The UK Patent Office website listed more economies in the same category (www.ipo.gov.uk/pro-policy/policy-information/extendukip.htm). But research of this review cannot verify the information for some (e.g. Anguilla, British Virgin Islands, Falkland Islands, Sierra Leone, Isle of Man, Pitcairn Islands, Tanzania and Vanuatu) and finds that some have adopted an OGP system now (e.g. Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Cyprus, Gambia, Malta, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Tonga and Uganda).

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3.17 More relevant to the present review are economies which were or are on a similar post-GATT path of economic development as Hong Kong, such as Taiwan, Korea and Singapore (these four economies collectively referred to as “Newly Industrialized Asian Economies” by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development). 3.18 Taiwan and Korea adopt an OGP system, with their patent laws tracing back to 1949 and 1961 respectively. Singapore used to re-register UK patents and European patents designating the UK. In 1995, Singapore established its current OGP system, with substantive examination outsourced to other examination authorities. It has recently passed the Patents (Amendment) Bill which, inter alia, has proposed to move the OGP system in Singapore from a “self-assessment” to a “positive grant” patent system.20 At the same time, the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) is developing in-house search and examination capabilities in key technological areas. According to the website of IPOS, the in-house search and examination (with training supported by EPO and Japan Patent Office) is expected to start operations by mid-2013. 3.19 These Asian economies are well-known for their R&D capabilities. Innovation continues to be an important driver for their future economic growth. The experiences of Singapore and Korea in adopting a proactive patent policy have been commended.21 20 Under the “self-assessment” system, patent applications that do not fully meet patentability

requirements, that is, novelty, inventive step, and industrial applicability, can still be granted. Singapore is moving towards a “positive grant” system, where only applications that fully meet the patentability requirements can be granted.

21 See K Idris, “Intellectual Property: A Power Tool for Economic Growth”, WIPO, 2003

(www.wipo.int/freepublications/en/intproperty/888/wipo_pub_888_1.pdf) –

“Using patents for economic development requires a pro-active patent policy (PPP) intrinsically related to economic development. The experiences of Singapore and the Republic of Korea with patent policy confirm the importance of a pro-active approach…. Handled properly, patents are efficient drivers of national innovation, R&D, product creation and business transactions that have beneficial macro and micro economic effects.” (p.17, emphasis added).

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3.20 Other Asian economies are following a similar approach. Malaysia adopted a patent re-registration system until 1986, and Brunei Darrussalem, until 2011. Both now adopt an OGP system. Other ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries like Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia have also established their own OGP systems. 3.21 Mainland China, which has risen since the late 1970s and now become the “world factory”, promulgated its patent law to provide for an OGP system in 1984. Annual patent applications in 2010 amounted to over 390,000, bringing SIPO to the second place in terms of filing volume among patent authorities in the world.22 Apparently, IP protection as a policy tool is central to China’s quest for industrialisation and economic development. 3.22 A research survey of the 60 largest economies in terms of the GDP shows that 59 economies have their own OGP systems (in 1997), including economies similar in size to that of Hong Kong such as Israel, Finland and Singapore, as well as smaller economies such as Hungary and New Zealand.23 3.23 The world patent landscape as discussed above suggests a certain degree of correlation between adopting, or migrating to, an OGP system and the stage of economic development. 3.24 To reduce duplication in efforts by applicants as well as by patent offices adopting an OGP system, it seems there is an increasing reliance on international cooperation. Through the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) administered by WIPO, a national or resident of a PCT contracting state may file one “international application” with a single patent office, or with the International Bureau of WIPO in Geneva, in one language and with a single set of forms (and fees) instead of filing 22 See WIPO, “World Intellectual Property Indicators - 2011 Edition” (pp.39, 40). 23 See Josh Lerner, “150 Years of Patent Protection”, NBER Working paper, National Bureau

of Economic Research, 2000 (pp. 10-15 and Table 1) (www.nber.org/papers/w7478).

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numerous separate national and/or regional patent applications. Such benefit has led to the increasing use of the PCT system.24 Separately, various patent examination authorities have begun to enter into bilateral Patent Prosecution Highway (PPH) 25 arrangements to expedite the examination process through mutual recognitions of certain examination reports, which facilitate applicants to file patent applications in other jurisdictions. (C) Long-term Vision of Hong Kong 3.25 As an exemplary beneficiary of the multilateral trading system, Hong Kong had transformed from an entrepôt to a light industrial economy, thriving as a base for Original Equipment Manufacture (OEM) with a limited role in innovation and R&D. The rise of other industrial economies in the region around the same time, together with the opening up of Mainland China since the late 1970s and its steadfast emergence as a world factory, have brought intense competition and significant challenges as well as opportunities to Hong Kong. Market forces have caused Hong Kong to further develop into an international financial and commercial centre. While the services sector now accounts for about 93%26 of the Hong Kong economy, the industrial sector remains a key player, focusing on high value-added activities such as R&D, management (as headquarters) of manufacturing bases outside Hong 24 See WIPO, “PCT Yearly Review: The International Patent System 2012 Edition”

(www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/freepublications/en/patents/901/wipo_pub_901_2012.pdf) – “International patent filings under the WIPO-administered Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) set a

new record in 2011 with 181,900 PCT applications – a 10.7% increase on 2010 and the fastest growth since 2005.” (p. 10).

25 A PPH is a bilateral agreement between two patent offices. Under a PPH agreement, a patent

applicant can request an accelerated processing of the patent application at the patent office of second filing (OSF), when the patent office of first filing (OFF) has already found corresponding patent claims allowable. A PPH establishes a process whereby the OSF makes use of the work already carried out by the OFF in relation to the same invention. The OSF can process the patent application quicker because the examination process begins at a more informed level. However, the OSF is not compelled to follow the opinion of the OFF and may make its own decision on whether to grant a patent.

26 See the Hong Kong fact sheet of January 2012

(www.gov.hk/en/about/abouthk/factsheets/docs/service_economy.pdf).

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Kong, design and innovation, technology transfer, etc., taking full advantage of the opportunities offered by Mainland China. 3.26 In tandem, government policy has been evolving to support the economic changes. Most significantly, into the 21st century, the Administration sets out a clear vision to promote and exploit innovation and technology as drivers for future growth to race towards a knowledge-based economy amidst increasingly intense competition brought about by globalisation and in collaboration with Mainland China with all of its offerings in store. 3.27 The goal is to turn Hong Kong into an innovation and technology hub, attracting capital, talents, technology, know-how, etc., and creating a clustering effect. Accordingly, significant investments have been made by the Administration in many policy initiatives since 1999, notably –

(a) Setting up the Innovation and Technology Fund with an injection of $5 billion.

(b) Establishing the Innovation and Technology

Commission and the Hong Kong Applied Science and Technology Research Institute.

(c) Developing the Hong Kong Science Park, Industrial

Estates and Cyberport as essential infrastructure. (d) Setting up five R&D centres in five focus areas

(namely (i) automotive parts and accessory systems, (ii) information and communications technologies, (iii) logistics and supply chain management enabling technologies, (iv) nanotechnology and advanced materials, and (v) textiles and clothing) to drive and co-ordinate applied R&D.

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(e) Establishing the R&D Cash Rebate Scheme to encourage more private sector investment in R&D and collaboration with public research institutions.

3.28 Such efforts are continuing. The National 12th Five-Year Plan, which was promulgated in March 2011, affirmed the Central People’s Government’s support for Hong Kong in furthering innovation and technology development. Through Mainland China/Hong Kong Science and Technology Cooperation Committee and working with the State Ministry of Science and Technology, the Administration has formulated and implemented initiatives to dovetail with the 12th Five-Year Plan to enhance Hong Kong’s participation in the national roadmap of technology development. In addition, the governments of Hong Kong SAR and Shenzhen have formed the “Shenzhen-Hong Kong Innovation Circle” to promote technological collaboration between the two places. 3.29 In this context, the IP system is an integral part of the whole equation in the quest for innovation. The Hong Kong patent system has remained essentially one of re-registration, even after the enactment of the Ordinance in 1997 which was formulated based on the recommendations of a review conducted between 1986 and 1993 when Hong Kong had a very different economic structure from now. Although the re-registration system has served Hong Kong well for a long time, as Hong Kong moves further away from being an OEM centre, time is ripe to consider whether there are changes that may contribute better to the promotion of innovation in the long run, while preserving the strengths of the present system. 3.30 Another point to note is the feasibility for Hong Kong to promote itself as a regional IP trading hub (paragraph 3.13 above). With sound financial and legal systems, a low-tax regime and a pool of

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world-class business professionals, Hong Kong has long been a jurisdiction engaging in different kinds of IP transactions. With overseas IP owners eagerly eyeing the Asian market, Hong Kong is well placed to develop into a regional market place for providing professional services in licensing, franchising and registration in the IP fields.27 One key factor to such possible development would be the supply of talents and expertise in various professional services, in particular IP practitioners. (D) Strengths and Weaknesses of the Existing Patent Re-registration

System 3.31 As brought out by the consultation exercise, Hong Kong’s re-registration system enjoys much notable strength. The majority of respondents support its retention irrespective of whether an OGP system will be set up in Hong Kong. The strengths of the current re-registration system are set out below –

(a) Strong IP protection

All three designated patent offices conduct in-house substantive examination for patent applications. The quality of the patents granted is high and on par with international standards. There is a well established legal system in Hong Kong for enforcing patent rights. Hong Kong also provides first-class dispute resolution services that meet the needs of different stakeholders.

27 Development of IP trading activities has been happening in Hong Kong. As a regional platform for

technology trading, Hong Kong exported US$1.1 billion in technology to Mainland China in 2010. That put Hong Kong sixth in the world in taking technology to Mainland China. See Trade Development Council, “Hong Kong grows as a regional intellectual property market”, September 2012.

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(b) Cost-effectiveness Many applicants for standard patents in Hong Kong also seek patent protection in other economies, including our major trading partners Europe and Mainland China. If the applicants have already applied for a patent in one of the designated patent offices, the time and costs for obtaining a standard patent in Hong Kong are fairly insignificant, with good assurance about the validity of their patents.28

(c) User-friendliness The present system is generally seen as user-friendly. It allows applications to be filed in either English or Chinese. Applicants may communicate directly with the Patents Registry. Examinations are mainly a matter of formality checking instead of substantive examination on patentability.

(d) Credibility of the system The system has been operating effectively since 1997 and local and overseas users are very familiar with the procedures and practices in relation to filing patent applications in Hong Kong. Together with the high quality of patents granted, the system has high credibility.

3.32 Nevertheless, there are also weaknesses inherent to a re-registration system dependent on original patents granted elsewhere as set out below –

28 There could be no total assurance of validity even for patents granted after substantive examination,

as such patents may still be the subject of revocation proceedings on the ground that the invention is not a patentable invention.

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(a) Lack of control

Given the crucial role played by patent institutions in shaping innovation incentives, 29 the current system does not allow control over essential matters to ensure that it is meeting the changing needs of Hong Kong. For instance, the time required to process the designated patent applications (an average of 25 months in SIPO, and 43.9 months at EPO),30 the cost and fee structure, and the patent standards are, to a certain extent, affected by the laws and practices of the designated patent offices.

(b) Inconvenience to local inventors An applicant who wants to seek patent protection in Hong Kong alone cannot apply for a standard patent directly in Hong Kong. He has to first file a patent application at one of the designated patent offices. The application takes time and may involve complicated procedures. It may be costly, as foreign patent agents have to be engaged and extra filing costs are charged for filing an application at the designated office. This extra step of filing the

29 See WIPO, “World Intellectual Property Report 2011 – The Changing Face of Innovation”

(p.12) –

“economic research has come to recognise the crucial role played by patent institutions in shaping innovation incentives. Patent institutions perform the essential tasks of ensuring the quality of patents granted and providing balanced dispute resolution. Unprecedented levels of patenting have put these institutions under considerable pressure. Many patent offices have seen growing backlogs of pending applications.” “The choices patent offices face can have far-reaching consequences on incentives to innovate. These include the amount of fees to charge, how to involve third parties in the patenting process, how best to make use of [Information and Communication Technologies] and the level and type of international cooperation to pursue. In making these choices, a key challenge is to reconcile incentives for efficient office operations with a patenting process that promotes society’s best interest.”

30 The average duration is calculated according to the patent examination pendency between 2005

and 2009 stated in the Annual Reports of EPO and SIPO.

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designated application may discourage domestic inventor who merely wants to apply for a domestic patent.31

(c) Positioning of our patent system A re-registration system may be perceived as a second-grade patent system given the international trend of adopting or moving towards OGP systems. This perception does not facilitate Hong Kong in promoting innovation or developing into an IP trading hub. Given competing choices of places to invest in R&D activities, some enterprises might not perceive Hong Kong, being outside the OGP mainstream, to be very attractive.

(E) Benefits of an OGP System vis-à-vis Re-registration 3.33 The following is a list of the various benefits of an OGP system that are not necessarily available in a re-registration system –

(a) Promotion of R&D and related investment

An OGP system tailor-designed to meet the specific needs of Hong Kong, provided that it is effective in ensuring patent quality and stringent IP protection, may facilitate Hong Kong to develop into an innovation and technology hub in the long run. It may attract and encourage local and foreign enterprises to make R&D investment and set up their operations in Hong Kong. With more innovations and inventions being originated domestically, Hong Kong may be promoted as the place of first-filing of patent applications.

31 See Biswajit Dhar and C. Niranjan Rao, “International Patent System: An Empirical Analysis”,

2002 (p.20) (www.wipo.int/export/sites/www/about-ip/en/studies/pdf/study_b_dhar.pdf).

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(b) Autonomy

An OGP system would allow Hong Kong to determine patentability criteria and standards, procedures, practices and other matters in accordance with our own requirements, in a way that would best meet the economic needs of Hong Kong.

(c) Positioning of Hong Kong on the world IP map

Establishing our own OGP system may demonstrate to inventors, investors and traders alike Hong Kong’s commitment to IP protection by developing a patent system on par with those of advanced economies and others which aspire to drive economic growth through innovation, thereby raising the international profile of Hong Kong.

(d) User-friendliness for local applicants An OGP system would allow local applicants to obtain patent protection in Hong Kong directly, without first going through another designated office. For those applicants who only want to obtain patents in Hong Kong, this direct filing route is more efficient and user-friendly. Besides, applicants may communicate directly with the Patents Registry or local agents, without the need to engage foreign patent agents for communicating with the designated office.

(e) Development of human capital An OGP system could create opportunities for Hong Kong in terms of nurturing and attracting talents,

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stimulating the growth of patent agency business and widening career paths for graduates with science and engineering degrees. It is noted that some educational institutions in Hong Kong have started conducting courses in relation to patent-related services.32 An OGP system may encourage more education institutions in Hong Kong to provide courses in this area to nurture the required human capital.

(f) Development of patent examination capacity Even if outsourcing is the initial arrangement to make, an OGP system may provide a basis or starting point for Hong Kong to develop its own patent examination capacity in the long run to perfect the Hong Kong patent system, which should be the ultimate goal to be achieved.

(g) Starting point of international cooperation With an OGP system, Hong Kong may explore further international cooperation opportunities, such as the PPH and PCT arrangements, in facilitating local patent applicants to obtain patent protection in other jurisdictions.

(h) Business case Subject to negotiation and agreement with relevant examination authorities on possible outsourcing arrangements, appealing features may be built into

32 As an illustration, the University of Hong Kong has been offering the SEAD course in relation to

patent drafting conducted by overseas registered patent agents/attorneys.

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the OGP system so as to attract applicants to use it instead of the current re-registration system. Such features may include, inter alia, the speed of processing an OGP application, the language requirement, the direct communication between the applicant and the examiner, the recognition of the substantive examination result by other patent offices, etc.

(F) Difficulties in Introducing an OGP System 3.34 On the other hand, the Advisory Committee noted the following difficulties in introducing an OGP system –

(a) Effectiveness of the patent system

In establishing an OGP system, it is important to ensure high quality and strong protection of the patents granted, as well as to maintain a user-friendly system. Careful and detailed planning in advance for implementation would be necessary.

(b) Talents

Based on overseas experience, a large number of technical experts will be required for developing an OGP system with search and examination capabilities. The local supply of talents may not be sufficient in the short to medium term as currently there are not many institutions providing courses related to professional patent services in Hong Kong.

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(c) Library/Database

There is no existing library/database at the Patents Registry which provides the reference materials in the science and engineering aspects involved in substantive examination. Considerable resources have to be assigned to build such infrastructure.

(d) Time required

Setting up an OGP system with substantive examination capability would take substantial time as it requires, inter alia, the building up of technical expertise, comprehensive databases and infrastructure, the drafting of procedures and manuals for examination, and the setting up of a review mechanism. Legislative change is also required. Taking Singapore as an example, it will have taken more than 17 years before it starts conducting its own substantive examination after adopting an OGP system in 1995 (paragraph 3.18 above).

(e) Outsourcing as an interim arrangement

The above difficulties may be mitigated to a certain extent by outsourcing the substantive examination to other patent offices, which may be a more feasible approach in the short to medium term. But the arrangement itself is not straight-forward, with all the necessary negotiations with the potential outsourcing patent offices on the implementation of substantive examination, regarding for example, the examination standards, the procedure and interface for document transfer, and the review mechanism.

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(f) Costs

Considerable costs will inevitably be incurred in setting up and running an OGP system. Currently, the fees charged by the Patents Registry are set at a cost recovery level in accordance with section 149(6) of the Ordinance. There are concerns about whether there will be sufficient market demand to make a business case for the OGP system. Some see any government subsidy unfair.

(G) Case for Expansion of the Re-registration System 3.35 While there is general consensus from the consultation exercise to retain the re-registration system, some further suggest an expansion in the recognition of patents granted by other patent offices, in addition to the three current designated patent offices. Some implications are pertinent –

(a) Entrenchment of the re-registration system

Expanding the recognition of foreign patents would entrench the re-registration system and go against the general direction of setting up an OGP system in Hong Kong. In taking Hong Kong’s patent system forward, it is for consideration that an exclusive approach should be followed to avoid sending conflicting signals to stakeholders.

(b) Benefits and costs

Expanding the recognition of foreign patents does not appear to add much benefit to what we are

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already enjoying under the present system. On the contrary, the addition of other patent authorities may complicate the existing system. The discrepancies between different patent systems may also lead to inconsistencies in the scope of protection attached to patents based on patents granted by different designated patent offices.33

The Direction for Change 3.36 The Advisory Committee reviewed all of the above considerations and agreed that a long-term strategic view on the future patent system for Hong Kong should be taken, which should not be clouded by immediate difficulties. The next step to take, even on a pilot basis, should help Hong Kong to develop into a regional innovation and technology hub, taking advantage of the opportunities offered by Mainland China, as well as the increasing demand for and tradability in IP rights. 3.37 In this light, the Advisory Committee favours moving towards the OGP direction, accepting that some of the perceived difficulties are genuine concerns but not insurmountable. Most importantly, the way forward to take must not be at the expense of compromising patent quality, user-friendliness and effectiveness of our present patent system. With reference to the three options set out in the Consultation Paper (paragraph 3.1 above) –

(a) Option 1 appears too ambitious, running a high risk of compromising the patent quality and general effectiveness of our patent system. It is contrary to

33 The selection of the current three designated patent offices is more historical. The UK Patent

Office and EPO (for applications designating UK) were included to preserve the pre-1997 position, while SIPO was added because of the relationship between Hong Kong and Mainland China after China assumed sovereignty in 1997.

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the consensual views from the consultation exercise that the re-registration system should be maintained regardless whether there is an OGP system.

(b) Option 2 offers a way forward which is more in line

with the long-term vision of developing Hong Kong into a regional innovation and technology hub.

(c) Option 3 will entrench Hong Kong at where it is,

which may thus lose the opportunity to nurture its human, structural and relational capital, and therefore, compromise its competitiveness and economic growth.

Recommendations 3.38 To conclude, having regard to the long term economic development needs of Hong Kong, the Advisory Committee agrees that it is time for Hong Kong to adjust its patent system as part of the infrastructure which will help Hong Kong achieve its vision of becoming a world class innovation and technology hub, and to keep up with the patent systems of the other developed or developing countries. It recommends Option 2 as the most logical direction to take: introduce an OGP system with substantive examination outsourced to other patent offices whilst retaining the current re-registration system. 3.39 The Advisory Committee also suggests the following preliminary parameters in further exploring Option 2 –

(a) In order to reap as much as possible the benefit of an OGP system as envisaged, it is important for Hong Kong to develop in the long run a full-fledged version with indigenous substantive patent examination capacity (in specific areas where appropriate).

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(b) Building indigenous substantive patent examination capacity will take time. As a start, Hong Kong should outsource substantive examination to one or more reputable and authoritative patent office(s) so as to ensure the high quality of the patents granted under the new regime.

(c) There should be careful planning on the

implementation details, notably the outsourcing office(s) and arrangements, for tackling the difficulties as envisaged (paragraph 3.34 above), and building in appealing features or advantages to attract users (paragraph 3.33 above).

(d) Meanwhile the present re-registration system should

continue to run in parallel to the OGP system, with no expansion of the possible designated patent offices, to ensure continuous strengths of the patent system. While users may have a choice between the two, they should be encouraged to take advantage of the local OGP route.

(e) Such a modest approach may help strengthen Hong

Kong’s IP infrastructure to accumulate expertise and experience, nurture our own human capital (especially in science and engineering disciplines that support our niche industries or sectors34) and encourage development of the patent agency business. It may also form a basis to explore further advantages of an OGP system (like PPH against an outsourcing background) (paragraph 3.33(h) above).

34 cf. the five focus areas of the government-sponsored R&D centres (paragraph 3.27(d) above).

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(f) Depending on users’ acceptance of the new regime and positive developments that may be brought about, consideration should be given to developing in incremental stages in-house substantive patent examination capacity (at least focusing on some specific technological areas on which Hong Kong has acquired considerable expertise).

3.40 The Advisory Committee will further advise the Administration after the latter has taken a decision on the way forward and map out the implementation details in the light of the above recommendations.

CHAPTER 4

Short-term Patents Options 4.1 The Advisory Committee explored the following three options as set out in paragraphs 2.27 to 2.30 of the Consultation Paper –

(a) Option 1 : maintain the status quo of the short-term patent system;

(b) Option 2: refine the short-term patent system; and

(c) Option 3: discontinue the short-term patent system.

Views from the Public Consultation 4.2 The vast majority of respondents to the public consultation consider that the short-term patent system should be retained. 4.3 While some consider that no change is required, others favour changes in the following aspects –

(a) Substantive examination of short-term patents

Quite a number of the respondents oppose the introduction of substantive examination to the short-term patent system as this would defeat the purpose of short-term patents in offering a fast and inexpensive means of protection. However, there are suggestions on requiring substantive

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examination before commencement of infringement proceedings.

(b) Extending the maximum term of protection of

short-term patents

Some respondents do not see the need for change of the maximum term of protection while others support an extension from eight to 10 years, which should be more in line with the international trend.

(c) Increasing the maximum number of independent

claims

Views from respondents varied on this. While some prefer keeping the system simple, there are suggestions that more claims can be allowed against payment of higher application fees.

(d) Modifying the groundless threats provisions under

section 89 of the Ordinance

Some respondents have mentioned that the provisions on groundless threats should be strengthened, e.g. a threat should be considered unjustified if the short-term patent was granted on the basis of an “unclean” search report.

Overview 4.4 In considering the way forward for the short-term patent system, the Advisory Committee had taken into account views received

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on the above issues, as well as the special role of the short-term patent system in Hong Kong, which is to supplement the standard patent system by offering protection to inventions with a shorter commercial life cycle. The Advisory Committee had also looked into other jurisdictions which have a lesser patent system similar to the short-term patent system in Hong Kong, including Australia, Mainland China, Denmark, Germany and Japan (a comparison of key features of their lesser patent systems at Annex D).

Retention of the Short-term Patent System Considerations 4.5 Unlike the re-registration system for standard patents which could be traced back to the early 20th century, the short-term patent system was only introduced in Hong Kong in 1997 when our patent system was localised.35 There have since been a good number of applications and subsequent grants of short-term patents.36 It is apparent that the short-term patent system is serving the intended purposes by offering a fast and inexpensive means of protecting inventions with a limited commercial life span in the market. It encourages local inventions for exploiting the indigenous market early, without the need for seeking full-fledged standard patent protection first in one of the three designated patent offices outside Hong Kong which may otherwise incur considerable time and expenses.

4.6 The present system also has the advantage of providing a convenient and inexpensive way of securing a Paris Convention priority date for subsequent standard patent application elsewhere or in Hong

35 Enacted in 1997, the Ordinance repealed the then Registration of Patents Ordinance which hitherto

provided for re-registration of patents obtained in the UK and EPO (designating the UK). 36 See Annex E.

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Kong. This should not only help incubate new and developing technology-based companies but also encourage local and outside investors to build R&D capability in Hong Kong. This is all the more important with our aspiration to become an innovation and technology hub.

4.7 The retention of the short-term patent system would also be compatible with the introduction of an OGP system in Hong Kong as recommended in Chapter 3. The proposed new OGP system may naturally become the full-fledged infrastructure for granting standard patents with all the rigours of formalities and substantive examinations. The original objective of providing for a supplementary short-term patent system with mitigating features but lesser protection will remain valid without conflicting with the proposed OGP system. Several overseas jurisdictions (paragraph 4.4 above) have also established a dual patent system by running an OGP system and a lesser patent system in parallel.

Recommendation 4.8 In light of the aforesaid considerations, the Advisory Committee recommends that the short-term patent system should be retained.

Possible Changes for Refinement 4.9 The following changes had been considered by the Advisory Committee –

(a) Introducing substantive examination into the

short-term patent system.

(b) Extending the maximum term of protection.

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(c) Relaxing the number of independent claims.

(d) Lowering the patentability criteria.

(A) Substantive Examination of Short-term Patents

4.10 A mechanism for substantive examination may deter abuse, reduce litigation and discourage registration of non-patentable inventions on the one hand, but impair the user-friendliness and increase costs on the other. The following questions were set out in the Consultation Paper –

(a) Timing – whether substantive examination should be carried out before or after the short-term patent is granted, and if it is to be carried out after grant, at what point of time should it be carried out (paragraphs 4.11 - 4.21 below)?

(b) Mandatory or optional – whether substantive examination should be made a mandatory requirement or optional, for example, whether it should be a condition for commencement of infringement proceedings (paragraphs 4.11 - 4.21 below)?

(c) Who may request substantive examination – if

substantive examination is optional, whether the patent owner or a third party or both should be able to request substantive examination (paragraphs 4.22 - 4.23 below)?

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(d) Who should pay for the costs of the substantive

examination – if substantive examination may be requested by a third party, whether the costs should be borne by the patent owner, the third party, or split between them (paragraphs 4.24 - 4.27 below)?

Timing and mandatory/optional (questions (a) and (b) of paragraph 4.10 above) Considerations 4.11 The imposition of a mandatory requirement of substantive examination before grant would defeat the underlying purpose served by the short-term patent system. On the other hand, requiring substantive examination before commencement of an infringement action regardless of whether the short-term patent at issue was granted on the basis of a “clean” report can assist the court in determining the patent validity issue.

4.12 The existing Patents Ordinance contains provisions governing court proceedings in relation to short-term patents. Section 129(1) of the Ordinance provides that in any proceedings before a court for the enforcement of rights conferred under the Ordinance in relation to a short-term patent –

(a) It is for the patent owner to establish the validity of

the patent, and the fact that the patent has been granted shall be of no account in that regard.

(b) Evidence by the patent owner which is sufficient to

establish prima facie the validity of the patent shall

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in the absence of evidence to the contrary be sufficient proof of such validity.37

4.13 The suggestion of requiring substantive examination of a short-term patent before court proceedings is in line with the principle enshrined in section 129(1) by putting the onus of proof of patent validity on the patent owner, and the proposed substantive examination may be introduced as a tightening or elaboration of the current statutory requirements.

4.14 As regards the pre-action stage concerning the making of threats of proceedings, such threats (for example those made at trade fairs) can be insidious and intimidating in nature. The patentee who is making the threat normally has better support and resources, and may also be legally represented. If the recipient of the threat is not suitably advised or cannot afford legal representation, he/she is likely to succumb to that threat. It is not in the public interest for a patentee to make a threat of infringement proceedings merely based on a non-examined short-term patent which does not in fact meet the patentability requirements. There are suggestions on whether substantive examination of a short-term patent should be required before a short-term patentee can make a threat of intended infringement action (as opposed to commencing infringement proceedings). 4.15 The existing Patents Ordinance has provided for a safeguard against abuse in its section 89 entitled “Remedy for groundless threats of infringement proceedings”. In essence, section 89(1) provides that a person aggrieved by such threats may bring court proceedings against the patent owner (or any other person making the threats) to seek relief.

37 There is no similar provision in relation to standard patents, as apparently such patents have

already been subject to substantive examination when first registered in a designated patent office outside Hong Kong.

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Section 89(2) further provides that the person aggrieved by the threats would be entitled to the relief unless –

(a) the defendant (for example, the patent owner) proves

that the acts in respect of which proceedings were threatened constitute, or if done, would constitute an infringement of a patent; and

(b) the patent alleged to be infringed is not shown by the

plaintiff (i.e. the person aggrieved by the threats) to be invalid in a relevant respect.

4.16 The above condition (b) imposed by section 89(2) carries a presumption of validity of a patent grant, and seemingly raises an inconsistency with section 129(1) of the Ordinance as far as short-term patents are concerned.38 4.17 To reconcile the matter and to consider the question of whether to make substantive examination of short-term patents as a pre-requisite for making threats of infringement proceedings, one needs to bear in mind the basic point that a short-term patent needs no substantive validity check before registration in Hong Kong and it should be reasonable for the one relying on it to provide certain proof as to its validity. The issues are how best for the system to strike a reasonable balance between the legitimate interest of a patentee and that of a recipient of a threat of infringement actions and to save potential costs in formal court proceedings which may be presided over by non-specialist judges by tackling technical issues beforehand as far as possible.

38 There is no such perception of inconsistency in the case of standard patents to which section 89

equally applies, as apparently such patents have already undergone substantive examination upon their first grant in a designated patent office outside Hong Kong. Section 89 is similar to a corresponding provision in the Patents Act 1977 of the UK which does not have a lesser patent system.

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4.18 Should substantive examination of short-term patents be made a pre-requisite requirement for making threats of infringement proceedings, it might have the practical effect of requiring a short-term patentee to obtain an examination report as early as possible (given the time and efforts required) before the occurrence of an infringement in order to avoid delay in enforcing his patent rights. This would in a way equate a short-term patent with a standard patent, which may be seen as contrary to the underlying rationale of the short-term patent system. 4.19 It would appear more reasonable to require the patentee to provide sufficient information of the patent and supporting documents when making the threats to facilitate the threatened party in making an informed decision of whether and how to respond to the threats. Legislative amendments may be necessary to provide for such a requirement and a remedy for non-compliance and to ensure the proper burden of proof in related court proceedings.39

4.20 As regards the authority that could carry out substantive examination in relation to enforcement of short-term patents discussed above, the outsourced examination authority(ies) for the new OGP system would appear to be a natural choice. That said, this may be a potential

39 In respect of overseas precedents, Australia, being the only common law jurisdiction amongst the

five overseas jurisdictions studied in the Consultation Paper that have lesser patent systems comparable to the Hong Kong short-term patent system (Annex D), has a statutory provision to the effect that if threats are made based on an innovation patent (the Australian lesser patent system) which has not been certified, such threats are considered unjustifiable (Section 129A(1) of the Patents Act 1990). The person aggrieved may then apply to the court for an injunction against the continuance of the threats and the recovery of any damages sustained by the applicant as a result of the threats.

Certification of an innovation patent in Australia refers to a post-grant procedure in which a patent

owner or a third party may, at any time after grant of an innovation patent, requests the Commissioner of Patents to conduct substantive examination. The Commissioner must examine the specification relating to the innovation patent to ascertain whether it meets certain requirements. If the Commissioner is satisfied that the innovation patent meets the requirements, a certificate of examination will be issued to the patent owner and the innovation patent will be regarded as certified. If the innovation patent fails to meet the requirements, it will be revoked by the patent office. An appeal may be filed at the Federal Court against the patent office’s decision to revoke the innovation patent.

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area where the Patents Registry may explore to play a more involved role, as the experience may assist development of our own substantive examination capacity under the OGP system. Recommendations 4.21 In the above light, the Advisory Committee makes the following recommendations –

(a) Substantive examination should be made a pre-requisite to commencement of infringement proceedings.

(b) A short-term patentee, when making a threat of infringement actions, should furnish the person to whom the threat was made full particulars about the short-term patent in question, including, in particular, the search report(s) and any other relevant documentation (including but not limited to details of amendment to the patent, if any) in support of the threat.

(c) A failure to produce the requisite supporting

documents on the part of the patentee who makes a threat of infringement proceedings should have the legal effect of rendering the threat groundless, which enables the party aggrieved by the threat to seek a legal remedy.

(d) Appropriate legislative amendments should be

considered to give effect to the above and to address

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the inconsistency in the burden of proof of patent validity as contained in the existing section 89(2) in relation to short-term patents.

(e) The Patents Registry may take advantage of the

above new enforcement requirements of short-term patents to explore a more involved role in working with the outsourced examination authority(ies) to meet the possible demands.

Who may request substantive examination (question (c) of paragraph 4.10 above) Considerations 4.22 Apart from the patentees who may request substantive examination of their patents at any time to support their enforcement actions, a third party having a legitimate concern or doubt about the validity of a short-term patent should be allowed to request substantive examination of the patent. This is in line with the safeguard against abuse in the current section 91 of the Ordinance which provides for an option for any person to initiate court proceedings to revoke a granted short-term patent on the ground that the invention is not patentable. Amongst the five jurisdictions with lesser patent systems as studied in the Consultation Paper, Australia, Denmark, Germany and Japan also permit a patentee and a third party to request substantive examination of the lesser patent. Recommendation 4.23 In the above light, the Advisory Committee recommends that both the patentees and third parties having a legitimate concern or doubt

- 46 -

about the validity of a short-term patent should have the right to apply to the Patents Registry for substantive examination of a short-term patent.

Which party should pay for the costs of substantive examination (question (d) of paragraph 4.10 above) Considerations 4.24 The official application fee for substantive examination is normally payable by the applicant. This is consistent with overseas practice.40 4.25 Apart from examination fees, costs such as the professional charges of patent agents or attorneys may have to be incurred on the part of the patentee for responding to queries raised by the examination authority.

4.26 Generally speaking, where the costs in relation to substantive examination have been incurred in relation to a particular proceeding, they may be recoverable under the general costs rule, in particular, that costs should follow the event.

Recommendation 4.27 The Advisory Committee recommends that the official fees for substantive examination of a short-term patent should be payable by the person making the request for such examination.

40 This is the position in the four comparable overseas jurisdictions in Denmark, Germany and Japan

although Australia specifically provides that in a case where a third party requests a substantive examination report, half of the fee will be paid by the party making the request and the other half by the patent owner.

- 47 -

(B) Extending the Maximum Term of Protection Considerations 4.28 Amongst the five jurisdictions with lesser patent systems as set out in Annex D, the maximum term of protection of innovation patents in Australia is eight years, whereas the maximum term of protection of lesser patents in the other four jurisdictions, namely Mainland China, Denmark, Germany and Japan, is 10 years.

4.29 An obvious benefit is that extending the eight-year term of protection would enable the patentee to have extra time to market and realise additional commercial gain from the invention.

4.30 On the other hand, extending the maximum term of protection of a short-term patent will lengthen the period of time during which members of the public cannot freely use the patented invention for commercial purpose without the consent of the patentee. Besides, taking into account the fact that short-term patents are catered for inventions with a short commercial life cycle, extending the current maximum term of protection may not be seen as consistent with the original intention underlying the introduction of the short-term patent system.

Recommendation 4.31 In view of the above considerations, the Advisory Committee takes the view that the maximum term of protection should be maintained.

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(C) Increasing the Maximum Number of Independent Claims

Considerations 4.32 As the short-term patent system is an unexamined system, there always exists an inherent uncertainty in the validity of the patent granted. The current restriction in the number of independent claims can serve to keep the patent claims as simple as possible.

4.33 Relaxing the current restriction may increase the degree of uncertainty in terms of the validity of short-term patents. This may not be commensurate with the original intention underlying the introduction of a simple and speedy short-term patent system. Further, allowing multiple independent claims in a single application may add incentives for one to apply for a short-term patent not meeting the patentability requirements thereby aggravating the potential room for abuse of the short-term patent system.

4.34 Nevertheless, allowing short-term patent applications with multiple independent claims can reduce the costs of obtaining short-term patent protection and increase the flexibility of the system. In particular, there is a case to further explore the possibility of allowing one short-term patent application to have not more than one independent claim for a product and one independent claim for a process, provided that they are related to one single invention.

Recommendation 4.35 The Advisory Committee recommends further exploring the possibility of allowing one short-term patent application to have not more than one independent claim for a product and one independent claim for a process, provided that they relate to one single invention.

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(D) Lower the Patentability Criteria Considerations 4.36 Of the five jurisdictions surveyed (Annex D), the lesser patents granted at least in Australia and Japan have a relatively lower inventive threshold.

4.37 The present short-term patent system has the advantage of providing a convenient and inexpensive way of securing a Paris Convention priority date for subsequent standard patent application elsewhere or in Hong Kong. If the patentability criteria of short-term patents are lowered, the filing of a short-term patent with a lower patentability might no longer be good enough to support a subsequent standard patent application.

4.38 Further, the benefits of practitioners’ and users’ familiarity with the current patentability requirements and availability of case law on the standards to be met would be lost if the criteria are indeed lowered. Recommendation

4.39 The Advisory Committee thus recommends that the current patentability criteria of short-term patents should be maintained. Summing Up 4.40 To recap, the Advisory Committee recommends retention of the short-term patent system with a number of refinements in the direction proposed above, i.e. Option 2 of the Consultation Paper (paragraph 4.1 above).

CHAPTER 5

Regulation of Patent Agency Services Options 5.1 The Advisory Committee explored the following two options as set out in paragraph 3.16 of the Consultation Paper –

(a) Option 1: maintain the status quo; and (b) Option 2: establish a regulatory regime for

providers of patent agency services. Views from the Public Consultation 5.2 The Advisory Committee noted the views from the public consultation exercise, which are summarised as follows –

(a) Most respondents support some kinds of regulation on patent agency services. Some respondents are of the view that a local regulatory regime for providers of patent agency services should be set up in any event whereas others consider that a local regulatory regime should be required only upon introduction of an OGP system in Hong Kong.

(b) There are however different views amongst those who support a regulatory regime as to whether the provision of all or some of the patent-related services should be restricted to persons meeting certain qualifications or requirements, or whether restrictions should only be imposed on the use of particular titles.

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(c) There are also some concerns that regulation may

drive up fees of patent agency services, and some consider that no regulation is better than poor, ambiguous or sub-standard regulation.

Overview 5.3 The Ordinance and Patents (General) Rules (Cap. 514C) enable the Registrar of Patents to exercise some regulatory powers over patent agents to the extent that he shall refuse to recognise as an agent a person who neither resides nor has a place of business in Hong Kong,41 and that he may refuse to recognise any agent under certain circumstances, such as where the person has been convicted of a criminal offence. 42 Other than the above provisions, there is no statutory regulation governing the provision of patent agency services in Hong Kong. 5.4 In considering the way forward for the regulation of patent agency services in Hong Kong, the Advisory Committee had taken into account views received on the issue, as well as the possible future developments in the standard patent and short-term patent systems, in particular, whether an OGP system would be established. The Advisory Committee had also looked into the regulatory framework in several overseas jurisdictions which have an OGP system, including Australia, Mainland China, European Patent Convention countries, New Zealand, Singapore and the US (Annex F).

41 Section 140(4) of the Ordinance. 42 Section 85(7) of the Patents (General) Rules.

- 52 -

Whether to Regulate or Not Considerations (A) Costs and Benefits 5.5 In determining whether to establish a regulatory framework for providers of patent agency services in Hong Kong, the Advisory Committee noted the need for striking a balance between the costs of regulating the profession and the benefits to users of the services, including benefits in terms of access to and the quality of such services. 5.6 From the users’ perspective, a non-regulatory regime offers more flexibility in terms of choice of patent agency services. This may also promote competition amongst service providers, thus keeping the fees down. Indeed, there were concerns raised in the public consultation exercise that the extra cost of regulating the agency services would be passed onto users. 5.7 On the other hand, in an unregulated regime, any person, with or without the relevant technical and/or legal expertise, may claim to be a patent practitioner. As such, there is inevitably less assurance of the service quality. Further, some users may have difficulty under an unregulated regime in seeking the appropriate agents which are competent to provide the services required by the users. The above considerations would become more pertinent when an OGP system is in operation. (B) To Complement the Overall Direction of Hong Kong Moving

towards an OGP system and Proposed Refinements to the Short-term Patent System

5.8 The adoption of an OGP system in Hong Kong (Chapter 3 above) which requires substantive examination of standard patent applications, and the proposed refinements to the short-term patent system which require substantive examination before commencement of

- 53 -

infringement proceedings (Chapter 4 above) would increase the demand for competent patent agents with the necessary professional qualifications and experience, particularly in technical areas covering drafting patent specification and claims, responding to technical queries on patentability raised by examiners, and advising on patent validity and infringement issues. Regulating the agency services may not only help build a local patent profession that is competent to carry out the above technical tasks, but also nurture a talent pool by creating more career opportunities for local graduates with science, engineering or other technical background to enter the profession. A strong patent profession and a competent talent pool are complementary components to an OGP system, contributing to developing Hong Kong as an innovation and technology hub. (C) Positions in Selected Overseas Jurisdictions 5.9 From the Administration’s study (Annex F), it appears generally that the patent agent profession is regulated under a statutory regime in jurisdictions with an OGP system. In particular, it is noted that –

(a) The majority of the overseas jurisdictions studied by the Administration including Australia, Mainland China, European Patent Convention countries, New Zealand, Singapore and the US limit the provision of patent agency services to registered patent attorneys/agents who have acquired certain prescribed professional qualifications.43

(b) The UK restricts the use of titles such as “patent

agents” or “patent attorneys” to those who are qualified, without restricting who can provide patent-related services.

43 In Australia, European Patent Convention countries, New Zealand and Singapore, legal

practitioners may also be allowed to act for parties in patent-related proceedings.

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(c) In each of the jurisdictions studied which has a regulatory regime on the patent agent profession, recognition of patent agents/attorneys is based on its own independent accreditation scheme for the profession.

(d) Macao which also operates an OGP system has not

established a regulatory regime for patent agency services so far.

Recommendation 5.10 In light of the aforesaid considerations, the Advisory Committee recommends that Hong Kong should establish a regulatory regime for providers of patent agency services (Option 2 in paragraph 5.1 above). 5.11 The Advisory Committee also considered the form and scope of regulation as set out in the following paragraphs. The Form and Scope of Regulation 5.12 The following issues were posed by the Consultation Paper for public consultation, on the assumption that a regulatory regime is to be introduced for providers of patent agency services –

(a) Should we restrict the provision of such services to persons meeting certain qualifications or requirements only? Or should we limit the use of particular titles only but allow the provision of such services by any person?

- 55 -

(b) Should the regulation apply to all types of patent agency services or only certain services, e.g. the drafting and amendment of patent specification under an OGP system?

5.13 On the above issues, the Advisory Committee considered the following options –

(a) Option A:

To regulate the provision of either –

(i) all patent-related services (including services for re-registration); or

(ii) only services that involve technical expertise

(mainly under the OGP system e.g. drafting patent specification and claims, conducting clearance search, advising on responding to the queries on patentability raised by examiners, giving advice on the validity or infringement of patents)

so that only qualified persons or firms may provide such services; and/or

(b) Option B:

To limit the use of particular titles such as “patent agents” and “patent attorneys” to qualified persons or qualified firms.44

44 Option B may be pursued as a corollary to Option A, or exclusively in its own right.

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Considerations 5.14 In assessing Options A and B, the Advisory Committee had taken into account a number of factors as set out in the following paragraphs. (A) Quality of Services 5.15 Regulating all patent-related services under Option A(i) may better assure the service quality across the board, including the handling of re-registration which involves mainly procedural matters whereas Option A(ii) will confine the regulation to those types of patent agency services that require technical expertise, particularly in those areas identified in paragraph 5.8 above where service quality is of principal concern.45 5.16 The adoption of Option B alone will allow provision of patent-related services by non-qualified agents or firms so long as they do not use the regulated titles. It will then be up to the users to decide whether or not patent service providers with the regulated titles should be hired to represent them in individual cases. Accordingly, the “caveat emptor” remains to be the cardinal principle of Option B. (B) Costs 5.17 Option A may add to the operation costs of agents. In particular, for Option A(i), agency firms which currently only handle patent re-registration in Hong Kong may not have qualified persons

45 In this regard, the Advisory Committee noted that the practices in other overseas jurisdictions

studied by the Administration (see paragraph 5.9 and footnote 43 above) may provide a useful reference.

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working with them and will need to incur extra costs in hiring such persons under the future regime, which may result in an increase in fees to be passed onto users in turn. 5.18 On the other hand, implementing Option B alone will still allow the users to choose between agents with or without the regulated titles, depending on their own needs in individual cases. The user-pay principle is more enshrined. (C) Nurturing a Strong Patent Profession 5.19 From a strategic viewpoint of supporting the overall development of Hong Kong as an innovation and technology hub (paragraph 3.27 above), there may be a case for expediting the building up of a strong patent agent profession as a complementary component to the introduction of an OGP system as well as the proposed refined short-term patent system. 5.20 Combining Options A and B can be seen as a comprehensive approach to drive change. On the other hand, one may see pursuing Option B alone as a healthy step forward in establishing a regulatory regime quickly to jumpstart the development of the profession and allowing strong players to emerge through market forces. (D) Timing and Interim Arrangements 5.21 Considerable time is inevitably required to build up the local patent professionals for setting up a regulatory body to administer the accreditation scheme and to uphold professional discipline. It is not practicable to adopt Option A immediately.

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5.22 Instead, the regulatory regime has to be established in stages upon the commencement of the OGP system, with interim or short-term measures in place to facilitate transition to the new full-fledged regulatory regime. 5.23 One factor to bear in mind is that the re-registration system will still be maintained in the foreseeable future, which requires attendance mainly to formalities. There is no immediate need for introducing drastic changes to the current re-registration practice. 5.24 Another important factor is the promotion of the transparency of the profession and qualifications of the practitioners prior to the introduction of regulation, as this may help educate the users to find the right service they need and encourage service providers to enhance professional practices meeting market demands. Interim measures in this direction may take, for example, the form of Option B with full statutory controls over titles, or the form of provision of essential information about the practitioners through a list centrally administered and made publicly available. Recommendations 5.25 Having considered the factors as set out above, the Advisory Committee recommends that –

(a) A full-fledged regulatory regime on patent agency services (i.e. by combining Options A and B altogether) should be set as the ultimate goal in the long run, which has to be achieved in stages, with possible interim measures.

(b) Option A(ii) is preferred to Option A(i) in

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introducing the regulatory regime in the first instance, given the retention of the re-registration system in parallel with the new OGP route. The need for Option A(i) may be reviewed in the longer term subject to the future development of the patent system in Hong Kong.

(c) Interim measures to be developed should have

regard to the existing patent agency services being provided on the one hand (e.g. through appropriate grandfathering provisions) and the early building and recognition of a regulated patent agency profession on the other (e.g. through Option B or a list or register of patent agents with their qualifications).

5.26 Subject to the Administration’s decision on the way forward, the Advisory Committee will further explore the detailed implementation issues in the next phase of the review, including accreditation, professional discipline, transitional and interim arrangements, implementation timetable and consultation plans.

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Annex A

Membership List of the Advisory Committee

Chairman

Mr Andrew Liao Cheung-sing, GBS, SC, JP

Members

Mr Ewan Bewley

Mr Christopher William Britton

Dr Sunny Chai Ngai-chiu

Dr Jackson Chan Chik-sum

Professor Paul Cheung Ying-sheung

Ms Helen Jiang Hua

Mr Kwong Chi-keung, JP

Miss Alice Lee Suet-ching

Mr Joseph Poon Wing-sang

Mr Gabriel Tong Yui-lung

Dr Claudia Xu Jian

Director of Intellectual Property

Deputy Secretary for Commerce and Economic Development (Commerce and Industry) 2

Assistant Commissioner for Innovation and Technology (Funding Schemes)

61

Sum

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will

stim

ulat

e th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

pat

ent

agen

cy b

usin

ess

in H

ong

Kon

g, h

elp

build

up

loca

l ex

perti

se a

nd f

urth

er c

reat

e ca

reer

opp

ortu

nitie

s for

gra

duat

es w

ith sc

ienc

e an

d te

chni

cal b

ackg

roun

d.

�

HK

GC

C is

of t

he v

iew

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

shou

ld o

nly

be se

t up

in H

ong

Kon

g if

it (a

) ser

ves

the

criti

cal m

ass

bette

r to

just

ify a

sig

nific

ant c

hang

e in

the

syst

em; (

b) is

at

reas

onab

le c

osts

; and

(c) e

nhan

ces t

he g

row

th o

f the

pat

ent s

yste

m in

Hon

g K

ong.

A

n O

GP

syst

em d

oes

not n

eces

saril

y br

ing

thes

e be

nefit

s to

Hon

g K

ong

and

such

sy

stem

sho

uld

not b

e se

t up

for

the

sake

of

havi

ng o

ne o

r pr

omot

ing

the

imag

e of

H

ong

Kon

g if

it do

es n

ot s

erve

the

int

eres

t of

the

use

rs o

f th

e sy

stem

. I

n its

op

inio

n, in

nova

tion

and

pate

nt q

ualit

y m

ay n

ot b

e br

ed o

r pr

omot

ed p

er s

e by

an

OG

P sy

stem

as

econ

omic

, soc

iolo

gica

l and

oth

er f

acto

rs c

ould

be

mor

e pr

eval

ent,

63

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

such

as t

he re

spec

t and

faci

lity

for p

rote

ctio

n of

pat

ents

by

enfo

rcem

ent.

�

Am

Cha

m d

oes

not

belie

ve t

hat

a st

rong

eno

ugh

case

has

bee

n ad

vanc

ed f

or

intro

duci

ng a

n O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g, b

earin

g in

min

d th

e co

st i

nvol

ved

in

setti

ng u

p an

d op

erat

ing

such

a sy

stem

.

�

HK

API

is c

once

rned

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

will

unn

eces

saril

y ra

ise

pate

ntin

g co

sts,

espe

cial

ly c

onsi

derin

g th

at it

is u

nlik

ely

that

ther

e w

ill b

e su

ffici

ent d

eman

d fo

r OG

P pa

tent

ing

and

beca

use

the

curr

ent r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

mor

e th

an a

dequ

atel

y m

eets

th

e ne

eds o

f the

pha

rmac

eutic

al in

dust

ry a

nd o

ther

sect

ors i

n H

ong

Kon

g.

�

LESC

-HK

is o

f th

e vi

ew th

at it

is n

ot n

eces

sary

for

Hon

g K

ong

to h

ave

an O

GP

syst

em.

It b

elie

ves

that

the

curr

ent s

tand

ard

pate

nt s

yste

m is

alre

ady

user

-frie

ndly

, in

expe

nsiv

e an

d ca

n en

sure

qua

lity

in p

aten

t pro

tect

ion

in H

ong

Kon

g.

An

OG

P sy

stem

whi

ch r

equi

res

inve

stor

s to

allo

cate

mor

e re

sour

ces,

in t

erm

s of

tim

e an

d m

oney

, in

de

alin

g w

ith

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

of

thei

r H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

ap

plic

atio

ns w

ill d

eter

rat

her

than

pro

mot

e lo

cal

inno

vatio

n.

LESC

-HK

fur

ther

ex

pres

ses

thei

r con

cern

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

may

unn

eces

saril

y dr

ain

Hon

g K

ong

of

prec

ious

res

ourc

es f

rom

oth

er m

ore

urge

nt n

eeds

. L

ESC

-HK

opi

nes

that

a m

ore

dire

ct w

ay to

pro

mot

e in

nova

tion

wou

ld b

e in

vest

men

t in

educ

atio

n an

d re

sear

ch,

rath

er th

an b

y an

OG

P sy

stem

. L

ESC

-HK

furth

er n

otes

that

sev

eral

lead

ing

pate

nt

offic

es h

ave

ente

red

into

or

are

nego

tiatin

g ar

rang

emen

ts to

ent

er in

to th

e “P

aten

t Pr

osec

utio

n H

ighw

ay”

(“PP

H”)

to r

educ

e du

plic

ate

pate

nt e

xam

inat

ion

wor

k be

ing

carr

ied

out a

nd to

redu

ce c

osts

and

incr

ease

effi

cien

cy in

pat

ent g

rant

. I

ntro

duci

ng

an O

GP

syst

em w

ill b

e m

ovin

g aw

ay f

rom

this

tren

d an

d co

mpl

icat

es r

athe

r th

an

stre

amlin

es p

aten

t gra

nt in

Hon

g K

ong.

1.2

Prof

essi

onal

Bod

ies

�

Hon

g K

ong

Inst

itute

of P

aten

t Atto

rney

s

�

HK

IPA

sug

gest

s th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em s

houl

d be

intro

duce

d to

Hon

g K

ong

as s

oon

as

poss

ible

. H

KIP

A o

pine

s th

at m

ore

flexi

ble

exam

inat

ion

proc

edur

es w

ith u

tilis

atio

n of

loca

l res

ourc

es c

an b

e ad

opte

d un

der a

n O

GP

syst

em.

It f

urth

er o

pine

s th

at th

e

64

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

(���67�

) (“H

KIP

A”)

�

The

Hon

g K

ong

Inst

itute

of P

aten

t Pr

actit

ione

rs (���68�9:

) (“

HIP

P”)

�

The

Hon

g K

ong

Inst

itute

of T

rade

Mar

k Pr

actit

ione

rs (���;7:

) (“

HK

ITM

P”)

�

Asi

an P

aten

t Atto

rney

s Ass

ocia

tion

Hon

g K

ong

Gro

up (<=�68�9���5

) (

“APA

A”)

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

of H

ong

Kon

g (��>7

) (

“The

Law

Soc

iety

”)

exam

inat

ion

proc

edur

es c

ould

be

expe

dite

d un

der

a lo

cal

OG

P sy

stem

so

that

a

pate

nt c

ould

be

gran

ted

to a

n ap

plic

ant

soon

er.

Als

o, i

f an

OG

P sy

stem

is

intro

duce

d in

Hon

g K

ong,

loca

l ent

erpr

ises

cou

ld c

omm

unic

ate

dire

ctly

with

Hon

g K

ong

pate

nt p

ract

ition

ers

with

out l

angu

age

barr

ier.

Con

cept

s of

inve

ntio

ns c

ould

be

con

veye

d to

pat

ent p

ract

ition

ers

mor

e cl

early

and

acc

urat

ely.

Th

e sc

ope

of th

e pa

tent

s co

uld

ther

efor

e be

mor

e pr

ecis

e.

Sinc

e pa

tent

s co

uld

be g

rant

ed t

o ap

plic

ants

in

a sh

orte

r tim

e if

an O

GP

syst

em i

s in

trodu

ced

in H

ong

Kon

g, l

ocal

in

nova

tion

coul

d be

pro

mot

ed a

s inv

ento

rs c

ould

gen

erat

e re

venu

e so

oner

from

thei

r pa

tent

ed in

vent

ions

.

�

HK

IPA

pro

pose

s th

at m

echa

nism

s to

rev

oke

or in

valid

ate

pate

nts

othe

r th

an c

ourt

proc

eedi

ngs s

houl

d be

set u

p to

geth

er w

ith a

n O

GP

syst

em.

With

the

revo

catio

n or

in

valid

atio

n pr

oced

ures

set

up

on t

he b

asis

of

an O

GP

syst

em,

publ

ic o

r re

late

d pa

rties

can

hav

e an

effi

cien

t and

eco

nom

ical

way

to o

bjec

t to

the

gran

t of

a pa

tent

w

ithou

t the

nee

d to

reso

rt to

cou

rt pr

ocee

ding

s. T

his w

ill d

eter

abu

se (e

spec

ially

in

resp

ect o

f sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ents

), pr

otec

t thi

rd p

artie

s’ rig

hts,

enha

nce

pate

nt s

tabi

lity

and

redu

ce th

e co

sts o

f liti

gatio

n.

�

HIP

P op

ines

that

a “

full

OG

P sy

stem

” (in

whi

ch p

aten

ts a

re e

xam

ined

by

a fu

ll te

am

of e

xam

iner

s in

Hon

g K

ong)

will

hel

p H

ong

Kon

g pr

epar

e its

elf t

o be

a re

gion

al h

ub

and

deve

lop

its o

wn

pate

nt p

rofe

ssio

nals

for I

P tra

ding

. A

lso,

the

train

ing

brou

ght

to H

ong

Kon

g to

bui

ld u

p its

pat

ent

prof

essi

on c

an b

e ut

ilise

d by

inv

ento

rs a

nd

rese

arch

ers

to i

ncre

ase

thei

r kn

owle

dge

and

awar

enes

s of

pat

ent

law

and

the

n to

pr

ovid

e a

stim

ulat

ing

effe

ct o

n R

&D

. H

IPP

does

not

sup

port

an O

GP

syst

em w

ith

exam

inat

ion

outs

ourc

ed.

Acc

ordi

ng to

thei

r pro

posa

l, a

full

OG

P sy

stem

shou

ld b

e in

trodu

ced

in fi

ve y

ears

’ tim

e.

�

HK

ITM

P po

ints

out

tha

t th

ere

is n

o cr

edib

le e

mpi

rical

evi

denc

e su

ppor

ting

the

notio

n th

at t

he p

rese

nce

of a

n O

GP

syst

em (

with

add

ition

al c

osts

ass

ocia

ted

with

pu

rsui

ng g

rant

) will

hav

e an

y ef

fect

on

stim

ulat

ing

loca

l inn

ovat

ion.

H

KIT

MP

also

65

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

thin

ks t

here

will

be

a de

crea

se i

n pa

tent

qua

lity

unle

ss t

here

is

a su

bsta

ntia

l in

vest

men

t of t

ime

and

reso

urce

s in

purs

uing

an

OG

P sy

stem

, whi

ch w

ould

be

bette

r sp

ent f

or o

ther

pur

pose

s.

�

Bot

h H

KIT

MP

and

APA

A h

ighl

ight

tha

t du

e to

cos

ts a

ssoc

iate

d w

ith p

aten

t ex

amin

atio

n pr

oces

s an

d in

crea

sing

ba

cklo

ads

at

mos

t of

th

e m

ajor

pa

tent

ex

amin

atio

n of

fices

, the

re is

an

inte

rnat

iona

l tre

nd to

mov

e aw

ay fr

om lo

cal o

rigin

al

exam

inat

ion.

Ex

ampl

es o

f th

is t

rend

as

men

tione

d by

HK

ITM

P an

d A

PAA

in

clud

e:

(a)

allo

win

g gr

ant o

f a p

aten

t in

one

reco

gnis

ed su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

ing

juris

dict

ion

to

be

reco

gnis

ed

in

anot

her

(ofte

n sm

alle

r)

juris

dict

ion

(“m

odifi

ed

exam

inat

ion”

);

(b)

requ

iring

loc

al p

aten

t pr

actit

ione

rs t

o su

bmit

sear

ch r

esul

ts a

nd e

xam

inat

ion

resu

lts o

f rel

ated

app

licat

ions

in o

ther

cou

ntrie

s to

the

loca

l pat

ent o

ffice

(with

se

rious

pen

altie

s for

failu

re to

do

so) s

o th

at th

e lo

cal e

xam

iner

s can

revi

ew th

e as

sess

men

t re

sults

reg

ardi

ng t

he s

ubst

antiv

e va

lidity

of

the

rela

ted

pate

nt

appl

icat

ions

in o

ther

juris

dict

ions

;

(c)

exam

inin

g pa

tent

app

licat

ions

bas

ed o

n se

arch

res

ults

and

/or

exam

inat

ion

resu

lts

of

corr

espo

ndin

g ap

plic

atio

ns

in

othe

r ju

risdi

ctio

ns,

e.g.

PP

H

arra

ngem

ents

bet

wee

n di

ffere

nt ju

risdi

ctio

ns;

(d)

an i

ncre

asin

g re

lianc

e on

“In

tern

atio

nal

Sear

ch R

epor

ts”

and

“Int

erna

tiona

l Pr

elim

inar

y O

pini

on o

n Pa

tent

abili

ty”

issu

ed d

urin

g th

e in

tern

atio

nal p

hase

in

a pa

tent

app

licat

ion

unde

r th

e Pa

tent

Coo

pera

tion

Trea

ty (

“PC

T”)

syst

em b

y pa

tent

exa

min

atio

n au

thor

ities

in o

ther

juris

dict

ions

;

(e)

relia

nce

on s

earc

h re

sults

and

bac

kgro

und

info

rmat

ion

from

pro

secu

tion

in

fore

ign

juris

dict

ions

; and

66

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

(f)

a pa

tent

is

only

gra

nted

if

an a

pplic

ant

furn

ishe

s ev

iden

ce o

f gr

ant

of a

co

rres

pond

ing

pate

nt

in

a ju

risdi

ctio

n ha

ving

a

cred

ible

su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n pa

tent

offi

ce a

nd th

e cl

aim

s ar

e am

ende

d in

the

loca

l app

licat

ion

to c

orre

spon

d w

ith th

ose

gran

ted

in th

e fo

reig

n ju

risdi

ctio

n.

Acc

ordi

ngly

, int

rodu

ctio

n of

an

OG

P sy

stem

in H

ong

Kon

g is

not

in li

ne w

ith th

e in

tern

atio

nal t

rend

.

�

APA

A c

onsi

ders

tha

t in

trodu

ctio

n of

an

OG

P sy

stem

in

Hon

g K

ong

wou

ld n

ot

incr

ease

the

qual

ity o

f H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

s as

the

qual

ity o

f H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

s is

al

read

y ve

ry h

igh.

�

APA

A o

pine

s th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em w

ill n

ot i

tsel

f pr

omot

e lo

cal

inno

vatio

n.

Any

in

crea

sed

publ

ic a

war

enes

s of

pat

ents

by

the

intro

duct

ion

of s

uch

a sy

stem

and

any

co

nseq

uent

in

crea

sed

inte

rest

in

pu

rsui

t of

pa

tent

rig

hts

and

stim

ulat

ion

of

inno

vatio

n w

ill b

e m

inim

al.

�

APA

A is

war

y th

at a

ny c

hang

e to

the

Hon

g K

ong

pate

nt s

yste

m w

hich

res

ults

in a

de

crea

se in

the

pres

umpt

ion

of v

alid

ity w

ould

lose

the

wel

l-est

ablis

hed

inte

rnat

iona

l re

spec

t of

the

Hon

g K

ong

pate

nt s

yste

m, a

nd is

like

ly to

stif

le lo

cal i

nnov

atio

n as

w

ell a

s det

er fo

reig

n in

vest

men

t in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

has

ser

ious

res

erva

tions

of

the

exte

nt th

at th

e th

eore

tical

ben

efits

of

an

OG

P sy

stem

in h

elpi

ng to

dev

elop

and

trai

n lo

cal p

aten

t pro

fess

iona

ls c

ould

be

real

ised

if

Hon

g K

ong

is t

o ad

opt

an O

GP

syst

em w

ith s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n be

ing

outs

ourc

ed t

o ot

her

pate

nt o

ffice

s. I

n pa

rticu

lar,

the

Law

Soc

iety

is

conc

erne

d th

at i

f su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n is

out

sour

ced

to t

he S

tate

Int

elle

ctua

l Pr

oper

ty

Offi

ce

of

the

Peop

le’s

R

epub

lic

of

Chi

na

(“SI

PO”)

, it

will

gi

ve

prac

titio

ners

of

the

Peop

le’s

Rep

ublic

of

Chi

na (

“PR

C”)

an

enha

nced

com

petit

ive

adva

ntag

e ov

er p

aten

t pra

ctiti

oner

s no

t qua

lifie

d un

der

the

PRC

sys

tem

. I

t poi

nts

out

that

the

PR

C g

over

nmen

t on

ly a

llow

s PR

C q

ualif

ied

pate

nt a

gent

s to

han

dle

67

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

pate

nt w

ork

and

the

qual

ifyin

g ex

amin

atio

n is

onl

y op

en to

PR

C C

hine

se n

atio

nals

(a

nd i

n re

cent

yea

rs t

o H

ong

Kon

g an

d M

acan

ese

citiz

ens

of C

hine

se e

thni

cal

orig

in).

The

Law

Soc

iety

is o

f th

e vi

ew th

at if

the

goal

is to

dev

elop

loca

l Hon

g K

ong

expe

rtise

, it

is i

mpo

rtant

to

intro

duce

a s

yste

m t

o en

sure

tha

t th

e lo

cal

prof

essi

on m

ay in

deed

be

enco

urag

ed to

lear

n, st

rive

and

grow

.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

is d

oubt

ful h

ow a

n O

GP

syst

em m

ay p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion.

It

note

s th

at th

e cu

rren

t sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

t sys

tem

is a

kin

to a

n O

GP

syst

em w

ith p

aten

t se

arch

bei

ng “

outs

ourc

ed”.

Ye

t, al

thou

gh H

ong

Kon

g re

mai

ns th

e to

p us

ers

of th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m in

the

past

fiv

e ye

ars

(fro

m 2

006

to 2

010)

, the

num

ber

of

Hon

g K

ong

filin

gs re

mai

ns lo

w.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

bel

ieve

s tha

t the

qua

lity

of th

e cu

rren

t Hon

g K

ong

stan

dard

pat

ents

is

hig

h as

the

pate

nts

have

bee

n su

bsta

ntiv

ely

exam

ined

by

the

pate

nt o

ffice

s of

the

Uni

ted

Kin

gdom

(“th

e U

K”)

, Eur

opea

n Pa

tent

Offi

ce (“

EPO

”) o

r SIP

O, a

nd c

anno

t se

e ho

w a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong

may

enh

ance

pat

ent q

ualit

y.

On

the

othe

r ha

nd, d

epen

ding

on

how

the

OG

P sy

stem

ope

rate

s, th

e La

w S

ocie

ty i

s co

ncer

ned

that

the

pate

nt q

ualit

y m

ay d

eter

iora

te.

It n

otes

that

Sin

gapo

re d

oes

not i

mpo

se a

n ob

ligat

ion

on a

pplic

ants

to

amen

d th

eir

appl

icat

ions

in

resp

onse

to

exam

inat

ion

resu

lts, a

nd in

pra

ctic

e, S

inga

pore

an p

aten

ts a

re p

ublis

hed

and

gran

ted

wha

teve

r the

re

sults

of

exam

inat

ion

are.

In

tha

t se

nse,

the

Law

Soc

iety

com

men

ts t

hat

the

Sing

apor

ean

syst

em i

s in

ferio

r to

the

cur

rent

sys

tem

of

Hon

g K

ong

whi

ch

guar

ante

es

prop

erly

ex

amin

ed,

amen

ded

(if

requ

ired)

an

d gr

ante

d pa

tent

ap

plic

atio

ns.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

dou

bts

if an

OG

P sy

stem

can

be

mor

e us

er-f

riend

ly a

nd

cost

-effe

ctiv

e th

an th

e cu

rren

t sys

tem

.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

que

ries

whe

ther

the

num

ber

of j

obs

crea

ted

for

poly

tech

nic

grad

uate

s w

ould

just

ify th

e su

bsta

ntia

l res

ourc

es a

nd in

vest

men

ts in

impl

emen

ting

68

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

an O

GP

syst

em.

1.3

Polit

ical

Par

ties /

Gro

ups

�

Dem

ocra

tic A

llian

ce fo

r the

Bet

term

ent a

nd

Prog

ress

of H

ong

Kon

g (?@�

) (“D

AB

”)

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

(ABCD

)

�

New

Peo

ple’

s Par

ty (#?E

)

�

DA

B s

uppo

rts t

he i

ntro

duct

ion

of a

n O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g fo

r va

rious

re

ason

s:

(a)

havi

ng th

e ab

ility

to c

ondu

ct p

aten

t exa

min

atio

n on

its

own

mea

ns h

avin

g th

e gr

eate

st c

ontro

l on

the

stan

dard

s of

pat

ents

gra

nted

so

that

they

can

alig

n w

ith

the

loca

l act

ual n

eeds

on

inno

vatio

n an

d te

chno

logy

dev

elop

men

t;

(b)

the

scal

e of

the

pate

nt-r

elat

ed in

dust

ry in

Hon

g K

ong

coul

d be

dev

elop

ed b

y th

e gr

adua

l est

ablis

hmen

t of a

pat

ent s

yste

m w

ith “

self-

exam

inat

ion”

cap

acity

;

(c)

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f a

pate

nt s

yste

m in

whi

ch lo

cal e

xam

inat

ion

of p

aten

ts is

ca

rrie

d ou

t can

stim

ulat

e th

e gr

owth

of p

aten

t-rel

ated

indu

stry

, and

in tu

rn w

ill

offe

r al

tern

ativ

e ca

reer

rou

tes

for

grad

uate

s w

ith s

cien

ce a

nd t

echn

ical

ba

ckgr

ound

and

pro

vide

the

m w

ith g

reat

er r

oom

for

dev

elop

men

t lo

cally

in

thei

r spe

cial

ised

are

as; a

nd

(d)

if H

ong

Kon

g is

to im

plem

ent a

pat

ent s

yste

m in

whi

ch e

xam

inat

ion

is c

arrie

d ou

t loc

ally

and

ther

e is

loca

l exp

ertis

e fo

r pa

tent

indu

stry

, app

lican

ts w

ill b

e be

nefit

ed a

nd w

ill th

en b

e en

cour

aged

to a

pply

for p

aten

ts fo

r the

ir in

vent

ions

.

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

bel

ieve

s th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em c

an a

ttrac

t en

terp

rises

to

set

up

thei

r fa

cilit

ies

for

R&

D

in

Hon

g K

ong.

The

syst

em

can

also

be

nefit

sm

all-a

nd-m

ediu

m e

nter

pris

es (

“SM

Es”)

whi

ch o

nly

wis

h to

enf

orce

pat

ent

right

s w

ithin

Hon

g K

ong

with

sim

plifi

ed p

aten

t app

licat

ion

proc

edur

es, a

nd in

turn

res

ult

in a

redu

ctio

n of

cos

ts a

nd ti

me

requ

ired

to o

btai

n pa

tent

pro

tect

ion

in H

ong

Kon

g.

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

adv

ises

tha

t se

tting

up

an O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g ca

n le

t H

ong

Kon

g be

com

e th

e pl

ace

of “

first

fili

ng”

for

pate

nts.

Firs

t fili

ng c

an a

fford

ap

plic

ants

with

ear

ly p

ublic

atio

n, s

peed

y ex

amin

atio

n an

d sh

orte

r tim

e in

obt

aini

ng

69

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

prot

ectio

n.

�

New

Peo

ple’

s Pa

rty s

uppo

rts th

e es

tabl

ishm

ent o

f an

OG

P sy

stem

to fa

cilit

ate

thos

e pa

rties

who

onl

y w

ant t

o se

ek p

aten

t pro

tect

ion

in H

ong

Kon

g an

d w

ill th

us p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion.

In

add

ition

, the

y co

nsid

er a

n O

GP

syst

em to

be

inst

rum

enta

l to

the

train

ing

of lo

cal e

xper

tise

to a

sses

s pat

enta

bilit

y.

1.4

Aca

dem

ic S

ecto

r

�

Ray

mon

d Y

iu (D

ivis

ion

of S

ocia

l Sci

ence

, H

ong

Kon

g U

nive

rsity

of S

cien

ce a

nd

Tech

nolo

gy)

�

Dr C

W T

so (A

djun

ct P

rofe

ssor

, Sch

ool o

f En

ergy

and

Env

ironm

ent,

City

Uni

vers

ity

of H

ong

Kon

g)

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

�

Ray

mon

d Y

iu s

uppo

rts t

he i

ntro

duct

ion

of a

n O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g so

tha

t in

dige

nous

inn

ovat

ion

wou

ld b

e en

cour

aged

and

tha

t an

inn

ovat

ion

ecos

yste

m

wou

ld b

e fo

ster

ed in

Hon

g K

ong.

In

his

vie

w, a

n O

GP

syst

em c

ould

als

o en

able

H

ong

Kon

g’s

trans

form

atio

n in

to a

reg

iona

l inn

ovat

ion

hub.

G

iven

Hon

g K

ong’

s re

puta

tion

and

long

-sta

ndin

g pr

actic

e of

the

rule

of l

aw, t

he e

stab

lishm

ent o

f an

OG

P sy

stem

cou

ld e

xert

a po

sitiv

e an

d si

gnifi

cant

im

pact

on

the

deve

lopm

ent

of t

he

IP-r

elat

ed p

rofe

ssio

n in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

Dr C

W T

so is

of t

he v

iew

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

can

offe

r the

follo

win

g be

nefit

s:

(a)

allo

w in

vent

ors

who

do

not n

eed

pate

nt p

rote

ctio

n el

sew

here

to a

pply

dire

ctly

in

Hon

g K

ong;

(b)

save

cos

ts fo

r inv

ento

rs;

(c)

com

plem

ent

the

effo

rts b

eing

mad

e to

enc

oura

ge m

ore

entre

pren

eurs

to

use

Hon

g K

ong

as a

laun

chin

g pa

d fo

r the

ir R

&D

bus

ines

ses;

(d)

stim

ulat

e th

e gr

owth

of

pate

nt a

genc

y bu

sine

ss i

n H

ong

Kon

g, a

nd s

o he

lp

build

up

loca

l exp

ertis

e in

dra

fting

and

pro

secu

ting

appl

icat

ions

for p

aten

ts;

(e)

crea

te

care

er

oppo

rtuni

ties

for

grad

uate

s w

ith

scie

nce

and

engi

neer

ing

back

grou

nd; a

nd

(f)

help

for

tify

the

furth

er d

evel

opm

ent

of H

ong

Kon

g as

a r

egio

nal

inno

vatio

n

70

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

and

tech

nolo

gy h

ub.

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

is

of t

he v

iew

tha

t th

e pr

opos

ed O

GP

syst

em w

ill n

ot o

nly

brin

g ab

stra

ct IP

into

mor

e so

lid, t

angi

ble

asse

ts in

Hon

g K

ong

indu

strie

s, bu

t al

so p

rovi

de t

he n

iche

for

mul

tinat

iona

l co

rpor

atio

ns a

nd r

esea

rch

expe

rts to

cre

ate

thei

r bus

ines

s op

portu

nitie

s w

ith H

ong

Kon

g se

rvin

g as

a p

latfo

rm;

trans

form

ing

Hon

g K

ong

into

an

inte

rnat

iona

l IP

exc

hang

e hu

b.

With

suc

h fu

nctio

n, H

ong

Kon

g w

ould

def

inite

ly a

ttrac

t ent

repr

eneu

rs, r

esea

rch

expe

rts a

nd IP

sp

ecia

lists

to

stat

ion

and

expa

nd t

heir

proj

ects

; re

sulti

ng i

n th

e cr

eatio

n of

mor

e ca

reer

opp

ortu

nitie

s fo

r exp

erts

of b

oth

lega

l and

tech

nica

l bac

kgro

und

as w

ell a

s an

at

mos

pher

e fo

r th

e co

oper

atio

n an

d co

llabo

ratio

n be

twee

n th

e in

dust

ries

and

the

acad

emia

to w

ork

out t

he b

est s

olut

ions

to fu

lfil t

he te

chno

logi

cal d

evel

opm

ent w

ith

mar

keta

ble

com

mer

cial

val

ues.

Pat

ent

qual

ity w

ill s

urel

y be

enh

ance

d an

d th

e su

ppor

t of o

pen

inno

vatio

n in

uni

vers

ities

and

rese

arch

inst

itute

s will

be

prom

oted

.

1.5

Lega

l Pra

ctiti

oner

s / P

aten

t Pra

ctiti

oner

s

�

Ric

hard

R. H

alst

ead

(UK

Cha

rtere

d Pa

tent

A

ttorn

ey, e

x-pr

esid

ent o

f the

HK

ITM

P)

�

Chr

is M

urra

y (P

aten

t Atto

rney

)

�

A g

roup

of p

rofe

ssio

nally

qua

lifie

d pa

tent

at

torn

eys c

urre

ntly

pra

ctis

ing

in H

ong

Kon

g (“

QPA

Gro

up”)

:

(a)

Tim

othy

J. L

ette

rs (R

egis

tere

d A

ustra

lian

Pate

nt A

ttorn

ey, R

egis

tere

d N

ew Z

eala

nd P

aten

t Atto

rney

)

(b)

Laur

ence

Tho

o (R

egis

tere

d A

ustra

lian

�

Ric

hard

R.

Hal

stea

d co

nsid

ers

that

the

pre

sent

re-

regi

stra

tion

syst

em h

as n

othi

ng

wro

ng a

nd i

f so

me

chan

ges

have

to

be m

ade,

no

stru

ctur

al c

hang

es s

houl

d be

in

trodu

ced:

(a)

he c

onsi

ders

cre

dibi

lity

of p

aten

ts i

ssue

d to

be

very

im

porta

nt t

o th

e sy

stem

us

ers

and

the

publ

ic a

nd th

at, e

ven

by s

ettin

g up

an

OG

P sy

stem

, Hon

g K

ong

coul

d ha

rdly

m

atch

up

w

ith

the

effic

ienc

y an

d le

vel

of

expe

rtise

of

w

ell-e

stab

lishe

d pa

tent

offi

ces

such

as

the

Uni

ted

Kin

gdom

Int

elle

ctua

l Pr

oper

ty O

ffice

(“U

KIP

O”)

and

SIP

O;

(b)

he b

elie

ves,

by p

oint

ing

out

that

mos

t co

nsum

ers

pref

er t

o us

e th

e un

ified

ex

amin

atio

n sy

stem

und

er E

PO ra

ther

than

filin

g in

indi

vidu

al c

ount

ries,

a la

ck

of o

rigin

al p

aten

t gra

nt sy

stem

doe

s not

cor

rela

te w

ith th

e ab

ility

to in

nova

te;

(c)

he c

onsi

ders

abu

se o

f th

e pa

tent

sys

tem

by

seek

ing

to e

nfor

ce in

valid

pat

ents

71

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

Pate

nt A

ttorn

ey)

(c)

Jeffr

ey M

cLea

n (R

egis

tere

d A

ustra

lian

Pate

nt A

ttorn

ey)

(d)

Jam

es W

an (R

egis

tere

d A

ustra

lian

Pate

nt A

ttorn

ey, R

egis

tere

d N

ew

Zeal

and

Pate

nt A

ttorn

ey, R

egis

tere

d Si

ngap

ore

Pate

nt A

ttorn

ey)

(e)

Mic

hael

Flin

t (R

egis

tere

d A

ustra

lian

Pate

nt A

ttorn

ey, R

egis

tere

d N

ew

Zeal

and

Pate

nt A

ttorn

ey)

(f)

Ow

en G

ee (R

egis

tere

d A

ustra

lian

Pate

nt A

ttorn

ey, R

egis

tere

d N

ew

Zeal

and

Pate

nt A

ttorn

ey)

(g)

Mic

hael

Lin

(Reg

iste

red

US

Pate

nt

Atto

rney

)

(h)

Chi

n-W

ah T

sang

(UK

Cha

rtere

d Pa

tent

A

ttorn

ey)

(i)

Eric

C F

Lam

(UK

Cha

rtere

d Pa

tent

A

ttorn

ey)

�

Kin

g &

Woo

d (�F>7GHI

) (la

w

firm

)

� JK

& LMN

(“S

ong

& C

han”

):

to b

e a

big

prob

lem

. T

he r

ampa

nt a

buse

of

the

pate

nt s

yste

m d

isco

urag

es

inno

vatio

n if

the

accu

sed

coul

d on

ly s

how

the

pat

ents

to

be i

nval

id v

ia

expe

nsiv

e co

urt p

roce

edin

gs.

He

cons

ider

s th

ere

is m

ore

likel

y to

be

abus

e w

hen

pate

nt o

ffice

s w

ith p

oor

nove

lty s

earc

h us

ually

gra

nt a

muc

h br

oade

r pa

tent

tha

n th

e on

es w

ith g

ood

prio

r ar

t se

arch

fac

ilitie

s an

d ar

gues

tha

t it

wou

ld b

e un

fair

to th

e ge

nera

l pub

lic in

this

rega

rd; a

nd

(d)

in o

rder

to p

reve

nt a

buse

of

the

syst

em, h

e su

gges

ts r

equi

ring

appl

ican

ts f

or

Hon

g K

ong

pate

nts t

o de

clar

e th

at (i

) the

pat

ent i

s bel

ieve

d to

be

valid

; and

(ii)

all p

rior a

rt kn

own

to h

im b

ut n

ot c

ited

durin

g su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n of

the

corr

espo

ndin

g de

sign

ated

app

licat

ion

shal

l be

disc

lose

d to

the

defe

ndan

t prio

r to

lega

l pro

ceed

ings

, with

cos

ts p

enal

ties f

or fa

iling

to d

o so

.

�

Chr

is

Mur

ray

is

agai

nst

the

setti

ng

up

of

an

OG

P sy

stem

be

caus

e lit

tle

man

ufac

turin

g is

do

ne

in

Hon

g K

ong

and

no

high

vo

lum

e pr

oduc

ts

are

man

ufac

ture

d fo

r th

e H

ong

Kon

g m

arke

t on

ly.

The

val

ue o

f a

stan

dalo

ne H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

is m

inim

al a

nd, h

ence

, the

cos

ts in

volv

ed a

re u

njus

tifia

ble.

�

QPA

Gro

up e

mph

asis

es t

hat

alth

ough

the

pot

entia

l be

nefit

s of

an

OG

P sy

stem

in

clud

e en

hanc

ed p

ublic

aw

aren

ess

of p

aten

ts a

nd in

telle

ctua

l pro

perty

righ

ts, w

hich

m

ay re

min

d th

e pu

blic

of “

inno

vatio

n”, a

n O

GP

syst

em a

lone

will

not

pro

mot

e lo

cal

inno

vatio

n.

�

QPA

Gro

up b

elie

ves

that

the

intro

duct

ion

of a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong

will

not

en

hanc

e th

e qu

ality

of

Hon

g K

ong

pate

nts

as t

he t

hree

exi

stin

g de

sign

ated

pat

ent

offic

es a

re a

lread

y pr

ovid

ing

high

qua

lity

exam

inat

ions

.

�

From

the

expe

rienc

e of

mem

bers

of Q

PA G

roup

:

(a)

they

are

yet

to

have

any

Hon

g K

ong

loca

l cl

ient

s w

ho p

ursu

e pa

tent

rig

hts

sugg

est t

hat a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong

wou

ld b

e of

any

ben

efit

to th

em;

72

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

(a) JK

(PR

C P

aten

t Atto

rney

); an

d

(b) LMN

(PR

C P

aten

t Atto

rney

)

�

Dan

ny C

han

(Aut

horiz

ed IP

Atto

rney

of t

he

natio

nal I

P O

ffice

of M

alta

of E

urop

ean

Uni

on, L

iste

d IP

Atto

rney

in th

e re

cord

of

the

Dan

ish

Pate

nt &

Tra

dem

ark

Offi

ce)

�

Nig

el L

ee (U

K C

harte

red

Pate

nt A

ttorn

ey,

PRC

Pat

ent A

ttorn

ey)

�

Kam

Wah

Law

(US

Pate

nt A

ttorn

ey)

�

Ken

neth

Yip

(sol

icito

r)

�

Sam

Yip

(US

Pate

nt A

ttorn

ey)

�

Chi

na In

telle

ctua

l Pro

perty

(H.K

.) Li

mite

d

�

Ben

ny K

ong

(sol

icito

r)

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

(b)

they

are

yet

to

hear

any

for

eign

clie

nts

sugg

estin

g an

OG

P sy

stem

in

Hon

g K

ong

wou

ld b

e of

ben

efit

to fo

reig

n ap

plic

ants

for H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

s; a

nd

(c)

they

are

yet

to h

ear

any

prof

essi

onal

ly q

ualif

ied

pate

nt a

ttorn

eys

prov

ide

any

cohe

rent

arg

umen

t as t

o ho

w a

n O

GP

syst

em c

ould

hel

p H

ong

Kon

g ap

plic

ants

fr

om a

com

mer

cial

or f

inan

cial

stan

dpoi

nt.

�

Kin

g &

Woo

d su

ppor

ts e

stab

lishm

ent

of a

n O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g w

hile

m

aint

aini

ng t

he c

urre

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

bec

ause

und

er t

he c

urre

nt s

yste

m,

thei

r cl

ient

s w

ho h

ave

busi

ness

es o

nly

in H

ong

Kon

g an

d de

sire

pat

ent p

rote

ctio

n on

ly i

n H

ong

Kon

g ar

e re

quire

d to

spe

nd s

ubst

antia

l ex

pens

es t

o ob

tain

pat

ent

regi

stra

tion

in o

ne o

f the

des

igna

ted

pate

nt o

ffice

s bef

ore

obta

inin

g pa

tent

pro

tect

ion

in H

ong

Kon

g.

If th

ey d

o no

t wis

h to

incu

r the

ext

ra e

xpen

ses,

they

can

onl

y ap

ply

for s

hort-

term

pat

ents

whi

ch d

o no

t offe

r a fu

ll 20

-yea

r ter

m o

f pro

tect

ion.

Fu

rther

, pr

ovin

g th

e va

lidity

of

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

ts is

har

sher

than

pro

ving

reg

istra

bilit

y an

d pa

tent

abili

ty.

In

prac

tice,

the

ir cl

ient

s do

not

use

the

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

t ro

ute

for

any

“ser

ious

” in

vent

ions

. A

n O

GP

syst

em w

ill fa

cilit

ate

the

obta

inin

g of

full-

term

pa

tent

pro

tect

ion

in H

ong

Kon

g fo

r “se

rious

” in

vent

ions

cre

ated

loca

lly, p

artic

ular

ly

thos

e of

hi

gh

com

mer

cial

va

lue,

an

d H

ong

Kon

g w

ill

be

cons

ider

ed

as

a te

chno

logi

cally

inno

vativ

e ci

ty.

�

Song

& C

han

opin

e th

at it

is n

ot re

alis

tic to

say

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

in H

ong

Kon

g w

ill b

ring

grea

t eco

nom

ic a

dvan

tage

s an

d cr

eate

car

eer o

ppor

tuni

ties.

The

y ar

e of

th

e vi

ew t

hat

Hon

g K

ong

does

not

hav

e th

e st

reng

th t

o ad

opt

an O

GP

syst

em.

Th

ey n

ote

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

mus

t be

bac

ked

by s

trong

R&

D c

apac

ity i

n hi

gh

tech

nolo

gy in

dust

ries,

whi

ch is

cur

rent

ly la

ckin

g in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

Dan

ny C

han

opin

es t

hat

it is

not

nec

essa

ry t

o in

trodu

ce a

n O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g as

the

mar

ket s

ize

and

popu

latio

n is

not

larg

e en

ough

.

�

Nig

el L

ee c

onsi

ders

that

hav

ing

an O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong

wou

ld h

ave

bene

fits

73

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

incl

udin

g:

(a)

high

er l

egal

cer

tain

ty a

bout

the

val

idity

of

a H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

whe

n co

mpa

red

to a

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t;

(b)

a le

ss e

xpen

sive

and

mor

e co

nven

ient

way

for

a p

aten

t app

lican

t to

obta

in a

20

-yea

r ful

l ter

m H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

, par

ticul

arly

whe

n th

e ap

plic

ant d

oes

not

wan

t to

appl

y fo

r a p

aten

t in

Chi

na, E

urop

e or

the

UK

;

(c)

esta

blis

hmen

t of a

loca

l exa

min

atio

n te

am in

Inte

llect

ual P

rope

rty D

epar

tmen

t (“

IPD

”) fo

r OG

P w

ould

allo

w IP

D to

pro

vide

opi

nion

s on

pat

ent i

nfrin

gem

ent

and

pate

nt v

alid

ity is

sues

whi

ch m

eans

a c

ost-e

ffect

ive

rout

e fo

r the

pub

lic to

se

ek re

liabl

e op

inio

ns w

hen

com

pare

d w

ith ta

king

out

exp

ensi

ve le

gal a

ctio

ns

befo

re th

e co

urt;

and

(d)

enco

urag

emen

t of

dev

elop

men

t of

the

pat

ent

atto

rney

pro

fess

ion,

the

reby

im

prov

ing

the

qual

ity o

f loc

al p

aten

t ser

vice

s.

He

also

thin

ks th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em c

an p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt

qual

ity b

ecau

se it

enc

oura

ges

deve

lopm

ent o

f th

e pa

tent

atto

rney

pro

fess

ion

whi

ch

can

then

pro

vide

stro

ng s

uppo

rt an

d co

nsul

tatio

n to

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

indu

stry

and

it

also

enc

oura

ges

the

depl

oym

ent o

f in

-hou

se p

aten

t spe

cial

ists

in R

&D

com

pani

es,

rese

arch

inst

itute

s and

uni

vers

ities

in H

ong

Kon

g.

�

Kam

Wah

Law

con

side

rs a

n O

GP

syst

em t

o ha

ve t

he a

dditi

onal

ben

efits

of

supp

ortin

g a

larg

e nu

mbe

r of

hig

hly

paid

pat

ent

exam

iner

s an

d pa

tent

age

nts

and

pate

nt a

ttorn

eys i

n H

ong

Kon

g an

d th

is w

ill b

e go

od fo

r the

eco

nom

y of

Hon

g K

ong

as w

ell a

s loc

al sc

ienc

e an

d en

gine

erin

g gr

adua

tes.

�

Ken

neth

Yip

sup

ports

hav

ing

an O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong.

H

e th

inks

that

the

curr

ent r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

wor

ks f

ine

only

if th

e G

over

nmen

t is

will

ing

to g

ive

up i

ts j

udic

ial

pow

er t

o tre

at i

tsel

f as

a c

olon

ial

stat

e of

a f

orei

gn c

ount

ry,

just

74

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

anot

her c

ity o

f Chi

na o

r on

par w

ith o

ther

dev

elop

ing

coun

tries

.

�

Sam

Yip

is o

f the

vie

w th

at fo

ster

ing

econ

omic

and

soc

ial c

ondi

tions

, ava

ilabi

lity

of

high

ly e

duca

ted

wor

kfor

ce, h

uman

ent

repr

eneu

rial

spiri

ts, p

rogr

essi

ve g

over

nmen

t po

licie

s, re

spec

t fo

r IP

and

effe

ctiv

e en

forc

emen

t on

the

pro

tect

ion

of I

P, b

ut n

ot

mer

ely

havi

ng a

n O

GP

syst

em, a

re th

e pr

imar

y m

otiv

ator

s fo

r lo

cal i

nnov

atio

n or

in

vest

men

t in

R&

D.

As

for

pate

nt q

ualit

y, h

e th

inks

tha

t it

depe

nds

on t

he

proc

urem

ent,

exam

inat

ion

and

enfo

rcem

ent

of p

aten

ts,

but

ther

e is

no

subs

tant

ial

defic

ienc

y in

any

of t

hese

are

as.

�

Chi

na I

ntel

lect

ual P

rope

rty (

H.K

.) Li

mite

d do

es n

ot s

uppo

rt th

e in

trodu

ctio

n of

an

OG

P sy

stem

in H

ong

Kon

g.

�

Ben

ny K

ong

is o

f the

vie

w th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em h

as a

bet

ter a

bilit

y to

kee

p in

vent

ors

and

inve

stor

s in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

A r

espo

nden

t no

tes

that

in

addi

tion

to t

he b

enef

its a

lread

y m

entio

ned

in t

he

Con

sulta

tion

Pape

r, it

is a

fund

amen

tal r

ight

for a

n ap

plic

ant t

o ha

ve th

e op

tion

and

free

dom

to p

ursu

e a

pate

nt w

ith a

ny p

artic

ular

con

tent

and

cla

im w

ordi

ng th

at h

e se

es fi

t. W

ithou

t an

OG

P sy

stem

in H

ong

Kon

g, th

e co

nten

t and

cla

im w

ordi

ng o

f a

Hon

g K

ong

stan

dard

pat

ent w

ould

alw

ays b

e de

pend

ent o

n a

desi

gnat

ed p

aten

t and

th

eref

ore

the

pate

nt a

pplic

ant w

ill b

e de

priv

ed o

f su

ch r

ight

. F

urth

er, s

ome

lega

l pa

tent

test

s or

sta

ndar

ds w

hich

are

app

licab

le o

r sui

tabl

e in

the

cont

ext o

f the

UK

or

Euro

pe m

ight

not

alw

ays

be s

uita

ble

in H

ong

Kon

g.

Unl

ess

Hon

g K

ong

has

its

own

OG

P sy

stem

, the

dev

elop

men

t of t

he le

gal p

aten

t sys

tem

and

the

prec

eden

ts in

H

ong

Kon

g w

ould

be

hind

ered

by

the

relia

nce

of p

aten

ts i

ssue

d in

the

sai

d ju

risdi

ctio

ns.

He

also

not

es th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em w

ould

cre

ate

a m

ore

enco

urag

ing

envi

ronm

ent

for

first

fu

ll-te

rm

pate

nt

filin

gs

in

Hon

g K

ong

and

mor

e jo

b op

portu

nitie

s and

wou

ld p

rom

ote

tradi

ng o

f IP/

pate

nt ri

ghts

in H

ong

Kon

g.

�

A r

espo

nden

t se

ts o

ut t

he n

eed

for

Hon

g K

ong

to e

stab

lish

a ho

me

pate

nt o

ffice

75

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

whi

ch w

ould

pro

vide

an

imag

e of

inn

ovat

ion

as w

ell

as p

lay

a pr

actic

al r

ole

for

driv

ing

and

supp

ortin

g ot

her

tech

nolo

gy/in

nova

tion-

rela

ted

initi

ativ

es i

n H

ong

Kon

g, su

ch a

s dev

elop

men

t of a

pat

ent e

quity

inde

x.

1.6

Oth

ers

�

Hon

g K

ong

Prod

uctiv

ity C

ounc

il (��O

PDQR!

) (“H

KPC

”)

�

Asi

a Pa

cific

Inte

llect

ual C

apita

l Cen

tre

(“A

PIC

C”)

�

Uni

vers

al D

ispl

ay C

orpo

ratio

n H

ong

Kon

g,

Ltd.

�

Scho

lar C

orpo

ratio

n

�

Ble

ssed

Inc

�

Bac

h Li

mite

d

�

Blu

e O

cean

Stra

tegy

Con

sulti

ng/A

rt G

roup

Li

mite

d

�

HK

PC c

onsi

ders

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

wou

ld h

ave

bene

fits i

nclu

ding

:

(a)

allo

w d

irect

app

licat

ions

in

Hon

g K

ong,

and

it

is a

ntic

ipat

ed t

hat

the

appl

icat

ion

proc

ess w

ould

take

a sh

orte

r tim

e;

(b)

the

publ

ic w

ill h

ave

bette

r ac

cess

to

and

a be

tter

unde

rsta

ndin

g of

the

ap

plic

atio

n pr

oced

ures

an

d re

quire

men

ts;

the

proc

edur

es

can

be

bette

r co

ntro

lled

in ti

me

and

qual

ity;

(c)

incr

ease

the

loc

al d

eman

d fo

r an

d pr

omot

e th

e gr

owth

of

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es i

n H

ong

Kon

g an

d fa

cilit

ate

pate

nt p

rofe

ssio

nals

to

enha

nce

thei

r te

chni

cal s

kills

;

(d)

crea

te e

mpl

oym

ent o

ppor

tuni

ties a

nd in

spire

trai

ning

inst

itutio

ns to

des

ign

new

co

urse

s to

train

pat

ent p

rofe

ssio

nals

;

(e)

prom

ote

inno

vatio

n an

d IP

pro

tect

ion

whe

n th

e re

gist

ratio

n ag

ency

pro

vide

s di

rect

adv

isor

y se

rvic

es o

n pa

tent

app

licat

ions

, ass

essm

ent c

riter

ia, e

tc.;

and

(f)

prov

ide

an

impr

oved

le

gal

fram

ewor

k th

at

supp

orts

lo

cal

indu

stry

in

tra

nsfo

rmin

g to

inno

vatio

n an

d IP

trad

ing.

�

API

CC

is o

f the

vie

w th

at a

robu

st O

GP

syst

em is

one

of t

he k

ey b

usin

ess c

ondi

tions

w

hich

are

nee

ded

if H

ong

Kon

g is

to b

ecom

e a

wor

ld c

lass

kno

wle

dge

econ

omy.

Su

ch a

sys

tem

is

also

a f

ound

atio

n bu

sine

ss c

ondi

tion

to t

he “

IP a

nd T

echn

olog

y Tr

ansf

er”,

“O

pen

Inno

vatio

n” a

nd “

Com

mer

cial

isat

ion”

cap

aciti

es w

hich

Hon

g K

ong

need

s to

deve

lop

in th

e ne

xt fi

ve to

10

year

s. A

PIC

C a

lso

supp

orts

hav

ing

an

76

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

OG

P sy

stem

but

onl

y if

a H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

will

als

o be

rec

ogni

sed

in M

ainl

and

Chi

na.

�

Uni

vers

al D

ispl

ay C

orpo

ratio

n H

ong

Kon

g, L

td.

is o

f th

e vi

ew t

hat

it is

not

ne

cess

ary

to in

trodu

ce a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

Scho

lar C

orpo

ratio

n, B

less

ed In

c an

d B

ach

Lim

ited

poin

t out

that

ther

e is

no

coge

nt

evid

ence

to su

ppor

t a c

laim

that

ther

e w

ill b

e m

ore

pate

nt a

pplic

atio

ns fo

r inv

entio

ns

in H

ong

Kon

g if

an O

GP

syst

em is

intro

duce

d in

Hon

g K

ong.

Th

ey c

omm

ent t

hat:

(a)

ther

e is

no

proo

f tha

t aca

dem

ics

will

dis

cont

inue

app

lied

rese

arch

if th

ere

is n

o O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g as

aca

dem

ics

are

by n

atur

e pr

edis

pose

d to

co

ntin

uing

res

earc

h.

It is

dou

btfu

l th

at t

heir

curio

sity

and

fer

vour

for

ex

plor

ing

the

boun

darie

s of

exi

stin

g kn

owle

dge

will

be

dim

inis

hed

if th

ere

is

no O

GP

syst

em.

The

ir pa

ssio

n to

exp

lore

pos

sibl

e de

velo

pmen

ts a

nd n

ew

know

ledg

e is

als

o fu

elle

d by

pre

ssur

e fr

om th

eir e

mpl

oyin

g in

stitu

tions

;

(b)

ther

e is

no

com

pelli

ng r

easo

n w

hy i

ndiv

idua

l re

sear

cher

s in

the

com

mer

cial

en

viro

nmen

t will

sud

denl

y ha

ve m

ore

insi

ght o

r ins

pira

tion

sim

ply

beca

use

of

a po

ssib

le o

ppor

tuni

ty to

app

ly fo

r an

orig

inal

gra

nt p

aten

t in

Hon

g K

ong;

and

(c)

imag

inat

ion

and

crea

tivity

are

not

fet

tere

d un

der

the

curr

ent

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

.

�

Bac

h Li

mite

d ad

ds th

at in

divi

dual

s an

d in

vent

ors

are

mos

t lik

ely

to b

e in

spire

d by

pr

ofit

mot

ive,

nec

essi

ty, a

cade

mic

inte

rest

and

/or c

ompe

titio

n to

inve

nt a

nd in

vest

.

�

Scho

lar C

orpo

ratio

n, B

less

ed In

c an

d B

ach

Lim

ited

emph

asis

e th

at w

hils

t the

re a

re

loud

cal

ls f

or a

n O

GP

syst

em to

be

set u

p in

Hon

g K

ong

from

a v

ocal

/con

nect

ed

min

ority

, the

Gov

ernm

ent m

ust s

crut

inis

e w

heth

er th

ere

is a

ny c

ompe

lling

pro

of o

r re

ason

ing

behi

nd th

e ca

ll fo

r sup

port.

77

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

�

Blu

e O

cean

St

rate

gy

Con

sulti

ng/A

rt G

roup

Li

mite

d su

ppor

ts

the

para

llel

deve

lopm

ent

of

an

OG

P sy

stem

w

hile

ke

epin

g st

atus

qu

o of

th

e cu

rren

t re

-reg

istra

tion

stan

dard

pat

ent s

yste

m a

nd th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m b

ecau

se, l

ike

the

need

for

a t

hird

run

way

in

the

Hon

g K

ong

airp

ort,

the

OG

P w

ill b

e ab

le t

o ha

ndle

mor

e tra

ffic

in th

e lic

ensi

ng a

nd tr

adin

g of

IP fo

r pro

duct

s and

inve

ntio

ns th

at

are

very

ofte

n so

urce

d in

Hon

g K

ong

and

the

Pear

l D

elta

Reg

ion

whe

n th

e tw

o cu

rren

t sys

tem

s are

exp

erie

ncin

g di

fficu

lty to

kee

p up

.

1.7

Indi

vidu

als

�

Stan

ley

�

Tom

Lam

�

Ms.

Lee

�

Eric

Yun

g (STU

)

� VW#

�

Ng

Cha

n W

ai (i

nven

tor,

hold

er o

f pat

ents

in

the

Uni

ted

Stat

es, C

hina

and

Hon

g K

ong)

�

Hui

Win

g K

in (i

nven

tor,

hold

er o

f mor

e th

an 2

0 pu

blis

hed

pate

nts i

n th

e U

nite

d St

ates

, Chi

na a

nd E

urop

e)

� XYZ

� [\]

Som

e in

divi

dual

res

pond

ents

sup

port

the

esta

blis

hmen

t of

an

OG

P sy

stem

in

Hon

g K

ong.

R

easo

ns c

ited

incl

ude:

(a)

an O

GP

syst

em c

an s

ave

the

time

and

cost

s fo

r ob

tain

ing

pate

nt p

rote

ctio

n in

H

ong

Kon

g as

it

allo

ws

an a

pplic

ant

to a

pply

for

pat

ent

prot

ectio

n di

rect

ly i

n H

ong

Kon

g w

ithou

t the

nee

d to

firs

t file

an

appl

icat

ion

with

one

of t

he d

esig

nate

d pa

tent

offi

ces;

(b)

an O

GP

syst

em c

an r

aise

the

soci

ety’

s aw

aren

ess

rega

rdin

g re

sear

ch a

nd p

aten

ts

and

let H

ong

Kon

g en

titie

s lea

rn m

ore

abou

t the

com

mer

cial

val

ue o

f pat

ents

;

(c)

an

OG

P sy

stem

ca

n ch

ange

so

ciet

y’s

view

to

war

ds

rese

arch

an

d pa

tent

ap

plic

atio

ns a

s it a

llow

s you

ng in

vent

ors t

o ob

tain

pat

ent p

rote

ctio

n in

Hon

g K

ong

at a

ver

y lo

w c

ost t

here

by le

tting

them

ear

n su

bsta

ntia

l pro

fits i

f lar

ge c

orpo

ratio

ns

deci

de to

acq

uire

the

inve

ntio

ns;

(d)

an O

GP

syst

em c

an p

rovi

de a

dditi

onal

car

eer

oppo

rtuni

ties

for

grad

uate

s w

ith

scie

nce

and

tech

nica

l bac

kgro

und;

(e)

ther

e w

ill b

e m

ore

empl

oym

ent

oppo

rtuni

ties

for

loca

l pe

ople

, es

peci

ally

the

el

derly

and

han

dica

pped

;

78

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

�

Pind

ar W

ong

�

Guy

Cha

n

� ^_K

� `ab

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

(f)

an O

GP

syst

em c

an e

ncou

rage

loca

l inn

ovat

ion;

(g)

an O

GP

syst

em c

an a

ttrac

t use

rs to

app

ly fo

r pat

ents

in H

ong

Kon

g an

d th

us c

an

incr

ease

sou

rces

of

inco

me

for

the

Gov

ernm

ent

if fe

es f

or p

aten

t se

arch

and

su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n to

be

co

nduc

ted

are

low

an

d co

nduc

ive

to

the

deve

lopm

ent o

f inn

ovat

ion

in H

ong

Kon

g; a

nd

(h)

an O

GP

syst

em c

an e

nabl

e ap

plic

ants

to

avoi

d th

e is

sue

of i

nade

quat

e pa

tent

pr

otec

tion

in C

hina

or t

he n

eed

to p

ay fo

r the

ser

vice

s of

an

agen

t to

get a

pat

ent

from

SIP

O.

Som

e in

divi

dual

resp

onde

nts

do n

ot s

ee th

e ne

ed o

f an

OG

P sy

stem

and

thin

k th

at th

e co

sts f

or g

ettin

g an

OG

P m

ay d

eter

app

licat

ions

.

Spec

ific

view

s

�

Stan

ley

is o

f th

e vi

ew t

hat

owne

rs o

f im

porta

nt i

nven

tions

will

not

cho

ose

Hon

g K

ong

to a

pply

for p

aten

t pro

tect

ion

beca

use

the

mar

ket i

n H

ong

Kon

g is

too

smal

l.

�

Tom

Lam

doe

s not

supp

ort e

stab

lishi

ng a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

A re

spon

dent

opi

nes

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

will

pro

mot

e lo

cal i

nven

tions

and

impr

ove

the

qual

ity

of

pate

nts.

Th

e G

over

nmen

t sh

ould

be

re

spon

sibl

e fo

r th

e im

plem

enta

tion

of a

n O

GP

syst

em.

�

Ms.

Lee

thin

ks t

hat

if an

OG

P sy

stem

is

carr

ied

out

effe

ctiv

ely

in H

ong

Kon

g,

appl

icat

ions

fro

m o

ther

reg

ions

will

als

o be

mad

e in

Hon

g K

ong

beca

use

it is

less

ex

pens

ive

and

quic

ker

if ap

plic

atio

ns a

re d

irect

ly m

ade

in H

ong

Kon

g.

Als

o, a

n ap

plic

ant

can

test

the

mar

ket

resp

onse

of

the

inve

ntio

n in

Hon

g K

ong

befo

re h

e de

cide

s w

heth

er t

o ap

ply

for

a pa

tent

in

othe

r re

gion

s of

the

wor

ld o

r to

sel

l th

e pa

tent

.

79

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

�

Eric

Yun

g is

of

the

view

tha

t an

OG

P sy

stem

can

sav

e th

e tim

e an

d co

sts

for

obta

inin

g pa

tent

pro

tect

ion

in H

ong

Kon

g as

it

allo

ws

an a

pplic

ant

to a

pply

for

pa

tent

pro

tect

ion

dire

ctly

in H

ong

Kon

g w

ithou

t the

nee

d to

firs

t file

an

appl

icat

ion

with

one

of t

he d

esig

nate

d pa

tent

offi

ces.

He

opin

es th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em c

an ra

ise

the

soci

ety’

s aw

aren

ess

rega

rdin

g re

sear

ch a

nd p

aten

ts a

nd le

t Hon

g K

ong

entit

ies

lear

n m

ore

abou

t the

com

mer

cial

val

ue o

f pat

ents

. H

e fu

rther

bel

ieve

s tha

t an

OG

P sy

stem

can

cha

nge

ente

rpris

es’ v

iew

tow

ards

res

earc

h an

d pa

tent

app

licat

ions

as

it al

low

s yo

ung

inve

ntor

s to

obt

ain

pate

nt p

rote

ctio

n in

Hon

g K

ong

at a

ver

y lo

w c

ost

ther

eby

letti

ng th

em e

arn

subs

tant

ial p

rofit

s if

larg

e co

rpor

atio

ns d

ecid

e to

acq

uire

th

e in

vent

ions

. H

e al

so th

inks

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

can

pro

vide

add

ition

al c

aree

r op

portu

nitie

s for

gra

duat

es w

ith sc

ienc

e an

d te

chni

cal b

ackg

roun

d.

� VW#

thi

nks

that

intro

duci

ng a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong

whi

le m

aint

aini

ng a

re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em w

ill e

ncou

rage

loc

al i

nnov

atio

n.

He

belie

ves

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

will

cre

ate

mor

e em

ploy

men

t opp

ortu

nitie

s fo

r lo

cal p

eopl

e, e

spec

ially

the

elde

rly a

nd h

andi

capp

ed.

He

is o

f the

vie

w th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em c

an a

ttrac

t use

rs to

ap

ply

for

pate

nts

in H

ong

Kon

g an

d th

us c

an i

ncre

ase

sour

ces

of i

ncom

e fo

r th

e G

over

nmen

t if

fees

for

pat

ent s

earc

h an

d su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n to

be

cond

ucte

d ar

e ve

ry lo

w a

nd c

ondu

cive

to th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

inno

vatio

n in

Hon

g K

ong.

H

e fu

rther

com

men

ts th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em c

an e

nabl

e ap

plic

ants

to a

void

the

issu

e of

in

adeq

uate

pat

ent p

rote

ctio

n in

Chi

na o

r the

nee

d to

pay

for a

n ag

ent t

o ge

t a p

aten

t fr

om S

IPO

.

�

Ng

Cha

n W

ai a

lso

supp

orts

the

esta

blis

hmen

t of a

n O

GP

syst

em w

hile

mai

ntai

ning

a

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

in H

ong

Kon

g.

�

Hui

Win

g K

in d

oes

not c

onsi

der

it ne

cess

ary

to in

trodu

ce a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong

and

com

men

ts t

hat

an O

GP

syst

em w

ill c

reat

e an

ext

ra s

tep

in a

pat

ent

appl

icat

ion

in H

ong

Kon

g.

80

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

� XYZ

is

of th

e vi

ew th

at s

ince

set

ting

up a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong

will

not

be

cos

t-effe

ctiv

e, s

uch

a m

ove

will

not

be

cond

uciv

e to

attr

actin

g fo

reig

n co

mpa

nies

to

set u

p R

&D

cen

tres i

n H

ong

Kon

g.

� [\]

doe

s no

t thi

nk th

at H

ong

Kon

g ne

eds

an e

xtra

OG

P sy

stem

sin

ce, n

ot b

eing

co

st-e

ffect

ive,

it is

unl

ikel

y th

at in

vent

ions

of l

ocal

ent

erpr

ises

will

just

be

aim

ed a

t th

e sm

all

mar

ket

of H

ong

Kon

g.

He

wou

ld r

athe

r pr

efer

the

Gov

ernm

ent

to

empl

oy th

e re

sour

ces

for t

rain

ing

pate

nt a

gent

s, pa

tent

adm

inis

trativ

e m

anag

ers

and

pate

nt a

gent

bro

kers

, pro

mot

ing

the

valu

e of

pro

tect

ion

of IP

and

pos

ition

ing

Hon

g K

ong

as a

n IP

trad

ing

plat

form

.

�

Pind

ar W

ong

is o

f th

e vi

ew th

at th

e ac

tive

enco

urag

emen

t of

pate

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n fr

om c

omm

on l

aw-b

ased

eco

nom

ies

for

the

purp

ose

of e

stab

lishi

ng p

aten

t po

ols

shou

ld t

ake

polic

y pr

iorit

y.

Hon

g K

ong

shou

ld p

ositi

on i

tsel

f as

the

wor

ld’s

pr

emie

r “P

aten

t Saf

e H

arbo

ur”,

that

is, a

n en

trepr

eneu

rial e

nviro

nmen

t whe

re le

gal

risks

ass

ocia

ted

with

exp

erim

enta

tion

and

inno

vatio

n ar

e m

inim

ised

, and

the

mar

ket

and

finan

cial

opp

ortu

nitie

s ar

e m

axim

ised

by

activ

ely

enco

urag

ing

lega

l lic

ensi

ng

from

pat

ents

that

are

poo

led

toge

ther

to a

void

litig

atio

n.

�

Guy

Cha

n be

lieve

s tha

t an

OG

P sy

stem

will

onl

y be

effe

ctiv

e if

the

cost

s can

be

kept

lo

w.

� ^_K

is o

f the

opi

nion

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

can

ben

efit

a pa

tent

app

lican

t as h

e ca

n ap

ply

for

pate

nt p

rote

ctio

n di

rect

ly i

n H

ong

Kon

g w

ithou

t th

e ha

ssle

of

goin

g th

roug

h a

desi

gnat

ed p

aten

t offi

ce.

� `ab

is o

f the

vie

w th

at H

ong

Kon

g sh

ould

est

ablis

h an

OG

P sy

stem

.

�

Two

resp

onde

nts

do n

ot s

ee th

e ne

ed to

hav

e an

OG

P sy

stem

in H

ong

Kon

g, o

ne

poin

ting

to th

e pu

rpos

es o

f pr

otec

ting

new

inve

ntio

ns b

eing

ser

ved

by th

e ex

istin

g

81

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

1.

Wha

t ben

efits

will

an

OG

P sy

stem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill a

n O

GP

syst

em p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

enha

nce

pate

nt q

ualit

y?

pate

nt sy

stem

and

the

othe

r to

the

low

vol

ume

of a

pplic

atio

ns in

the

past

five

yea

rs.

�

A r

espo

nden

t thi

nks

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

is b

enef

icia

l bec

ause

it w

ill b

e ch

eape

r to

ap

ply

for a

pat

ent l

ocal

ly, t

he a

pplic

atio

n ca

n be

file

d in

Chi

nese

and

the

proc

essi

ng

time

will

be

shor

ter.

�

A re

spon

dent

thin

ks th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong

is v

ery

unlik

ely

to e

nhan

ce

pate

nt q

ualit

y.

With

the

sta

ndar

d pa

tent

s no

w g

rant

ed b

eing

bas

ed o

n pa

tent

s gr

ante

d by

SIP

O, t

he U

nite

d K

ingd

om P

aten

t Offi

ce (“

UK

PO”)

or E

PO, a

ll of

whi

ch

have

hig

h st

anda

rds

and

good

rep

utat

ion,

at

best

an

OG

P sy

stem

in

Hon

g K

ong

coul

d ho

pe fo

r is t

o eq

ual t

he q

ualit

y of

the

curr

ent s

tand

ard

pate

nts (

an O

GP

syst

em

whi

ch h

as it

s ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

to S

IPO

is e

xpec

ted

to h

ave

the

sam

e qu

ality

as

a st

anda

rd p

aten

t bas

ed o

n a

desi

gnat

ed C

hine

se p

aten

t), b

ut a

t a g

reat

er c

ost.

In

his

view

, fac

tors

affe

ctin

g m

ultin

atio

nal

com

pani

es i

n de

cidi

ng w

heth

er t

o se

t up

re

gion

al h

eadq

uarte

rs o

r R

&D

cen

tres

are

avai

labi

lity

of a

qua

lifie

d te

chni

cally

tra

ined

wor

kfor

ce, c

ost o

f op

erat

ions

and

pro

xim

ity to

larg

e m

arke

ts.

As

rega

rds

loca

l co

mpa

nies

, he

belie

ves

that

the

y ar

e m

ore

conc

erne

d w

ith p

rote

ctio

n in

the

U

nite

d St

ates

(“t

he U

S”)

and

Chi

na.

He

cons

ider

s th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em m

ay h

ave

the

adva

ntag

e of

bui

ldin

g up

the

pat

ent

prof

essi

on i

n H

ong

Kon

g, e

spec

ially

if

coup

led

with

a r

egul

ator

y re

gim

e an

d it

may

als

o be

adv

anta

geou

s to

the

leg

al

prof

essi

on a

nd p

aten

t age

ncie

s if

prof

essi

onal

fees

are

incr

ease

d w

ithou

t a re

duct

ion

in th

e le

vel o

f fili

ng fr

om o

vers

eas e

ntiti

es.

82

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

2.

Will

ther

e be

suff

icie

nt d

eman

d to

supp

ort a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill it

be

a co

st-e

ffec

tive

syst

em?

O

rgan

isat

ions

/ In

divi

dual

s V

iew

s / C

once

rns

2.1

Indu

stria

l / T

rade

Ass

ocia

tions

�

HK

API

A

�

HK

EIA

�

HK

MFS

�

PVC

HK

�

Am

Cha

m

�

HK

GC

C

�

HK

API

�

LESC

-HK

�

HK

API

A, H

KEI

A, H

KM

FS a

nd P

VC

HK

refe

r to

the

resu

lts o

f a s

urve

y co

nduc

ted

by H

KIP

A w

hich

was

res

pond

ed to

by

13 tr

ade

orga

nisa

tions

(“H

KIP

A S

urve

y”)46

in

dica

ting

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

will

attr

act m

ore

SMEs

to a

pply

for

pat

ents

, whi

ch

can

then

supp

ort a

cos

t-effe

ctiv

e O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

Am

Cha

m d

oubt

s w

heth

er th

ere

is li

kely

to b

e ad

equa

te d

eman

d fo

r us

ing

an O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong,

esp

ecia

lly c

onsi

derin

g th

e co

st o

f est

ablis

hing

and

ope

ratin

g su

ch a

syst

em.

�

Am

Cha

m c

omm

ents

tha

t ev

en i

f an

OG

P sy

stem

is

intro

duce

d, i

t sh

ould

onl

y be

op

erat

ed i

n pa

ralle

l w

ith t

he c

urre

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

bec

ause

the

cur

rent

sc

hem

e al

read

y pr

ovid

es a

n in

expe

nsiv

e an

d ef

fect

ive

met

hod

for p

aten

tees

to o

btai

n pa

tent

pro

tect

ion.

It

opin

es th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em, i

f int

rodu

ced,

sho

uld

not b

e at

the

shor

t or l

ong-

term

exp

ense

of r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

use

rs; n

or s

houl

d th

e co

st o

f an

OG

P sy

stem

be

subs

idis

ed b

y th

e us

ers o

f the

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

.

�

HK

GC

C is

of t

he v

iew

that

sinc

e it

is u

nlik

ely

that

inve

ntor

s wou

ld d

eplo

y co

sts a

nd

reso

urce

s on

a s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n th

at l

eads

to

a gr

ant

of p

aten

t in

a s

mal

l

46

Th

e La

w S

ocie

ty c

omm

ents

that

the

core

que

stio

ns in

the

ques

tionn

aire

for t

he H

KIP

A S

urve

y w

hich

are

sai

d to

sup

port

an O

GP

syst

em w

ere

“Q5.

D

o yo

u co

nsid

er a

co

mpl

ete

pate

nt r

egis

trat

ion

syst

em (

incl

udin

g sh

ort t

erm

pat

ents

and

sta

ndar

d pa

tent

s) w

ould

be

bene

ficia

l to

the

Hon

g K

ong

econ

omy?

Q6.

If

Hon

g K

ong

had

a co

mpl

ete

pate

nt r

egis

trat

ion

syst

em, w

ill th

is e

ncou

rage

you

to a

pply

for

pate

nts?

” Th

e La

w S

ocie

ty c

omm

ents

that

a “

com

plet

e pa

tent

reg

istra

tion

syst

em”

is n

eith

er

expl

aine

d no

r de

fined

in th

e qu

estio

nnai

re, a

nd q

uerie

s w

heth

er th

e re

spon

dent

s un

ders

tand

wha

t a c

ompl

ete

pate

nt r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

mea

ns w

hen

acco

rdin

g to

the

HK

IPA

Sur

vey,

74.

6% o

f the

resp

onde

nts d

id n

ot k

now

the

diffe

renc

e be

twee

n a

shor

t-ter

m a

nd a

stan

dard

pat

ent.

83

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

2.

Will

ther

e be

suff

icie

nt d

eman

d to

supp

ort a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill it

be

a co

st-e

ffec

tive

syst

em?

mar

ket l

ike

Hon

g K

ong,

they

may

fors

ake

the

Hon

g K

ong

mar

ket.

�

HK

API

opi

nes

that

the

cur

rent

re-

regi

stra

tion

syst

em m

ore

than

ade

quat

ely

mee

ts

the

need

s of

the

pha

rmac

eutic

al i

ndus

try a

nd o

ther

sec

tors

in

Hon

g K

ong.

It

is

conc

erne

d th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em w

ill u

nnec

essa

rily

rais

e th

e co

sts

of o

btai

ning

pat

ent

prot

ectio

n in

Hon

g K

ong,

esp

ecia

lly c

onsi

derin

g th

at it

is u

nlik

ely

that

ther

e w

ill b

e si

gnifi

cant

dem

and

for

orig

inal

gra

nt p

aten

ts.

It

furth

er n

otes

tha

t in

lig

ht o

f th

e si

ze o

f th

e lo

cal m

arke

t, it

is d

oubt

ful w

heth

er a

n O

GP

syst

em w

ill e

ver

attra

ct a

su

ffici

ent c

ritic

al m

ass

of u

sers

who

app

ly o

nly

for a

dom

estic

Hon

g K

ong

orig

inal

gr

ant,

so a

s to

ade

quat

ely

cove

r th

e op

erat

iona

l co

sts

of a

n O

GP

syst

em w

ithou

t ha

ving

to ra

ise

fees

or r

equi

ring

subs

idie

s fro

m u

sers

of t

he re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em.

�

LESC

-HK

hig

hlig

hts

the

fact

that

Hon

g K

ong’

s m

arke

t is

smal

l and

it is

ver

y ra

re

for

an i

nves

tor

to s

eek

pate

nt p

rote

ctio

n of

his

tec

hnol

ogy

in H

ong

Kon

g al

one.

Lo

okin

g at

pas

t st

atis

tics,

it is

not

iced

tha

t th

ere

is a

dec

linin

g tre

nd o

f st

anda

rd

pate

nt f

iling

s in

Hon

g K

ong

and

ther

efor

e th

ere

will

not

be

suffi

cien

t de

man

d to

su

ppor

t an

OG

P sy

stem

in

Hon

g K

ong.

It

follo

ws

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

in

Hon

g K

ong

will

not

be

a co

st-e

ffect

ive

syst

em.

2.2

Prof

essi

onal

Bod

ies

�

HK

IPA

�

HIP

P

�

HK

ITM

P

�

APA

A

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

�

Bas

ed o

n th

e H

KIP

A S

urve

y, H

KIP

A c

onsi

ders

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

will

attr

act m

ore

SMEs

to a

pply

for p

aten

ts, w

hich

can

in tu

rn su

ppor

t a c

ost-e

ffect

ive

OG

P sy

stem

in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

HIP

P pr

opos

es th

at a

pat

ent s

earc

h an

d ex

amin

atio

n di

visi

on a

s a

Wor

ld In

telle

ctua

l Pr

oper

ty

Org

aniz

atio

n (“

WIP

O”)

ac

cred

ited

Inte

rnat

iona

l Se

arch

ing

Aut

horit

y (“

ISA

”) a

nd In

tern

atio

nal P

relim

inar

y Ex

amin

ing

Aut

horit

y (“

IPEA

”) s

houl

d be

set

up

in

Hon

g K

ong

with

the

ass

ista

nce

of S

IPO

and

WIP

O.

In

addi

tion

to l

ocal

ap

plic

atio

ns,

the

said

pat

ent

sear

ch a

nd e

xam

inat

ion

divi

sion

in

Hon

g K

ong

can

rece

ive

inbo

und

wor

k fr

om o

ther

pat

ent o

ffice

s w

orld

wid

e an

d ca

n ac

t as

a sa

telli

te

offic

e of

SIP

O i

n th

e sa

me

way

as

the

Aus

trian

Pat

ent

Offi

ce a

ssis

ts E

PO i

n

84

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

2.

Will

ther

e be

suff

icie

nt d

eman

d to

supp

ort a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill it

be

a co

st-e

ffec

tive

syst

em?

cond

uctin

g se

arch

and

exa

min

atio

n.

The

said

div

isio

n m

ay a

lso

parti

cipa

te in

the

PPH

agr

eem

ent b

etw

een

the

Uni

ted

Stat

es P

aten

t and

Tra

dem

ark

Offi

ce (“

USP

TO”)

an

d SI

PO s

o th

at it

can

ass

ist b

oth

pate

nt o

ffice

s in

exa

min

ing

pate

nt a

pplic

atio

ns

filed

in th

e U

S an

d C

hina

. B

y be

ing

an IS

A a

nd IP

EA, a

ctin

g as

a sa

telli

te o

ffice

of

SIPO

and

par

ticip

atin

g in

the

PPH

agr

eem

ent b

etw

een

USP

TO a

nd S

IPO

, the

pat

ent

sear

ch a

nd e

xam

inat

ion

divi

sion

cou

ld g

ener

ate

inco

me

and

beco

me

finan

cial

ly

self-

sust

aina

ble.

�

HK

ITM

P st

rong

ly b

elie

ves

that

ther

e w

ill n

ot b

e a

suffi

cien

t dem

and

to s

uppo

rt an

O

GP

syst

em, a

nd a

ccor

ding

ly, i

t is

unl

ikel

y to

be

a co

st-e

ffect

ive

syst

em.

The

y fu

rther

op

ine

that

ev

en

if su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n is

ou

tsou

rced

to

an

othe

r ex

amin

ing

auth

ority

, the

OG

P sy

stem

wou

ld a

dd u

nnec

essa

ry c

ompl

exity

, cos

ts a

nd

adm

inis

trativ

e bu

rden

s to

loc

al a

pplic

ants

. H

KIT

MP

emph

asis

es t

he n

eed

to

scru

tinis

e w

heth

er t

here

is

any

soun

d re

ason

ing

behi

nd t

he c

all

for

an O

GP

and

whe

ther

ther

e is

pro

of o

f suc

h ne

ed.

�

HK

ITM

P id

entif

ies

a nu

mbe

r of

fac

tors

that

affe

ct a

n in

vent

ion

owne

r in

dec

idin

g w

here

to fi

le a

pat

ent a

pplic

atio

n:

(a)

spec

ific

requ

irem

ents

of s

ome

juris

dict

ions

(for

exa

mpl

e, s

ome

coun

tries

hav

e na

tiona

l “fir

st fi

ling”

requ

irem

ents

und

er n

atio

nal s

ecur

ity la

ws

whi

ch c

ompe

l th

e fil

ing

of p

aten

t app

licat

ions

for i

nven

tions

dev

elop

ed/c

ompl

eted

with

in th

at

juris

dict

ion

to b

e fir

st fi

led

in th

at ju

risdi

ctio

n);

(b)

whe

re th

e pr

oduc

t is b

eing

dev

elop

ed;

(c)

whe

re in

frin

gem

ent i

s occ

urrin

g;

(d)

whe

re th

e m

arke

t exi

sts f

or th

e pr

otec

ted

prod

uct;

(e)

whe

re a

com

petit

or is

filin

g/co

mm

erci

ally

act

ive;

85

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

2.

Will

ther

e be

suff

icie

nt d

eman

d to

supp

ort a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill it

be

a co

st-e

ffec

tive

syst

em?

(f)

whe

re IP

hija

ckin

g m

ay b

e oc

curr

ing;

(g)

the

time

requ

ired

to o

btai

n gr

ant o

f a p

aten

t in

diffe

rent

juris

dict

ions

; and

(h)

the

cost

s of a

pply

ing

for p

aten

t pro

tect

ion

in d

iffer

ent j

uris

dict

ions

.

HK

ITM

P is

of t

he v

iew

that

the

abse

nce

or p

rese

nce

of a

n O

GP

syst

em is

unl

ikel

y in

its

elf t

o af

fect

the

mot

ivat

ion

to fi

le p

aten

t app

licat

ions

.

�

HK

ITM

P po

ints

out

tha

t th

ere

is n

o pr

oof

of i

nven

tors

and

/or

com

pani

es b

eing

fe

ttere

d in

the

ir bu

sine

sses

by

the

finan

cial

cos

t of

hav

ing

to a

pply

for

gra

nt o

f a

pate

nt in

one

of t

he d

esig

nate

d pa

tent

offi

ces

befo

re th

ey c

an a

pply

in H

ong

Kon

g.

If a

n O

GP

syst

em is

intro

duce

d in

Hon

g K

ong

and

it fo

llow

s th

e “u

ser p

ays”

pol

icy,

th

e co

st f

or a

n or

igin

al g

rant

may

be

as m

uch,

if n

ot m

ore,

than

obt

aini

ng a

pat

ent

gran

t und

er th

e cu

rren

t re-

regi

stra

tion

syst

em.

�

APA

A c

onsi

ders

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

in H

ong

Kon

g is

like

ly to

be

only

util

ised

by

loca

l Hon

g K

ong

entit

ies t

hat:

(a)

have

com

mer

cial

reas

ons f

or re

quiri

ng a

Hon

g K

ong-

base

d pa

tent

;

(b)

do n

ot h

ave

a bu

sine

ss i

nter

est

in a

ny f

orei

gn m

ajor

jur

isdi

ctio

ns, i

nclu

ding

C

hina

, and

the

refo

re d

o no

t ha

ve a

n op

portu

nity

for

re-

regi

stra

tion

in H

ong

Kon

g; a

nd

(c)

do n

ot h

ave

lega

l res

trict

ions

dic

tatin

g th

at th

e “f

irst f

iling

” m

ust b

e in

Chi

na.

The

num

ber

of a

pplic

ants

who

ful

fil t

hese

crit

eria

is

min

imal

and

the

lev

el o

f de

man

d is

insu

ffici

ent t

o ju

stify

the

intro

duct

ion

of a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

APA

A is

of t

he v

iew

that

if a

n O

GP

syste

m w

ith su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

is

intro

duce

d w

hils

t the

cur

rent

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

is m

aint

aine

d, th

e m

ajor

ity o

f

86

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

2.

Will

ther

e be

suff

icie

nt d

eman

d to

supp

ort a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill it

be

a co

st-e

ffec

tive

syst

em?

inte

rnat

iona

l pat

ente

es w

ill c

hoos

e to

pro

ceed

und

er th

e re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em.

�

APA

A i

s co

ncer

ned

that

if

an O

GP

syst

em i

s in

trodu

ced

to r

epla

ce t

he e

xist

ing

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

, bot

h lo

cal a

nd fo

reig

n ap

plic

ants

for H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

s w

ill

be e

xpos

ed to

pay

ing

very

sig

nific

ant c

ost f

or s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n.

This

will

be

ver

y co

st-in

effe

ctiv

e an

d w

ill d

issu

ade

Hon

g K

ong

appl

ican

ts f

rom

obt

aini

ng

Hon

g K

ong

pate

nts

and

diss

uade

for

eign

app

lican

ts f

rom

pur

suin

g H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

righ

ts.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

poi

nts

out t

hat s

ince

Hon

g K

ong

is a

sm

all m

arke

t and

is n

ot a

m

anuf

actu

ring

or R

&D

bas

e, it

is u

nlik

ely

that

the

maj

or u

sers

of

the

Hon

g K

ong

pate

nt s

yste

m (

over

seas

bus

ines

smen

) w

ould

wis

h to

app

ly f

or a

n or

igin

al H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

alo

ne.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

is o

f the

vie

w th

at th

e co

st o

f an

OG

P sy

stem

will

be

muc

h hi

gher

th

an u

nder

the

curr

ent r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

fea

rs t

hat

if an

OG

P sy

stem

is

intro

duce

d in

lie

u of

the

cur

rent

re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em, w

ith th

e in

evita

ble

mas

sive

ly in

crea

sed

cost

s, th

e nu

mbe

r of

pate

nt f

iling

s in

Hon

g K

ong

will

be

subs

tant

ially

red

uced

. I

t co

mm

ents

tha

t at

pr

esen

t, H

ong

Kon

g is

a c

ost-e

ffect

ive

addi

tion

to a

regi

onal

/glo

bal p

aten

t por

tfolio

, bu

t an

OG

P sy

stem

will

rend

er it

an

expe

nsiv

e an

d un

nece

ssar

y lu

xury

.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

cal

ls fo

r cau

tion

in re

view

ing

the

relia

bilit

y of

the

prem

ises

upo

n w

hich

thos

e ad

voca

ting

the

intro

duct

ion

of a

n O

GP

syst

em b

ase

thei

r cas

e.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

poi

nts

out t

hat s

trate

gica

lly, H

ong

Kon

g do

es n

ot r

ank

very

hig

h am

ongs

t co

untri

es w

here

pat

ent

regi

stra

tion

is i

mpo

rtant

. C

ount

ries

of m

ost

impo

rtanc

e ar

e ar

guab

ly th

e pl

ace(

s) o

f m

anuf

actu

re a

nd u

ltim

ate

plac

e(s)

of

sale

, e.

g. C

hina

, the

US,

Jap

an, G

erm

any,

the

UK

and

Eur

ope.

H

ong

Kon

g co

mpa

nies

en

gage

d in

R&

D a

re h

ighl

y lik

ely

enga

ged

in m

anuf

actu

re i

n C

hina

, an

d th

eir

87

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

2.

Will

ther

e be

suff

icie

nt d

eman

d to

supp

ort a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill it

be

a co

st-e

ffec

tive

syst

em?

ultim

ate

cust

omer

s ar

e in

one

or

mor

e of

the

dev

elop

ed c

ount

ries

men

tione

d.

Furth

er, t

he L

aw S

ocie

ty n

otes

that

the

PRC

pat

ent l

aw re

quire

s tha

t inv

entio

ns fr

om

R&

D c

ondu

cted

in C

hina

mus

t firs

t be

filed

with

in C

hina

bef

ore

filin

g ov

erse

as.

It

ther

efor

e fo

llow

s th

at H

ong

Kon

g co

mpa

nies

who

se R

&D

ope

ratio

ns a

re in

Chi

na

will

hav

e to

file

in

Chi

na f

irst

and

an O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g fo

r th

em i

s an

un

nece

ssar

y re

petit

ion

of ti

me

and

cost

s.

2.3

Aca

dem

ic S

ecto

r

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

con

side

rs t

hat

the

impr

essi

ve g

row

th

rate

in

licen

sed

prod

ucts

im

plie

s a

prom

isin

g fo

unda

tion

for

the

setti

ng u

p of

an

OG

P sy

stem

and

the

effo

rts s

pent

in b

uild

ing

the

syst

em w

ould

brin

g in

trem

endo

us

econ

omic

ben

efits

, the

reby

ens

urin

g th

at th

e sy

stem

is c

ost-e

ffect

ive.

2.4

Lega

l Pra

ctiti

oner

s / P

aten

t Pra

ctiti

oner

s

�

QPA

Gro

up

�

Song

& C

han

�

Dan

ny C

han

�

Nig

el L

ee

�

Kam

Wah

Law

�

Sam

Yip

�

Ben

ny K

ong

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

�

QPA

Gro

up b

elie

ves

it is

ver

y un

likel

y th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong

will

be

exte

nsiv

ely

utili

sed

beca

use:

(a)

an O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g is

lik

ely

to b

e us

ed b

y lo

cal

entit

ies

only

(p

rovi

ded

the

curr

ent r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

is m

aint

aine

d in

som

e fo

rm);

(b)

ther

e ar

e re

stric

tions

on

filin

g;

(c)

Hon

g K

ong

has a

smal

l pop

ulat

ion;

and

(d)

man

y H

ong

Kon

g en

titie

s do

not h

ave

com

mer

cial

inte

rest

in H

ong

Kon

g.

In th

eir

view

, it i

s do

ubtfu

l tha

t the

re w

ill b

e su

ffici

ent d

eman

d to

sup

port

an O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

QPA

Gro

up is

of t

he v

iew

that

if a

n O

GP

syst

em is

intro

duce

d to

repl

ace

the

exis

ting

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

, the

cos

ts w

ill in

crea

se s

igni

fican

tly a

nd th

e nu

mbe

r of f

iling

s w

ill d

ecre

ase.

88

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

2.

Will

ther

e be

suff

icie

nt d

eman

d to

supp

ort a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill it

be

a co

st-e

ffec

tive

syst

em?

�

QPA

Gro

up d

oubt

s th

e ex

tent

of

use

of a

Hon

g K

ong

“firs

t fili

ng”

syst

em a

s fir

st

filin

g is

unl

ikel

y to

be

mad

e in

Hon

g K

ong

for

vario

us r

easo

ns,

incl

udin

g co

mpl

ianc

e of

nat

iona

l se

curit

y le

gisl

atio

n in

Chi

na.

QPA

Gro

up p

oint

s ou

t th

at

unde

r th

e am

ende

d C

hine

se l

aw,

“an

inve

ntio

n co

mpl

eted

in

Chi

na”

(i.e.

an

inve

ntio

n fo

r w

hich

a s

ubst

antia

l or

reas

onab

le p

ortio

n of

res

earc

h or

dev

elop

men

t w

as c

ondu

cted

in C

hina

) m

ust e

ffect

ivel

y be

firs

t file

d in

Chi

na in

ord

er to

sat

isfy

th

e na

tiona

l se

curit

y te

chno

logy

cl

eara

nce

requ

irem

ents

, fa

ilure

of

w

hich

is

pu

nish

able

by

impr

ison

men

t. T

ypic

al H

ong

Kon

g ap

plic

ants

who

man

ufac

ture

in

Mai

nlan

d C

hina

wou

ld h

ave

a su

bsta

ntia

l or

rea

sona

ble

porti

on o

f an

inv

entio

n co

ntrib

uted

to th

eir f

acili

ties

in M

ainl

and

Chi

na.

The

y w

ould

ther

efor

e ef

fect

ivel

y ha

ve to

firs

t file

in C

hina

.

�

Song

& C

han

thin

k th

at H

ong

Kon

g do

es n

ot h

ave

the

abili

ty t

o ad

opt

an O

GP

syst

em.

�

Dan

ny C

han

thin

ks t

hat

it is

not

nec

essa

ry t

o in

trodu

ce a

n O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g as

the

mar

ket s

ize

and

popu

latio

n ar

e no

t lar

ge e

noug

h.

�

Sam

Yip

con

side

rs it

unl

ikel

y th

at in

vent

ors

will

dep

loy

reso

urce

s to

go

thro

ugh

an

expe

nsiv

e pa

tent

app

licat

ion

proc

ess

just

to o

btai

n a

pate

nt in

Hon

g K

ong

and

the

mor

e co

mm

on s

cena

rio is

to s

eek

at le

ast a

pat

ent i

n a

larg

er m

arke

t in

addi

tion

to

Hon

g K

ong.

H

ence

, an

OG

P sy

stem

that

co-

exis

ts w

ith th

e cu

rren

t re-

regi

stra

tion

syst

em w

ill n

ot g

ener

ate

suffi

cien

t de

man

d w

hile

an

OG

P sy

stem

in

plac

e of

the

cu

rren

t re-

regi

stra

tion

syst

em w

ill n

ot b

e co

st-e

ffect

ive.

�

Nig

el L

ee th

inks

that

ther

e w

ill b

e su

ffici

ent d

eman

d to

sup

port

an O

GP

syst

em in

th

e lo

ng r

un, a

s in

nova

tion

and

crea

tivity

are

get

ting

mor

e an

d m

ore

impo

rtant

in

Hon

g K

ong.

Th

e in

itial

cos

t for

an

OG

P sy

stem

may

, in

his

view

, be

min

imis

ed b

y ou

tsou

rcin

g pa

rt of

the

exa

min

atio

n pr

oces

s (e

.g.

pate

nt s

earc

hing

) to

ove

rsea

s pa

tent

offi

ces

like

SIPO

and

as

filin

g ra

te in

crea

ses,

the

full

impl

emen

tatio

n of

an

89

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

2.

Will

ther

e be

suff

icie

nt d

eman

d to

supp

ort a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill it

be

a co

st-e

ffec

tive

syst

em?

OG

P sy

stem

with

in H

ong

Kon

g ca

n be

laun

ched

.

�

Kam

Wah

Law

thi

nks

that

the

re w

ill b

e su

ffici

ent

dem

and

as t

he n

umbe

r of

ap

plic

atio

ns fo

r sta

ndar

d pa

tent

s in

Hon

g K

ong

is h

ighe

r tha

n th

at o

f app

licat

ions

for

pate

nts i

n Si

ngap

ore.

�

Ben

ny K

ong

is o

f the

vie

w th

at th

e de

man

d fo

r an

OG

P sy

stem

is m

assi

ve –

not

onl

y th

e lo

cals

, but

als

o ov

erse

as in

vent

ors h

ave

such

a d

eman

d.

�

A r

espo

nden

t th

inks

tha

t th

ere

is n

o ha

rm t

o in

itial

ly m

aint

ain

a du

al O

GP

and

re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em a

nd m

arke

t fo

rces

will

dec

ide

whe

ther

one

or

both

sys

tem

s sh

ould

be

mai

ntai

ned.

�

A r

espo

nden

t no

tes

that

it

is d

iffic

ult

to f

orec

ast

whe

ther

the

re w

ill b

e su

ffici

ent

dem

and

to s

uppo

rt an

OG

P sy

stem

and

tha

t w

hils

t an

OG

P sy

stem

will

be

disc

oura

ging

to a

cer

tain

ext

ent f

or c

erta

in in

vent

ions

or p

aten

t app

lican

ts, a

n O

GP

syst

em w

ill n

ot b

e di

scou

ragi

ng f

or p

rodu

cts

with

hig

h co

mm

erci

al p

oten

tial.

He

furth

er o

pine

s th

at th

e de

man

d sh

ould

be

rega

rded

as

suffi

cien

t eve

n if

only

10%

of

the

stan

dard

pat

ent f

iling

s ar

e O

GP

filin

gs.

He

estim

ates

that

the

num

ber

of O

GP

filin

gs w

ould

not

fal

l be

low

1,0

00 p

er y

ear

give

n th

e hi

gh c

omm

erci

al v

alue

s of

m

any

prod

ucts

in th

e H

ong

Kon

g m

arke

t. H

e co

nsid

ers

that

the

issu

e of

whe

ther

an

OG

P sy

stem

is c

ost-e

ffect

ive

shou

ld b

e vi

ewed

fro

m a

t lea

st tw

o pe

rspe

ctiv

es,

nam

ely

that

fro

m a

pat

ent a

pplic

ant a

nd th

at f

rom

the

Gov

ernm

ent.

Whi

lst i

t is

a pu

rely

co

mm

erci

al

deci

sion

to

an

ap

plic

ant

as

to

whe

ther

th

e sy

stem

is

co

st-e

ffect

ive,

the

Gov

ernm

ent s

houl

d as

sess

the

cost

-effe

ctiv

enes

s of

the

syst

em o

n th

e ba

sis

whe

ther

the

Hon

g K

ong

soci

ety

as a

who

le w

ould

ben

efit.

H

e co

nsid

ers

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

wou

ld c

reat

e a

mor

e en

cour

agin

g en

viro

nmen

t for

pat

ent f

iling

s an

d m

ore

job

oppo

rtuni

ties

and

prom

ote

tradi

ng o

f IP

rig

hts.

Fur

ther

mor

e, i

n co

mpa

rison

to th

e O

GP

syst

em in

Sin

gapo

re (w

hich

has

onl

y ha

lf of

the

popu

latio

n in

Hon

g K

ong)

that

is c

onsi

dere

d as

cos

t-effe

ctiv

e, th

e re

spon

dent

con

side

rs a

n O

GP

90

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

2.

Will

ther

e be

suff

icie

nt d

eman

d to

supp

ort a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill it

be

a co

st-e

ffec

tive

syst

em?

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong

(whi

ch is

a la

rger

mar

ket)

shou

ld b

e co

st-e

ffect

ive

as w

ell.

2.5

Oth

ers

�

HK

PC

�

Uni

vers

al D

ispl

ay C

orpo

ratio

n H

ong

Kon

g,

Ltd.

�

Scho

lar C

orpo

ratio

n

�

Ble

ssed

Inc

�

Bac

h Li

mite

d

�

HK

PC o

pine

s tha

t an

OG

P sy

stem

stan

ds re

ady

to o

btai

n lo

cal c

usto

mer

supp

ort a

s it

can

dire

ctly

und

erta

ke p

aten

t sea

rche

s an

d ex

amin

e pa

tent

app

licat

ions

with

out t

he

use

of o

vers

eas

pate

nt o

ffice

s. I

t al

so h

ighl

ight

s th

e fa

ct t

hat

Hon

g K

ong

is a

n at

tract

ive

juris

dict

ion

for

over

seas

app

lican

ts t

o fil

e pa

tent

app

licat

ions

, w

ith i

ts

stat

us

as

the

wor

ld’s

fr

eest

ec

onom

y an

d as

a

step

ping

st

one

to

the

huge

te

chno

logi

cal

mar

ket

in M

ainl

and

Chi

na.

Hon

g K

ong,

bei

ng A

sia’

s IP

bus

ines

s hu

b, h

as a

n ef

ficie

nt m

arke

ting

infr

astru

ctur

e to

offe

r IP

trad

ing

thro

ugh

a ne

twor

k of

exp

erie

nced

age

nts

with

inte

rnat

iona

l exp

osur

e.

HK

PC a

ntic

ipat

es th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g w

ill d

rive

up t

he d

eman

d fo

r pa

tent

app

licat

ions

. T

his

is

beca

use

Hon

g K

ong’

s bi

lingu

al O

GP

syst

em c

ould

attr

act p

aten

t app

licat

ions

fro

m

over

seas

and

thus

cre

ate

a la

rger

dem

and

for t

he fi

ling

of p

aten

t app

licat

ions

and

the

trans

latio

n of

pat

ent s

peci

ficat

ions

for f

iling

in M

ainl

and

Chi

na.

HK

PC a

lso

opin

es

that

the

dem

and

will

incr

ease

und

er a

n O

GP

syst

em if

Hon

g K

ong

Pate

nts

Reg

istry

an

d SI

PO w

ould

set

up

a PP

H s

o th

at o

nce

a pa

tent

is g

rant

ed b

y ei

ther

SIP

O o

r the

H

ong

Kon

g Pa

tent

s R

egis

try,

the

appl

ican

t of

the

sai

d pa

tent

cou

ld r

eque

st t

he

exam

iner

s of

the

othe

r pa

tent

aut

horit

y to

reu

se th

e se

arch

and

exa

min

atio

n re

sults

of

that

pat

ent t

o sp

eed

up th

e ap

plic

atio

n pr

oces

s. G

iven

that

the

num

ber o

f pat

ent

appl

icat

ions

has

con

tinue

d to

gro

w, a

n O

GP

syst

em, o

nce

esta

blis

hed,

will

then

gai

n ec

onom

ies o

f sca

le a

nd w

ill in

crea

se th

e co

st-e

ffect

iven

ess o

f its

ope

ratio

n.

�

Uni

vers

al

Dis

play

C

orpo

ratio

n H

ong

Kon

g,

Ltd.

th

inks

th

at

mod

ifyin

g th

e re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em is

mor

e co

st-e

ffect

ive.

�

Scho

lar

Cor

pora

tion,

Ble

ssed

Inc

and

Bac

h Li

mite

d ar

e of

the

view

that

if a

n O

GP

syst

em i

s in

trodu

ced

in H

ong

Kon

g an

d th

e “u

ser

pays

” ap

proa

ch i

s ad

opte

d, t

he

cost

of o

btai

ning

a p

aten

t und

er th

e O

GP

syst

em m

ay b

e as

muc

h, if

not

mor

e, th

an

that

und

er th

e cu

rren

t re-

regi

stra

tion

syst

em.

In

view

of

the

sign

ifica

nt a

mou

nt o

f tim

e an

d fu

nds

requ

ired

to a

chie

ve th

e ne

cess

ary

leve

l of

com

pete

ncy,

ther

e is

no

91

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

2.

Will

ther

e be

suff

icie

nt d

eman

d to

supp

ort a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill it

be

a co

st-e

ffec

tive

syst

em?

hope

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

can

be

intro

duce

d at

a c

ost t

hat i

s ev

en c

ompe

titiv

e w

ith

the

exam

inat

ion

syst

ems

alre

ady

in p

lace

in o

ther

firs

t wor

ld in

dust

rialis

ed c

ount

ries

arou

nd th

e w

orld

.

�

Bac

h Li

mite

d co

mm

ents

that

a w

ell m

anag

ed/“

smar

t” b

usin

ess

will

not

res

trict

its

pate

nt fi

ling

prog

ram

to H

ong

Kon

g, a

nd id

entif

ies

the

follo

win

g fa

ctor

s th

at a

ffect

bu

sine

sses

in d

ecid

ing

whe

re to

obt

ain

prot

ectio

n fo

r the

ir pa

tent

righ

ts:

(a)

whe

re th

eir g

oods

are

man

ufac

ture

d (in

man

y ca

ses C

hina

);

(b)

whe

re t

hey

mar

ket,

licen

se a

nd/o

r di

strib

ute

thei

r go

ods

(in m

any

case

s Eu

rope

, Jap

an, t

he U

S an

d m

ore

rece

ntly

Chi

na);

and

(c)

whe

re t

he c

ompe

titor

s’ go

ods

are

man

ufac

ture

d (in

man

y ca

ses

Chi

na)

and

mar

kete

d (in

man

y ca

ses

Euro

pe, J

apan

, the

US

and

mor

e re

cent

ly C

hina

) to

pr

even

t pos

sibl

e in

frin

gem

ents

.

�

Scho

lar

Cor

pora

tion,

Ble

ssed

Inc

and

Bac

h Li

mite

d ar

e co

ncer

ned

that

if a

n O

GP

syst

em i

s se

t up

in

Hon

g K

ong

but

the

“use

r pa

ys”

appr

oach

is

not

adop

ted,

ta

xpay

ers

and

the

publ

ic w

ill n

eed

to s

ubsi

dise

the

OG

P sy

stem

and

a l

imite

d nu

mbe

r of i

nven

tors

and

com

mer

cial

ent

ities

who

may

wis

h to

file

pat

ents

.

2.6

Indi

vidu

als

�

Stan

ley

�

Ms.

Lee

�

Eric

Yun

g

� VW#

�

Stan

ley

belie

ves

that

sin

ce H

ong

Kon

g is

onl

y a

smal

l m

arke

t, th

ere

will

not

be

suffi

cien

t fil

ings

to

supp

ort

the

cost

s of

suc

h a

syst

em a

nd h

ence

it

is n

ot

cost

-effe

ctiv

e.

�

Ms.

Lee

opin

es t

hat

the

cost

s w

ill b

e lo

wer

if

the

syst

em i

s m

ore

inte

nsiv

ely

man

aged

, hav

ing

diffe

rent

sta

ff m

embe

rs a

lloca

ted

to b

e in

cha

rge

of d

iffer

ent t

ypes

of

wor

ks, w

ith s

taff

hand

ling

mor

e ca

ses

to b

e pa

id m

ore.

Sh

e is

of t

he v

iew

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

in H

ong

Kon

g w

ill d

efin

itely

be

cost

-effe

ctiv

e.

92

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

2.

Will

ther

e be

suff

icie

nt d

eman

d to

supp

ort a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill it

be

a co

st-e

ffec

tive

syst

em?

� XYZ

�

Hui

Win

g K

in

� [\]

�

Guy

Cha

n

� ^_K

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

�

Des

pite

an

insu

ffici

ent d

eman

d to

sup

port

an O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong,

Eric

Yun

g is

of t

he v

iew

that

the

Gov

ernm

ent s

houl

d, n

onet

hele

ss, e

stab

lish

an O

GP

syst

em to

st

art

the

ball

rolli

ng.

He

opin

es t

hat

this

will

pro

vide

con

fiden

ce t

o in

dust

ries

(esp

ecia

lly t

echn

olog

y-re

late

d in

dust

ries)

tha

t th

e G

over

nmen

t is

det

erm

ined

to

assi

st a

nd e

ncou

rage

res

earc

h in

Hon

g K

ong.

It

will

enh

ance

the

tru

st b

etw

een

indu

strie

s an

d th

e G

over

nmen

t lea

ding

to a

red

uctio

n of

pol

itica

l pre

ssur

e it

face

s, an

d an

incr

ease

in e

ffici

ency

in p

rom

otio

n of

tech

nolo

gy-r

elat

ed p

olic

ies.

�

Eric

Yun

g th

inks

tha

t w

hen

cons

ider

ing

the

cost

-effe

ctiv

enes

s of

an

OG

P sy

stem

, po

tent

ial b

enef

its o

f the

OG

P sy

stem

to H

ong

Kon

g as

a w

hole

sho

uld

be ta

ken

into

ac

coun

t, su

ch a

s in

crea

se in

for

eign

dire

ct in

vest

men

t due

to th

e O

GP

syst

em a

nd

grow

th

in

GD

P re

sulte

d fr

om

new

bu

sine

sses

(e

.g.

pate

nt-r

elat

ed

educ

atio

n bu

sine

sses

).

� VW#

com

men

ts t

hat

in l

ight

of

the

Gov

ernm

ent’s

cla

im t

o de

velo

p cr

eativ

e in

dust

ries

in H

ong

Kon

g, th

e G

over

nmen

t sho

uld

not b

e de

terr

ed fr

om e

stab

lishi

ng

an O

GP

syst

em s

impl

y be

caus

e th

ere

is c

urre

ntly

an

insu

ffici

ent d

eman

d to

sup

port

the

syst

em.

� XYZ

doe

s no

t thi

nk th

at it

will

be

cost

-effe

ctiv

e to

est

ablis

h an

OG

P sy

stem

in

Hon

g K

ong

at th

is s

tage

. S

he is

con

cern

ed th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em w

ill in

crea

se th

e co

st o

f ob

tain

ing

pate

nt p

rote

ctio

n in

Hon

g K

ong,

whi

ch i

n tu

rn w

ill d

isco

urag

e lo

cal

inno

vatio

n an

d hi

nder

ove

rsea

s co

mpa

nies

fro

m s

ettin

g up

R&

D c

entre

s in

H

ong

Kon

g.

�

Hui

Win

g K

in c

omm

ents

tha

t H

ong

Kon

g is

a s

mal

l ci

ty a

nd c

anno

t su

ppor

t an

in

nova

tive

prod

uct

sole

ly o

n lo

cal

dem

and.

A

lthou

gh h

is c

ompa

ny i

s H

ong

Kon

g-ba

sed,

it

alw

ays

look

s fo

r op

portu

nitie

s to

exp

ort

prod

ucts

to

over

seas

m

arke

ts, s

uch

as C

hina

, the

US

and

Euro

pe.

He

ofte

n ob

tain

s pa

tent

pro

tect

ion

for

inno

vativ

e pr

oduc

ts in

Chi

na.

Und

er th

e cu

rren

t pat

ent s

yste

m, h

e ca

n fir

st o

btai

n

93

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

2.

Will

ther

e be

suff

icie

nt d

eman

d to

supp

ort a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill it

be

a co

st-e

ffec

tive

syst

em?

pate

nt g

rant

in C

hina

, the

n ap

ply

for

re-r

egis

tratio

n of

the

pate

nt in

Hon

g K

ong

at

reas

onab

le c

osts

. H

owev

er, i

f an

OG

P sy

stem

is in

trodu

ced

in H

ong

Kon

g, h

e w

ill

need

to

file

a se

para

te p

aten

t ap

plic

atio

n in

Hon

g K

ong.

H

e is

war

y th

at t

he

addi

tiona

l pa

tent

app

licat

ion

will

cre

ate

extra

cos

ts,

unce

rtain

ty a

nd d

elay

for

an

inve

ntor

seek

ing

pate

nt p

rote

ctio

n in

Hon

g K

ong.

� [\]

doe

s not

thin

k th

ere

will

be

dem

and

for t

he O

GP

syst

em.

�

Guy

Cha

n th

inks

that

any

syst

em c

an b

e co

st-e

ffect

ive

if th

e on

e w

ho ru

ns it

wan

ts it

to

be.

H

e ho

wev

er o

pine

s th

at t

he h

ighe

r th

e pr

ice

tag,

the

low

er w

ill b

e th

e de

man

d an

d th

e sy

stem

will

end

up

bein

g a

whi

te e

leph

ant.

� ^_K

thin

ks th

at a

n O

GP

syst

em w

ill b

e co

st-e

ffect

ive

if su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n is

out

sour

ced

sinc

e th

e ex

amin

atio

n ca

n be

don

e by

the

jur

isdi

ctio

n in

whi

ch t

he

appl

ican

t wis

hes t

o ap

ply

for a

pat

ent.

�

A r

espo

nden

t hi

ghlig

hts

the

fact

tha

t th

e nu

mbe

r of

app

licat

ions

for

pat

ents

file

d du

ring

the

past

five

yea

rs is

on

the

low

sid

e an

d th

e co

sts

will

out

wei

gh th

e be

nefit

s of

setti

ng u

p a

sepa

rate

bod

y or

mec

hani

sm to

dea

l with

pat

ent a

pplic

atio

ns.

�

A r

espo

nden

t st

ress

es t

hat

impo

rtanc

e sh

ould

be

plac

ed o

n pr

omot

ing

inno

vativ

e in

vent

ions

rath

er th

an th

e co

st-e

ffect

iven

ess o

f the

syst

em.

�

A r

espo

nden

t th

inks

tha

t w

heth

er t

here

will

be

suffi

cien

t de

man

d fo

r th

e O

GP

syst

em w

ill d

epen

d on

whe

ther

the

OG

P sy

stem

is to

rep

lace

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sy

stem

or

th

e st

anda

rd

pate

nt

syst

em.

H

e su

gges

ts

that

, fo

r m

ultin

atio

nal

corp

orat

ions

, the

filin

g st

rate

gy is

mad

e ea

rly o

n an

d m

akin

g th

e H

ong

Kon

g sy

stem

m

ore

expe

nsiv

e an

d co

mpl

icat

ed w

ould

incr

ease

the

risk

of s

uch

parti

es n

ot o

ptin

g to

file

in

Hon

g K

ong;

whe

reas

for

sm

alle

r co

mpa

nies

, th

ey g

ener

ally

file

a f

irst

pate

nt i

n th

eir

hom

e co

untry

and

the

n de

cide

whe

ther

to

file

else

whe

re l

ater

and

, be

caus

e of

the

sm

all

mar

ket

that

Hon

g K

ong

repr

esen

ts,

filin

g in

Hon

g K

ong

is

94

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

2.

Will

ther

e be

suff

icie

nt d

eman

d to

supp

ort a

n O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong?

W

ill it

be

a co

st-e

ffec

tive

syst

em?

ofte

n do

ne o

nly

beca

use

thes

e co

mpa

nies

hav

e al

read

y fil

ed a

t EP

O o

r C

hina

.

Man

y fa

ctor

s af

fect

the

deci

sion

and

one

of

thes

e is

cos

t. O

vera

ll, th

e re

spon

dent

be

lieve

s th

e O

GP

syst

em c

ould

wor

k bu

t IPD

sho

uld

assu

me

that

ove

r a

few

yea

rs

the

filin

g ra

te m

ay d

rop

by 2

5-50

% if

OG

P is

the

only

opt

ion.

�

A r

espo

nden

t be

lieve

s th

at t

here

will

be

suffi

cien

t de

man

d fo

r an

OG

P sy

stem

in

Hon

g K

ong

beca

use

ther

e ar

e st

ill m

any

loca

l com

pani

es th

at c

reat

e ne

w p

rodu

cts.

H

e al

so s

ugge

sts

that

the

re s

houl

d be

diff

eren

t ch

arge

s fo

r pa

tent

app

licat

ions

for

di

ffere

nt p

rodu

cts,

rang

ing

from

a f

ew h

undr

ed t

o a

few

tho

usan

d H

ong

Kon

g do

llars

so a

s to

cove

r the

exa

min

atio

n fe

es a

nd th

e sy

stem

can

rem

ain

cost

-effe

ctiv

e.

95

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

3.

Shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

an O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g w

ith s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

to

othe

r pa

tent

off

ice(

s), a

nd, i

f so

, w

hich

off

ice(

s) a

nd w

hy?

O

rgan

isat

ions

/ In

divi

dual

s V

iew

s / C

once

rns

3.1

Indu

stria

l / T

rade

Ass

ocia

tions

�

CM

A

�

HK

API

A

�

TMH

K

�

HK

EIA

�

HK

MFS

�

FHK

I

�

PVC

HK

�

HK

GC

C

�

LESC

-HK

�

CM

A i

s of

the

vie

w t

hat

at t

he b

egin

ning

sta

ge o

f th

e pr

omul

gatio

n of

the

OG

P sy

stem

, pa

rt of

the

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

wor

k sh

ould

be

outs

ourc

ed t

o ot

her

appr

opria

te p

aten

t offi

ces

such

as

SIPO

. T

he r

eput

atio

n of

the

outs

ourc

ed p

aten

t of

fices

in r

espe

ct o

f co

nfid

entia

lity

is im

porta

nt in

con

side

ring

the

pate

nt o

ffice

to

whi

ch su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n sh

ould

be

outs

ourc

ed.

�

HK

API

A,

TMH

K,

HK

EIA

, H

KM

FS

and

PVC

HK

co

nsid

er

the

optio

n of

in

trodu

ctio

n of

an

OG

P sy

stem

in

Hon

g K

ong

with

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

outs

ourc

ed t

o ot

her

pate

nt o

ffice

(s)

to b

e m

ore

viab

le.

The

y fu

rther

sug

gest

tha

t SI

PO s

houl

d be

the

pat

ent

offic

e to

whi

ch s

uch

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

is

outs

ourc

ed,

and

they

con

side

r th

is w

ill h

ave

the

bene

fit o

f (a

) pr

ovid

ing

a be

tter

basi

s fo

r th

e m

utua

l re

cogn

ition

of

pate

nts

gran

ted

by H

ong

Kon

g an

d M

ainl

and

Chi

na;

and

(b)

the

filin

g of

mor

e pa

tent

app

licat

ions

for

ove

rsea

s in

nova

tive

inve

ntio

ns a

ttrac

ted

thro

ugh

Hon

g K

ong.

�

FHK

I co

nsid

ers

that

Hon

g K

ong

does

not

hav

e en

ough

exp

ertis

e to

han

dle

vario

us

field

s of

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion,

and

it w

ill b

e ap

prop

riate

to o

utso

urce

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

to S

IPO

in

the

begi

nnin

g.

The

Gov

ernm

ent

shou

ld p

roce

ed t

o fo

rmul

ate

plan

s fo

r pe

rson

nel

train

ing

and

even

tual

ly

aim

at

re

plac

ing

the

outs

ourc

ing

with

in-h

ouse

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion.

�

As

ther

e is

no

com

pelli

ng n

eed

to s

et u

p an

OG

P sy

stem

in H

ong

Kon

g, H

KG

CC

th

inks

that

the

Gov

ernm

ent s

houl

d ta

ke ti

me

to o

rgan

ise

and

mai

ntai

n a

larg

e te

am

of e

xam

iner

s and

dev

elop

a c

ompr

ehen

sive

tech

nica

l dat

abas

e at

reas

onab

le c

osts

.

96

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

3.

Shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

an O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g w

ith s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

to

othe

r pa

tent

off

ice(

s), a

nd, i

f so

, w

hich

off

ice(

s) a

nd w

hy?

�

Whi

lst L

ESC

-HK

in p

rinci

ple

obje

cts

to th

e in

trodu

ctio

n of

an

OG

P sy

stem

to H

ong

Kon

g, in

cas

e an

OG

P sy

stem

is to

be

impl

emen

ted,

it p

ropo

ses

that

the

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

shou

ld b

e ou

tsou

rced

and

the

cost

s of s

ettin

g up

and

ope

ratin

g th

e O

GP

syst

em s

houl

d be

bor

ne b

y th

e us

ers

of th

at s

yste

m.

It f

urth

er p

ropo

ses

that

Hon

g K

ong

shou

ld se

t up

PPH

with

oth

er p

aten

t offi

ces.

3.2

Prof

essi

onal

Bod

ies

�

HK

IPA

�

HIP

P

�

HK

ITM

P

�

APA

A

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

�

HK

IPA

con

side

rs th

e op

tion

of in

trodu

ctio

n of

an

OG

P sy

stem

in H

ong

Kon

g w

ith

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

outs

ourc

ed t

o ot

her

pate

nt o

ffice

(s)

to b

e m

ore

viab

le.

H

KIP

A f

urth

er s

ugge

sts

that

SIP

O s

houl

d be

the

pat

ent

offic

e to

whi

ch s

uch

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

is o

utso

urce

d, a

nd it

con

side

rs th

is w

ill h

ave

the

bene

fit o

f (a

) pr

ovid

ing

a be

tter

basi

s fo

r th

e m

utua

l rec

ogni

tion

of p

aten

ts g

rant

ed b

y H

ong

Kon

g an

d M

ainl

and

Chi

na;

and

(b)

the

filin

g of

mor

e pa

tent

app

licat

ions

for

ov

erse

as in

nova

tive

inve

ntio

ns a

ttrac

ted

thro

ugh

Hon

g K

ong.

�

HIP

P op

pose

s th

e in

trodu

ctio

n of

an

OG

P sy

stem

with

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

outs

ourc

ed to

oth

er p

aten

t offi

ce(s

) and

pro

pose

s tha

t Hon

g K

ong

shou

ld in

trodu

ce a

fu

ll O

GP

syst

em in

a p

erio

d of

five

yea

rs so

that

the

Gov

ernm

ent w

ill h

ave

suffi

cien

t tim

e to

bui

ld t

he e

xam

inat

ion

divi

sion

, ex

amin

ers,

certi

fied

pate

nt a

ttorn

eys

and

rela

ted

prof

essi

on.

At t

he in

itial

sta

ge o

f the

full

OG

P sy

stem

, IPD

can

wor

k w

ith

SIPO

to

train

up

Hon

g K

ong

exam

iner

s as

it

take

s tim

e fo

r th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

ex

perti

se.

�

HK

ITM

P is

of

the

view

that

the

curr

ent s

tand

ard

pate

nt s

yste

m is

aki

n to

an

OG

P sy

stem

with

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

outs

ourc

ed to

oth

er p

aten

t offi

ces.

�

APA

A i

s no

t co

nvin

ced

that

est

ablis

hmen

t of

an

OG

P sy

stem

whe

re s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n is

out

sour

ced

wou

ld a

chie

ve th

e ob

ject

ives

of a

n O

GP

syst

em a

s set

out

97

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

3.

Shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

an O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g w

ith s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

to

othe

r pa

tent

off

ice(

s), a

nd, i

f so

, w

hich

off

ice(

s) a

nd w

hy?

in P

arag

raph

1.4

0 of

the

Con

sulta

tion

Pape

r.

�

APA

A d

oes

not c

onsi

der e

stab

lishm

ent o

f an

OG

P sy

stem

with

in-h

ouse

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

capa

bilit

y in

Hon

g K

ong

is e

ven

rem

otel

y vi

able

. T

here

fore

, if

an

OG

P sy

stem

is in

trodu

ced

in H

ong

Kon

g, s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n w

ill n

eed

to b

e ou

tsou

rced

to

othe

r pa

tent

offi

ces

that

are

cre

dibl

e an

d m

eet

any

conc

erns

on

lang

uage

-rel

ated

issu

es, s

uch

as th

e U

SPTO

, EPO

, SIP

O, U

KPO

, Aus

tralia

Pat

ent

Offi

ce (“

IP A

ustra

lia”)

and

Japa

n Pa

tent

Offi

ce (“

JPO

”).

�

Inst

ead

of in

trodu

cing

an

OG

P sy

stem

in H

ong

Kon

g w

ith s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

to

othe

r pa

tent

offi

ce(s

), A

PAA

rec

omm

ends

int

rodu

cing

a “

mod

ified

ex

amin

atio

n” p

aten

t sys

tem

.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

con

side

rs th

at if

an

OG

P sy

stem

is in

trodu

ced

in H

ong

Kon

g, in

vi

ew o

f th

e su

bsta

ntia

l res

ourc

es to

be

inve

sted

and

the

time

requ

ired

to b

uild

up

loca

l ex

perti

se, i

t is

sen

sibl

e to

out

sour

ce s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n to

oth

er p

aten

t of

fices

. H

owev

er, i

t poi

nts

out t

hat i

f it i

s co

nsid

ered

impo

rtant

to d

evel

op a

loca

l pa

tent

pro

fess

ion

in H

ong

Kon

g, c

are

shou

ld b

e ta

ken

to c

onsi

der

whe

ther

ou

tsou

rcin

g to

SI

PO

may

gi

ve

PRC

pa

tent

pr

actit

ione

rs

adde

d co

mpe

titiv

e ad

vant

age

henc

e co

unte

r-pro

duct

ive

to th

e ob

ject

ive

of n

urtu

ring

loca

l tal

ents

.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

is o

f the

opi

nion

that

, tak

ing

into

acc

ount

lang

uage

con

side

ratio

n,

SIPO

, EPO

, UK

PO, t

he U

SPTO

and

IP A

ustra

lia m

ay b

e co

nsid

ered

whe

n de

cidi

ng

to w

hich

pat

ent o

ffice

(s) s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n is

out

sour

ced.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

war

ns t

hat

whi

lst

havi

ng m

ore

reco

gnis

ed p

aten

t of

fices

may

m

inim

ise

the

cost

of

dupl

icat

ion

if th

e ap

plic

ant c

an c

hoos

e an

exa

min

atio

n of

fice

whe

re h

e ha

s al

read

y fil

ed a

n ea

rlier

app

licat

ion,

the

incr

ease

d lis

t of

exam

inat

ion

98

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

3.

Shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

an O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g w

ith s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

to

othe

r pa

tent

off

ice(

s), a

nd, i

f so

, w

hich

off

ice(

s) a

nd w

hy?

offic

es m

ay b

ring

in e

lem

ents

of

fore

ign

law

whi

ch is

not

con

sist

ent o

r co

mpa

tible

w

ith th

e H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

law

. A

lthou

gh to

som

e ex

tent

, thi

s ha

s be

en th

e ca

se

with

the

cur

rent

re-

regi

stra

tion

syst

em r

elyi

ng o

n gr

ants

fro

m t

he t

hree

ove

rsea

s de

sign

ated

pat

ent

offic

es,

the

expe

ctat

ion

for

cons

iste

ncy

of g

rant

will

be

muc

h gr

eate

r w

ith

an

orig

inal

gr

ant

from

H

ong

Kon

g de

spite

ou

tsou

rcin

g of

th

e su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n.

3.3

Polit

ical

Par

ties /

Gro

ups

�

DA

B

�

New

Peo

ple’

s Par

ty (#?E

)

�

DA

B o

pine

s th

at t

here

may

not

be

suffi

cien

t ex

amin

ers

with

nec

essa

ry t

echn

ical

ex

perti

se a

nd a

tech

nica

l dat

abas

e w

hich

is c

ompr

ehen

sive

eno

ugh

for

the

purp

ose

of s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n at

the

prel

imin

ary

stag

e of

the

esta

blis

hmen

t of t

he O

GP

syst

em in

Hon

g K

ong.

H

ence

at t

he in

itial

sta

ge, D

AB

con

side

rs th

at s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n of

pat

ents

app

lied

in H

ong

Kon

g sh

ould

be

outs

ourc

ed to

SIP

O b

y an

ou

tsou

rcin

g ag

reem

ent

betw

een

SIPO

and

Hon

g K

ong.

A

t th

e sa

me

time,

a

tech

nica

l da

taba

se s

houl

d be

set

up

and

tale

nts

poss

essi

ng n

eces

sary

tec

hnol

ogy

expe

rtise

sho

uld

be i

mpo

rted.

H

ong

Kon

g sh

ould

als

o st

rive

for

the

mut

ual

reco

gniti

on f

or p

aten

ts r

egis

tere

d in

Hon

g K

ong

and

Mai

nlan

d so

as

to a

ttrac

t ov

erse

as o

rgan

isat

ions

and

par

ties

enga

ging

in in

vent

ions

or p

aten

t-rel

ated

indu

stry

to

de

velo

p th

eir

busi

ness

es

in

Hon

g K

ong.

Whe

n th

e co

nditi

ons

beco

me

appr

opria

te fo

r in-

hous

e su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n, H

ong

Kon

g sh

ould

then

con

side

r ar

rang

ing

the

cond

uct o

f sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

for s

uita

ble

pate

nt a

pplic

atio

ns in

H

ong

Kon

g.

Hon

g K

ong

shou

ld th

en c

reat

e ni

ches

in p

aten

t exa

min

atio

n an

d bu

ild

up i

ts i

nter

natio

nal

repu

tatio

n in

tha

t as

pect

so

as t

o at

tract

oth

er r

egio

ns t

o ou

tsou

rce

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

of th

eir p

aten

t app

licat

ions

to H

ong

Kon

g.

�

New

Peo

ple’

s Pa

rty b

elie

ves

that

Hon

g K

ong

shou

ld c

onsi

der

in-h

ouse

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

as t

he t

rain

ing

of p

aten

t ex

perti

se w

ill m

ean

mor

e IP

bus

ines

s an

d gr

eate

r ec

onom

ic b

enef

its.

In

addi

tion,

if th

e se

arch

and

exa

min

atio

n ca

pabi

litie

s

99

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

3.

Shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

an O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g w

ith s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

to

othe

r pa

tent

off

ice(

s), a

nd, i

f so

, w

hich

off

ice(

s) a

nd w

hy?

of H

ong

Kon

g re

ach

natio

nal o

r int

erna

tiona

l sta

ndar

ds, t

hat w

ill a

ttrac

t mor

e pa

tent

fil

ings

an

d H

ong

Kon

g m

ay

even

ha

ndle

su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n fo

r ot

her

juris

dict

ions

that

do

not h

ave

such

cap

acity

, the

reby

incr

easi

ng in

com

e.

3.4

Aca

dem

ic S

ecto

r

�

Ray

mon

d Y

iu

�

Dr C

W T

so

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

�

Ray

mon

d Y

iu c

ites

the

exam

ples

of S

inga

pore

and

Mac

ao a

s re

fere

nces

and

opi

nes

that

an

OG

P sy

stem

with

out

sour

cing

arr

ange

men

t is

pre

ferr

ed a

t th

e be

ginn

ing

stag

e of

the

im

plem

enta

tion

of a

n O

GP

syst

em a

s it

is m

ore

cost

-effe

ctiv

e.

The

issu

e of

whe

ther

Hon

g K

ong

shou

ld h

ave

an O

GP

syst

em w

ithou

t ou

tsou

rcin

g ar

rang

emen

t sho

uld

be e

valu

ated

from

tim

e to

tim

e in

ligh

t of i

ncom

ing

info

rmat

ion

and

evid

ence

.

�

Dr C

W T

so c

onsi

ders

it p

rude

nt a

nd e

xped

ient

to o

utso

urce

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

to o

ther

pat

ent o

ffice

s lik

e EP

O, S

IPO

and

USP

TO.

Non

ethe

less

, he

reco

mm

ends

th

at f

urth

er s

tudy

be

cond

ucte

d on

the

rea

son

why

the

pat

ent

offic

es o

f A

ustri

a,

Den

mar

k an

d H

unga

ry (w

hich

are

not

Eng

lish

spea

king

cou

ntrie

s an

d ar

e no

t maj

or

tradi

ng p

artn

ers

of S

inga

pore

) w

ere

chos

en b

y Si

ngap

ore

to b

ecom

e ou

tsou

rced

ex

amin

atio

n pa

tent

offi

ces.

�

In th

e vi

ew o

f B

ioch

emis

try A

lum

ni A

ssoc

iatio

n, H

KU

ST, H

ong

Kon

g ca

n fo

llow

th

e pr

actic

e of

Sin

gapo

re i

n of

ferin

g fle

xibi

lity

to t

he p

aten

t ap

plic

ants

so

that

su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ca

n be

out

sour

ced

to o

ther

pat

ent o

ffice

s or

be

done

by

the

Hon

g K

ong

pate

nt o

ffice

. I

n ad

ditio

n to

the

thre

e cu

rren

t des

igna

ted

pate

nt o

ffice

s, H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

offi

ces

may

out

sour

ce t

o th

e U

S, J

apan

, K

orea

and

Ger

man

y w

here

ther

e ca

n be

eas

ier l

ocal

isat

ion

for m

arke

ting

the

prod

ucts

whe

re th

e pa

tent

s ar

e w

ritte

n in

thei

r loc

al la

ngua

ges a

nd re

cogn

ised

by

the

loca

l pat

ent o

ffice

s.

10

0

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

3.

Shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

an O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g w

ith s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

to

othe

r pa

tent

off

ice(

s), a

nd, i

f so

, w

hich

off

ice(

s) a

nd w

hy?

3.5

Lega

l Pra

ctiti

oner

s / P

aten

t Pra

ctiti

oner

s

�

QPA

Gro

up

�

Kin

g &

Woo

d

�

Song

& C

han

�

Dan

ny C

han

�

Nig

el L

ee

�

Kam

Wah

Law

�

Ken

neth

Yip

�

Sam

Yip

�

Ben

ny K

ong

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

t

�

QPA

Gro

up r

ecom

men

ds i

ntro

duci

ng a

“m

odifi

ed e

xam

inat

ion”

pat

ent

syst

em

inst

ead

of a

n O

GP

syst

em w

ith s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

to o

ther

pat

ent

offic

e(s)

.

�

QPA

Gro

up c

onsi

ders

tha

t if

an O

GP

syst

em i

s in

trodu

ced

in H

ong

Kon

g,

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

will

nee

d to

be

outs

ourc

ed t

o ot

her

pate

nt o

ffice

s fr

om a

pr

actic

al p

oint

of

view

. I

n ad

ditio

n, i

f th

e re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em i

s m

aint

aine

d,

ther

e w

ill n

ot b

e su

ffici

ent d

eman

d to

supp

ort i

n-ho

use

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion.

�

QPA

Gro

up s

ugge

sts

that

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

can

be o

utso

urce

d to

USP

TO,

EPO

, SIP

O, U

KPO

, IP

Aus

tralia

and

JPO

.

�

Kin

g &

Woo

d is

of t

he v

iew

that

alth

ough

it is

not

real

istic

to e

xpec

t a p

aten

t offi

ce

to h

ave

a so

phis

ticat

ed s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ca

pabi

lity

over

nigh

t, it

belie

ves

that

th

ere

is n

o re

ason

why

Hon

g K

ong

cann

ot h

ave

its o

wn

loca

lly tr

aine

d ex

amin

ers

whi

le o

ther

terr

itorie

s with

sim

ilar b

ackg

roun

d (e

.g. S

inga

pore

) can

.

�

Song

& C

han

com

men

t tha

t if a

n O

GP

syst

em is

ado

pted

in H

ong

Kon

g, su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n w

ill m

ost l

ikel

y be

out

sour

ced,

in w

hich

cas

e th

e O

GP

syst

em is

not

ve

ry d

iffer

ent f

rom

the

curr

ent r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

.

�

Dan

ny C

han

opin

es th

at it

is n

ot e

cono

mic

al to

set

up

a pa

tent

exa

min

atio

n se

ctio

n in

Hon

g K

ong.

Fu

rther

he

is o

f the

opi

nion

that

at t

his

stag

e, H

ong

Kon

g do

es n

ot

have

man

y qu

alifi

ed p

aten

t ex

amin

ers

in d

iffer

ent

field

s of

tec

hnol

ogie

s an

d su

gges

ts o

utso

urci

ng su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n to

USP

TO, E

PO o

r SIP

O.

�

Nig

el L

ee i

s of

the

vie

w t

hat

outs

ourc

ing

shou

ld b

e in

trodu

ced

as a

tra

nsiti

onal

ar

rang

emen

t an

d in

-hou

se s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n sh

ould

be

the

aim

in

the

long

10

1

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

3.

Shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

an O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g w

ith s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

to

othe

r pa

tent

off

ice(

s), a

nd, i

f so

, w

hich

off

ice(

s) a

nd w

hy?

term

. S

IPO

is th

e pr

efer

red

pate

nt o

ffice

for o

utso

urci

ng b

ecau

se o

f the

ir la

ngua

ge

capa

bilit

y to

con

duct

sea

rch

in E

nglis

h an

d C

hine

se.

Alte

rnat

ivel

y, P

PH c

an b

e ad

opte

d as

is b

eing

don

e am

ong

maj

or p

aten

t offi

ces.

�

In th

e op

inio

n of

Kam

Wah

Law

, out

sour

cing

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

will

mea

n th

e lo

ss o

f th

e m

eans

to

supp

ort

a la

rge

num

ber

of h

ighl

y pa

id p

aten

t ex

amin

ers

and

pate

nt a

gent

s and

pat

ent a

ttorn

eys.

Thi

s, he

says

, will

hur

t Hon

g K

ong’

s rep

utat

ion

as a

“ca

n-do

city

” an

d w

ill b

e a

grea

t ins

ult t

o lo

cal t

alen

ts a

nd H

ong

Kon

g so

ciet

y as

a w

hole

.

�

Ken

neth

Y

ip

thin

ks

that

pr

oces

ses

like

exam

inat

ion,

in

valid

atio

n an

d ot

her

proc

edur

al m

atte

rs c

an b

e ou

tsou

rced

to lo

cal p

rivat

e en

titie

s, pu

blic

org

anis

atio

ns,

SIPO

or f

orei

gn p

aten

t offi

ces i

f the

Gov

ernm

ent i

s con

cern

ed w

ith c

ost a

nd sp

eed.

�

Sam

Yip

is o

f th

e vi

ew th

at th

ere

is n

o co

mpe

lling

rea

son

for

esta

blis

hing

an

OG

P sy

stem

in H

ong

Kon

g.

�

Ben

ny K

ong

sugg

ests

out

sour

cing

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

to S

IPO

.

�

A re

spon

dent

poi

nts

out t

hat s

ome

degr

ee o

f loc

al re

sear

ch/s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n sh

ould

be

impl

emen

ted

and

obje

cts

to th

e im

plem

enta

tion

of a

pse

udo-

OG

P sy

stem

in

whi

ch H

ong

Kon

g m

erel

y ac

ts a

s a

post

box

and

the

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

is

com

plet

ely

outs

ourc

ed

to

fore

ign

pate

nt

offic

es.

O

ne

optio

n w

hich

th

e G

over

nmen

t cou

ld c

onsi

der

is to

impl

emen

t a s

yste

m li

ke th

at in

Sin

gapo

re, u

nder

w

hich

the

app

lican

t co

uld

choo

se w

heth

er t

here

is

loca

l se

arch

/exa

min

atio

n or

ch

oose

whe

ther

to re

ly o

n gr

ante

d cl

aim

s fro

m a

fore

ign

pate

nt.

Ano

ther

opt

ion

for

the

Gov

ernm

ent

to c

onsi

der

is t

o m

odify

the

OG

P sy

stem

in

Sing

apor

e to

som

e de

gree

. H

e is

of t

he v

iew

that

the

pate

nt o

ffice

s to

whi

ch s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n

10

2

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

3.

Shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

an O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g w

ith s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

to

othe

r pa

tent

off

ice(

s), a

nd, i

f so

, w

hich

off

ice(

s) a

nd w

hy?

is o

utso

urce

d sh

ould

be

thos

e in

juris

dict

ions

ado

ptin

g th

e co

mm

on la

w s

yste

m, f

or

exam

ple,

the

UK

. O

ne f

urth

er o

pini

on s

ugge

sted

is

to o

utso

urce

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

to lo

cal i

ndep

ende

nt p

aten

t atto

rney

s.

3.6

Oth

ers

�

HK

PC

�

HK

PC c

onsi

ders

that

the

best

opt

ion

is to

out

sour

ce su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n to

oth

er

pate

nt o

ffice

s if a

n O

GP

syst

em is

to b

e im

plem

ente

d in

Hon

g K

ong.

Th

ey su

gges

t th

at s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n sh

ould

be

outs

ourc

ed t

o pa

tent

offi

ces

whi

ch h

ave

expe

rienc

e in

suc

h se

rvic

e an

d us

e C

hine

se o

r Eng

lish

as it

s of

ficia

l lan

guag

e, s

uch

as S

IPO

.

3.7

Indi

vidu

als

�

Stan

ley

�

Ms.

Lee

�

Eric

Yun

g

� VW#

�

Ng

Cha

n W

ai

� XYZ

�

Hui

Win

g K

in

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

�

Stan

ley

thin

ks

that

th

e tim

e an

d co

sts

requ

ired

for

outs

ourc

ing

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

will

be

mor

e or

less

the

sam

e as

thos

e fo

r ap

plyi

ng d

irect

ly to

pat

ent

offic

es in

oth

er c

ount

ries;

and

so

it is

not

nec

essa

ry to

intro

duce

an

OG

P sy

stem

in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

Ms.

Lee

oppo

ses

outs

ourc

ing

of s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n an

d sh

e is

of

the

opin

ion

that

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

of p

aten

ts s

houl

d be

fas

ter

and

chea

per

if it

is

cond

ucte

d in

Hon

g K

ong.

O

utso

urci

ng o

f sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

will

be

indi

rect

, un

fair

and

expe

nsiv

e.

She

furth

er o

pine

s th

at th

ere

are

num

erou

s ex

perts

to c

arry

ou

t sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

in H

ong

Kon

g.

�

Eric

Yun

g su

gges

ts o

utso

urci

ng su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n to

SIP

O a

nd U

SPTO

.

� VW#

bel

ieve

s tha

t sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

can

be te

mpo

raril

y ou

tsou

rced

.

�

Ng

Cha

n W

ai s

uppo

rts o

utso

urci

ng s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n to

ano

ther

exa

min

ing

auth

ority

at

the

begi

nnin

g st

age

of t

he i

ntro

duct

ion

of t

he O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

10

3

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

3.

Shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

an O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g w

ith s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

to

othe

r pa

tent

off

ice(

s), a

nd, i

f so

, w

hich

off

ice(

s) a

nd w

hy?

Kon

g.

� XYZ

thi

nks t

hat s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n sh

ould

be

outs

ourc

ed to

SIP

O.

�

Hui

Win

g K

in c

omm

ents

that

out

sour

cing

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

to o

ther

pat

ent

offic

es w

ill d

efea

t the

pur

pose

of g

aini

ng lo

cal e

xper

tise,

and

is c

once

rned

that

suc

h an

arr

ange

men

t will

incr

ease

the

cost

s and

tim

e re

quire

d to

obt

ain

a gr

ant o

f a p

aten

t in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

A re

spon

dent

sug

gest

s th

at e

ven

if su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n of

pat

ents

is o

utso

urce

d to

oth

er p

aten

t offi

ces,

Hon

g K

ong

shou

ld a

lso

deve

lop

its o

wn

expe

rienc

e in

that

as

pect

and

sta

rt to

mai

ntai

n a

tech

nica

l dat

abas

e fr

om th

e be

ginn

ing.

Pa

rt of

the

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

shou

ld b

e co

nduc

ted

in H

ong

Kon

g so

tha

t H

ong

Kon

g ex

perts

can

gai

n m

ore

expe

rienc

e.

At t

he in

itial

sta

ge o

f out

sour

cing

arr

ange

men

t, on

ly fi

ve p

aten

t offi

ces

shou

ld b

e de

sign

ated

as

outs

ourc

ed e

xam

inat

ion

auth

oriti

es,

nam

ely

SIPO

, U

KPO

(fo

r co

ntin

uity

), EP

O (

for

cont

inui

ty)

and

two

othe

r pa

tent

of

fices

to b

e se

lect

ed o

n th

e ba

sis o

f the

ir tra

de v

olum

es w

ith H

ong

Kon

g.

�

A re

spon

dent

sug

gest

s th

e re

plac

emen

t of t

he s

hort-

term

pat

ent s

yste

m w

ith a

n O

GP

syst

em to

app

ease

thos

e pu

shin

g fo

r an

OG

P sy

stem

and

to a

lso

allo

w IP

D to

ass

ess

dem

and

for O

GP.

If

the

OG

P sy

stem

repl

aces

the

stan

dard

pat

ent s

yste

m, t

hen

the

resp

onde

nt s

ugge

sts

follo

win

g th

e Si

ngap

orea

n m

odel

to a

llow

app

lican

ts to

cho

ose

betw

een

self-

exam

inat

ion

and

re-r

egis

tratio

n an

d w

ith a

cho

ice

of o

utso

urci

ng t

o U

K, S

IPO

or I

P A

ustra

lia.

�

A re

spon

dent

sup

ports

the

outs

ourc

ing

of s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n so

as

to s

ave

the

cost

s of

em

ploy

ing

expe

rts o

f diff

eren

t fie

lds

for t

he lo

ng te

rm.

For

app

licat

ions

in

Chi

nese

, he

sug

gest

s ou

tsou

rcin

g su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n to

the

pat

ent

offic

e of

10

4

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

3.

Shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

an O

GP

syst

em i

n H

ong

Kon

g w

ith s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

to

othe

r pa

tent

off

ice(

s), a

nd, i

f so

, w

hich

off

ice(

s) a

nd w

hy?

Taiw

an a

nd f

or a

pplic

atio

ns in

Eng

lish,

he

sugg

ests

the

pate

nt o

ffice

s of

Aus

tria

or

Hun

gary

.

10

5

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

4.

Shou

ld t

he c

urre

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

be

mai

ntai

ned,

and

, if

so,

shou

ld t

he s

yste

m b

e m

odifi

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, i

nclu

ding

ex

pans

ion

to r

ecog

nise

the

pate

nts g

rant

ed b

y ot

her

juri

sdic

tion(

s), a

nd, i

f so,

whi

ch ju

risd

ictio

n(s)

?

O

rgan

isat

ions

/ In

divi

dual

s V

iew

s / C

once

rns

4.1

Indu

stria

l / T

rade

Ass

ocia

tions

�

CM

A

�

HK

API

A

�

TMH

K

�

HK

EIA

�

HK

MFS

�

PVC

HK

�

HK

MM

A

�

FITM

I

�

FHK

I

�

Am

Cha

m

�

HK

GC

C

�

HK

API

All

resp

onde

nts

in th

is g

roup

agr

ee th

at th

e re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em s

houl

d be

mai

ntai

ned

and

som

e co

nsid

er th

at th

e sy

stem

sho

uld

be e

xpan

ded

to re

cogn

ise

pate

nts

gran

ted

by

othe

r jur

isdi

ctio

ns.

Spec

ific

view

s

�

CM

A o

pine

s tha

t the

exi

stin

g re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em is

con

veni

ent a

nd c

ost-e

ffect

ive.

Th

e sy

stem

sho

uld

be e

xpan

ded

to r

ecog

nise

pat

ents

gra

nted

by

othe

r ju

risdi

ctio

ns

in w

hich

Hon

g K

ong

ente

rpris

es u

sual

ly i

nves

t, su

ch a

s th

e U

S, C

anad

a an

d A

ustra

lia.

�

HK

API

A, T

MH

K, H

KEI

A, H

KM

FS, P

VC

HK

and

HK

MM

A a

ll sh

are

the

view

that

th

e sy

stem

sho

uld

be e

xpan

ded

to r

ecog

nise

pat

ents

gra

nted

by

othe

r H

ong

Kon

g’s

prin

cipa

l tra

ding

pa

rtner

s su

ch

as

the

US,

C

anad

a an

d A

ustra

lia,

and

EPO

(d

esig

natin

g ot

her E

urop

ean

Uni

on c

ount

ries)

.

�

FITM

I op

ines

that

the

curr

ent r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

sho

uld

be r

etai

ned

so th

at a

n al

tern

ativ

e to

the

OG

P sy

stem

is a

vaila

ble

to in

vent

ors.

�

FHK

I con

side

rs th

at th

e cu

rren

t re-

regi

stra

tion

syst

em h

as it

s be

nefit

s an

d sh

ould

be

reta

ined

in p

aral

lel w

ith a

n O

GP

syst

em.

It a

lso

sugg

ests

exp

ansi

on o

f des

igna

ted

pate

nt o

ffice

s to

incl

ude

the

US,

Aus

tralia

, Can

ada

and

Japa

n.

�

Am

Cha

m is

of

the

view

that

the

curr

ent r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

sho

uld

be im

prov

ed

10

6

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

4.

Shou

ld t

he c

urre

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

be

mai

ntai

ned,

and

, if

so,

shou

ld t

he s

yste

m b

e m

odifi

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, i

nclu

ding

ex

pans

ion

to r

ecog

nise

the

pate

nts g

rant

ed b

y ot

her

juri

sdic

tion(

s), a

nd, i

f so,

whi

ch ju

risd

ictio

n(s)

?

�

LESC

-HK

an

d su

gges

ts a

ddin

g to

the

list o

f cur

rent

des

igna

ted

pate

nt o

ffice

s th

ose

of th

e U

S,

Japa

n, C

anad

a an

d/or

Aus

tralia

.

�

HK

GC

C b

elie

ves

that

the

exi

stin

g re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em s

houl

d be

mai

ntai

ned

to

cate

r fo

r in

vent

ors

who

hav

e go

ne t

hrou

gh s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n el

sew

here

.

App

ropr

iate

exp

ansi

on to

rec

ogni

se th

e pa

tent

s gr

ante

d by

oth

er ju

risdi

ctio

ns, s

uch

as th

e U

S is

sugg

este

d.

�

HK

API

is o

f the

opi

nion

that

the

curr

ent r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

offe

rs a

n in

expe

nsiv

e an

d qu

ick

way

of

obta

inin

g pa

tent

pro

tect

ion

in H

ong

Kon

g an

d is

con

veni

ent f

or

user

s. I

t rec

omm

ends

that

the

pres

ent r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

be

mai

ntai

ned

with

out

any

chan

ge a

s it

has,

over

the

year

s, pr

oved

to b

e ca

pabl

e of

sat

isfa

ctor

ily m

eetin

g th

e ne

eds a

nd d

eman

ds o

f the

mem

bers

of H

KA

PI in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

LESC

-HK

stro

ngly

rec

omm

ends

the

con

tinua

tion

of t

he c

urre

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n

syst

em b

ut th

e fo

llow

ing

chan

ges s

houl

d be

mad

e:

(a)

allo

w m

ore

flexi

bilit

y in

the

time

to fi

le a

requ

est t

o re

cord

a d

esig

nate

d pa

tent

ap

plic

atio

n an

d to

file

a re

ques

t for

regi

stra

tion

and

gran

t of a

sta

ndar

d pa

tent

.

It is

rec

omm

ende

d th

at p

rovi

sion

s sh

ould

be

mad

e fo

r ex

tens

ion

of t

ime

in

carr

ying

out

the

two

step

s in

the

re-r

egis

tratio

n pr

oces

s; a

nd

(b)

expa

nd t

o re

cogn

ise

pate

nts

gran

ted

by m

ajor

eco

nom

ies

like

the

US,

Jap

an

and

Kor

ea (

LESC

-HK

agr

ees

with

the

crite

ria f

or th

e se

lect

ion

of a

dditi

onal

de

sign

ated

pat

ent o

ffice

s as s

tate

d in

the

Con

sulta

tion

Pape

r).

4.2

Prof

essi

onal

Bod

ies

Mos

t re

spon

dent

s in

thi

s gr

oup

cons

ider

tha

t th

e re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em s

houl

d be

m

aint

aine

d.

How

ever

, the

re a

re d

iver

se v

iew

s re

gard

ing

whe

ther

to e

xpan

d th

e lis

t of

10

7

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

4.

Shou

ld t

he c

urre

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

be

mai

ntai

ned,

and

, if

so,

shou

ld t

he s

yste

m b

e m

odifi

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, i

nclu

ding

ex

pans

ion

to r

ecog

nise

the

pate

nts g

rant

ed b

y ot

her

juri

sdic

tion(

s), a

nd, i

f so,

whi

ch ju

risd

ictio

n(s)

?

�

HK

IPA

�

HIP

P

�

HK

ITM

P

�

APA

A

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

desi

gnat

ed p

aten

t offi

ces.

�

HK

IPA

con

side

rs th

at th

e re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em s

houl

d be

mai

ntai

ned

at th

is s

tage

an

d su

gges

ts th

at th

e re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em s

houl

d be

exp

ande

d to

reco

gnis

e pa

tent

s gr

ante

d by

oth

er H

ong

Kon

g’s

prin

cipa

l tra

ding

par

tner

s, su

ch a

s th

e U

S, C

anad

a an

d A

ustra

lia, a

nd E

PO (d

esig

natin

g ot

her E

urop

ean

Uni

on c

ount

ries)

.

�

HIP

P pr

opos

es th

at th

e re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em s

houl

d be

reta

ined

for f

ive

year

s af

ter

the

com

men

cem

ent o

f the

full

OG

P sy

stem

. T

his

will

pro

vide

app

lican

ts w

ith th

e op

tion

of re

-reg

istra

tion

as a

n al

tern

ativ

e so

as

to re

duce

the

wor

kloa

d un

der t

he fu

ll O

GP

syst

em.

Eva

luat

ion

of th

e tw

o sy

stem

s sho

uld

be c

arrie

d ou

t afte

r fiv

e ye

ars.

�

HIP

P co

nsid

ers

that

the

cur

rent

re-

regi

stra

tion

syst

em r

elin

quis

hes

the

gran

ting

auth

ority

of

Hon

g K

ong

pate

nts

to th

e de

sign

ated

juris

dict

ions

, and

that

this

is a

n un

fair

situ

atio

n th

at n

eeds

to b

e re

cons

ider

ed.

HIP

P pr

opos

es th

at n

egot

iatio

ns b

e en

tere

d in

to w

ith S

IPO

, EPO

and

UK

IPO

for r

ecip

roci

ty o

f re-

regi

stra

tion.

�

HK

ITM

P co

nsid

ers

that

the

cur

rent

re-

regi

stra

tion

syst

em s

houl

d be

mai

ntai

ned

with

out

any

chan

ge a

s it

is a

cos

t-effe

ctiv

e an

d re

lativ

ely

sim

ple

syst

em t

hat

prov

ides

cer

tain

ty o

f gra

nted

pat

ents

.

�

HK

ITM

P is

con

cern

ed th

at if

the

list o

f de

sign

ated

pat

ent o

ffice

s is

exp

ande

d, th

e di

scre

panc

ies

betw

een

diffe

rent

pat

ent

syst

ems

e.g.

diff

eren

t ap

proa

ches

in

the

inte

rpre

tatio

n of

pat

ent c

laim

s, m

ay le

ad to

inco

nsis

tenc

ies i

n th

e sc

ope

of p

rote

ctio

n at

tach

ed t

o pa

tent

s ba

sed

on d

iffer

ent

desi

gnat

ed p

aten

t of

fice.

H

KIT

MP

also

op

ines

that

the

inte

rnat

iona

l rep

utat

ion

of H

ong

Kon

g as

wel

l as

cred

ibili

ty s

houl

d be

bor

ne in

min

d if

reco

gniti

on is

to b

e ex

tend

ed to

oth

er fo

reig

n ju

risdi

ctio

ns.

10

8

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

4.

Shou

ld t

he c

urre

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

be

mai

ntai

ned,

and

, if

so,

shou

ld t

he s

yste

m b

e m

odifi

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, i

nclu

ding

ex

pans

ion

to r

ecog

nise

the

pate

nts g

rant

ed b

y ot

her

juri

sdic

tion(

s), a

nd, i

f so,

whi

ch ju

risd

ictio

n(s)

?

�

APA

A su

gges

ts th

e fo

llow

ing

mod

ifica

tions

:

(a)

an i

ntro

duct

ion

of a

“m

odifi

ed e

xam

inat

ion”

pat

ent

syst

em,

utili

sing

the

ex

istin

g de

sign

ated

pat

ent

juris

dict

ions

of

Chi

na,

the

UK

and

Eur

ope

and

incl

ude

furth

er ju

risdi

ctio

ns w

hich

are

con

side

red

cred

ible

fro

m a

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

pers

pect

ive;

and

(b)

an in

trodu

ctio

n of

a f

ull 2

0-ye

ar H

ong

Kon

g st

anda

rd p

aten

t, w

hich

may

be

filed

as a

“fir

st fi

ling”

, Par

is C

onve

ntio

n fil

ing,

or P

CT

natio

nal p

hase

filin

g.

�

APA

A r

ecom

men

ds i

nclu

sion

of

addi

tiona

l de

sign

ated

pat

ent

offic

es w

hich

are

co

nsid

ered

cre

dibl

e fr

om a

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

pers

pect

ive.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

con

side

rs th

e cu

rren

t re-

regi

stra

tion

syst

em h

as b

een

serv

ing

Hon

g K

ong

very

wel

l an

d re

com

men

ds t

hat

even

if

an O

GP

syst

em i

s in

trodu

ced,

the

cu

rren

t re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em s

houl

d re

mai

n to

allo

w a

pplic

ants

an

inex

pens

ive

optio

n.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

sugg

ests

the

follo

win

g m

odifi

catio

ns:

(a)

Hon

g K

ong

shou

ld k

eep

an e

ye o

n th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

the

PPH

initi

ativ

e to

ex

pand

rec

ogni

tion

to P

PH m

embe

r co

untri

es w

hich

hav

e ar

rang

emen

t w

ith

the

curr

ent

thre

e de

sign

ated

pa

tent

of

fices

(e

.g.

EPO

fo

r pa

tent

s no

t de

sign

atin

g th

e U

K);

(b)

intro

duce

ext

ensi

on o

f tim

e fo

r pat

ent a

pplic

atio

ns; a

nd

(c)

sim

plify

the

proc

edur

e fo

r am

endi

ng p

aten

ts.

10

9

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

4.

Shou

ld t

he c

urre

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

be

mai

ntai

ned,

and

, if

so,

shou

ld t

he s

yste

m b

e m

odifi

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, i

nclu

ding

ex

pans

ion

to r

ecog

nise

the

pate

nts g

rant

ed b

y ot

her

juri

sdic

tion(

s), a

nd, i

f so,

whi

ch ju

risd

ictio

n(s)

?

4.3

Polit

ical

Par

ties /

Gro

ups

�

DA

B

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

�

DA

B s

uppo

rts t

he e

xpan

sion

of

the

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

to

reco

gnis

e pa

tent

s gr

ante

d by

Hon

g K

ong’

s ot

her

prin

cipa

l tra

ding

par

tner

s, su

ch a

s th

e U

S, C

anad

a an

d A

ustra

lia,

and

EPO

(de

sign

atin

g ot

her

Euro

pean

Uni

on c

ount

ries)

. T

he

rete

ntio

n of

the

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

will

pro

vide

a b

uffe

r to

the

new

OG

P sy

stem

an

d of

fer

mor

e av

aila

ble

optio

ns t

o ap

plic

ants

. T

he e

xpan

sion

of

the

syst

em t

o re

cogn

ise

pate

nts

gran

ted

by H

ong

Kon

g’s

othe

r pr

inci

pal

tradi

ng p

artn

ers

can

attra

ct b

usin

esse

s to

deve

lop

in H

ong

Kon

g.

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

sug

gest

s re

tain

ing

the

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

in o

rder

to m

aint

ain

a de

man

d fo

r th

e se

rvic

es o

f pa

tent

atto

rney

s w

ho a

re n

ow a

ssis

ting

SMEs

or

inve

ntor

s to

obta

in p

aten

t gra

nts i

n th

e th

ree

desi

gnat

ed p

aten

t offi

ces.

4.4

Aca

dem

ic S

ecto

r

�

Ray

mon

d Y

iu

�

Dr C

W T

so

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

�

Ray

mon

d Y

iu o

pine

s th

at th

e cu

rren

t re-

regi

stra

tion

syst

em s

houl

d be

mai

ntai

ned

as

it w

ould

fac

ilita

te H

ong

Kon

g’s

linka

ge w

ith t

he t

echn

olog

ical

and

inn

ovat

ion

deve

lopm

ent

in M

ainl

and

Chi

na a

nd E

urop

e.

He

supp

orts

the

exp

ansi

on o

f th

e sy

stem

to re

cogn

ise

pate

nts g

rant

ed b

y th

e U

SPTO

.

�

Dr

C W

Tso

agr

ees

that

the

curr

ent r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

sho

uld

be r

etai

ned

as a

n in

terim

mea

sure

. H

e ad

vise

s th

at th

e lis

t of d

esig

nate

d pa

tent

offi

ces

be e

xpan

ded,

ta

king

int

o ac

coun

t th

ose

acce

pted

by

Sing

apor

e as

pre

scrib

ed p

aten

t of

fices

, and

su

gges

ts a

num

ber o

f fac

tors

to b

e co

nsid

ered

whe

n se

lect

ing

addi

tiona

l des

igna

ted

pate

nt o

ffice

s:

(a)

juris

dict

ion

that

has

stro

ng tr

ade

tie w

ith H

ong

Kon

g;

(b)

the

syst

em u

ses t

he o

ffici

al la

ngua

ges i

n H

ong

Kon

g;

11

0

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

4.

Shou

ld t

he c

urre

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

be

mai

ntai

ned,

and

, if

so,

shou

ld t

he s

yste

m b

e m

odifi

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, i

nclu

ding

ex

pans

ion

to r

ecog

nise

the

pate

nts g

rant

ed b

y ot

her

juri

sdic

tion(

s), a

nd, i

f so,

whi

ch ju

risd

ictio

n(s)

?

(c)

stan

dard

s and

qua

lity

of p

aten

ts is

sued

are

wel

l res

pect

ed in

tern

atio

nally

; and

(d)

com

mon

law

juris

dict

ion.

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

is

of t

he v

iew

tha

t th

e re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em s

houl

d be

mai

ntai

ned,

with

rec

ogni

tion

of p

aten

ts g

rant

ed b

y th

e pa

tent

s of

fices

in

the

US,

Jap

an, K

orea

and

Ger

man

y, a

s an

alte

rnat

ive

in t

he t

rans

ition

al

stag

e fo

r eas

ier i

mpl

emen

tatio

n of

the

new

pat

ent s

yste

m.

4.5

Lega

l Pra

ctiti

oner

s / P

aten

t Pra

ctiti

oner

s

�

QPA

Gro

up

�

Kin

g &

Woo

d

�

Dan

ny C

han

�

Nig

el L

ee

�

Kam

Wah

Law

�

Sam

Yip

�

Chi

na In

telle

ctua

l Pro

perty

(H.K

.) Li

mite

d

�

Ben

ny K

ong

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

A m

ajor

ity o

f th

e re

spon

dent

s in

thi

s gr

oup

supp

ort

the

rete

ntio

n of

the

cur

rent

re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em.

Spec

ific

Vie

ws

�

A r

espo

nden

t pro

pose

s th

at th

e cu

rren

t re-

regi

stra

tion

syst

em s

houl

d be

mai

ntai

ned

for

a w

hile

and

dur

ing

the

trans

ition

per

iod,

a p

aten

t app

lican

t can

cho

ose

to m

ake

eith

er a

n O

GP

appl

icat

ion

or a

re-

regi

stra

tion

appl

icat

ion.

H

e ob

ject

s to

the

ex

pans

ion

of th

e sy

stem

to r

ecog

nise

pat

ents

gra

nted

by

othe

r ju

risdi

ctio

ns f

or th

e fo

llow

ing

reas

ons:

(a)

the

re a

re h

isto

rical

rea

sons

for

the

cho

ice

of t

he c

urre

nt

desi

gnat

ed p

aten

t of

fices

and

exp

ansi

on o

f th

e sy

stem

to

othe

r pa

tent

offi

ces

is

inco

nsis

tent

with

the

his

toric

al r

easo

ns;

and

(b)

com

plic

atio

ns w

ill a

rise

from

the

di

ffere

nt st

anda

rds o

n pa

tent

abili

ty u

nder

the

law

s of o

ther

juris

dict

ions

.

�

QPA

Gro

up re

com

men

ds th

e fo

llow

ing

mod

ifica

tions

:

(a)

intro

duct

ion

of a

“m

odifi

ed e

xam

inat

ion”

pat

ent s

yste

m; a

nd

(b)

expa

nsio

n of

the

pat

ent

syst

em t

o in

clud

e a

20-y

ear

Hon

g K

ong

stan

dard

pa

tent

, w

hich

may

be

filed

as

a “f

irst

filin

g”,

“con

vent

ion

filin

g”,

or “

PCT

11

1

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

4.

Shou

ld t

he c

urre

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

be

mai

ntai

ned,

and

, if

so,

shou

ld t

he s

yste

m b

e m

odifi

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, i

nclu

ding

ex

pans

ion

to r

ecog

nise

the

pate

nts g

rant

ed b

y ot

her

juri

sdic

tion(

s), a

nd, i

f so,

whi

ch ju

risd

ictio

n(s)

?

natio

nal p

hase

filin

g”.

�

QPA

Gro

up w

arns

that

the

wel

l-est

ablis

hed

inte

rnat

iona

l res

pect

of

the

Hon

g K

ong

pate

nt s

yste

m w

ill b

e lo

st if

ther

e ar

e an

y ch

ange

s to

the

Hon

g K

ong

pate

nt s

yste

m

whi

ch r

educ

e th

e pr

esum

ptio

n of

val

idity

(w

hich

they

con

side

r lik

ely

to h

appe

n if

reco

gniti

on i

s ex

tend

ed t

o pa

tent

s gr

ante

d by

les

s re

puta

ble

pate

nt o

ffice

s) a

nd

incr

ease

pol

lutio

n of

the

pate

nts r

egis

ter w

ith in

valid

pat

ents

.

�

Kin

g &

Woo

d su

ppor

ts re

tain

ing

the

curr

ent r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

for t

he fo

llow

ing

reas

ons:

(a)

the

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

app

eals

to in

tern

atio

nal b

usin

esse

s whi

ch v

iew

Hon

g K

ong

as a

rela

tivel

y sm

all m

arke

t, an

d m

ay n

ot o

ther

wis

e ch

oose

to in

cur t

he

time

and

cost

s to

app

ly fo

r and

regi

ster

an

orig

inal

gra

nt p

aten

t in

Hon

g K

ong;

an

d

(b)

a lo

t of

R&

D f

acili

ties

of H

ong

Kon

g en

terp

rises

hav

e m

oved

to C

hina

, and

si

nce

Chi

na re

quire

s in

vent

ions

cre

ated

in C

hina

to b

e fir

st fi

led

ther

e, a

lot o

f in

vent

ions

cre

ated

by

Hon

g K

ong-

base

d or

Hon

g K

ong-

fund

ed c

ompa

nies

ha

ve to

be

first

file

d in

Chi

na.

The

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

is s

uita

ble

for s

uch

com

pani

es.

�

Dan

ny C

han

reje

cts

the

mec

hani

sm o

f re-

regi

stra

tion

as h

e is

of t

he v

iew

that

und

er

such

sys

tem

, it

take

s a

long

er t

ime

to o

btai

n gr

ant

of a

pat

ent,

whi

ch i

n tu

rn

disc

oura

ges p

aten

t app

lican

ts w

ho w

ant t

o ob

tain

stat

utor

y pr

otec

tion.

�

Nig

el L

ee t

hink

s th

at t

he r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

sho

uld

be r

etai

ned

as t

he c

ost

for

mai

ntai

ning

it

is l

ow a

nd i

t is

con

veni

ent

to p

artie

s w

ho h

ave

alre

ady

filed

an

appl

icat

ion

in a

des

igna

ted

pate

nt o

ffice

. A

s fo

r m

odifi

catio

n of

the

sys

tem

, he

11

2

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

4.

Shou

ld t

he c

urre

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

be

mai

ntai

ned,

and

, if

so,

shou

ld t

he s

yste

m b

e m

odifi

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, i

nclu

ding

ex

pans

ion

to r

ecog

nise

the

pate

nts g

rant

ed b

y ot

her

juri

sdic

tion(

s), a

nd, i

f so,

whi

ch ju

risd

ictio

n(s)

?

thin

ks th

at a

gra

ce p

erio

d fo

r lat

e fil

ing

of th

e re

ques

t to

reco

rd a

nd th

e re

ques

t for

re

gist

ratio

n an

d gr

ant s

houl

d be

allo

wed

, lik

e th

e tw

o-m

onth

as

of r

ight

ext

ensi

on

for f

iling

PC

T na

tiona

l pha

se e

ntry

in C

hina

.

�

Kam

Wah

Law

hol

ds st

rong

vie

ws a

gain

st th

e re

tent

ion

of th

e re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em.

In

his

vie

w,

the

syst

em i

s eq

uiva

lent

to

allo

win

g ot

her

coun

tries

to

enfo

rce

thei

r ju

dgm

ents

in

Hon

g K

ong

but

ther

e is

no

reci

proc

al a

rran

gem

ent

for

Hon

g K

ong

judg

men

ts a

nd n

o co

untry

in th

is w

orld

allo

ws

such

a s

yste

m b

ecau

se it

mea

ns th

e su

rren

der o

f the

cou

ntry

’s ju

risdi

ctio

n or

sov

erei

gnty

to o

ther

cou

ntrie

s. H

e is

als

o co

ncer

ned

that

und

er t

he r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

, H

ong

Kon

g ju

st

rece

ives

a

seco

ndar

y di

sclo

sure

of

the

inve

ntio

n, t

hat

is a

fter

the

prim

ary

disc

losu

re i

n th

e ju

risdi

ctio

n of

the

desi

gnat

ed p

aten

t offi

ce a

nd a

s a

resu

lt, H

ong

Kon

g ci

tizen

s an

d en

terp

rises

will

not

lear

n of

the

inve

ntio

n ea

rlier

than

thei

r com

petit

ors

in E

urop

e or

C

hina

. A

s suc

h, th

e sy

stem

is n

ot in

line

with

a ri

ght p

aten

t pol

icy.

�

Sam

Yip

sug

gest

s in

clud

ing

the

pate

nt o

ffice

s of

the

US,

Jap

an a

nd o

ther

Eur

opea

n U

nion

mem

bers

as

desi

gnat

ed p

aten

t of

fices

on

grou

nd o

f th

e vo

lum

e of

tra

de

betw

een

Hon

g K

ong

and

thes

e pl

aces

and

the

num

ber

of a

pplic

atio

ns th

ese

offic

es

rece

ive.

Li

ke N

igel

Lee

, he

supp

orts

allo

win

g a

grac

e pe

riod

for f

iling

the

requ

est

to re

cord

and

the

requ

est f

or re

gist

ratio

n an

d gr

ant o

n pa

ymen

t of a

surc

harg

e.

�

Chi

na I

ntel

lect

ual

Prop

erty

(H

.K.)

Lim

ited

supp

orts

the

inc

lusi

on o

f U

SPTO

and

EP

O a

s des

igna

ted

pate

nt o

ffice

s.

�

Ben

ny K

ong

sugg

ests

that

pat

ents

gra

nted

by

the

US

shou

ld a

lso

be re

cogn

ised

.

�

A r

espo

nden

t op

ines

tha

t th

e cu

rren

t re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em s

houl

d be

mai

ntai

ned

subj

ect t

o th

e m

odifi

catio

n th

at a

sec

urity

cle

aran

ce p

roce

dure

sho

uld

be in

trodu

ced.

11

3

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

4.

Shou

ld t

he c

urre

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

be

mai

ntai

ned,

and

, if

so,

shou

ld t

he s

yste

m b

e m

odifi

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, i

nclu

ding

ex

pans

ion

to r

ecog

nise

the

pate

nts g

rant

ed b

y ot

her

juri

sdic

tion(

s), a

nd, i

f so,

whi

ch ju

risd

ictio

n(s)

?

He

does

not

sup

port

the

reco

gniti

on o

f pat

ents

by

othe

r jur

isdi

ctio

ns in

vie

w o

f the

di

ffere

nces

in

pa

tent

la

w

in

diffe

rent

ju

risdi

ctio

ns.

H

e fe

els

that

a

broa

d re

cogn

ition

of

fore

ign

pate

nts

wou

ld c

ause

con

fusi

on t

o th

e us

ers

and

ofte

n gi

ve

them

a f

alse

sen

se o

f se

curit

y of

hav

ing

a pa

tent

that

may

not

be

pate

ntab

le in

the

first

pla

ce.

Hon

g K

ong

ough

t to

only

reco

gnis

e pa

tent

s of o

ther

juris

dict

ions

whi

ch

have

sim

ilar p

aten

tabi

lity

law

s to

avoi

d th

e gr

ant o

f unn

eces

sary

pat

ent r

ight

s.

4.6

Oth

ers

�

HK

PC

�

API

CC

�

Uni

vers

al D

ispl

ay C

orpo

ratio

n H

ong

Kon

g,

Ltd.

�

Scho

lar C

orpo

ratio

n

�

Ble

ssed

Inc

�

Bac

h Li

mite

d

�

HK

PC s

uppo

rts t

he r

eten

tion

of r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

and

the

ope

ratio

n of

the

sy

stem

in

para

llel

with

the

OG

P sy

stem

. H

KPC

als

o re

com

men

ds t

hat

pate

nts

gran

ted

by o

ther

juris

dict

ions

whi

ch u

nder

take

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

usin

g ei

ther

En

glis

h or

Chi

nese

, inc

ludi

ng C

hina

, the

US,

the

UK

, Can

ada,

Aus

tralia

and

EPO

de

sign

ated

con

tract

ing

stat

es t

hat

use

Engl

ish

as t

he o

ffici

al l

angu

age,

sho

uld

be

reco

gnis

ed.

�

API

CC

supp

orts

exp

andi

ng re

cogn

ition

of p

aten

ts g

rant

ed b

y ot

her j

uris

dict

ions

.

�

Uni

vers

al

Dis

play

C

orpo

ratio

n H

ong

Kon

g,

Ltd.

co

nsid

ers

that

th

e cu

rren

t re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em s

houl

d be

mai

ntai

ned

and

be e

xpan

ded

to r

ecog

nise

pat

ents

gr

ante

d by

mor

e in

tern

atio

nal p

aten

t offi

ces,

in p

artic

ular

thos

e of

the

US

and

Japa

n,

beca

use

they

are

evo

lvin

g in

to a

ver

y si

mila

r sys

tem

and

diff

eren

ces

alre

ady

exis

t in

the

law

s of t

he th

ree

curr

ent o

ffice

s any

way

.

�

Scho

lar

Cor

pora

tion,

Ble

ssed

Inc

and

Bac

h Li

mite

d co

nsid

er t

hat

the

curr

ent

re-r

egis

tratio

n is

wor

king

wel

l an

d ef

ficie

ntly

and

sho

uld

be m

aint

aine

d.

They

ha

ve n

o ob

ject

ion

to e

xten

ding

the

num

ber

of d

esig

nate

d pa

tent

offi

ces

unde

r th

e re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em, a

nd re

com

men

d th

e G

over

nmen

t to

cons

ider

Jap

an, G

erm

any

and

the

US

as th

ese

coun

tries

are

maj

or e

cono

mie

s al

ong

with

Chi

na.

The

y al

so

11

4

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

4.

Shou

ld t

he c

urre

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

be

mai

ntai

ned,

and

, if

so,

shou

ld t

he s

yste

m b

e m

odifi

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, i

nclu

ding

ex

pans

ion

to r

ecog

nise

the

pate

nts g

rant

ed b

y ot

her

juri

sdic

tion(

s), a

nd, i

f so,

whi

ch ju

risd

ictio

n(s)

?

sugg

est i

nclu

ding

juris

dict

ions

whi

ch h

ave

low

er e

xam

inat

ion

and

regi

stra

tion

cost

s in

ord

er to

redu

ce th

e to

tal c

osts

of o

btai

ning

a st

anda

rd p

aten

t in

Hon

g K

ong.

4.7

Indi

vidu

als

�

Ala

n K

now

les

�

Stan

ley

�

Tom

Lam

�

Ms.

Lee

�

Ng

Cha

n W

ai

� XYZ

�

Hui

Win

g K

in

� [\]

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

�

Ala

n K

now

les

is o

f the

vie

w th

at a

dan

gero

us s

ituat

ion

will

aris

e if

ther

e is

any

kin

d of

aut

omat

ic re

gist

ratio

n of

pat

ents

gra

nted

by

anot

her j

uris

dict

ion

beca

use

subj

ects

w

hich

are

not

pat

enta

ble

in H

ong

Kon

g, in

par

ticul

ar s

oftw

are,

may

be

pate

ntab

le in

an

othe

r ju

risdi

ctio

n.

H

e al

so

sugg

ests

th

at

anyo

ne

seek

ing

pate

nt

for

non-

pate

ntab

le su

bjec

t sho

uld

face

serio

us p

enal

ties.

�

Stan

ley

cons

ider

s tha

t the

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

shou

ld b

e re

tain

ed fo

r pat

ents

whi

ch

wer

e al

read

y gr

ante

d by

for

eign

org

anis

atio

ns.

In

deci

ding

whe

ther

the

sys

tem

sh

ould

be

expa

nded

to re

cogn

ise

pate

nts

gran

ted

by o

ther

juris

dict

ion(

s), t

he p

aten

t la

ws o

f tho

se ju

risdi

ctio

ns sh

ould

be

cons

ider

ed.

�

Two

resp

onde

nts

shar

e th

e vi

ew t

hat

it is

not

nec

essa

ry t

o ch

ange

the

cur

rent

re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em.

�

Tom

Lam

opi

nes

that

the

curr

ent r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

sho

uld

be m

aint

aine

d an

d be

ex

pand

ed to

reco

gnis

e pa

tent

s gr

ante

d by

oth

er ju

risdi

ctio

ns, f

or e

xam

ple,

the

US

or

Aus

tralia

.

�

A r

espo

nden

t sup

ports

the

rete

ntio

n of

the

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

but

sug

gest

s th

at

pate

nts

gran

ted

by th

e ex

istin

g th

ree

desi

gnat

ed p

aten

t offi

ces

and

two

othe

r pa

tent

of

fices

(to

be s

elec

ted

on th

e ba

sis

of th

eir t

rade

vol

umes

with

Hon

g K

ong)

sho

uld

be re

cogn

ised

.

�

Ms.

Lee

sugg

ests

th

at

the

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

sh

ould

be

us

ed

until

th

e es

tabl

ishm

ent

of t

he O

GP

syst

em i

s co

mpl

eted

. A

fterw

ards

, an

OG

P sy

stem

11

5

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

4.

Shou

ld t

he c

urre

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

be

mai

ntai

ned,

and

, if

so,

shou

ld t

he s

yste

m b

e m

odifi

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, i

nclu

ding

ex

pans

ion

to r

ecog

nise

the

pate

nts g

rant

ed b

y ot

her

juri

sdic

tion(

s), a

nd, i

f so,

whi

ch ju

risd

ictio

n(s)

?

shou

ld b

e us

ed b

ut s

he a

lso

sugg

ests

that

bot

h th

e O

GP

and

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

s sh

ould

ope

rate

in p

aral

lel w

ith e

ach

othe

r.

�

Ng

Cha

n W

ai o

pine

s th

at H

ong

Kon

g sh

ould

con

side

r ex

pand

ing

the

list

of

desi

gnat

ed p

aten

t offi

ces

to in

clud

e U

SPTO

, IP

Aus

tralia

and

the

Can

adia

n pa

tent

of

fice.

� XYZ

sug

gest

s m

aint

aini

ng th

e cu

rren

t re-

regi

stra

tion

syst

em w

ithou

t exp

andi

ng

the

list

of d

esig

nate

d pa

tent

offi

ces

sinc

e to

a c

erta

in e

xten

t a

pate

nt s

yste

m

man

ifest

s the

exe

rcis

e of

its s

over

eign

ty b

y a

coun

try.

�

Hui

Win

g K

in o

pine

s th

at H

ong

Kon

g sh

ould

con

side

r ex

pand

ing

the

list

of

desi

gnat

ed p

aten

t offi

ces

to in

clud

e U

SPTO

, EPO

(ot

her

than

des

igna

ting

the

UK

), IP

Aus

tralia

, JP

O a

nd K

orea

Int

elle

ctua

l Pr

oper

ty O

ffice

. H

e fu

rther

sug

gest

s re

cogn

isin

g pa

tent

s gra

nted

by

any

one

of th

e IS

As a

nd IP

EAs u

nder

the

PCT.

� [\]

supp

orts

the

rete

ntio

n of

the

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

.

�

A r

espo

nden

t sup

ports

kee

ping

the

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

but

doe

s no

t rec

omm

end

its e

xten

sion

to p

aten

ts o

f ot

her

juris

dict

ions

as

that

wou

ld c

ompl

icat

e th

e pr

oces

s w

ith I

PD h

avin

g to

und

erst

and

and

verif

y pu

blic

atio

n an

d gr

ant d

ates

fro

m v

ario

us

juris

dict

ions

whi

ch m

ay n

ot b

e as

cle

ar a

s th

e cu

rren

t de

sign

ated

pat

ent

offic

es.

Fu

rther

, in

his

view

, avo

idin

g th

is b

y ch

angi

ng fr

om a

“re

gist

ratio

n af

ter p

ublic

atio

n sy

stem

” to

a s

yste

m r

equi

ring

filin

g un

der

Paris

Con

vent

ion

or P

CT

wou

ld r

isk

man

y co

mpa

nies

re-

asse

ssin

g th

eir

polic

y an

d de

cidi

ng n

ot t

o fil

e in

Hon

g K

ong.

H

e al

so s

ugge

sts

thre

e ch

ange

s to

be

mad

e: (

a) to

req

uire

that

a r

eque

st to

rec

ord

unde

r se

ctio

n 15

of

the

Pate

nts

Ord

inan

ce f

or a

div

isio

nal a

pplic

atio

n ca

n on

ly b

e fil

ed if

a re

ques

t to

reco

rd th

e re

late

d pa

tent

app

licat

ion

in H

ong

Kon

g ha

s bee

n fil

ed

11

6

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

4.

Shou

ld t

he c

urre

nt r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

be

mai

ntai

ned,

and

, if

so,

shou

ld t

he s

yste

m b

e m

odifi

ed a

s ap

prop

riat

e, i

nclu

ding

ex

pans

ion

to r

ecog

nise

the

pate

nts g

rant

ed b

y ot

her

juri

sdic

tion(

s), a

nd, i

f so,

whi

ch ju

risd

ictio

n(s)

?

and

is s

ubse

quen

tly p

ublis

hed;

(b)

to

allo

w l

ate

filin

g of

a r

eque

st t

o re

cord

or

a re

ques

t for

regi

stra

tion

and

gran

t upo

n pa

ymen

t of a

sur

char

ge w

hich

can

be

set a

t a

high

lev

el t

o de

ter

abus

e; a

nd (

c) t

o al

low

am

endm

ent

of a

pat

ent

post

gra

nt f

or

conf

orm

ing

with

an

amen

dmen

t to

the

desi

gnat

ed b

ase

pate

nt.

�

A r

espo

nden

t thi

nks

that

the

re-r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

sho

uld

be k

ept b

ut m

odifi

ed to

m

eet t

he st

anda

rds a

ppro

ved

by S

IPO

, EPO

and

USP

TO to

ens

ure

that

it is

upd

ated

.

11

7

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

5.

Oth

er su

gges

tions

/ co

mm

ents

rec

eive

d.

O

rgan

isat

ions

/ In

divi

dual

s V

iew

s / C

once

rns

5.1

Indu

stria

l / T

rade

Ass

ocia

tions

�

CM

A

�

FHK

I

�

CM

A s

ugge

sts

that

the

Gov

ernm

ent s

houl

d ex

plor

e w

ith p

aten

t offi

ces

to w

hich

it

outs

ourc

es t

he s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n w

ork

abou

t th

e po

ssib

ility

of

mut

ual

reco

gniti

on o

f pat

ents

gra

nted

.

�

FHK

I su

gges

ts t

hat

Hon

g K

ong

shou

ld c

onsi

der

nego

tiatin

g w

ith t

he P

RC

for

m

utua

l re

cogn

ition

of

pate

nts

as a

nd w

hen

the

OG

P sy

stem

bec

omes

mat

ure.

A

m

utua

l rec

ogni

tion

regi

me

will

attr

act w

orld

-wid

e ap

plic

atio

ns, a

nd h

ence

, bus

ines

s to

Hon

g K

ong.

5.2

Prof

essi

onal

Bod

ies

�

HIP

P

�

HK

ITM

P

�

APA

A

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

�

HIP

P su

gges

ts th

at IP

D sh

ould

neg

otia

te fo

r rec

ipro

city

of r

e-re

gist

ratio

n w

ith S

IPO

, EP

O a

nd U

KPO

so

that

Hon

g K

ong

pate

nts

gran

ted

unde

r the

full

OG

P sy

stem

can

be

regi

ster

ed in

thes

e ju

risdi

ctio

ns.

It f

urth

er s

ugge

sts

that

the

subs

tant

ive

aspe

cts

of

SIPO

Ex

amin

atio

n G

uide

lines

ca

n be

us

ed

as

guid

elin

es

for

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

and

for d

evel

opm

ent o

f the

bod

y of

law

in H

ong

Kon

g.

�

HK

ITM

P re

fers

to A

rticl

e 10

7 of

the

Bas

ic L

aw u

nder

whi

ch H

ong

Kon

g is

requ

ired

to m

aint

ain

a ba

lanc

ed b

udge

t an

d op

ines

tha

t in

the

cur

rent

eco

nom

ic r

eces

sion

, in

stea

d of

allo

catin

g re

sour

ces

and

fund

s to

sub

sidi

se a

pat

ent s

yste

m a

nd a

lim

ited

num

ber

of i

nven

tors

and

com

mer

cial

ent

ities

who

may

wis

h to

file

pat

ents

, th

e G

over

nmen

t sho

uld

cons

ider

allo

catin

g fu

nds

to I

PD to

impr

ove

serv

ices

cur

rent

ly

offe

red.

�

APA

A n

otes

that

diff

eren

t jur

isdi

ctio

ns a

dopt

diff

eren

t app

roac

hes

in in

terp

reta

tion

of p

aten

t cla

ims.

Hon

g K

ong

adop

ts th

e pr

inci

ples

of p

urpo

sive

cla

im c

onst

ruct

ion

11

8

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

5.

Oth

er su

gges

tions

/ co

mm

ents

rec

eive

d.

follo

wed

in th

e U

K, A

ustra

lia a

nd C

anad

a.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

poi

nts

to a

pap

er ti

tled

“A P

ropo

sal f

or th

e G

radu

al D

evel

opm

ent

of O

rigi

nal P

aten

t Gra

nt in

Hon

g K

ong”

join

tly p

repa

red

by th

e D

AB

and

HK

IPA

, an

d cl

aim

ed t

o be

bas

ed o

n a

surv

ey c

omm

issi

oned

by

HK

IPA

cov

erin

g 13

re

pres

enta

tive

Hon

g K

ong

orga

nisa

tions

(re

pres

entin

g ab

out

6,50

0 en

terp

rises

).

The

Law

Soc

iety

is o

f th

e vi

ew th

at th

e pr

emis

e an

d re

sults

of

the

surv

ey d

o no

t ap

pear

con

vinc

ing

beca

use:

(a)

the

clai

m to

repr

esen

t abo

ut 6

,500

ent

erpr

ises

is b

ased

on

the

assu

mpt

ions

that

(i)

alth

ough

the

surv

ey w

as c

arrie

d ou

t on

the

resp

ectiv

e ex

ecut

ive

com

mitt

ee

mem

bers

of

the

busi

ness

ass

ocia

tions

onl

y, t

heir

view

s ca

n be

reg

arde

d as

re

pres

entin

g th

e vi

ews

of t

heir

mem

bers

; an

d (ii

) th

ere

are

500

mem

bers

in

each

of t

hese

bus

ines

s ass

ocia

tions

; and

(b)

the

surv

ey a

ppea

rs t

o be

cur

sory

and

it

is d

oubt

ful

whe

ther

the

res

pond

ents

un

ders

tood

the

impl

icat

ions

to th

eir a

nsw

ers.

In

parti

cula

r, th

e co

re q

uest

ions

sa

id to

supp

ort a

n or

igin

al p

aten

t gra

nt w

ere:

-

“Q5:

Do

you

cons

ider

a c

ompl

ete

pate

nt r

egis

trat

ion

syst

em (i

nclu

ding

sho

rt

term

pat

ents

and

sta

ndar

d pa

tent

s) w

ould

be

bene

ficia

l to

the

Hon

g K

ong

econ

omy?

Q6:

If

Hon

g K

ong

had

a co

mpl

ete

pate

nt r

egis

trat

ion

syst

em,

will

thi

s en

cour

age

you

to a

pply

for p

aten

ts?”

The

Law

Soc

iety

not

es th

at a

“co

mpl

ete

pate

nt re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

” is

nei

ther

ex

plai

ned

nor

defin

ed

in

the

ques

tionn

aire

, an

d qu

erie

s w

heth

er

the

resp

onde

nts

unde

rsta

nd w

hat

a co

mpl

ete

pate

nt r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

mea

ns

whe

n ac

cord

ing

to t

he s

urve

y, 7

4.6%

of

them

do

not

know

the

diff

eren

ce

11

9

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

5.

Oth

er su

gges

tions

/ co

mm

ents

rec

eive

d.

betw

een

a sh

ort-t

erm

and

a st

anda

rd p

aten

t.

In li

ght o

f the

abo

ve, t

he L

aw S

ocie

ty c

onsi

ders

it p

resu

mpt

uous

to c

oncl

ude

that

the

rela

tivel

y lo

w v

olum

e of

app

licat

ions

of

pate

nts

in H

ong

Kon

g is

due

to

the

com

pani

es b

eing

dis

cour

aged

to a

pply

for

pat

ents

und

er th

e in

com

plet

e sy

stem

in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

refe

rs to

a le

tter f

rom

Leg

isla

tive

Cou

ncill

or M

s. R

egin

a Ip

to M

r.

Won

g Ti

ng-k

won

g, C

hairm

an o

f th

e Pa

nel

on C

omm

erce

and

Ind

ustry

exp

ress

ing

her v

iew

s abo

ut th

e H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

syst

em (“

Ms.

Ip’s

Let

ter”

). T

he le

tter s

tate

s th

at i

t is

diff

icul

t fo

r ow

ners

of

stan

dard

pat

ents

to

enfo

rce

thei

r rig

hts

beca

use

a ty

pica

l def

enda

nt w

ould

app

ly fo

r inv

alid

atio

n of

the

pate

nt in

the

coun

try o

f orig

in

then

app

ly f

or a

sta

y of

the

Hon

g K

ong

proc

eedi

ngs,

and

durin

g th

at t

ime,

the

de

fend

ant c

an c

ontin

ue to

sel

l its

infr

ingi

ng p

rodu

cts.

The

Law

Soc

iety

poi

nts

out

that

(a)

eve

n if

an O

GP

syst

em i

s in

trodu

ced

in H

ong

Kon

g, d

urin

g lit

igat

ion,

a

defe

ndan

t ca

n st

ill c

halle

nge

the

valid

ity o

f th

e st

anda

rd p

aten

t by

app

lyin

g fo

r re

voca

tion

and

appl

ying

for a

stay

of p

roce

edin

gs u

ntil

the

revo

catio

n pr

ocee

ding

s is

com

plet

ed; (

b) in

all

IP li

tigat

ion,

a d

efen

dant

can

con

tinue

the

acts

it is

com

plai

ned

of u

nles

s th

ere

is a

n in

terlo

cuto

ry i

njun

ctio

n; a

nd (

c) i

f su

ch a

cts

are

ultim

atel

y fo

und

by th

e co

urt t

o be

infr

ingi

ng a

cts,

the

defe

ndan

t will

be

liabl

e to

the

plai

ntiff

fo

r dam

ages

aris

ing

out o

f all

such

act

s. T

he L

aw S

ocie

ty th

eref

ore

cons

ider

s th

at

whe

ther

or

not H

ong

Kon

g ad

opts

an

OG

P sy

stem

has

not

hing

to d

o w

ith w

heth

er

ther

e m

ay b

e re

voca

tion

proc

eedi

ngs

and

appl

icat

ion

for s

tay

of th

e pa

tent

litig

atio

n pe

ndin

g th

e ou

tcom

e of

the

revo

catio

n pr

ocee

ding

s.

5.3

Polit

ical

Par

ties /

Gro

ups

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

hop

es t

hat

thro

ugh

Mai

nlan

d C

hina

and

Hon

g K

ong

Clo

ser

Econ

omic

Par

tner

ship

Arr

ange

men

t (“C

EPA

”), p

aten

ts g

rant

ed in

Hon

g K

ong

and

Chi

na c

an b

e m

utua

lly re

cogn

ised

. I

f mut

ual r

ecog

nitio

n ca

nnot

be

achi

eved

in th

e

12

0

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

5.

Oth

er su

gges

tions

/ co

mm

ents

rec

eive

d.

near

fut

ure,

Eco

nom

ic S

yner

gy s

ugge

sts

liais

ing

with

Chi

na s

o th

at a

fter

a lo

cal

appl

ican

t has

file

d a

pate

nt a

pplic

atio

n in

Hon

g K

ong,

a p

aten

t app

licat

ion

for

the

sam

e in

vent

ion

in C

hina

can

be

expe

dite

d un

der s

impl

ified

pro

cedu

res.

5.4

Lega

l Pra

ctiti

oner

s / P

aten

t Pra

ctiti

oner

s

�

Chr

is M

urra

y

�

Song

& C

han

�

Dan

ny C

han

�

Chr

is M

urra

y su

gges

ts re

form

in th

e fo

llow

ing

dire

ctio

n:

(a)

Inst

ead

of a

n O

GP

syst

em, C

hine

se p

aten

ts s

houl

d be

ext

ende

d au

tom

atic

ally

to

Hon

g K

ong.

Th

e cu

rren

t tw

o-st

ep re

gist

ratio

n is

bur

eauc

ratic

and

doe

s no

t pr

ovid

e us

ers

with

add

ition

al s

afeg

uard

s an

d as

sura

nce.

H

e no

tes

that

mos

t pe

ople

who

hav

e pa

tent

s in

Hon

g K

ong,

Eur

ope

and

the

UK

are

ver

y lik

ely

to

have

a C

hine

se p

aten

t any

way

; and

(b)

IPD

cou

ld b

ecom

e a

rece

ivin

g of

fice

for

SIPO

and

per

mitt

ing

filin

g in

a

fore

ign

lang

uage

. T

his

allo

ws

loca

l app

lican

ts to

rece

ive

a pa

tent

filin

g da

te

and

they

can

file

the

trans

latio

n in

one

to th

ree

mon

ths

ther

eafte

r. I

PD, a

s a

loca

l bra

nch

of S

IPO

, may

als

o pr

ovid

e do

cum

ents

req

uire

d by

the

cour

ts in

H

ong

Kon

g in

inf

ringe

men

t pr

ocee

ding

s or

med

iatio

n/ar

bitra

tion.

It

wou

ld

be a

bet

ter u

se o

f lim

ited

reso

urce

s.

�

Song

& C

han

are

conc

erne

d ab

out

the

hand

ling

of r

evie

w p

roce

edin

gs a

nd

inva

lidat

ion

proc

eedi

ngs

if an

OG

P sy

stem

is a

dopt

ed in

Hon

g K

ong,

in p

artic

ular

th

ey n

ote

that

the

leve

l of s

kills

requ

ired

for h

andl

ing

of s

uch

proc

eedi

ngs

is h

ighe

r an

d th

ey a

lso

requ

ire m

ore

man

pow

er a

nd o

ther

reso

urce

s.

�

Dan

ny C

han

sugg

ests

out

sour

cing

the

han

dlin

g of

offi

ce a

ctio

ns t

o lo

cal

pate

nt

firm

s.

5.5

Oth

ers

�

API

CC

exp

ress

es i

ts c

once

rn o

n th

e fa

ct t

hat

the

issu

e of

the

val

idity

of

a pa

tent

12

1

Cha

pter

1 :

Stan

dard

Pat

ent S

yste

m (6

4 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

5.

Oth

er su

gges

tions

/ co

mm

ents

rec

eive

d.

�

API

CC

gr

ante

d in

Hon

g K

ong

unde

r an

OG

P sy

stem

in

Mai

nlan

d C

hina

has

not

bee

n di

scus

sed

in t

he C

onsu

ltatio

n Pa

per.

It

sugg

ests

tha

t H

ong

Kon

g sh

ould

mov

e to

war

ds t

he d

irect

ion

of m

utua

l re

cogn

ition

of

subs

tant

ially

exa

min

ed p

aten

ts b

y C

hina

and

Hon

g K

ong

thro

ugh

a m

utua

l agr

eem

ent b

etw

een

the

two

pate

nt re

gim

es

or th

roug

h C

EPA

.

5.6

Indi

vidu

als

�

Stan

ley

�

Hui

Win

g K

in

� XYZ

�

Guy

Cha

n

�

Stan

ley

opin

es t

hat

IPD

sho

uld

be m

ore

invo

lved

in

actin

g as

the

int

erm

edia

ry

betw

een

the

inve

ntor

s an

d pa

tent

reg

istra

tion

orga

nisa

tions

in o

ther

cou

ntrie

s so

as

to a

ssis

t the

inve

ntor

s in

mak

ing

appl

icat

ions

to s

uch

orga

nisa

tions

and

to p

rovi

de

prel

imin

ary

advi

ce to

inve

ntor

s on

thei

r app

licat

ions

.

�

Hui

Win

g K

in n

otes

that

ther

e is

a g

loba

l tre

nd to

stre

amlin

e ex

amin

atio

n pr

oces

s.

Exam

ples

are

the

setti

ng u

p of

a si

ngle

pat

ent a

utho

rity,

EPO

, and

a si

ngle

trad

emar

k au

thor

ity, t

he O

ffice

of

Har

mon

izat

ion

of I

nter

nal

Mar

ket,

in E

urop

e.

He

opin

es

that

int

rodu

cing

an

OG

P sy

stem

in

Hon

g K

ong

will

cre

ate

segm

ente

d m

arke

ts

betw

een

Hon

g K

ong

and

Chi

na.

� XYZ

sug

gest

s si

gnin

g ag

reem

ent

for

mut

ual

reco

gniti

on o

f pa

tent

s w

ith o

ther

ju

risdi

ctio

ns o

r reg

ions

.

�

Guy

Cha

n co

nsid

ers t

he m

ost i

mpo

rtant

thin

g is

to e

nabl

e re

cogn

ition

of H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

s by

mor

e co

untri

es (l

ike

Euro

pean

Uni

on, N

orth

Am

eric

a an

d PR

C) t

hrou

gh

mut

ual a

gree

men

ts o

r th

e lik

e so

that

re-

regi

stra

tion

is n

ot n

eces

sary

. I

n ad

ditio

n,

Hon

g K

ong

may

set

up

a sy

stem

to

gran

t pa

tent

s to

inv

ento

rs w

ith r

egio

nal

rest

rictio

ns if

ther

e ar

e di

ffere

nces

in p

aten

t law

s.

12

2

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

6.

Wha

t ben

efits

doe

s the

shor

t-te

rm p

aten

t sys

tem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

D

oes i

t pro

mot

e lo

cal i

nnov

atio

ns?

O

rgan

isat

ions

/ In

divi

dual

s V

iew

s / C

once

rns

6.1

Indu

stria

l / T

rade

Ass

ocia

tions

�

CM

A

�

FITM

I

�

HK

GC

C

�

Am

Cha

m

�

LESC

-HK

�

GS1

Hon

g K

ong47

�

CM

A, F

ITM

I, an

d H

KG

CC

shar

e th

e vi

ew th

at th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m o

ffers

a

fast

and

inex

pens

ive

mea

ns o

f pat

ent p

rote

ctio

n fo

r sim

ple

inve

ntio

ns w

ith a

sho

rter

com

mer

cial

life

span

.

�

Am

Cha

m o

pine

s th

at t

he s

hort-

term

pat

ent

syst

em p

rovi

des

a re

lativ

ely

fast

and

us

eful

met

hod

for p

rote

ctin

g in

vent

ions

with

a re

lativ

ely

shor

t com

mer

cial

life

.

�

LESC

-HK

agr

ees

that

the

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

t sy

stem

ser

ves

to i

ncre

ase

the

IP

awar

enes

s of

the

com

mun

ity a

nd th

at th

ere

will

be,

alb

eit l

imite

d, c

omm

erci

al n

eed

for

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sy

stem

. H

owev

er,

LESC

-HK

is

not

conv

ince

d th

at t

he

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

can

pro

mot

e lo

cal i

nnov

atio

n.

�

GS1

Hon

g K

ong

is o

f the

vie

w th

at th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m c

an p

rom

ote

loca

l in

nova

tion,

but

the

syst

em m

ust p

rovi

de to

ughe

r saf

egua

rds t

o pr

even

t abu

se.

6.2

Prof

essi

onal

Bod

ies

�

HK

ITM

P

All

resp

onde

nts

in th

is g

roup

agr

ee th

at th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m p

rovi

des

vario

us

bene

fits t

o H

ong

Kon

g ap

plic

ants

.

�

HK

ITM

P ag

rees

tha

t th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em p

rovi

des

sign

ifica

nt b

enef

its t

o

47

G

S1 H

ong

Kon

g in

trodu

ces

itsel

f as

a no

t-for

-pro

fit, i

ndus

try-le

d gl

obal

sup

ply

chai

n st

anda

rds

orga

nisa

tion.

It

stat

es th

at it

s su

bmis

sion

is s

uppo

rted

by (a

s at

the

date

of

its

subm

issi

on)

: (1)

Hon

. Sam

son

Tam

(Le

gisl

ativ

e C

ounc

illor

); (2

) H

on. S

in C

hung

Kai

(Fo

rmer

Leg

isla

tive

Cou

ncill

or);

(3)

Mr.

Cha

rles

Mok

(Fo

undi

ng C

hair,

In

tern

et S

ocie

ty H

ong

Kon

g); (

4) R

etai

l Tec

hnol

ogy

Indu

stry

Ass

ocia

tion;

(5) H

ong

Kon

g W

irele

ss T

echn

olog

y In

dust

ry A

ssoc

iatio

n; (6

) Com

mun

icat

ions

Ass

ocia

tion

of

Hon

g K

ong;

(7)

Mill

ion

Tech

Dev

elop

men

t Ltd

; (8)

Dat

a-Pr

o Te

chno

logy

Ltd

; (9)

Meg

asof

t Ltd

; (10

) Ep

code

Sys

tem

s Lt

d; (

11)

ID-T

ech

(Hon

g K

ong)

Ltd

; and

(12

) H

ong

Kon

g C

omm

unic

atio

ns C

o Lt

d.

12

3

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

6.

Wha

t ben

efits

doe

s the

shor

t-te

rm p

aten

t sys

tem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

D

oes i

t pro

mot

e lo

cal i

nnov

atio

ns?

�

APA

A

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

Hon

g K

ong

appl

ican

ts, a

nd to

a le

sser

ext

ent,

inte

rnat

iona

l app

lican

ts, a

nd n

otes

that

su

ch tr

end

is c

onsi

sten

t with

sim

ilar l

esse

r pat

ent s

yste

ms i

n ot

her j

uris

dict

ions

.

�

HK

ITM

P is

of

the

opin

ion

that

the

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

t sy

stem

has

the

fol

low

ing

bene

fits:

(a)

allo

ws f

or e

arly

enf

orce

men

t of p

aten

t rig

hts;

(b)

may

be

utili

sed

to e

stab

lish

prio

rity

for

subs

eque

nt p

aten

t fil

ings

in

fore

ign

juris

dict

ions

in a

man

ner s

imila

r to

prov

isio

nal p

aten

t app

licat

ions

; and

(c)

the

requ

irem

ent

of a

sea

rch

repo

rt be

fore

gra

nt a

llow

s ap

plic

ants

to

gain

an

early

indi

catio

n of

pot

entia

l pat

enta

bilit

y of

thei

r inv

entio

n w

ithou

t the

nee

d to

un

derg

o su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n.

�

Apa

rt fr

om t

he b

enef

its i

dent

ified

by

HK

ITM

P, A

PAA

add

s th

at t

he s

hort-

term

pa

tent

syst

em h

as th

e fo

llow

ing

bene

fits:

(a)

the

ease

of

esta

blis

hing

fur

ther

prio

rity

date

s fo

r su

bseq

uent

impr

ovem

ents

to

an in

vent

ion

thro

ugho

ut th

e Pa

ris C

onve

ntio

n pe

riod

(i.e.

12

mon

ths

from

the

earli

est

filin

g da

te)

for

tech

nolo

gy

that

in

volv

es

furth

er

impr

ovem

ents

, ad

vanc

emen

ts a

nd e

xper

imen

tal d

ata

deve

lope

d af

ter f

iling

;

(b)

allo

ws

Hon

g K

ong

appl

ican

ts to

file

pat

ent a

pplic

atio

ns d

irect

ed to

war

ds th

eir

tech

nolo

gies

w

hich

m

ay

be

used

de

fens

ivel

y to

co

unte

ract

un

foun

ded

infr

inge

men

t alle

gatio

ns b

y th

ird p

artie

s; a

nd

(c)

the

adva

ntag

es o

ffere

d by

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

will

ass

ist p

rom

otio

n of

lo

cal i

nnov

atio

n an

d he

lp p

reve

nt a

fina

ncia

l dis

ince

ntiv

e to

the

esta

blis

hmen

t

12

4

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

6.

Wha

t ben

efits

doe

s the

shor

t-te

rm p

aten

t sys

tem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

D

oes i

t pro

mot

e lo

cal i

nnov

atio

ns?

of p

aten

t rig

hts

in H

ong

Kon

g be

fore

sub

sequ

ent

purs

uit

of p

aten

t rig

hts

in

fore

ign

juris

dict

ions

.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

is o

f the

vie

w th

at th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m h

as th

e fo

llow

ing

bene

fits:

(a)

offe

rs a

qui

ck r

egis

tratio

n pr

oced

ure

for

thos

e (u

sual

ly s

impl

er)

inve

ntio

ns

with

no

rest

rictio

n on

the

sub

ject

mat

ter

(pro

vide

d it

is p

aten

tabl

e) a

nd t

he

com

mer

cial

life

of

whi

ch m

ay n

ot j

ustif

y th

e tim

e an

d co

st t

o ap

ply

for

a st

anda

rd p

aten

t pro

tect

ion

for 2

0 ye

ars;

and

(b)

alth

ough

the

num

ber

of a

pplic

atio

ns s

eem

s to

hav

e re

mai

ned

rath

er s

tatic

, its

re

lativ

e po

pula

rity

amon

gst H

ong

Kon

g bu

sine

ssm

en (a

s com

pare

d to

stan

dard

pa

tent

s) su

gges

ts so

me

ince

ntiv

e fo

r loc

al in

nova

tions

.

6.3

Polit

ical

Par

ties /

Gro

ups

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

is o

f the

opi

nion

that

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

can

let S

MEs

ob

tain

pat

ent p

rote

ctio

n fo

r si

mpl

e in

vent

ions

with

sho

rter

com

mer

cial

life

at l

ow

cost

s.

6.4

Aca

dem

ic S

ecto

r

�

Ray

mon

d Y

iu

�

Dr C

W T

so

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

�

Ray

mon

d Y

iu n

otes

tha

t th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em i

s pi

vota

l fo

r pr

omot

ing

incr

emen

tal

inno

vatio

n ac

cord

ing

to i

nter

natio

nal

expe

rienc

e an

d w

ould

cre

ate

a fa

vour

able

env

ironm

ent f

or lo

cal i

nnov

atio

n to

pro

sper

.

�

Dr C

W T

so c

onsi

ders

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

use

r-frie

ndly

, and

it o

ffers

a fa

st

and

inex

pens

ive

mea

ns o

f pro

tect

ing

sim

ple

inve

ntio

ns w

ith a

lim

ited

life

span

in th

e m

arke

t and

enc

oura

ges i

nnov

atio

n.

12

5

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

6.

Wha

t ben

efits

doe

s the

shor

t-te

rm p

aten

t sys

tem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

D

oes i

t pro

mot

e lo

cal i

nnov

atio

ns?

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

is

of t

he v

iew

tha

t m

aint

aini

ng t

he

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

can

pro

mot

e lo

cal i

nnov

atio

ns s

ince

it a

llow

s sm

all f

irms

to f

ocus

on

thei

r in

nova

tion

proj

ects

with

a “

prot

ectio

n tim

e” a

s th

ey m

ay h

ave

limite

d re

sour

ces a

t the

ear

ly st

age

of d

evel

opm

ent.

6.5

Lega

l Pra

ctiti

oner

s / P

aten

t Pra

ctiti

oner

s

�

QPA

Gro

up

�

Kin

g &

Woo

d

�

Nig

el L

ee

�

Kam

Wah

Law

�

Sam

Yip

�

Ben

ny K

ong

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

t

�

QPA

Gro

up i

s of

the

vie

w t

hat

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sy

stem

offe

rs s

ever

al

adva

ntag

es in

clud

ing:

(a)

early

enf

orce

men

t;

(b)

ease

and

cos

t-effe

ctiv

enes

s of e

stab

lishi

ng p

riorit

y;

(c)

defe

nsiv

e pu

rpos

es;

(d)

cust

omer

con

fiden

ce; a

nd

(e)

can

be u

sed

effe

ctiv

ely

as a

“pr

ovis

iona

l pat

ent a

pplic

atio

n”.

�

QPA

Gro

up n

otes

that

they

hav

e no

t see

n an

y ev

iden

ce o

f w

ides

prea

d ab

use

of th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

QPA

Gro

up b

elie

ves t

hat t

he re

ason

why

som

e H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

ees a

re su

rpris

ed to

di

scov

er th

at th

eir H

ong

Kon

g sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ents

are

inva

lid o

r une

nfor

ceab

le is

due

to

suc

h pa

tent

ees

not b

eing

cor

rect

ly a

dvis

ed b

y qu

alifi

ed p

aten

t atto

rney

s as

to h

ow

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

wor

ks.

�

Kin

g &

Woo

d be

lieve

s th

at t

he s

hort-

term

pat

ent

syst

em i

s us

eful

for

pet

ty

inve

ntio

ns w

hich

are

pro

tect

ed b

y si

mila

r sy

stem

s (g

rant

with

out

subs

tant

ive

12

6

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

6.

Wha

t ben

efits

doe

s the

shor

t-te

rm p

aten

t sys

tem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

D

oes i

t pro

mot

e lo

cal i

nnov

atio

ns?

exam

inat

ion)

such

as u

tility

mod

els o

r pet

ty p

aten

t sys

tem

s in

othe

r cou

ntrie

s.

�

Nig

el L

ee th

inks

that

the

syst

em is

impo

rtant

to S

MEs

and

indi

vidu

al in

vent

ors f

or a

qu

ick

and

non-

expe

nsiv

e ro

ute

to o

btai

n a

pate

nt a

s w

ell a

s pr

iorit

y rig

ht a

nd w

ould

he

lp n

urtu

re lo

cal i

nnov

atio

n at

thei

r inf

ant s

tage

.

�

Kam

Wah

Law

bel

ieve

s th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m c

an p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion,

ju

st a

s ot

her

coun

tries

with

a u

tility

mod

el p

aten

t sys

tem

bel

ieve

that

thei

r sy

stem

s pr

omot

e lo

cal i

nnov

atio

n.

�

Sam

Yip

is

of t

he v

iew

tha

t th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em p

rovi

des

a fa

st a

nd

affo

rdab

le s

yste

m fo

r pro

tect

ing

sim

ple

inve

ntio

ns o

r inn

ovat

ive

prod

ucts

that

hav

e a

shor

t mar

ket l

ifesp

an.

�

Ben

ny K

ong

thin

ks th

e sy

stem

fits

the

need

s of m

ost,

if no

t all,

SM

Es.

�

A re

spon

dent

not

es th

at th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m is

use

ful f

or S

MEs

to o

btai

n a

quic

k fil

ing

date

cos

t-effe

ctiv

ely

and

is w

idel

y us

ed b

y SM

Es.

It

ther

efor

e do

es

prom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ions

.

6.6

Oth

ers

�

HK

PC

�

HK

PC n

otes

tha

t th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em p

rovi

des

a fa

st a

nd r

elat

ivel

y in

expe

nsiv

e w

ay o

f re

gist

erin

g a

pate

nt a

nd i

s be

nefic

ial

to p

rote

ctin

g in

vent

ions

w

ith a

sho

rt lif

e cy

cle

in th

e m

arke

t. A

lso,

Hon

g K

ong

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

ts p

rovi

de

the

priv

ilege

of

clai

min

g pr

iorit

y un

der

the

Paris

Con

vent

ion.

Th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pa

tent

sys

tem

fits

wel

l to

the

fast

bus

ines

s en

viro

nmen

t of H

ong

Kon

g an

d pl

ays

an

impo

rtant

role

in c

reat

ion,

com

mer

cial

isat

ion

and

enfo

rcem

ent o

f pat

ent r

ight

s.

12

7

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

6.

Wha

t ben

efits

doe

s the

shor

t-te

rm p

aten

t sys

tem

bri

ng to

Hon

g K

ong?

D

oes i

t pro

mot

e lo

cal i

nnov

atio

ns?

6.7

Indi

vidu

als

�

Stan

ley

� VW#

�

Hui

Win

g K

in

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

�

Stan

ley

opin

es th

at s

hort-

term

pat

ent s

yste

m h

elps

pro

mot

e lo

cal i

nnov

atio

n an

d is

su

itabl

e fo

r si

mpl

e in

vent

ions

by

indi

vidu

als

and

smal

l en

terp

rises

whi

ch a

re

suita

ble

for l

ocal

use

.

� VW#

bel

ieve

s tha

t the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

can

enc

oura

ge lo

cal i

nnov

atio

n.

�

Hui

Win

g K

in s

ugge

sts

abol

ishi

ng th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m b

ecau

se o

f th

e lo

w

num

ber

of a

pplic

atio

ns.

Als

o, s

ince

the

sys

tem

pro

vide

s an

alte

rnat

ive

rout

e fo

r in

vent

ors

with

few

er r

esou

rces

to

obta

in s

ome

form

of

pate

nt p

rote

ctio

n, t

he

appl

icat

ions

are

not

pre

pare

d as

pro

fess

iona

lly a

nd i

t m

ay n

ot c

reat

e th

e be

st

prot

ectio

n fo

r the

inve

ntiv

e id

ea.

�

A re

spon

dent

find

s th

e po

ssib

ility

of m

akin

g a

loca

l “fir

st fi

ling”

che

aply

bef

ore

the

appl

ican

t de

cide

s w

heth

er o

r no

t to

file

for

eign

pat

ent

appl

icat

ions

to

be a

sur

e ad

vant

age

and

so t

he s

yste

m p

roba

bly

has

a m

odes

tly p

ositi

ve e

ffect

on

loca

l in

nova

tion.

�

A r

espo

nden

t is

of th

e vi

ew th

at th

e lo

w c

osts

in g

ettin

g a

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t bet

ter

suit

parti

es w

ith sm

all i

nven

tions

and

so c

an p

rom

ote

loca

l inn

ovat

ion.

12

8

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

7.

Shou

ld w

e re

tain

the

cur

rent

sho

rt-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em in

its

exis

ting

form

, or

shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

chan

ges

to t

he s

yste

m?

If

the

latt

er, w

hat s

ort o

f cha

nges

shou

ld b

e in

trod

uced

?

O

rgan

isat

ions

/ In

divi

dual

s V

iew

s / C

once

rns

7.1

Indu

stria

l / T

rade

Ass

ocia

tions

�

CM

A

�

HK

API

A

�

TMH

K

�

HK

EIA

�

HK

MFS

�

PVC

HK

�

FITM

I

�

FHK

I

�

Am

Cha

m

�

HK

GC

C

�

LESC

-HK

�

CM

A s

uppo

rts th

e ex

tens

ion

of th

e te

rm o

f pr

otec

tion

for

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

ts f

rom

ei

ght

to 1

0 ye

ars

so a

s to

offe

r be

tter

prot

ectio

n to

pat

ent

owne

rs.

Thi

s w

ill

mot

ivat

e SM

Es in

Hon

g K

ong

to in

vest

mor

e in

R&

D.

Thi

s w

ill a

lso

be in

line

w

ith t

he p

ract

ices

of

coun

tries

hav

ing

a le

sser

pat

ent

syst

em,

such

as

Mai

nlan

d C

hina

, Ger

man

y, Ja

pan

and

Den

mar

k.

�

HK

API

A, T

MH

K, H

KEI

A, H

KM

FS a

nd P

VC

HK

all

cons

ider

the

curr

ent s

hort-

term

pa

tent

sys

tem

cou

ld b

e re

tain

ed a

t thi

s st

age

with

a p

ossi

ble

exte

nsio

n of

the

term

of

prot

ectio

n fr

om e

ight

to 1

0 ye

ars.

But

all

obje

ct to

the

intro

duct

ion

of s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n of

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

ts.

�

FITM

I opi

nes

that

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

sho

uld

be re

tain

ed in

depe

nden

tly o

f th

e in

trodu

ctio

n of

an

OG

P sy

stem

.

�

FHK

I co

nsid

ers

that

ther

e ha

ve n

ot b

een

man

y ap

plic

atio

ns f

or s

hort-

term

pat

ents

an

d no

cha

nges

are

nec

essa

ry.

The

Gov

ernm

ent

may

con

side

r ex

pand

ing

the

perio

d of

val

idity

of a

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t fro

m e

ight

yea

rs to

10

year

s.

�

Am

Cha

m s

ugge

sts

intro

duci

ng s

impl

ified

cou

rt pr

oced

ures

to c

halle

nge

the

valid

ity

of sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ents

. O

ther

cha

nges

pro

pose

d ar

e:

12

9

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

7.

Shou

ld w

e re

tain

the

cur

rent

sho

rt-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em in

its

exis

ting

form

, or

shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

chan

ges

to t

he s

yste

m?

If

the

latt

er, w

hat s

ort o

f cha

nges

shou

ld b

e in

trod

uced

?

�

GS1

Hon

g K

ong

(a)

exte

nd th

e m

axim

um te

rm o

f pro

tect

ion

to 1

0 ye

ars;

and

(b)

impo

se n

o re

stric

tion

on th

e nu

mbe

r of c

laim

s.

On

the

othe

r han

d, A

mC

ham

als

o ur

ges

caut

ion

in m

akin

g ch

ange

s to

the

thre

shol

d of

pat

enta

bilit

y fo

r sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

ts.

�

HK

GC

C i

n pr

inci

ple

supp

orts

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

befo

re c

omm

ence

men

t of

in

frin

gem

ent

proc

eedi

ngs

if th

e pa

tent

was

gra

nted

on

the

basi

s of

an

“unc

lean

” re

port.

Ei

ther

the

pat

ent

owne

r or

a t

hird

par

ty s

houl

d be

abl

e to

req

uest

ex

amin

atio

n w

ith t

he c

osts

bei

ng b

orne

by

the

requ

estin

g pa

rty.

As

rega

rds

the

term

of p

rote

ctio

n, th

e nu

mbe

r of c

laim

s an

d th

e th

resh

old

of p

aten

tabi

lity,

HK

GC

C

sugg

ests

that

the

exis

ting

posi

tion

of th

e sy

stem

be

mai

ntai

ned.

�

LESC

-HK

is n

ot c

onvi

nced

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

pro

mot

es lo

cal i

nnov

atio

n bu

t agr

ees t

hat t

he sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m c

ould

be

reta

ined

unt

il th

e co

mm

unity

is

mor

e so

phis

ticat

ed in

IP p

rote

ctio

n.

It su

gges

ts e

xten

ding

the

valid

ity o

f sho

rt-te

rm

pate

nts

from

eig

ht t

o 10

yea

rs.

It

also

rec

omm

ends

tha

t m

ore

educ

atio

n to

be

prov

ided

to th

e co

mm

unity

on

the

enfo

rcea

bilit

y of

a s

hort-

term

pat

ent i

f sho

rt-te

rm

pate

nt sy

stem

is to

be

mai

ntai

ned.

�

GS1

Hon

g K

ong

sugg

ests

intro

duci

ng th

e fo

llow

ing

chan

ges t

o th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em:

(a)

if th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent i

s gr

ante

d on

the

basi

s of

an

“unc

lean

” se

arch

rep

ort,

the

pate

ntee

sho

uld

not b

e pe

rmitt

ed to

enf

orce

the

pate

nt b

y an

y le

gal a

ctio

n un

less

and

unt

il (i)

the

pate

ntee

is a

ble

to a

men

d th

e pa

tent

with

the

supp

ort o

f

13

0

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

7.

Shou

ld w

e re

tain

the

cur

rent

sho

rt-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em in

its

exis

ting

form

, or

shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

chan

ges

to t

he s

yste

m?

If

the

latt

er, w

hat s

ort o

f cha

nges

shou

ld b

e in

trod

uced

?

a cl

ean

sear

ch re

port,

or (

ii) th

e pa

tent

ee in

itiat

es th

e su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n an

d sa

tisfie

s the

exa

min

er;

(b)

stre

ngth

en th

e “g

roun

dles

s th

reat

” pr

ovis

ion

so th

at if

a p

aten

t ow

ner t

hrea

tens

so

meo

ne o

n th

e st

reng

th o

f a

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t gr

ante

d on

the

bas

is o

f an

“u

ncle

an”

sear

ch re

port

with

out f

irst a

men

ding

the

pate

nt c

laim

s and

pro

vidi

ng

a cl

ean

sear

ch re

port,

it w

ill b

e co

nsid

ered

as a

n un

just

ified

thre

at; a

nd

(c)

requ

ire t

he s

earc

h re

port

in s

uppo

rt of

a s

hort-

term

pat

ent

appl

icat

ion

be

com

pile

d w

ithin

one

yea

r bef

ore

or a

fter t

he a

pplic

atio

n is

file

d.

7.2

Prof

essi

onal

Bod

ies

�

HK

IPA

�

HIP

P

�

HK

ITM

P

�

APA

A

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

�

HK

IPA

con

side

rs th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m c

ould

be

reta

ined

at t

he c

urre

nt s

tage

bu

t the

term

of p

rote

ctio

n m

ay b

e ex

tend

ed fr

om e

ight

to 1

0 ye

ars.

HK

IPA

obj

ects

to

the

intro

duct

ion

of su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n of

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

ts.

�

HIP

P su

ppor

ts t

he r

eten

tion

of t

he s

hort-

term

pat

ent

syst

em b

ut p

ropo

ses

the

follo

win

g ch

ange

s:

(a)

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

of a

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

t nee

ds to

be

carr

ied

out b

efor

e co

mm

ence

men

t of

the

infr

inge

men

t pro

ceed

ings

at t

he c

osts

of

the

pate

ntee

.

Cla

ims

reje

cted

in th

e su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n co

uld

not f

orm

the

basi

s of

the

infr

inge

men

t pro

ceed

ings

;

(b)

a to

tal

of 1

0 cl

aim

s (w

heth

er i

ndep

ende

nt o

r de

pend

ent

clai

ms)

sho

uld

be

allo

wed

in

each

app

licat

ion

and

addi

tiona

l cl

aim

s sh

ould

be

allo

wed

upo

n pa

ymen

t of e

xces

s cla

im fe

es; a

nd

13

1

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

7.

Shou

ld w

e re

tain

the

cur

rent

sho

rt-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em in

its

exis

ting

form

, or

shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

chan

ges

to t

he s

yste

m?

If

the

latt

er, w

hat s

ort o

f cha

nges

shou

ld b

e in

trod

uced

?

(c)

the

pate

ntab

ility

sta

ndar

d of

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

ts s

houl

d be

cla

rifie

d by

issu

e of

ex

amin

atio

n gu

idel

ines

.

�

HK

ITM

P pr

opos

es th

e fo

llow

ing

chan

ges:

(a)

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

befo

re e

nfor

cem

ent a

nd n

ot b

efor

e gr

ant;

(b)

clar

ifica

tion

of l

iabi

lity

for

the

issu

ance

of

grou

ndle

ss t

hrea

ts i

n re

latio

n to

sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ents

;

(c)

exte

nd th

e m

axim

um te

rm o

f pro

tect

ion

to 1

0 ye

ars;

and

(d)

incr

ease

the

max

imum

num

ber

of in

depe

nden

t cla

ims

to th

ree

and

rest

rict t

he

max

imum

num

ber

of c

laim

s to

20

to a

ccom

mod

ate

appa

ratu

s, sy

stem

and

m

etho

d cl

aim

s.

Add

ition

ally

, H

KIT

MP

does

not

con

side

r it

nece

ssar

y to

mod

ify t

he t

hres

hold

of

pate

ntab

ility

of s

hort-

term

pat

ents

.

�

APA

A i

s of

the

vie

w t

hat

refin

emen

t of

the

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

t sy

stem

as

wel

l as

fu

rther

pro

mot

ion

and

publ

ic a

war

enes

s of t

he b

enef

its o

f the

syst

em a

re a

ppro

pria

te

in o

rder

to

stim

ulat

e fu

rther

use

of

the

syst

em a

nd t

o m

itiga

te t

he l

ikel

ihoo

d fo

r ab

use.

�

APA

A d

oes

not

supp

ort

the

intro

duct

ion

of s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n fo

r gr

ant

of

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

ts o

r lo

wer

ing

the

thre

shol

d of

pat

enta

bilit

y.

APA

A p

ropo

ses

the

follo

win

g ch

ange

s:

(a)

requ

iring

su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n pr

ior

to

com

men

cem

ent

of

lega

l

13

2

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

7.

Shou

ld w

e re

tain

the

cur

rent

sho

rt-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em in

its

exis

ting

form

, or

shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

chan

ges

to t

he s

yste

m?

If

the

latt

er, w

hat s

ort o

f cha

nges

shou

ld b

e in

trod

uced

?

proc

eedi

ngs

whi

le m

aint

aini

ng t

he r

equi

rem

ent

of o

btai

ning

a s

earc

h re

port

from

one

of t

he d

esig

nate

d pa

tent

offi

ces o

r ISA

s;

(b)

tight

enin

g up

of t

he “

grou

ndle

ss th

reat

s” p

rovi

sion

s, pa

rticu

larly

in re

latio

n to

pa

tent

s whi

ch h

ave

not b

een

exam

ined

;

(c)

exte

ndin

g th

e m

axim

um te

rm o

f pro

tect

ion

to 1

0 ye

ars;

and

(d)

exte

ndin

g th

e m

axim

um n

umbe

r of i

ndep

ende

nt c

laim

s to

thre

e an

d de

pend

ent

clai

ms t

o 22

.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

rec

omm

ends

ret

aini

ng t

he s

hort-

term

pat

ent

syst

em w

ith t

he

follo

win

g pr

opos

ed c

hang

es:

(a)

disc

losu

re o

f the

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

t sea

rch

repo

rt ca

n be

mad

e co

mpu

lsor

y an

d

be s

erve

d up

on th

e de

fend

ant a

t the

tim

e of

com

men

cem

ent o

f in

frin

gem

ent

proc

eedi

ngs;

(b)

the

defe

ndan

t may

req

uest

for

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

of a

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

t or

the

pate

nt o

wne

r may

on

his

own

volit

ion

elec

t to

do s

o if

the

valid

ity o

f a

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t is

in is

sue,

with

cos

ts o

f sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

to b

e bo

rne

by th

e de

fend

ant i

f it i

s fo

und

to b

e va

lid ir

resp

ectiv

e of

whe

ther

the

defe

ndan

t is

fou

nd to

hav

e in

frin

ged

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t as

alle

ged,

so

that

val

idity

of

the

pate

nt w

ill n

ot b

e ch

alle

nged

as a

mat

ter o

f cou

rse;

(c)

exte

nd th

e m

axim

um te

rm o

f pro

tect

ion

to 1

0 ye

ars;

and

(d)

exte

nd th

e m

axim

um n

umbe

r of i

ndep

ende

nt c

laim

s (r

ecom

men

ds c

ondu

ctin

g

13

3

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

7.

Shou

ld w

e re

tain

the

cur

rent

sho

rt-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em in

its

exis

ting

form

, or

shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

chan

ges

to t

he s

yste

m?

If

the

latt

er, w

hat s

ort o

f cha

nges

shou

ld b

e in

trod

uced

?

a su

rvey

to a

scer

tain

the

aver

age

num

ber

of in

depe

nden

t cla

ims

in a

sta

ndar

d pa

tent

in H

ong

Kon

g an

d co

nsid

er th

e fe

asib

ility

of u

sing

the

aver

age

num

ber

or a

less

er n

umbe

r as t

he li

mit

for a

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t).

7.3

Polit

ical

Par

ties /

Gro

ups

�

DA

B

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

�

DA

B c

onsi

ders

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

cou

ld b

e re

tain

ed a

t the

cur

rent

sta

ge

but t

he te

rm o

f pro

tect

ion

may

be

exte

nded

from

eig

ht to

10

year

s. D

AB

obj

ects

to

the

intro

duct

ion

of su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n of

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

ts.

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

con

side

rs th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m c

ould

be

reta

ined

at t

he

curr

ent s

tage

and

sug

gest

s ex

tend

ing

the

max

imum

term

of

prot

ectio

n to

10

year

s w

ithou

t int

rodu

cing

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion.

7.4

Aca

dem

ic S

ecto

r

�

Ray

mon

d Y

iu

�

Dr C

W T

so

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

�

Ray

mon

d Y

iu su

ppor

ts th

e re

tent

ion

of th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m b

ut su

gges

ts th

e te

rm o

f pro

tect

ion

unde

r the

said

syst

em b

e ex

tend

ed to

10

year

s.

�

Dr C

W T

so su

ppor

ts re

tain

ing

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

but

with

refin

emen

ts:

(a)

the

Hon

g K

ong

Pate

nts

Reg

istry

be

empo

wer

ed t

o co

nduc

t, if

deem

ed

nece

ssar

y, s

earc

h or

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion,

eith

er b

efor

e or

afte

r gr

ant o

f a

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t, up

on r

eque

st b

y an

app

lican

t fo

r th

e gr

ant

of a

pat

ent,

a pa

tent

ow

ner o

r a th

ird p

arty

(with

the

party

requ

estin

g ex

amin

atio

n to

bea

r the

co

sts

but

the

third

par

ty s

o re

ques

ting

shou

ld b

e re

imbu

rsed

by

the

pate

nt

owne

r if t

he p

aten

t is

foun

d to

be

non-

pate

ntab

le) b

ut s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n sh

ould

not

be

a m

anda

tory

req

uire

men

t fo

r co

mm

ence

men

t of

inf

ringe

men

t pr

ocee

ding

s;

13

4

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

7.

Shou

ld w

e re

tain

the

cur

rent

sho

rt-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em in

its

exis

ting

form

, or

shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

chan

ges

to t

he s

yste

m?

If

the

latt

er, w

hat s

ort o

f cha

nges

shou

ld b

e in

trod

uced

?

(b)

exte

nd th

e m

axim

um te

rm o

f pr

otec

tion

to 1

0 ye

ars

to g

ive

the

pate

nt o

wne

r ex

tra ti

me

to m

arke

t and

real

ise

com

mer

cial

gai

n fr

om th

e in

vent

ion;

and

(c)

the

num

ber o

f ind

epen

dent

cla

ims b

e ca

pped

at f

ive.

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

con

side

rs th

e fo

llow

ing

chan

ges

to th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m sh

ould

be

mad

e:

(a)

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

can

be d

one

in th

e se

cond

yea

r of t

he p

aten

t effe

ctiv

e pe

riod;

it

wou

ld s

erve

as

a co

nditi

on f

or c

omm

ence

men

t of

inf

ringe

men

t pr

ocee

ding

s an

d th

e pa

tent

ow

ners

ar

e re

com

men

ded

to

appl

y fo

r th

e ex

amin

atio

n;

(b)

allo

w u

nlim

ited

clai

ms

but c

harg

e m

ore

for

pate

nt a

pplic

atio

ns e

xcee

ding

10

clai

ms;

(c)

the

pate

ntab

ility

thre

shol

d sh

ould

be

low

ered

to e

ncou

rage

co-

oper

atio

n of

the

acad

emia

with

the

indu

strie

s; a

nd

(d)

mor

e in

tang

ible

inno

vatio

n, in

clud

ing

arts

and

mus

ic, m

ay b

e in

clud

ed in

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

.

7.5

Lega

l Pra

ctiti

oner

s / P

aten

t Pra

ctiti

oner

s

�

Ric

hard

R. H

alst

ead

�

QPA

Gro

up

All

resp

onde

nts

in t

his

grou

p su

ppor

t re

tain

ing

the

curr

ent

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sy

stem

.

Som

e su

gges

t m

aint

aini

ng t

he c

urre

nt s

hort-

term

pat

ent

syst

em i

n its

exi

stin

g fo

rm.

O

ther

s sug

gest

cha

nges

.

Spec

ific

view

s

13

5

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

7.

Shou

ld w

e re

tain

the

cur

rent

sho

rt-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em in

its

exis

ting

form

, or

shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

chan

ges

to t

he s

yste

m?

If

the

latt

er, w

hat s

ort o

f cha

nges

shou

ld b

e in

trod

uced

?

�

Kin

g &

Woo

d

�

Song

& C

han

�

Dan

ny C

han

�

Nig

el L

ee

�

Kam

Wah

Law

�

Ken

neth

Yip

�

Sam

Yip

�

Ben

ny K

ong

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

t

�

Ric

hard

R.

Hal

stea

d be

lieve

s th

at t

here

is

conf

usio

n as

to

the

use

of s

hort-

term

pa

tent

s. H

e co

nsid

ers

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

ts s

houl

d on

ly b

e so

nam

ed i

f “s

impl

e in

vent

ions

” w

ith a

low

er th

resh

old

of p

aten

tabi

lity

are

prot

ecte

d; if

, on

the

cont

rary

, sh

ort-t

erm

pa

tent

s ar

e in

tend

ed

to

cove

r al

l in

vent

ions

w

ithou

t su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n, g

reat

car

e sh

ould

be

take

n to

pre

vent

any

abu

se o

f the

syst

em.

�

QPA

Gro

up p

ropo

ses t

he fo

llow

ing

chan

ges:

(a)

intro

duce

the

requ

irem

ents

to o

btai

n a

“tec

hnic

al o

pini

on”

prio

r to

enfo

rcem

ent

of a

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

t and

the

optio

n to

invo

ke “

grou

ndle

ss th

reat

” pr

ovis

ion

if th

e pa

tent

is a

sser

ted

with

out s

uch

an o

pini

on;

(b)

exte

nd th

e m

axim

um te

rm o

f pro

tect

ion

to 1

0 ye

ars;

and

(c)

rela

x th

e re

stric

tion

on th

e m

axim

um n

umbe

r of i

ndep

ende

nt c

laim

s to

thre

e or

fiv

e an

d im

pose

a re

stric

tion

on th

e to

tal n

umbe

r of c

laim

s to

no

mor

e th

an 2

5 or

30.

�

Kin

g &

Woo

d an

d K

enne

th Y

ip th

ink

that

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

sho

uld

be

mai

ntai

ned.

�

Song

& C

han

sugg

est t

he fo

llow

ing

mod

ifica

tions

to th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m:

(a)

requ

ire a

sear

ch o

n no

velty

to b

e co

nduc

ted;

(b)

rela

x th

e re

stric

tion

on th

e nu

mbe

r of i

ndep

ende

nt c

laim

s; a

nd

(c)

incr

ease

the

max

imum

term

of p

rote

ctio

n to

10

year

s.

13

6

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

7.

Shou

ld w

e re

tain

the

cur

rent

sho

rt-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em in

its

exis

ting

form

, or

shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

chan

ges

to t

he s

yste

m?

If

the

latt

er, w

hat s

ort o

f cha

nges

shou

ld b

e in

trod

uced

?

�

Song

& C

han

also

opi

ne th

at (a

) the

thre

shol

d of

pat

enta

bilit

y fo

r sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

ts

shou

ld n

ot b

e lo

wer

ed; a

nd (b

) int

rodu

cing

sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

mec

hani

sm in

to

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

will

rend

er it

sim

ilar t

o a

stan

dard

pat

ent s

yste

m.

�

Dan

ny C

han

sugg

ests

sim

plify

ing

the

proc

edur

e fo

r rev

ocat

ion

of s

hort-

term

pat

ent

regi

stra

tions

to

avoi

d ab

use

of t

he s

yste

m t

hrou

gh r

egis

tratio

n of

non

-pat

enta

ble

inve

ntio

ns.

�

Nig

el L

ee su

ppor

ts th

e ex

tens

ion

of th

e te

rm o

f pro

tect

ion

to 1

0 ye

ars o

n gr

ound

that

th

e sy

stem

can

the

n al

ign

with

the

PR

C u

tility

mod

el,

whi

ch i

n hi

s vi

ew h

as a

si

mila

r na

ture

as

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t. H

e al

so o

bjec

ts to

the

intro

duct

ion

of (

a)

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion;

and

(b) a

diff

eren

t thr

esho

ld o

f pat

enta

bilit

y fo

r sho

rt-te

rm

pate

nts.

In

addi

tion,

he

sugg

ests

that

if a

n O

GP

syst

em is

set

up,

ther

e sh

ould

be

a m

echa

nism

to

allo

w a

pat

ent

appl

ican

t to

con

vert

a sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent

to a

n O

GP

pate

nt to

pur

sue

a lo

nger

term

of 2

0 ye

ars.

�

Kam

Wah

Law

has

no

view

s on

whe

ther

the

term

of p

rote

ctio

n sh

ould

be

exte

nded

an

d w

heth

er th

e re

stric

tion

on th

e nu

mbe

r of

cla

ims

shou

ld b

e re

laxe

d.

He

does

no

t thi

nk th

at s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n sh

ould

be

impo

sed.

R

athe

r, he

exp

ects

IPD

to

hav

e ex

amin

ers

afte

r the

intro

duct

ion

of a

n O

GP

syst

em a

nd h

e su

gges

ts th

at th

e re

voca

tion

or in

valid

atio

n pr

ocee

ding

s rel

atin

g to

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

ts b

e de

alt w

ith b

y IP

D w

hich

wou

ld b

e m

uch

chea

per

and

easi

er.

He

cons

ider

s th

e qu

estio

n ab

out

low

erin

g th

e th

resh

old

of p

aten

tabi

lity

to h

ave

been

mis

-phr

ased

sin

ce th

ere

is n

o su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n of

pat

enta

bilit

y, t

he q

uest

ion

to b

e as

ked

shou

ld,

in h

is

view

, be

whe

ther

the

thre

shol

d sh

ould

be

rais

ed.

�

Sam

Yip

rec

kons

tha

t th

e lim

itatio

n of

onl

y on

e in

depe

nden

t cl

aim

sho

uld

be

13

7

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

7.

Shou

ld w

e re

tain

the

cur

rent

sho

rt-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em in

its

exis

ting

form

, or

shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

chan

ges

to t

he s

yste

m?

If

the

latt

er, w

hat s

ort o

f cha

nges

shou

ld b

e in

trod

uced

?

mai

ntai

ned

sinc

e th

e cl

aim

ed s

cope

of t

he in

vent

ion

in a

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

t sho

uld

be

clea

r and

eas

ily a

scer

tain

ed.

�

Ben

ny K

ong

does

not

reco

mm

end

any

chan

ge a

s an

y ch

ange

will

just

rend

er it

mor

e ak

in to

the

OG

P sy

stem

.

�

A r

espo

nden

t su

ppor

ts t

he r

eten

tion

of t

he s

hort-

term

pat

ent

syst

em b

ut p

ropo

ses

that

the

term

of p

rote

ctio

n sh

ould

be

exte

nded

to 1

0 ye

ars

and

that

the

tota

l num

ber

of c

laim

s al

low

ed i

n ea

ch a

pplic

atio

n sh

ould

be

incr

ease

d to

bet

wee

n 15

and

20.

H

e fu

rther

pro

pose

s th

at t

he s

ame

pate

ntab

ility

sta

ndar

d sh

ould

be

used

for

bot

h st

anda

rd

and

shor

t-ter

m

pate

nts

and

that

th

e G

over

nmen

t sh

ould

co

nsid

er

exam

inat

ion

or c

ompu

lsor

y re

spon

se/a

men

dmen

t to

sear

ch re

ports

with

“X

” or

“Y

” ca

tego

ry d

ocum

ents

indi

cate

d in

the

sear

ch re

port.

7.6

Oth

ers

�

HK

PC

�

API

CC

�

HK

PC s

uppo

rts t

he r

eten

tion

of t

he c

urre

nt s

hort-

term

pat

ent

syst

em.

Whi

lst

HK

PC p

ropo

ses

not t

o lo

wer

the

thre

shol

d of

pat

enta

bilit

y of

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

ts, t

he

follo

win

g ch

ange

s to

the

syst

em a

re re

com

men

ded:

(a)

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

shou

ld o

nly

be c

arrie

d ou

t if

it is

req

uest

ed b

y th

e pa

tent

ow

ner o

r the

third

par

ty d

irect

ly a

ffect

ed b

y th

e ab

uses

of t

he sh

ort-t

erm

pa

tent

. S

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n sh

ould

be

a co

nditi

on fo

r com

men

cem

ent o

f in

frin

gem

ent p

roce

edin

gs.

The

prin

cipl

e of

“us

er p

ays”

or “

bene

ficia

ry p

ays”

sh

ould

be

stric

tly f

ollo

wed

in

cons

ider

ing

who

sho

uld

bear

the

cos

ts o

f su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n;

(b)

the

term

of p

rote

ctio

n sh

ould

be

exte

nded

to 1

0 ye

ars

for i

t to

be in

line

with

13

8

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

7.

Shou

ld w

e re

tain

the

cur

rent

sho

rt-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em in

its

exis

ting

form

, or

shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

chan

ges

to t

he s

yste

m?

If

the

latt

er, w

hat s

ort o

f cha

nges

shou

ld b

e in

trod

uced

?

the

utili

ty m

odel

pat

ents

gra

nted

by

Chi

na, J

apan

, Rep

ublic

of K

orea

and

oth

er

juris

dict

ions

; and

(c)

rest

rictio

n on

the

num

ber

of c

laim

s al

low

ed in

eac

h pa

tent

app

licat

ion

shou

ld

be re

laxe

d bu

t the

app

lican

ts s

houl

d be

cha

rged

an

addi

tiona

l fee

pro

porti

onal

to

the

num

ber

of a

dditi

onal

cla

ims

in e

ach

pate

nt a

pplic

atio

n so

as

to e

nsur

e th

at th

e cl

aim

s are

real

ly n

eces

sary

and

can

serv

e a

usef

ul p

urpo

se.

�

Whi

lst A

PIC

C c

onsi

ders

that

dis

cont

inua

tion

of th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m is

an

optio

n,

it su

gges

ts

that

if

the

syst

em

(whi

ch

does

no

t in

volv

e su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n)

is

mai

ntai

ned,

it

coul

d be

ou

tsou

rced

to

pr

ofes

sion

al

or

trade

as

soci

atio

ns, a

nd IP

D c

an fo

cus

on b

uild

ing

up th

e ca

paci

ty a

nd th

e w

ork

proc

esse

s re

latin

g to

fully

-exa

min

ed p

aten

ts.

7.7

Indi

vidu

als

�

Stan

ley

�

Tom

Lam

�

Eric

Yun

g

� VW#

� XYZ

�

Hui

Win

g K

in

�

Stan

ley

sugg

ests

that

opt

iona

l sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

for s

hort-

term

pat

ents

sho

uld

be i

ntro

duce

d, w

hich

can

be

carr

ied

out

afte

r th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent

is g

rant

ed.

Su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n sh

ould

be

a co

nditi

on f

or c

omm

ence

men

t of

infr

inge

men

t pr

ocee

ding

s.

Onl

y th

e pa

tent

ow

ner

shou

ld

have

th

e rig

ht

to

requ

est

for

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

and

the

cost

s in

curr

ed i

n su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n of

the

pa

tent

sho

uld

be b

orne

by

the

pate

nt o

wne

r. T

he c

urre

nt t

erm

of

prot

ectio

n fo

r sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent

shou

ld b

e ex

tend

ed t

o 10

yea

rs.

Res

trict

ion

in t

he n

umbe

r of

cl

aim

s is

nec

essa

ry to

pre

vent

abu

se o

f the

sys

tem

, but

to e

ncou

rage

inno

vatio

n, th

e m

axim

um n

umbe

r of c

laim

s can

be

incr

ease

d to

two

or th

ree,

and

this

can

be

furth

er

adju

sted

in fu

ture

.

�

Tom

Lam

sug

gest

s th

at s

hort-

term

pat

ent s

yste

m s

houl

d be

reta

ined

but

opt

ions

for

13

9

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

7.

Shou

ld w

e re

tain

the

cur

rent

sho

rt-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em in

its

exis

ting

form

, or

shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

chan

ges

to t

he s

yste

m?

If

the

latt

er, w

hat s

ort o

f cha

nges

shou

ld b

e in

trod

uced

?

� [\]

� `ab

� ^_K

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

shor

ter

term

of

prot

ectio

n (w

ith l

ower

fee

s),

for

exam

ple,

a t

erm

of

thre

e ye

ars,

shou

ld b

e m

ade

avai

labl

e.

�

Eric

Yun

g is

of t

he v

iew

that

intro

duci

ng a

mec

hani

sm fo

r sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

of s

hort-

term

pat

ents

can

det

er a

buse

of

the

syst

em a

nd i

ncre

ase

dem

and

for

the

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

arra

ngem

ent e

stab

lishe

d fo

r the

OG

P sy

stem

.

� VW#

sug

gest

s in

trodu

cing

an

optio

n fo

r lo

cal

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

of

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

ts to

avo

id b

eing

ove

rcha

rged

by

pate

nt a

gent

s. H

e al

so s

ugge

sts

prov

idin

g an

opt

ion

to e

xten

d th

e m

axim

um te

rm o

f pr

otec

tion

for

inve

ntio

ns w

ith

long

er c

omm

erci

al li

fe a

nd to

acc

ept a

pplic

atio

ns fi

led

in C

hine

se o

nly

with

out t

he

need

to h

ave

Engl

ish

trans

latio

n fo

r the

title

and

abs

tract

of t

he in

vent

ions

.

� XYZ

rec

omm

ends

stre

ngth

enin

g th

e sy

stem

and

to

limit

its r

estri

ctio

ns t

o en

cour

age

loca

l inn

ovat

ion.

�

Hui

Win

g K

in p

ropo

ses

intro

duci

ng a

man

dato

ry r

equi

rem

ent

for

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

to b

e co

nduc

ted

befo

re c

omm

ence

men

t of

enfo

rcem

ent.

Cos

ts o

f th

e su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n sh

ould

be

born

e by

the

pat

ent

owne

r if

he w

ants

to

com

men

ce a

n in

frin

gem

ent

actio

n ag

ains

t a

third

par

ty;

whe

reas

cos

ts o

f th

e su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n sh

ould

be

born

e by

a th

ird p

arty

if h

e w

ants

to c

omm

ence

a

revo

catio

n pr

ocee

ding

aga

inst

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t reg

istra

tion.

H

e al

so o

bjec

ts to

th

e ex

tens

ion

of th

e te

rm o

f pro

tect

ion

if su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n is

not

don

e be

fore

gr

ant.

� [\]

sug

gest

s th

e ex

tens

ion

of t

he r

e-re

gist

ratio

n sy

stem

to

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

ts

and

the

term

of p

rote

ctio

n is

to e

xpire

at t

he s

ame

time

as th

e ut

ility

mod

el g

rant

ed

14

0

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

7.

Shou

ld w

e re

tain

the

cur

rent

sho

rt-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em in

its

exis

ting

form

, or

shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

chan

ges

to t

he s

yste

m?

If

the

latt

er, w

hat s

ort o

f cha

nges

shou

ld b

e in

trod

uced

?

in th

e de

sign

ated

pat

ent o

ffice

exp

ires.

� `ab

is o

f th

e vi

ew th

at th

e te

rm o

f pr

otec

tion

shou

ld b

e 14

yea

rs o

r at

leas

t 12

year

s.

� ^_K

supp

orts

th

e in

trodu

ctio

n of

su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n to

el

imin

ate

unce

rtain

ty,

with

the

cos

ts f

or t

he e

xam

inat

ion

to b

e pa

id b

y th

e ap

plic

ants

but

as

sist

ance

sh

ould

be

pr

ovid

ed

by

the

Gov

ernm

ent

to

parti

es

with

fin

anci

al

cons

train

ts.

�

A r

espo

nden

t thi

nks

that

it is

not

nec

essa

ry to

cha

nge

the

curr

ent s

hort-

term

pat

ent

syst

em.

�

A r

espo

nden

t sug

gest

s th

at s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

ns f

or s

hort-

term

pat

ents

sho

uld

be in

trodu

ced

and

shou

ld b

e ca

rrie

d ou

t afte

r the

gra

nt o

f the

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

ts b

ut

befo

re th

e co

mm

ence

men

t of

lega

l pro

ceed

ings

. S

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

ns s

houl

d al

so b

e a

cond

ition

for c

omm

ence

men

t of i

nfrin

gem

ent p

roce

edin

gs a

nd th

e co

sts

of

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ions

sho

uld

be b

orne

by

the

losi

ng p

arty

and

the

pate

nt o

ffice

.

The

follo

win

g ch

ange

s sho

uld

also

be

intro

duce

d to

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

:

(a)

exte

nd th

e te

rm o

f pro

tect

ion

to 1

0 ye

ars;

(b)

incr

ease

the

max

imum

num

ber o

f cla

ims

allo

wed

in e

ach

pate

nt a

pplic

atio

n to

th

ree;

(c)

revi

se

the

pate

ntab

ility

cr

iteria

of

sh

ort-t

erm

pa

tent

s by

re

mov

ing

the

requ

irem

ent o

f “su

scep

tibili

ty o

f ind

ustri

al a

pplic

atio

n”; a

nd

14

1

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

7.

Shou

ld w

e re

tain

the

cur

rent

sho

rt-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em in

its

exis

ting

form

, or

shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

chan

ges

to t

he s

yste

m?

If

the

latt

er, w

hat s

ort o

f cha

nges

shou

ld b

e in

trod

uced

?

(d)

rena

me

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t as

“util

ity p

aten

t” s

o as

to b

e co

nsis

tent

with

Mac

ao

and

avoi

d co

nfus

ion

to fo

reig

ners

.

�

A re

spon

dent

sugg

ests

a n

umbe

r of c

hang

es:

(a)

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

can

eith

er b

e an

opt

ion

or m

ade

com

puls

ory

afte

r one

ye

ar, a

nd i

t sh

ould

be

mad

e a

cond

ition

for

com

men

cem

ent

of i

nfrin

gem

ent

proc

eedi

ngs w

ith th

e pa

tent

ow

ner b

earin

g th

e co

sts;

(b)

the

term

of

prot

ectio

n be

ext

ende

d to

20

year

s w

ith s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n;

and

(c)

exte

nsio

n of

the

num

ber o

f cla

ims t

o a

max

imum

of 2

0 cl

aim

s and

a m

axim

um

of th

ree

inde

pend

ent c

laim

s with

no

rest

rictio

n on

cla

im d

epen

denc

ies.

He

does

not

con

side

r a

chan

ge in

the

thre

shol

d of

pat

enta

bilit

y to

be

advi

sabl

e fo

r fe

ar o

f unc

erta

inty

.

�

A re

spon

dent

thin

ks th

at su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n sh

ould

not

be

mad

e m

anda

tory

but

be

im

pose

d se

lect

ivel

y an

d w

hen

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t is

con

side

red

to h

ave

infr

inge

d th

e pa

tent

of

anot

her

pers

on.

Sub

stan

tive

exam

inat

ion

shou

ld th

en b

e a

cond

ition

for

com

men

cem

ent

of t

he i

nfrin

gem

ent

proc

eedi

ngs.

The

cos

ts f

or

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

shou

ld b

e bo

rne

by t

he o

wne

r of

the

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

t if

ther

e is

fou

nd t

o be

inf

ringe

men

t, or

the

par

ty s

uing

for

inf

ringe

men

t if

ther

e is

fo

und

to b

e no

inf

ringe

men

t on

the

par

t of

the

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

t ow

ner.

Oth

er

chan

ges p

ropo

sed

by th

e re

spon

dent

are

the

exte

nsio

n of

the

term

of p

rote

ctio

n to

10

year

s and

the

rela

xatio

n of

the

max

imum

num

ber o

f cla

ims t

o fiv

e.

The

resp

onde

nt

14

2

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

7.

Shou

ld w

e re

tain

the

cur

rent

sho

rt-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em in

its

exis

ting

form

, or

shou

ld w

e in

trod

uce

chan

ges

to t

he s

yste

m?

If

the

latt

er, w

hat s

ort o

f cha

nges

shou

ld b

e in

trod

uced

?

does

not

thin

k th

at th

e th

resh

old

of p

aten

tabi

lity

shou

ld b

e va

ried.

14

3

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

8.

Shou

ld w

e di

scon

tinue

the

shor

t-te

rm p

aten

t sys

tem

alto

geth

er?

O

rgan

isat

ions

/ In

divi

dual

s V

iew

s / C

once

rns

8.1

Indu

stria

l / T

rade

Ass

ocia

tions

�

HK

GC

C

�

LESC

-HK

�

GS1

Hon

g K

ong

Non

e of

the

ind

ustri

al/tr

ade

asso

ciat

ions

tha

t re

spon

ded

indi

cate

tha

t th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pa

tent

syst

em sh

ould

be

disc

ontin

ued.

Spec

ific

view

s

�

HK

GC

C c

onsi

ders

that

the

final

ans

wer

dep

ends

on

the

chan

ges

to b

e in

trodu

ced

to

the

pate

nt sy

stem

as a

who

le.

�

LESC

-HK

sup

ports

the

cont

inua

tion

of th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m u

ntil

such

tim

e w

hen

the

com

mun

ity is

mor

e so

phis

ticat

ed in

IP p

rote

ctio

n.

�

GS1

Hon

g K

ong

is o

f th

e vi

ew t

hat

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sy

stem

sho

uld

not

be

disc

ontin

ued.

8.2

Prof

essi

onal

Bod

ies

�

HK

ITM

P

�

APA

A

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

�

HK

ITM

P, A

PAA

and

the

Law

Soc

iety

bel

ieve

tha

t th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em

shou

ld n

ot b

e di

scon

tinue

d.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

not

es th

at s

ome

have

sug

gest

ed th

at th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m

shou

ld b

e ab

olis

hed

as i

t ha

s be

en a

buse

d by

the

reg

istra

tions

of

ques

tiona

ble

inve

ntio

ns w

hich

may

not

sta

nd a

ny c

halle

nge

at tr

ial,

and

that

rig

hts

conf

erre

d by

sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ents

are

unc

erta

in a

s th

e ap

plic

atio

ns h

ave

not

been

exa

min

ed o

n m

erits

. T

he L

aw S

ocie

ty i

s of

the

vie

w t

hat

the

exte

nt o

f ab

use

may

be

14

4

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

8.

Shou

ld w

e di

scon

tinue

the

shor

t-te

rm p

aten

t sys

tem

alto

geth

er?

exag

gera

ted,

poi

ntin

g to

the

few

num

ber

of i

ncid

ents

of

succ

essf

ul r

evoc

atio

n of

sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ents

on

pate

ntab

ility

gro

und.

It

opin

es th

at it

is a

que

stio

n of

whe

ther

th

e ap

plic

ant

and

even

tual

ow

ner

are

prop

erly

adv

ised

and

und

erst

and

wha

t to

ex

pect

fro

m a

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

t reg

istra

tion

and

ther

efor

e th

e re

quire

men

t to

prov

e va

lidity

whe

n it

is re

lied

upon

at t

rial t

o se

cure

a fi

ndin

g of

infr

inge

men

t.

8.3

Aca

dem

ic S

ecto

r

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

is o

f the

vie

w th

at th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent

syst

em s

houl

d be

mai

ntai

ned

and

alig

ned

with

the

cha

nges

to

the

stan

dard

pat

ent

syst

em.

8.4

Lega

l Pra

ctiti

oner

s / P

aten

t Pra

ctiti

oner

s

�

QPA

Gro

up

�

Nig

el L

ee

�

Kam

Wah

Law

�

Chi

na In

telle

ctua

l Pro

perty

(H.K

.) Li

mite

d

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

t

�

A re

spon

dent

opp

oses

the

disc

ontin

uatio

n of

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

.

�

QPA

Gro

up i

s of

the

vie

w t

hat

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sy

stem

sho

uld

not

be

disc

ontin

ued.

�

Nig

el L

ee o

pine

s th

at th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m h

as a

uni

que

posi

tion

and

valu

e in

the

who

le H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

syst

em a

nd sh

ould

not

be

disc

ontin

ued.

�

Kam

Wah

Law

opp

oses

the

dis

cont

inua

tion

of t

he s

hort-

term

pat

ent

syst

em (

but

cons

ider

s am

endm

ents

are

requ

ired)

and

com

men

ts th

at th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m

prov

ides

a c

heap

er a

nd e

asie

r alte

rnat

ive

to th

e O

GP

syst

em.

�

Chi

na I

ntel

lect

ual

Prop

erty

(H

.K.)

Lim

ited

supp

orts

dis

cont

inui

ng t

he s

hort-

term

pa

tent

syst

em.

8.5

Oth

ers

�

HK

PC su

ppor

ts th

e co

ntin

uatio

n of

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

.

14

5

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

8.

Shou

ld w

e di

scon

tinue

the

shor

t-te

rm p

aten

t sys

tem

alto

geth

er?

�

HK

PC

�

API

CC

�

Uni

vers

al D

ispl

ay C

orpo

ratio

n H

ong

Kon

g,

Ltd.

�

API

CC

con

side

rs d

isco

ntin

uatio

n of

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

cou

ld b

e an

opt

ion

for t

he re

ason

that

con

fusi

on w

ill b

e ca

used

if th

ere

are

too

man

y ty

pes o

f pat

ents

.

�

Uni

vers

al

Dis

play

C

orpo

ratio

n H

ong

Kon

g,

Ltd.

do

es

not

supp

ort

the

disc

ontin

uatio

n of

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

.

8.6

Indi

vidu

als

�

Stan

ley

�

Tom

Lam

�

Hui

Win

g K

in

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

�

Stan

ley

does

not

supp

ort t

he d

isco

ntin

uatio

n of

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

.

�

Tom

Lam

opi

nes t

hat t

he sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m sh

ould

be

reta

ined

.

�

Hui

Win

g K

in s

uppo

rts a

bolis

hing

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

as

he is

of t

he v

iew

th

at th

e sy

stem

is n

ot w

idel

y us

ed in

Hon

g K

ong

and

ther

e is

no

bene

fit in

has

tily

putti

ng o

ut a

n ap

plic

atio

n fo

r a sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent.

�

A re

spon

dent

is o

f the

vie

w th

at th

e sy

stem

is e

ssen

tial t

o al

low

loca

l com

pani

es to

m

ake

a co

nven

ient

firs

t fili

ng.

�

A r

espo

nden

t sup

ports

the

cont

inua

tion

of th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent s

yste

m to

cat

er f

or

prod

ucts

with

a sh

orte

r com

mer

cial

life

.

�

Two

othe

r res

pond

ents

indi

cate

thei

r vie

ws

that

the

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t sys

tem

sho

uld

be m

aint

aine

d.

14

6

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

9.

Oth

er su

gges

tions

/ co

mm

ents

rec

eive

d.

O

rgan

isat

ions

/ In

divi

dual

s V

iew

s / C

once

rns

9.1

Indu

stria

l / T

rade

Ass

ocia

tions

�

HK

API

A

�

TMH

K

�

HK

EIA

�

HK

MFS

�

PVC

HK

�

HK

API

A,

TMH

K,

HK

EIA

, H

KM

FS a

nd P

VC

HK

pro

pose

tha

t m

echa

nism

s to

re

voke

or

inva

lidat

e pa

tent

s ot

her

than

cou

rt pr

ocee

ding

s sh

ould

be

set u

p to

geth

er

with

an

OG

P sy

stem

. W

ith th

e re

voca

tion

or in

valid

atio

n pr

oced

ures

set

up

on th

e ba

sis

of a

n O

GP

syst

em,

the

publ

ic o

r re

late

d pa

rties

can

hav

e an

effi

cien

t an

d ec

onom

ical

way

to o

bjec

t to

the

gran

t of a

pat

ent w

ithou

t the

nee

d to

reso

rt to

cou

rt pr

ocee

ding

s. T

his

will

det

er a

buse

(es

peci

ally

in

resp

ect

of s

hort-

term

pat

ents

), pr

otec

t th

ird p

artie

s’ rig

hts,

enha

nce

pate

nt s

tabi

lity

and

redu

ce t

he c

osts

of

litig

atio

n.

9.2

Prof

essi

onal

Bod

ies

�

HK

IPA

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

�

HK

IPA

pro

pose

s th

at m

echa

nism

s to

rev

oke

or in

valid

ate

pate

nts

othe

r th

an c

ourt

proc

eedi

ngs s

houl

d be

set u

p to

geth

er w

ith a

n O

GP

syst

em.

With

the

revo

catio

n or

in

valid

atio

n pr

oced

ures

set

up

on th

e ba

sis

of a

n O

GP

syst

em, t

he p

ublic

or r

elat

ed

parti

es c

an h

ave

an e

ffici

ent a

nd e

cono

mic

al w

ay to

obj

ect t

o th

e gr

ant o

f a

pate

nt

with

out t

he n

eed

to re

sort

to c

ourt

proc

eedi

ngs.

Thi

s will

det

er a

buse

(esp

ecia

lly in

re

spec

t of

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

ts),

prot

ect t

hird

par

ties’

right

s, en

hanc

e pa

tent

sta

bilit

y an

d re

duce

the

cost

s of l

itiga

tion.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

ref

ers

to th

e vi

ews

in M

s. Ip

’s L

ette

r th

at s

hort-

term

pat

ents

lack

ef

fect

in

litig

atio

n an

d th

at i

t is

ext

rem

ely

diffi

cult

for

such

ow

ners

to

obta

in

inte

rlocu

tory

inju

nctio

ns a

gain

st in

frin

ging

act

iviti

es u

nles

s th

e de

fend

ant g

ives

in.

14

7

Cha

pter

2 :

Shor

t-Te

rm P

aten

t Sys

tem

(50

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

9.

Oth

er su

gges

tions

/ co

mm

ents

rec

eive

d.

The

Law

Soc

iety

, how

ever

, con

side

rs th

at w

hils

t it i

s an

add

ition

al re

quire

men

t tha

t be

fore

any

cou

rt en

forc

emen

t act

ion,

a s

hort-

term

pat

ent o

wne

r m

ust f

irst e

stab

lish

the

valid

ity o

f hi

s pa

tent

, the

law

and

pra

ctic

e go

vern

ing

the

gran

t of

inte

rlocu

tory

in

junc

tion

is th

e sa

me.

Fu

rther

, the

law

pro

vide

s th

at e

vide

nce

by th

e ow

ner w

hich

is

suf

ficie

nt to

est

ablis

h pr

ima

faci

e th

e va

lidity

of t

he s

hort-

term

pat

ent s

hall

in th

e ab

senc

e of

ev

iden

ce

to

the

cont

rary

be

su

ffici

ent

proo

f of

su

ch

valid

ity.

A

ccor

ding

ly, t

he L

aw S

ocie

ty is

of

the

view

that

ther

e is

no

basi

s to

say

that

it is

ex

trem

ely

diffi

cult

for

shor

t-ter

m p

aten

t ow

ners

to o

btai

n in

terlo

cuto

ry in

junc

tions

ag

ains

t inf

ringi

ng a

ctiv

ities

.

9.3

Lega

l Pra

ctiti

oner

s / P

aten

t Pra

ctiti

oner

s

�

Song

& C

han

�

Sam

Yip

�

Song

& C

han

reco

mm

end

alig

ning

the

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

t sy

stem

with

the

util

ity

mod

el sy

stem

in C

hina

.

�

Sam

Yip

adv

ocat

es fo

r the

rem

oval

of t

he re

quire

men

t for

obt

aini

ng a

sea

rch

repo

rt w

hich

he

cons

ider

s to

be

of n

o pr

actic

al u

se a

s it

is n

ot d

eter

min

ativ

e of

the

valid

ity

of th

e sh

ort-t

erm

pat

ent.

14

8

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

10.

Shou

ld H

ong

Kon

g ha

ve a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

for

prof

essi

onal

s pr

ovid

ing

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es?

Sho

uld

the

prom

ulga

tion

of a

re

gula

tory

reg

ime

or o

ther

wis

e be

mad

e de

pend

ent o

n w

heth

er a

n O

GP

syst

em is

to b

e im

plem

ente

d in

Hon

g K

ong?

O

rgan

isat

ions

/ In

divi

dual

s V

iew

s / C

once

rns

10.1

In

dust

rial /

Tra

de A

ssoc

iatio

ns

�

CM

A

�

HK

API

A

�

TMH

K

�

HK

EIA

�

HK

MFS

�

PVC

HK

�

FITM

I

�

FHK

I

�

Am

Cha

m

�

HK

GC

C

�

HK

API

�

LESC

-HK

�

CM

A c

onsi

ders

that

the

stan

dard

of t

he s

ervi

ces

prov

ided

by

pate

nt a

gent

s in

Hon

g K

ong

shou

ld b

e ra

ised

to c

orre

spon

d w

ith th

e im

plem

enta

tion

of a

n O

GP

syst

em.

D

epen

ding

on

fu

ture

ne

eds,

the

Gov

ernm

ent

shou

ld

cons

ider

w

heth

er

a go

vern

men

t-led

lic

ensi

ng s

yste

m f

or r

egul

atin

g th

e pr

ovid

ers

of p

aten

t ag

ency

se

rvic

es h

as to

be

esta

blis

hed.

�

HK

API

A,

TMH

K,

HK

EIA

, H

KM

FS a

nd P

VC

HK

sug

gest

tha

t th

e G

over

nmen

t sh

ould

pro

mul

gate

a r

egul

ator

y re

gim

e fo

r pr

ovid

ers

of p

aten

t ag

ency

ser

vice

s in

H

ong

Kon

g.

�

FITM

I not

es th

at a

regu

lato

ry re

gim

e w

ill p

rote

ct p

aten

t ow

ners

and

ent

erpr

ises

and

w

ill im

prov

e th

e qu

ality

of p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

. W

ithou

t a re

gula

tory

regi

me

for

pate

nt a

gent

s, an

y pe

rson

cou

ld u

se th

e tit

le o

f pat

ent a

gent

and

cou

ld p

rovi

de p

aten

t ag

ency

ser

vice

s su

ch t

hat

the

right

s of

inv

ento

rs a

nd e

nter

pris

es w

ill n

ot b

e pr

otec

ted,

in p

artic

ular

in th

e fo

llow

ing

scen

ario

s:

(a)

whe

re th

ere

is a

con

flict

of i

nter

ests

;

(b)

disc

losu

re o

f co

nfid

entia

l in

form

atio

n re

latin

g to

the

pat

ent

delib

erat

ely

or

inad

verte

ntly

;

(c)

lack

of

know

ledg

e ab

out

“prio

rity”

, “p

aten

t la

ws”

and

“dr

aftin

g of

pat

ent

spec

ifica

tion”

, etc

.; an

d

14

9

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

10.

Shou

ld H

ong

Kon

g ha

ve a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

for

prof

essi

onal

s pr

ovid

ing

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es?

Sho

uld

the

prom

ulga

tion

of a

re

gula

tory

reg

ime

or o

ther

wis

e be

mad

e de

pend

ent o

n w

heth

er a

n O

GP

syst

em is

to b

e im

plem

ente

d in

Hon

g K

ong?

(d)

mis

cond

uct o

n th

e pa

rt of

pat

ent a

gent

s.

�

FHK

I com

men

ts th

at th

e qu

ality

of p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g va

ries

and

it su

ppor

ts t

he r

egul

atio

n of

pat

ent

agen

cy s

ervi

ces

to e

nsur

e it

coul

d m

eet

inte

rnat

iona

l sta

ndar

d an

d at

tract

tale

nts i

nto

the

indu

stry

.

�

Am

Cha

m b

elie

ves

that

the

Gov

ernm

ent

shou

ld e

ncou

rage

the

dev

elop

men

t, an

d pr

ovid

e re

gula

tory

ove

rsig

ht,

of a

hig

h-qu

ality

loc

al p

aten

t ag

ency

pro

fess

ion.

H

avin

g pr

ofes

sion

als

know

ledg

eabl

e an

d ex

perie

nced

in I

P m

atte

rs w

ill h

elp

Hon

g K

ong

beco

me

a hu

b fo

r com

mer

cial

isin

g, fi

nanc

ing

and

tradi

ng IP

.

�

Am

Cha

m o

pine

s th

at a

pat

ent p

rofe

ssio

n w

ill p

rovi

de a

noth

er c

aree

r pat

h fo

r Hon

g K

ong

grad

uate

s in

scie

nce

and

engi

neer

ing.

�

HK

GC

C se

es a

nee

d to

intro

duce

a re

gula

tory

regi

me

only

if a

n O

GP

syst

em is

to b

e in

trodu

ced,

as

othe

rwis

e th

e ex

istin

g sy

stem

pro

vide

s fo

r ch

oice

s an

d fle

xibi

lity

in

the

sele

ctio

n of

pro

fess

iona

ls.

Sin

ce th

e pr

imar

y fu

nctio

n of

pat

ent p

rofe

ssio

nals

is

to s

erve

the

syst

em, t

he a

ctua

l sha

pe o

f th

e sy

stem

sho

uld

be d

eter

min

ed p

rior

to

prov

idin

g su

gges

tions

to w

heth

er a

nd, i

f so

, how

the

pate

nt p

rofe

ssio

nals

are

to b

e re

gula

ted.

�

HK

API

con

side

rs t

hat

it is

ben

efic

ial

to h

ave

a bo

dy o

f w

ell-t

rain

ed l

ocal

pat

ent

agen

ts a

ccre

dite

d an

d re

gula

ted

by a

gov

ernm

ent

body

to

ensu

re t

he d

eliv

ery

of

cons

iste

nt a

nd q

ualit

y pa

tent

-rel

ated

ser

vice

s. I

t be

lieve

s th

at s

uch

a re

gula

tory

sy

stem

can

pro

vide

a f

urth

er c

aree

r pa

th f

or g

radu

ates

in

scie

nce

and

tech

nolo

gy

from

uni

vers

ities

and

col

lege

s in

Hon

g K

ong.

15

0

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

10.

Shou

ld H

ong

Kon

g ha

ve a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

for

prof

essi

onal

s pr

ovid

ing

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es?

Sho

uld

the

prom

ulga

tion

of a

re

gula

tory

reg

ime

or o

ther

wis

e be

mad

e de

pend

ent o

n w

heth

er a

n O

GP

syst

em is

to b

e im

plem

ente

d in

Hon

g K

ong?

�

LESC

-HK

opi

nes

that

the

pro

mul

gatio

n of

the

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

shou

ld b

e in

depe

nden

t of w

heth

er a

n O

GP

syst

em is

to b

e im

plem

ente

d in

Hon

g K

ong.

Th

is

is b

ecau

se a

pat

ent a

pplic

ant w

ould

ver

y m

uch

rely

on

the

expe

rtise

of

the

pate

nt

atto

rney

/age

nt to

ens

ure

his

pate

nt a

pplic

atio

n is

pro

perly

dra

fted

and

prof

essi

onal

an

d kn

owle

dgea

ble

expe

rtise

wou

ld b

e pr

ovid

ed o

n pa

tent

filin

g st

rate

gy.

10.2

Pr

ofes

sion

al B

odie

s

�

HK

IPA

�

HIP

P

�

HK

ITM

P

�

APA

A

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

�

HK

IPA

sup

ports

the

pro

mul

gatio

n of

a r

egul

ator

y re

gim

e fo

r pr

ovid

ers

of p

aten

t ag

ency

serv

ices

.

�

HIP

P su

ppor

ts th

e pr

omul

gatio

n of

a r

egul

ator

y re

gim

e fo

r pa

tent

pra

ctiti

oner

s an

d pa

tent

age

ncy

serv

ices

in o

rder

to e

nsur

e th

at p

ropr

ieta

ry in

form

atio

n of

inve

ntor

s is

pr

otec

ted

and

a re

liabl

e st

anda

rd o

f pat

ent a

genc

y se

rvic

es is

mai

ntai

ned.

�

HK

ITM

P is

of

the

view

tha

t in

trodu

ctio

n of

a r

egul

ator

y re

gim

e fo

r pa

tent

pr

actit

ione

rs s

houl

d no

t be

cons

ider

ed d

epen

dent

upo

n th

e in

trodu

ctio

n of

an

OG

P sy

stem

in H

ong

Kon

g.

�

HK

ITM

P em

phas

ises

that

if a

regu

lato

ry re

gim

e fo

r pat

ent p

ract

ition

ers

is to

be

set

up, a

ny su

ch re

gula

tion

shou

ld b

e “l

ight

touc

h re

gula

tion”

.

�

APA

A c

onsi

ders

that

som

e fo

rm o

f reg

ulat

ion

of th

ose

prov

idin

g se

rvic

es a

s pa

tent

ag

ents

and

/or

pate

nt a

ttorn

eys

is r

equi

red,

irr

espe

ctiv

e of

whe

ther

or

not

an O

GP

syst

em is

intro

duce

d in

Hon

g K

ong,

but

the

natu

re a

nd e

xten

t of t

he re

gula

tion

will

de

pend

in p

art o

n w

heth

er th

ere

is a

n O

GP

syst

em.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

poi

nts o

ut th

at ti

tles s

uch

as “

pate

nt a

ttorn

eys”

and

“pa

tent

age

nts”

ar

e la

rgel

y un

ders

tood

by

the

inte

rnat

iona

l co

mm

unity

as

prot

ecte

d tit

les

with

15

1

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

10.

Shou

ld H

ong

Kon

g ha

ve a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

for

prof

essi

onal

s pr

ovid

ing

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es?

Sho

uld

the

prom

ulga

tion

of a

re

gula

tory

reg

ime

or o

ther

wis

e be

mad

e de

pend

ent o

n w

heth

er a

n O

GP

syst

em is

to b

e im

plem

ente

d in

Hon

g K

ong?

spec

ial

mea

ning

s;

and

supp

orts

a

regu

lato

ry

regi

me

and

the

corr

espo

ndin

g re

cogn

ition

of

such

title

s, w

heth

er o

r no

t an

OG

P sy

stem

is to

be

impl

emen

ted

in

Hon

g K

ong.

10.3

Po

litic

al P

artie

s / G

roup

s

�

DA

B

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

�

New

Peo

ple’

s Par

ty

�

DA

B o

pine

s th

at a

regu

lato

ry re

gim

e sh

ould

be

impl

emen

ted

as s

oon

as p

ossi

ble

so

that

the

qua

lity

of s

ervi

ces

prov

ided

by

pate

nt a

gent

s co

uld

be a

ssur

ed a

nd

cons

umer

s’ rig

hts

coul

d be

pro

tect

ed.

Thi

s m

ay a

lso

prom

ote

the

grow

th o

f th

e in

dust

ry o

f pa

tent

age

ncy

serv

ices

and

ben

efit

pate

nt a

pplic

ants

and

may

the

n pr

omot

e in

nova

tion

in H

ong

Kon

g.

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

is o

f th

e vi

ew th

at if

an

OG

P sy

stem

is im

plem

ente

d in

Hon

g K

ong,

a r

egis

tratio

n sy

stem

for

pro

vide

rs o

f pa

tent

age

ncy

serv

ices

will

nee

d to

be

set u

p in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

list

s ou

t a n

umbe

r of

inci

dent

s w

hich

ref

lect

the

wea

knes

ses

of

not r

egul

atin

g pa

tent

age

nts i

n H

ong

Kon

g:

(a)

a pa

tent

age

nt t

akin

g ov

er h

is c

lient

’s i

nven

tion

and

appl

ying

for

pat

ent

prot

ectio

n in

his

ow

n na

me;

(b)

pote

ntia

l co

nflic

t of

int

eres

t w

hen

a pa

tent

age

nt a

cts

for

two

com

petin

g co

mpa

nies

; and

(c)

filin

g pa

tent

app

licat

ions

in

Hon

g K

ong

by f

orei

gn c

ompa

nies

with

out

enga

ging

a lo

cal p

aten

t age

nt.

�

New

Peo

ple’

s Par

ty re

com

men

ds th

e st

reng

then

ing

of tr

aini

ng o

f pat

ent p

erso

nnel

in

15

2

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

10.

Shou

ld H

ong

Kon

g ha

ve a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

for

prof

essi

onal

s pr

ovid

ing

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es?

Sho

uld

the

prom

ulga

tion

of a

re

gula

tory

reg

ime

or o

ther

wis

e be

mad

e de

pend

ent o

n w

heth

er a

n O

GP

syst

em is

to b

e im

plem

ente

d in

Hon

g K

ong?

addi

tion

to th

e re

gula

tion

of p

aten

t age

nts a

nd la

wye

rs.

10.4

A

cade

mic

Sec

tor

�

Dr C

W T

so

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

�

Dr C

W T

so n

otes

that

an

unre

gula

ted

pate

nt p

rofe

ssio

n do

es n

ot a

ssur

e th

e st

anda

rd

and

qual

ity o

f th

e se

rvic

es a

nd c

onsi

ders

it

of p

aram

ount

im

porta

nce

to h

ave

a re

gula

tory

regi

me

for p

rovi

ders

of p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

est

ablis

hed

in H

ong

Kon

g in

ord

er to

ens

ure

that

the

pate

nt sy

stem

’s fu

ture

pos

ition

ing

is in

alig

nmen

t with

the

visi

on to

dev

elop

Hon

g K

ong

into

a re

gion

al in

nova

tion

and

tech

nolo

gy h

ub.

�

Dr

C W

Tso

agr

ees

that

with

an

OG

P sy

stem

bei

ng i

ntro

duce

d in

Hon

g K

ong,

a

regu

lato

ry r

egim

e w

ill h

elp

build

a l

ocal

pat

ent

prof

essi

on a

nd c

reat

e m

ore

job

oppo

rtuni

ties

for

loca

l gr

adua

tes

with

sci

ence

, en

gine

erin

g an

d ot

her

tech

nica

l ba

ckgr

ound

.

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

is o

f th

e vi

ew th

at H

ong

Kon

g ha

s its

ow

n en

viro

nmen

t to

beco

me

an IP

exc

hang

e hu

b an

d th

e re

gula

tion

on th

e pr

ovis

ion

of a

genc

y se

rvic

es s

houl

d be

ind

epen

dent

of

whe

ther

an

OG

P sy

stem

will

be

empl

oyed

.

10.5

Le

gal P

ract

ition

ers /

Pat

ent P

ract

ition

ers

�

Ric

hard

R. H

alst

ead

�

Chr

is M

urra

y

�

QPA

Gro

up

�

Ric

hard

R. H

alst

ead

is o

f the

vie

w th

at to

ens

ure

that

Hon

g K

ong

beco

mes

a h

ub fo

r in

nova

tion,

it

is i

mpo

rtant

for

inv

ento

rs t

o kn

ow w

ho t

hey

are

deal

ing

with

, an

d w

heth

er th

ey a

re p

rofe

ssio

nally

qua

lifie

d to

dra

ft an

d pr

osec

ute

pate

nt a

pplic

atio

ns.

�

Chr

is M

urra

y op

pose

s th

e re

gula

tion

of p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

. H

e co

nsid

ers

that

, w

hile

a li

st o

f cur

rent

ser

vice

pro

vide

rs m

ay b

e he

lpfu

l, co

sts

for g

ood

regu

latio

n of

pa

tent

ser

vice

s w

ill h

ave

to b

e pa

ssed

ont

o cu

stom

ers.

He

is n

ot c

onvi

nced

tha

t re

gula

tion

will

gu

aran

tee

impr

ovem

ent

of

serv

ice

stan

dard

an

d he

be

lieve

s

15

3

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

10.

Shou

ld H

ong

Kon

g ha

ve a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

for

prof

essi

onal

s pr

ovid

ing

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es?

Sho

uld

the

prom

ulga

tion

of a

re

gula

tory

reg

ime

or o

ther

wis

e be

mad

e de

pend

ent o

n w

heth

er a

n O

GP

syst

em is

to b

e im

plem

ente

d in

Hon

g K

ong?

�

Song

& C

han

�

Dan

ny C

han

�

Nig

el L

ee

�

Kam

Wah

Law

�

Ken

neth

Yip

�

Chi

na In

telle

ctua

l Pro

perty

(H.K

.) Li

mite

d

�

Ben

ny K

ong

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

over

-reg

ulat

ion

will

driv

e cu

stom

ers a

way

to c

heap

er ju

risdi

ctio

ns.

�

QPA

G

roup

ag

rees

th

at

Hon

g K

ong

shou

ld

have

a

regu

lato

ry

regi

me

for

prof

essi

onal

s pr

ovid

ing

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es i

rres

pect

ive

of w

heth

er o

r no

t an

O

GP

syst

em is

intro

duce

d in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

QPA

Gro

up c

onsi

ders

it

to b

e of

par

amou

nt i

mpo

rtanc

e th

at s

houl

d a

regu

lato

ry

regi

me

be in

trodu

ced,

the

stan

dard

in re

spec

t of s

ubst

antiv

e pa

tent

age

ncy

serv

ices

is

first

wor

ld c

lass

, in

kee

ping

with

Hon

g K

ong’

s w

orld

cla

ss l

egal

sys

tem

and

the

bo

dy o

f aut

horit

ativ

e ca

ses

whi

ch u

nder

pins

the

Hon

g K

ong

pate

nt la

w a

nd s

yste

m.

Th

e re

gula

tory

regi

me

shou

ld b

e su

ppor

ted

by p

aten

t pra

ctiti

oner

s who

hav

e:

(a)

obta

ined

pro

fess

iona

l ter

tiary

tech

nica

l qua

lific

atio

ns e

nabl

ing

prac

titio

ners

to

appr

opria

tely

han

dle

com

plex

tech

nolo

gies

; (b

) ha

d su

bsta

ntia

l pr

ofes

sion

al t

rain

ing

and

expe

rienc

e in

sub

stan

tive

pate

nt

mat

ters

ove

r sev

eral

yea

rs; a

nd

(c

) pa

ssed

stri

ngen

t w

ritte

n pa

tent

dra

fting

exa

min

atio

ns (

it co

nsid

ers

mul

tiple

ch

oice

mus

t not

be

adop

ted

as a

mod

e of

thes

e ex

amin

atio

ns).

In

thei

r vi

ew,

no

regu

latio

n is

a

pref

erab

le

optio

n to

po

or,

ambi

guou

s or

su

b-st

anda

rd re

gula

tion.

�

Song

& C

han

indi

cate

thei

r sup

port

for a

regu

lato

ry re

gim

e.

�

Dan

ny C

han

sugg

ests

tha

t pa

tent

age

nt r

egis

tratio

n sh

ould

be

com

puls

ory.

H

e

15

4

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

10.

Shou

ld H

ong

Kon

g ha

ve a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

for

prof

essi

onal

s pr

ovid

ing

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es?

Sho

uld

the

prom

ulga

tion

of a

re

gula

tory

reg

ime

or o

ther

wis

e be

mad

e de

pend

ent o

n w

heth

er a

n O

GP

syst

em is

to b

e im

plem

ente

d in

Hon

g K

ong?

cons

ider

s a

Hon

g K

ong

pate

nt a

gent

is re

quire

d to

dra

ft pa

tent

spe

cific

atio

n as

wel

l as

adv

isin

g cl

ient

s on

pat

ent

law

. H

e su

gges

ts t

hat

a H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

age

nt

shou

ld b

e re

quire

d to

hav

e sc

ienc

e or

eng

inee

ring

qual

ifica

tions

with

a la

w d

egre

e at

a

com

mon

law

juris

dict

ion.

�

Nig

el L

ee b

elie

ves

that

a r

egul

ator

y re

gim

e ca

n pr

even

t th

e pu

blic

fro

m b

eing

m

isle

d by

the

use

of ti

tles

like

“pat

ent a

ttorn

ey”

and

“pat

ent a

gent

” by

non

-qua

lifie

d pe

rson

s, w

ho p

rovi

de p

oor p

aten

t ser

vice

s whi

ch m

ay je

opar

dise

the

pate

nt ri

ghts

.

�

Kam

Wah

Law

thi

nks

that

Hon

g K

ong

shou

ld h

ave

a re

gula

tory

reg

ime

and

regu

latio

n of

pat

ent

agen

cy s

ervi

ces

shou

ld b

e in

depe

nden

t of

whe

ther

an

OG

P sy

stem

is to

be

impl

emen

ted

in H

ong

Kon

g.

�

Ken

neth

Yip

thin

ks th

at a

qua

lific

atio

n sy

stem

can

ass

ist u

sers

in th

e se

lect

ion

of

pate

nt p

rofe

ssio

nal

serv

ice

prov

ider

s. T

he q

ualif

ied

pate

nt a

gent

s sh

ould

hav

e pr

oper

tech

nica

l edu

catio

n an

d tra

inin

g of

pat

ent p

roce

dure

s.

�

Chi

na I

ntel

lect

ual

Prop

erty

(H

.K.)

Lim

ited

is c

once

rned

abo

ut r

egul

atin

g th

e pr

ovis

ion

of p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

whe

n th

e ou

tcom

e of

the

pate

nt sy

stem

revi

ew is

st

ill u

ncer

tain

.

�

Ben

ny K

ong

and

a re

spon

dent

thin

k th

at a

regu

lato

ry re

gim

e is

nee

ded

irres

pect

ive

of w

heth

er a

n O

GP

syst

em is

impl

emen

ted.

�

A re

spon

dent

stre

sses

the

long

tim

e re

quire

d to

trai

n up

sui

tabl

e qu

alifi

ed p

erso

ns to

be

pat

ent

agen

ts a

nd i

ts n

eed

is i

ndep

ende

nt o

f w

heth

er H

ong

Kon

g w

ill h

ave

an

OG

P sy

stem

. T

he a

ssur

ance

of t

he q

ualit

y of

the

prac

titio

ners

that

can

be

affo

rded

15

5

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

10.

Shou

ld H

ong

Kon

g ha

ve a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

for

prof

essi

onal

s pr

ovid

ing

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es?

Sho

uld

the

prom

ulga

tion

of a

re

gula

tory

reg

ime

or o

ther

wis

e be

mad

e de

pend

ent o

n w

heth

er a

n O

GP

syst

em is

to b

e im

plem

ente

d in

Hon

g K

ong?

by a

regu

lato

ry re

gim

e is

als

o an

adv

anta

ge h

e ha

s ref

erre

d to

.

10.6

O

ther

s

�

HK

PC

�

API

CC

�

Blu

e O

cean

Stra

tegy

Con

sulti

ng/A

rt G

roup

Li

mite

d

�

HK

PC s

uppo

rts t

he s

ettin

g up

of

a re

gula

tory

reg

ime

for

prof

essi

onal

s pr

ovid

ing

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es in

pat

ent a

pplic

atio

ns o

r re

late

d pr

ocee

ding

s so

as

to e

nsur

e th

at p

aten

t app

lican

ts w

ill o

btai

n pr

ofes

sion

al s

ervi

ces

from

qua

lifie

d pr

ofes

sion

als

and

to h

elp

user

s id

entif

y su

ch q

ualif

ied

prof

essi

onal

s. H

KPC

opi

nes

that

the

es

tabl

ishm

ent o

f a

regu

lato

ry r

egim

e an

d of

the

OG

P sy

stem

sho

uld

be c

onsi

dere

d se

para

tely

.

�

API

CC

sup

ports

the

regu

latio

n of

pat

ent a

gent

s, bu

t con

side

rs th

at th

e rig

ht to

gra

nt

licen

ces s

houl

d no

t be

give

n ex

clus

ivel

y to

a si

ngle

pro

fess

iona

l or t

rade

ass

ocia

tion,

in

stea

d, a

min

imum

of f

our t

o fiv

e tra

de a

nd p

rofe

ssio

nal b

odie

s sho

uld

be g

iven

the

right

to

do s

o to

ens

ure

that

a f

air,

open

and

cos

t-effe

ctiv

e lic

ensi

ng s

yste

m i

s m

aint

aine

d.

�

Blu

e O

cean

Stra

tegy

Con

sulti

ng/A

rt G

roup

Lim

ited

take

s th

e vi

ew th

at a

lthou

gh th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

the

exp

ertis

e, t

echn

ical

dat

abas

e, k

now

ledg

e an

d ad

min

istra

tive

syst

em in

pat

ent e

xam

inat

ion

will

take

tim

e, th

e re

gim

e of

suc

h de

velo

pmen

t and

re

gula

tion

of p

aten

t ag

ency

bus

ines

s w

ill c

reat

e ne

w j

ob o

ppor

tuni

ties

for

loca

l ta

lent

s an

d en

hanc

e th

e va

lue

crea

tion

and

inno

vatio

n m

enta

lity

in H

ong

Kon

g, a

s w

ell a

s cr

eate

a g

reat

er o

ppor

tuni

ty f

or k

now

ledg

e sh

arin

g am

ongs

t pat

ent a

gent

s, ac

adem

ics,

scie

ntis

ts, e

ngin

eerin

g pr

ofes

sion

and

oth

er e

xper

ts in

Hon

g K

ong.

10.7

In

divi

dual

s �

St

anle

y op

ines

that

the

prom

ulga

tion

of a

regu

lato

ry re

gim

e fo

r pat

ent a

gent

s sh

ould

be

dep

ende

nt o

n w

heth

er a

n O

GP

syst

em is

to b

e im

plem

ente

d in

Hon

g K

ong.

If

15

6

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

10.

Shou

ld H

ong

Kon

g ha

ve a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

for

prof

essi

onal

s pr

ovid

ing

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es?

Sho

uld

the

prom

ulga

tion

of a

re

gula

tory

reg

ime

or o

ther

wis

e be

mad

e de

pend

ent o

n w

heth

er a

n O

GP

syst

em is

to b

e im

plem

ente

d in

Hon

g K

ong?

�

Stan

ley

�

Tom

Lam

�

Eric

Yun

g

� XYZ

�

Hui

Win

g K

in

� [\]

� ^_K

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

an O

GP

syst

em is

to b

e im

plem

ente

d, a

regu

lato

ry re

gim

e of

pat

ent a

gent

s sho

uld

be

intro

duce

d.

�

Tom

Lam

opp

oses

the

int

rodu

ctio

n of

a r

egul

ator

y re

gim

e fo

r pr

ofes

sion

als

prov

idin

g pa

tent

age

ncy

serv

ices

.

�

Eric

Yun

g an

d an

othe

r re

spon

dent

sup

port

the

prom

ulga

tion

of a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

for p

rofe

ssio

nals

pro

vidi

ng p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

.

� XYZ

opp

oses

pro

mul

gatio

n of

a r

egul

ator

y re

gim

e fo

r pr

ofes

sion

als

prov

idin

g pa

tent

age

ncy

serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g as

she

thin

ks th

e m

arke

t is

smal

l and

so

it w

ill

be d

iffic

ult

to h

ave

an e

ffici

ent

regu

lato

ry s

yste

m.

Als

o, i

t m

ay r

esul

t in

a

mon

opol

y an

d dr

ive

up th

e se

rvic

e fe

es c

harg

ed b

y pa

tent

age

nts.

� XYZ

com

men

ts th

at a

regu

lato

ry re

gim

e sh

ould

onl

y be

intro

duce

d af

ter a

n O

GP

syst

em is

est

ablis

hed

in H

ong

Kon

g.

�

Hui

Win

g K

in c

onsi

ders

it u

nnec

essa

ry to

est

ablis

h a

regu

lato

ry re

gim

e fo

r pro

vide

rs

of p

aten

t ag

ency

ser

vice

s in

Hon

g K

ong

if th

e cu

rren

t re

-reg

istra

tion

syst

em i

s m

aint

aine

d, s

ince

the

proc

ess

in g

ettin

g a

pate

nt re

gist

ered

in H

ong

Kon

g is

stri

ctly

pr

oced

ural

and

doe

s no

t req

uire

a p

rofe

ssio

nal t

o pr

epar

e th

e do

cum

ents

for

pat

ent

appl

icat

ion.

�

Hui

Win

g K

in o

pine

s th

at a

reg

ulat

ory

syst

em w

ill o

nly

lead

to a

n in

crea

se in

job

oppo

rtuni

ties

if an

OG

P sy

stem

is e

stab

lishe

d in

Hon

g K

ong.

In

add

ition

, he

does

no

t thi

nk th

at it

is lo

gica

l to

crea

te jo

bs f

or p

aten

t pro

fess

iona

ls a

t the

exp

ense

of

incr

easi

ng th

e co

sts o

f inn

ovat

ion

in H

ong

Kon

g.

15

7

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

10.

Shou

ld H

ong

Kon

g ha

ve a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

for

prof

essi

onal

s pr

ovid

ing

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es?

Sho

uld

the

prom

ulga

tion

of a

re

gula

tory

reg

ime

or o

ther

wis

e be

mad

e de

pend

ent o

n w

heth

er a

n O

GP

syst

em is

to b

e im

plem

ente

d in

Hon

g K

ong?

� [\]

thin

ks th

at th

e us

e of

title

of “

pate

nt a

gent

” sh

ould

be

rest

ricte

d to

firm

s th

at

have

in

th

eir

empl

oy

regi

ster

ed

pate

nt

agen

ts,

and

sepa

rate

qu

alifi

catio

ns

requ

irem

ents

and

reg

istra

tion

syst

ems

for

pate

nt a

gent

s, pa

tent

adm

inis

trativ

e m

anag

ers

and

pate

nt a

gent

bro

kers

sho

uld

be s

et u

p.

Apa

rt fr

om p

resc

ribed

qu

alifi

catio

ns, t

he r

egis

tere

d pa

rties

sho

uld

be r

egul

ated

by

code

s of

con

duct

and

sh

ould

be

requ

ired

to a

ttend

con

tinui

ng e

duca

tion

prog

ram

mes

with

pen

altie

s fo

r vi

olat

ion.

� ^_K

bel

ieve

s th

e re

gula

tion

of p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

will

affo

rd c

apab

ility

and

cr

edita

bilit

y to

the

prof

essi

on a

s wel

l as i

ncre

ase

effic

ienc

y.

�

A r

espo

nden

t do

es n

ot t

hink

the

int

rodu

ctio

n of

a r

egul

ator

y re

gim

e ha

s to

be

depe

nden

t on

an O

GP

syst

em.

�

A re

spon

dent

thin

ks th

at p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

shou

ld b

e re

gula

ted

if H

ong

Kon

g is

to

hav

e an

OG

P sy

stem

.

�

A r

espo

nden

t op

pose

s th

e in

trodu

ctio

n of

a r

egul

ator

y re

gim

e fo

r pr

ofes

sion

als

prov

idin

g pa

tent

age

ncy

serv

ices

bec

ause

the

mar

ket o

r cus

tom

ers

can

deal

with

the

com

plai

nts

or n

eglig

ence

of p

aten

t age

nts

by re

ason

able

mea

ns o

r the

cus

tom

ers

can

reso

lve

the

mat

ter b

y lit

igat

ion

to c

laim

for l

oss a

nd d

amag

es.

15

8

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

11.

If a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

is to

be

intr

oduc

ed fo

r pr

ovid

ers

of p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

, sho

uld

we

rest

rict

the

prov

isio

n of

suc

h se

rvic

es to

pe

rson

s m

eetin

g ce

rtai

n qu

alifi

catio

ns o

r re

quir

emen

ts o

nly?

O

r sh

ould

we

limit

the

use

of p

artic

ular

titl

es o

nly

but

allo

w t

he

prov

isio

n of

such

serv

ices

by

any

pers

on?

O

rgan

isat

ions

/ In

divi

dual

s V

iew

s / C

once

rns

11.1

In

dust

rial /

Tra

de A

ssoc

iatio

ns

�

Am

Cha

m

�

HK

GC

C

�

HK

API

�

LESC

-HK

�

Am

Cha

m i

s of

the

vie

w t

hat

pers

ons

ente

ring

the

pate

nt a

gent

pro

fess

ion

shou

ld

unde

rgo

prop

er t

rain

ing,

exa

min

atio

n an

d ac

cred

itatio

n to

ens

ure

prov

isio

n of

hi

gh-q

ualit

y se

rvic

e.

�

HK

GC

C c

onsi

ders

that

the

shap

e of

the

pate

nt s

yste

m s

houl

d be

det

erm

ined

prio

r to

prov

idin

g su

gges

tions

and

ans

wer

s as

to

whe

ther

and

, if

so,

how

, th

e pa

tent

pr

ofes

sion

als a

re to

be

regu

late

d.

HK

GC

C su

gges

ts th

at if

the

goal

of a

regi

stra

tion

syst

em i

s to

ens

ure

a m

inim

um l

evel

of

com

pete

ncy

for

prac

tice,

the

n th

e us

e of

pa

rticu

lar t

itles

shou

ld b

e lim

ited

to th

ose

mee

ting

the

regi

stra

tion

qual

ifica

tions

.

�

HK

API

op

ines

th

at

the

pate

nt

agen

cy

prof

essi

on

shou

ld

be

regu

late

d by

a

gove

rnm

ent-r

un s

chem

e w

hich

sho

uld

ensu

re th

at p

rope

rly e

duca

ted

and

accr

edite

d st

aff,

equi

pped

with

the

nec

essa

ry t

echn

ical

tra

inin

g, i

s em

ploy

ed t

o up

hold

the

ge

nera

l pub

lic a

nd in

dust

ry’s

con

fiden

ce in

the

pate

nt sy

stem

.

�

LESC

-HK

pro

pose

s th

at o

nly

thos

e pr

ofes

sion

als

who

hav

e pa

ssed

the

appr

opria

te

exam

inat

ion

and

acqu

ired

the

prop

er q

ualif

icat

ion

coul

d be

acc

orde

d th

e tit

le “

pate

nt

atto

rney

/age

nt”

and

that

th

ere

shou

ld

be

a re

quire

men

t fo

r su

ch

pate

nt

atto

rney

s/ag

ents

to

dem

onst

rate

tha

t th

eir

know

ledg

e in

the

are

a is

cur

rent

. T

he

15

9

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

11.

If a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

is to

be

intr

oduc

ed fo

r pr

ovid

ers

of p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

, sho

uld

we

rest

rict

the

prov

isio

n of

suc

h se

rvic

es to

pe

rson

s m

eetin

g ce

rtai

n qu

alifi

catio

ns o

r re

quir

emen

ts o

nly?

O

r sh

ould

we

limit

the

use

of p

artic

ular

titl

es o

nly

but

allo

w t

he

prov

isio

n of

such

serv

ices

by

any

pers

on?

Gov

ernm

ent s

houl

d be

resp

onsi

ble

for s

ettin

g up

such

regu

lato

ry re

gim

e.

11.2

Pr

ofes

sion

al B

odie

s

�

HIP

P

�

HK

ITM

P

�

APA

A

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

�

HIP

P su

gges

ts th

at th

e pr

ovis

ion

of p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

sho

uld

be r

estri

cted

to

qual

ified

per

sons

.

�

HK

ITM

P is

war

y th

at d

iffer

ent t

itles

may

be

conf

usin

g to

the

publ

ic a

nd a

dvis

es th

at

it m

ay b

e m

ore

appr

opria

te t

o fo

cus

on r

egul

atio

n of

the

nat

ure

of t

he s

ervi

ces

prov

ided

rath

er th

an th

e tit

le o

f the

per

son

prov

idin

g th

e se

rvic

es.

�

APA

A s

uppo

rts a

mor

e lib

eral

app

roac

h si

mila

r to

that

of t

he U

K w

hich

rest

ricts

the

abili

ty to

use

par

ticul

ar ti

tles

such

as

“pat

ent a

gent

” an

d “p

aten

t atto

rney

” by

cer

tain

pr

ofes

sion

als

who

sat

isfy

rele

vant

requ

irem

ents

and

are

regi

ster

ed u

nder

app

ropr

iate

re

gula

tions

. T

his

will

ens

ure

that

hig

h pr

ofes

sion

al s

tand

ards

are

req

uire

d an

d m

aint

aine

d, a

nd w

ill g

ive

the

publ

ic c

onfid

ence

tha

t, w

hen

deal

ing

with

a p

aten

t ag

ent

or

pate

nt

atto

rney

, th

ey

are

deal

ing

with

so

meo

ne

suita

bly

qual

ified

, ex

perie

nced

and

insu

red

to h

andl

e su

bsta

ntiv

e pa

tent

issu

es.

�

APA

A i

s of

the

vie

w t

hat

even

for

pro

fess

iona

lly q

ualif

ied

pers

ons

actin

g in

the

pa

tent

fie

ld a

nd e

ntitl

ed t

o be

“pa

tent

atto

rney

s” u

nder

any

pro

pose

d re

gula

tions

, th

ere

shou

ld b

e an

ele

men

t of r

egul

atio

n to

ens

ure

that

qua

lifie

d pa

tent

age

nts w

ith a

te

chni

cal

scie

ntifi

c ba

ckgr

ound

and

tra

inin

g in

pat

ent

draf

ting

do n

ot,

unle

ss

othe

rwis

e qu

alifi

ed,

hand

le p

aten

t-rel

ated

leg

al i

ssue

s ou

tsid

e of

the

ir fie

ld o

f ex

perti

se.

Con

vers

ely,

sol

icito

rs w

ho a

re n

ot o

ther

wis

e qu

alifi

ed s

houl

d no

t han

dle

draf

ting

of p

aten

t spe

cific

atio

ns a

nd c

laim

s.

16

0

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

11.

If a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

is to

be

intr

oduc

ed fo

r pr

ovid

ers

of p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

, sho

uld

we

rest

rict

the

prov

isio

n of

suc

h se

rvic

es to

pe

rson

s m

eetin

g ce

rtai

n qu

alifi

catio

ns o

r re

quir

emen

ts o

nly?

O

r sh

ould

we

limit

the

use

of p

artic

ular

titl

es o

nly

but

allo

w t

he

prov

isio

n of

such

serv

ices

by

any

pers

on?

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

bel

ieve

s th

at s

ince

pat

ents

are

tec

hnic

al m

atte

rs, t

o im

prov

e (o

r m

aint

ain)

pat

ent q

ualit

y an

d to

pro

tect

pub

lic in

tere

st (f

rom

bot

h th

e pa

tent

ow

ner’s

an

d pu

blic

’s p

ersp

ectiv

es)

by h

avin

g pr

oper

ly d

efin

ed p

aten

ts, p

rofe

ssio

nal

pate

nt

serv

ices

sh

ould

be

re

stric

ted

only

to

th

ose

pers

ons

mee

ting

the

pres

crib

ed

qual

ifica

tions

.

11.3

A

cade

mic

Sec

tor

�

Dr C

W T

so

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

�

Dr C

W T

so b

elie

ves t

hat p

rovi

sion

of p

aten

t ser

vice

s sho

uld

be re

stric

ted

to p

erso

ns

mee

ting

certa

in q

ualif

icat

ions

and

exp

erie

nce

requ

irem

ents

. H

e fu

rther

sug

gest

s th

at th

e us

e of

title

s suc

h as

“pa

tent

age

nt”

or “

pate

nt a

ttorn

ey”

be re

stric

ted

to th

ose

prof

essi

onal

s w

ho s

atis

fy th

e pr

escr

ibed

req

uire

men

ts a

nd a

re r

egis

tere

d un

der

the

rele

vant

ord

inan

ces.

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

sug

gest

s th

at u

se o

f tit

les

shou

ld b

e re

stric

ted.

11.4

Le

gal P

ract

ition

ers /

Pat

ent P

ract

ition

ers

�

Ric

hard

R. H

alst

ead

�

QPA

Gro

up

�

Song

& C

han

�

Nig

el L

ee

�

Ric

hard

R.

Hal

stea

d co

nsid

ers

that

Hon

g K

ong

unde

rtaki

ngs

serv

ing

as “

pate

nt

agen

ts”

gene

rally

do

not p

osse

ss n

eces

sary

sci

entif

ic o

r tec

hnic

al e

xper

tise.

W

hile

th

ey a

re c

apab

le f

or t

he p

urpo

se o

f en

forc

emen

t of

pat

ents

, th

ey a

re l

ess

so i

n un

ders

tand

ing

the

tech

nica

l as

pect

s of

the

sub

ject

inv

entio

ns.

The

re a

re n

o pr

oble

ms

as l

ong

as t

he t

erm

“pa

tent

age

nts”

ref

er t

o le

gal

advi

sory

or

agen

cy

serv

ices

for

reg

iste

ring

pate

nts

prof

essi

onal

ly p

repa

red

and

pros

ecut

ed o

utsi

de o

f H

ong

Kon

g.

How

ever

, pr

oble

ms

will

ine

vita

bly

aris

e if

pate

nts

are

draf

ted

in

Hon

g K

ong

by u

nqua

lifie

d pe

rson

s. S

imila

rly,

if pa

tent

age

nts

poss

ess

only

te

chni

cal

but

no s

peci

alis

t le

gal

train

ing

in d

rafti

ng a

nd p

rose

cutin

g pa

tent

s, th

ere

16

1

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

11.

If a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

is to

be

intr

oduc

ed fo

r pr

ovid

ers

of p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

, sho

uld

we

rest

rict

the

prov

isio

n of

suc

h se

rvic

es to

pe

rson

s m

eetin

g ce

rtai

n qu

alifi

catio

ns o

r re

quir

emen

ts o

nly?

O

r sh

ould

we

limit

the

use

of p

artic

ular

titl

es o

nly

but

allo

w t

he

prov

isio

n of

such

serv

ices

by

any

pers

on?

�

Kam

Wah

Law

�

Ken

neth

Yip

�

Ben

ny K

ong

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

will

be

a ne

gativ

e im

pact

on

the

qual

ity o

f pa

tent

s. H

e hi

ghlig

hts

the

need

to le

t co

nsum

ers k

now

the

qual

ifica

tion

of “

pate

nt a

gent

s” w

ith w

hom

they

are

dea

ling.

�

Ric

hard

R. H

alst

ead

sugg

ests

that

a re

gist

er o

f pro

fess

iona

lly q

ualif

ied

pate

nt a

gent

s si

mila

r to

the

US,

sho

uld

be s

et u

p by

inc

ludi

ng p

eopl

e ar

ound

the

wor

ld w

ith

tech

nica

l qua

lific

atio

ns a

nd w

ho h

ave

had

prof

essi

onal

trai

ning

for

the

purp

ose

of

draf

ting

and

pros

ecut

ing

pate

nt a

pplic

atio

ns.

�

QPA

Gro

up is

of

the

opin

ion

that

use

of

the

term

“re

gist

ered

” pr

eced

ing

the

title

s “p

aten

t at

torn

ey”

or

“pat

ent

agen

t”

shou

ld

be

rest

ricte

d to

th

ose

who

ar

e pr

ofes

sion

ally

qua

lifie

d.

�

Song

& C

han

sugg

est

keep

ing

a re

gist

er o

f qu

alifi

ed p

erso

ns t

hat

is a

vaila

ble

for

publ

ic i

nspe

ctio

n bu

t st

ill a

llow

ing

unqu

alifi

ed p

erso

ns t

o pr

ovid

e pa

tent

age

ncy

serv

ices

.

�

Nig

el L

ee i

s of

the

vie

w t

hat

regu

latio

n of

use

of

title

s w

ill p

reve

nt u

sers

of

the

syst

em f

rom

bei

ng c

onfu

sed

and

the

prov

isio

n of

pat

ent a

genc

y se

rvic

es s

houl

d be

re

stric

ted

to p

erso

ns h

oldi

ng th

e re

quis

ite q

ualif

icat

ions

onl

y, a

s si

mpl

y lim

iting

the

use

of p

artic

ular

titl

es w

ill n

ot p

ut a

n en

d to

the

pro

visi

on o

f lo

w q

ualit

y pa

tent

se

rvic

es.

�

Kam

Wah

Law

thi

nks

that

the

pro

visi

on o

f pa

tent

age

ncy

serv

ices

sho

uld

be

rest

ricte

d to

per

sons

mee

ting

certa

in q

ualif

icat

ions

or r

equi

rem

ents

onl

y.

�

Ben

ny K

ong,

Ken

neth

Yip

and

ano

ther

resp

onde

nt s

ugge

st th

at th

e us

e of

par

ticul

ar

16

2

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

11.

If a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

is to

be

intr

oduc

ed fo

r pr

ovid

ers

of p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

, sho

uld

we

rest

rict

the

prov

isio

n of

suc

h se

rvic

es to

pe

rson

s m

eetin

g ce

rtai

n qu

alifi

catio

ns o

r re

quir

emen

ts o

nly?

O

r sh

ould

we

limit

the

use

of p

artic

ular

titl

es o

nly

but

allo

w t

he

prov

isio

n of

such

serv

ices

by

any

pers

on?

title

s sho

uld

be li

mite

d to

reco

gnis

ed o

r qua

lifie

d pe

rson

nel o

nly.

�

A r

espo

nden

t su

gges

ts f

ollo

win

g th

e U

K s

yste

m a

nd r

estri

ctin

g th

e us

e of

titl

es

“reg

iste

red

pate

nt a

gent

” or

“re

gist

ered

pat

ent a

ttorn

ey”

to p

erso

ns w

ho h

ave

pass

ed

the

rele

vant

qua

lific

atio

n ex

amin

atio

ns a

nd so

licito

rs w

ho p

ract

ise

in p

aten

t law

.

11.5

O

ther

s

�

HK

PC

�

Scho

lar C

orpo

ratio

n

�

Ble

ssed

Inc

�

Bac

h Li

mite

d

�

HK

PC s

ugge

sts

that

the

prov

isio

n of

the

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es s

houl

d be

rest

ricte

d to

per

sons

mee

ting

spec

ified

pro

fess

iona

l qua

lific

atio

ns a

nd re

quire

men

ts.

The

use

of

the

title

s su

ch a

s “p

aten

t age

nt”

or “

pate

nt a

ttorn

ey”

shou

ld b

e re

gula

ted

eith

er b

y th

e pr

ofes

sion

or a

gov

ernm

ent q

ualif

icat

ion

auth

ority

.

�

Scho

lar

Cor

pora

tion,

Ble

ssed

Inc

and

Bac

h Li

mite

d ag

ree

that

the

Gov

ernm

ent

shou

ld s

et a

mea

ning

ful l

evel

of

com

pete

ncy

so th

at o

nly

thos

e w

ho h

ave

rece

ived

pr

actic

al a

nd a

cade

mic

trai

ning

can

hol

d th

emse

lves

out

as “

pate

nt a

ttorn

ey”.

Th

ey

are

of th

e vi

ew th

at H

ong

Kon

g sh

ould

not

cou

nten

ance

a q

ualif

icat

ion

sche

me

that

is

bel

ow th

e le

vel o

f th

ose

of th

e m

ajor

eco

nom

ies

that

Hon

g K

ong

does

bus

ines

s w

ith.

11.6

In

divi

dual

s

�

Stan

ley

�

Eric

Yun

g

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

�

Stan

ley

sugg

ests

that

pat

ent a

genc

y se

rvic

es c

ould

be

prov

ided

by

any

pers

on b

ut

only

the

use

of p

artic

ular

title

(s) s

houl

d be

rest

ricte

d.

�

Eric

Yun

g is

of t

he v

iew

that

wor

k re

late

d to

civ

il an

d cr

imin

al p

roce

edin

gs s

houl

d be

res

trict

ed to

law

yers

; whe

reas

gen

eral

pat

ent-r

elat

ed w

ork

can

be c

arrie

d ou

t by

regi

ster

ed p

aten

t age

nts.

16

3

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

11.

If a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

is to

be

intr

oduc

ed fo

r pr

ovid

ers

of p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

, sho

uld

we

rest

rict

the

prov

isio

n of

suc

h se

rvic

es to

pe

rson

s m

eetin

g ce

rtai

n qu

alifi

catio

ns o

r re

quir

emen

ts o

nly?

O

r sh

ould

we

limit

the

use

of p

artic

ular

titl

es o

nly

but

allo

w t

he

prov

isio

n of

such

serv

ices

by

any

pers

on?

�

A r

espo

nden

t sug

gest

s th

at a

s a

trans

ition

al a

rran

gem

ent,

only

the

use

of p

artic

ular

tit

les

shou

ld b

e lim

ited

but p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

sho

uld

be a

llow

ed to

be

prov

ided

by

any

per

son.

�

A r

espo

nden

t su

gges

ts m

aint

aini

ng a

reg

iste

r on

the

IPD

web

site

of

“app

rove

d”

pate

nt a

gent

s, co

mpr

isin

g an

yone

who

has

pas

sed

the

rele

vant

qua

lific

atio

ns i

n C

hina

, Aus

tralia

, the

UK

, EPO

, the

US,

Can

ada,

Sin

gapo

re o

r New

Zea

land

. T

hese

pl

aces

are

con

side

red

acce

ptab

le b

ecau

se o

f th

eir

impo

rtanc

e to

Hon

g K

ong

or th

e so

lid

qual

ifica

tions

ac

quire

d by

pa

tent

pr

actit

ione

rs

in

such

pl

aces

th

roug

h as

sess

men

ts a

nd e

xam

inat

ions

of

thei

r co

mpe

tenc

e in

rel

ated

ski

lls.

A r

esid

ence

re

quire

men

t sho

uld

also

be

impo

sed.

To

mak

e it

easi

er fo

r the

pub

lic, t

here

cou

ld

be a

lis

t of

pat

ent

agen

cies

or

law

firm

s em

ploy

ing

at l

east

tw

o pa

tent

age

nts

or

atto

rney

s in

Hon

g K

ong

or h

avin

g at

leas

t one

dire

ctor

or p

artn

er in

Hon

g K

ong

who

is

a p

aten

t age

nt o

r atto

rney

. I

f in

futu

re H

ong

Kon

g is

to h

ave

its o

wn

pate

nt a

gent

qu

alifi

catio

ns, a

ny g

rand

fath

erin

g of

exi

stin

g pr

actit

ione

rs s

houl

d be

on

the

basi

s of

on

e of

the

abo

ve w

ell-r

espe

cted

pat

ent

qual

ifica

tions

rat

her

than

sim

ply

on t

ime

spen

t in

the

fie

ld o

r qu

alifi

catio

n as

a s

olic

itor.

As

for

fluen

cy i

n C

hine

se,

the

resp

onde

nt s

ugge

sts

that

this

sho

uld

not b

e m

ade

a re

quire

men

t for

now

due

to th

e hi

gh d

eman

d fo

r pat

ent-r

elat

ed w

ork

in E

nglis

h in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

A re

spon

dent

thin

ks th

at th

e pr

ovis

ion

of p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

sho

uld

be re

stric

ted

to p

eopl

e w

ith s

peci

fic q

ualif

icat

ions

and

rel

evan

t tra

inin

g on

ly s

o as

to

rais

e th

e qu

ality

of s

uch

serv

ices

.

16

4

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

12.

If a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

is t

o be

intr

oduc

ed f

or p

rovi

ders

of p

aten

t ag

ency

ser

vice

s, sh

ould

the

reg

ulat

ion

appl

y to

all

type

s of

pat

ent

agen

cy se

rvic

es o

r on

ly to

cer

tain

serv

ices

e.g

. the

dra

ftin

g an

d am

endm

ent o

f pat

ent s

peci

ficat

ions

und

er a

n O

GP

syst

em?

O

rgan

isat

ions

/ In

divi

dual

s V

iew

s / C

once

rns

12.1

In

dust

rial /

Tra

de A

ssoc

iatio

ns

�

HK

GC

C

�

HK

GC

C c

onsi

ders

tha

t th

e re

gula

tion

shou

ld o

nly

appl

y to

tas

ks t

hat

requ

ire a

m

inim

um le

vel o

f def

inab

le c

ompe

tenc

ies

and

not c

leric

al m

atte

rs s

uch

as fi

ling

or

payi

ng a

nnui

ties.

12.2

Pr

ofes

sion

al B

odie

s

�

HIP

P

�

HK

ITM

P

�

APA

A

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

�

HIP

P pr

opos

es t

hat

serv

ices

in

rela

tion

to d

rafti

ng o

f pa

tent

spe

cific

atio

n an

d th

e pr

ovis

ion

of p

aten

tabi

lity,

inv

alid

atio

n an

d in

frin

gem

ent

opin

ions

for

use

in

cour

t sh

ould

be

regu

late

d.

�

HK

ITM

P is

of

the

view

tha

t on

ly t

he p

rovi

sion

of

subs

tant

ive

aspe

cts

of p

aten

t ag

ency

ser

vice

s sh

ould

be

rest

ricte

d to

app

ropr

iate

ly q

ualif

ied

and

expe

rienc

ed

prac

titio

ners

. I

t als

o no

tes t

hat n

on-s

ubst

antiv

e se

rvic

es (s

uch

as e

ffect

ing

paym

ent

of a

nd i

ssui

ng r

emin

ders

for

ren

ewal

s) w

ould

usu

ally

be

perf

orm

ed b

y pe

rson

s un

der t

he su

perv

isio

n of

such

app

ropr

iate

ly q

ualif

ied

pers

ons.

�

APA

A i

s of

the

vie

w t

hat

regu

latio

n sh

ould

onl

y re

late

to

thos

e as

pect

s of

pat

ent

agen

cy se

rvic

es w

here

the

publ

ic is

ent

itled

to e

xpec

t tho

se p

rovi

ding

the

serv

ices

to

have

app

ropr

iate

qua

lific

atio

ns,

skill

s an

d in

sura

nce.

Su

ch s

ervi

ces

are

not

conf

ined

to th

e dr

aftin

g of

pat

ent s

peci

ficat

ions

and

cla

ims.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

bel

ieve

s th

at a

s pa

tent

s ar

e te

chni

cal

mat

ters

, to

im

prov

e (o

r

16

5

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

12.

If a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

is t

o be

intr

oduc

ed f

or p

rovi

ders

of p

aten

t ag

ency

ser

vice

s, sh

ould

the

reg

ulat

ion

appl

y to

all

type

s of

pat

ent

agen

cy se

rvic

es o

r on

ly to

cer

tain

serv

ices

e.g

. the

dra

ftin

g an

d am

endm

ent o

f pat

ent s

peci

ficat

ions

und

er a

n O

GP

syst

em?

mai

ntai

n) p

aten

t qua

lity

and

to p

rote

ct p

ublic

inte

rest

(fro

m b

oth

the

pate

nt o

wne

r’s

and

publ

ic’s

per

spec

tives

) by

havi

ng p

rope

rly d

efin

ed p

aten

ts, t

he re

gula

tion

shou

ld

appl

y to

all

type

s of p

aten

t age

ncy

serv

ices

.

12.3

A

cade

mic

Sec

tor

�

Dr C

W T

so

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

�

Dr

C W

Tso

sug

gest

s th

at b

oth

“pat

ent

agen

t” a

nd “

pate

nt a

ttorn

ey”

can

prov

ide

serv

ices

cov

erin

g dr

aftin

g an

d am

endm

ent

of p

aten

t sp

ecifi

catio

n un

der

an O

GP

syst

em.

How

ever

, “p

aten

t ag

ent”

can

rep

rese

nt c

lient

s in

reg

istry

pro

ceed

ings

w

here

as “

pate

nt a

ttorn

ey”

can

repr

esen

t cl

ient

s in

bot

h re

gist

ry p

roce

edin

gs a

nd

cour

t pro

ceed

ings

.

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

sug

gest

s th

at l

egal

pro

fess

iona

ls w

ith

the

title

can

repr

esen

t clie

nts

in c

ourt

on p

aten

t mat

ters

and

am

end

spec

ifica

tions

of

pate

nts

whi

le

tech

nica

l pr

ofes

sion

als

with

th

e tit

le

can

draf

t an

d fin

alis

e sp

ecifi

catio

ns o

f pat

ents

.

12.4

Le

gal P

ract

ition

ers /

Pat

ent P

ract

ition

ers

�

QPA

Gro

up

�

Nig

el L

ee

�

Kam

Wah

Law

�

Ben

ny K

ong

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

�

QPA

Gro

up i

s of

the

vie

w t

hat

prov

isio

n of

sub

stan

tive

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es

shou

ld

be

rest

ricte

d to

th

ose

who

ar

e su

itabl

y qu

alifi

ed

and

expe

rienc

ed.

R

estri

ctio

n sh

ould

not

be

impo

sed

on n

on-s

ubst

antiv

e pa

tent

age

ncy

wor

k.

�

Nig

el L

ee s

uppo

rts t

he a

pplic

atio

n of

reg

ulat

ion

to t

he p

rovi

sion

of

all

type

s of

se

rvic

es th

at re

quire

pat

ent a

genc

y ex

perti

se a

nd sk

ills.

�

Kam

Wah

Law

is o

f the

vie

w th

at th

e re

gula

tion

shou

ld a

pply

to a

ll ty

pes

of p

aten

t ag

ency

serv

ices

.

�

Ben

ny K

ong

thin

ks t

hat

all

type

s of

pat

ent

agen

cy s

ervi

ces

shou

ld b

e re

gula

ted,

16

6

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

12.

If a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

is t

o be

intr

oduc

ed f

or p

rovi

ders

of p

aten

t ag

ency

ser

vice

s, sh

ould

the

reg

ulat

ion

appl

y to

all

type

s of

pat

ent

agen

cy se

rvic

es o

r on

ly to

cer

tain

serv

ices

e.g

. the

dra

ftin

g an

d am

endm

ent o

f pat

ent s

peci

ficat

ions

und

er a

n O

GP

syst

em?

incl

udin

g th

e ad

optio

n of

one

’s n

ame

and

addr

ess a

s the

age

nt fo

r ser

vice

.

�

A re

spon

dent

supp

orts

regu

latin

g al

l typ

es o

f pat

ent a

genc

y se

rvic

es.

�

A r

espo

nden

t th

inks

tha

t on

ly p

erso

ns w

ho q

ualif

y as

reg

iste

red

pate

nt a

gent

s or

pa

tent

atto

rney

s sho

uld

be a

llow

ed to

dra

ft pa

tent

s and

pro

secu

te p

aten

ts.

12.5

O

ther

s

�

HK

PC

�

HK

PC s

ugge

sts

that

the

pro

visi

on o

f es

sent

ial

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es s

uch

as

draf

ting

and

amen

dmen

t of

pat

ent

spec

ifica

tions

und

er a

n O

GP

syst

em s

houl

d be

re

gula

ted.

12.6

In

divi

dual

s

�

Stan

ley

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

�

Stan

ley

sugg

ests

tha

t th

e re

gula

tion

shou

ld a

pply

to

all

type

s of

pat

ent

agen

cy

serv

ices

.

�

A r

espo

nden

t su

gges

ts t

hat

as a

tra

nsiti

onal

arr

ange

men

t, th

e re

gula

tory

reg

ime

shou

ld a

pply

to a

ll ty

pes o

f pat

ent a

genc

y se

rvic

es te

mpo

raril

y.

�

A r

espo

nden

t se

es n

o re

ason

to

requ

ire f

iling

of

pate

nts

to b

e do

ne b

y qu

alifi

ed

pate

nt a

gent

s on

ly u

nder

the

cur

rent

sta

ndar

d pa

tent

sys

tem

alth

ough

suc

h a

requ

irem

ent m

ay h

elp

to in

crea

se H

ong

Kon

g’s

com

petit

iven

ess

in te

rms

of p

aten

t ex

perti

se.

He

cons

ider

s it

a go

od id

ea to

req

uire

rep

rese

ntat

ion

befo

re I

PD to

be

done

by

som

eone

with

reco

gnis

ed p

aten

t (no

t leg

al) q

ualif

icat

ion

only

if H

ong

Kon

g is

to

switc

h to

an

OG

P sy

stem

. A

s fo

r dr

aftin

g of

pat

ent

appl

icat

ions

, al

thou

gh

regu

latin

g th

e pr

ovis

ion

of s

uch

serv

ices

will

pro

tect

the

pub

lic f

urth

er a

nd h

elp

bols

ter

the

com

petit

iven

ess

of t

he I

P pr

ofes

sion

in

Hon

g K

ong,

the

res

pond

ent

thin

ks t

hat

smal

l co

mpa

nies

tha

t do

not

car

e so

muc

h ab

out

qual

ity m

ay b

e

16

7

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

12.

If a

reg

ulat

ory

regi

me

is t

o be

intr

oduc

ed f

or p

rovi

ders

of p

aten

t ag

ency

ser

vice

s, sh

ould

the

reg

ulat

ion

appl

y to

all

type

s of

pat

ent

agen

cy se

rvic

es o

r on

ly to

cer

tain

serv

ices

e.g

. the

dra

ftin

g an

d am

endm

ent o

f pat

ent s

peci

ficat

ions

und

er a

n O

GP

syst

em?

conc

erne

d w

ith t

he i

ncre

ased

cos

ts.

If

the

prov

isio

n of

suc

h se

rvic

es i

s to

be

regu

late

d, h

e do

es n

ot th

ink

solic

itors

sho

uld

be a

llow

ed to

dra

ft pa

tent

app

licat

ions

.

He

also

put

s fo

rwar

d th

e su

gges

tion

that

the

Gov

ernm

ent c

an p

rovi

de s

ubsi

dies

for

draf

ting

(if d

one

loca

lly) t

hrou

gh th

e H

ong

Kon

g Pr

oduc

tivity

Cou

ncil.

�

A r

espo

nden

t th

inks

tha

t th

e re

gula

tion

shou

ld a

pply

to

certa

in s

ervi

ces

only

, fo

r ex

ampl

e, d

rafti

ng a

nd a

men

dmen

t of

pate

nt s

peci

ficat

ions

sho

uld

only

be

done

by

peop

le w

ith a

scie

nce,

eng

inee

ring

or la

w d

egre

e.

16

8

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

13.

Oth

er su

gges

tions

/ co

mm

ents

rec

eive

d.

O

rgan

isat

ions

/ In

divi

dual

s V

iew

s / C

once

rns

13.1

In

dust

rial /

Tra

de A

ssoc

iatio

ns

�

HK

API

A

�

TMH

K

�

HK

EIA

�

HK

MFS

�

PVC

HK

�

HK

MM

A

�

Am

Cha

m

�

HK

API

A,

TMH

K,

HK

EIA

, H

KM

FS,

PVC

HK

and

HK

MM

A a

ll su

gges

t th

at a

n op

en l

icen

sing

sys

tem

sho

uld

be i

ntro

duce

d in

Hon

g K

ong

in t

wo

stag

es;

first

ly

gran

ting

licen

ces

to e

xist

ing

prov

ider

s of

pat

ent a

genc

y se

rvic

e an

d se

cond

ly s

ettin

g up

a

com

mitt

ee

for

the

regu

latio

n of

pa

tent

ag

ents

to

fo

rmul

ate

a un

ified

ex

amin

atio

n sy

stem

and

to is

sue

code

s of c

ondu

ct fo

r the

gra

nt o

f lic

ence

s.

�

Am

Cha

m b

elie

ves t

hat t

he p

aten

t age

ncy

prof

essi

on sh

ould

be

prop

erly

regu

late

d by

a

stat

utor

y bo

dy to

mai

ntai

n hi

gh st

anda

rds a

nd p

rote

ct u

sers

acr

oss t

he fu

ll ra

nge

of

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es.

It s

ugge

sts

that

the

Gov

ernm

ent s

houl

d co

nsid

er it

s ro

le in

se

tting

stan

dard

s for

and

regu

latin

g th

e pr

ofes

sion

, and

in d

evel

opin

g in

stitu

tions

for

train

ing

pate

nt a

gent

pro

fess

iona

ls a

nd e

stab

lishi

ng a

ccre

dita

tion

that

adh

eres

to

inte

rnat

iona

l sta

ndar

ds.

13.2

Pr

ofes

sion

al B

odie

s

�

HK

IPA

�

APA

A

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

�

HK

IPA

sug

gest

s th

at a

n op

en li

cens

ing

syst

em s

houl

d be

intro

duce

d in

Hon

g K

ong

in t

wo

stag

es;

first

ly g

rant

ing

licen

ces

to e

xist

ing

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

e pr

ovid

ers

and

seco

ndly

set

ting

up a

com

mitt

ee fo

r the

regu

latio

n of

pat

ent a

gent

s to

form

ulat

e a

unifi

ed e

xam

inat

ion

syst

em a

nd to

issu

e co

des o

f con

duct

for t

he g

rant

of l

icen

ces.

�

APA

A p

oint

s ou

t tha

t Hon

g K

ong

alre

ady

has

pers

ons

prac

tisin

g w

ho a

re q

ualif

ied

as p

aten

t age

nts o

r pat

ent a

ttorn

eys i

n th

eir h

ome

juris

dict

ions

. A

PAA

bel

ieve

s tha

t H

ong

Kon

g sh

ould

con

tinue

to a

llow

and

enc

oura

ge s

uita

bly

qual

ified

pat

ent a

gent

s

16

9

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

13.

Oth

er su

gges

tions

/ co

mm

ents

rec

eive

d.

and/

or p

aten

t atto

rney

s fro

m c

ount

ries w

ith la

ws a

nd le

gal s

yste

ms w

ith re

leva

nce

to

Hon

g K

ong

to li

ve, w

ork

and

prac

tise

in th

e pa

tent

fiel

d in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

APA

A s

ugge

sts

that

an

elem

ent

of r

egul

atio

n sh

ould

be

incl

uded

to

ensu

re t

hat

qual

ified

pat

ent a

gent

s w

ith a

tech

nica

l sci

entif

ic b

ackg

roun

d an

d tra

inin

g in

pat

ent

draf

ting

do n

ot, u

nles

s ot

herw

ise

qual

ified

, the

mse

lves

han

dle

pate

nt r

elat

ed l

egal

is

sues

out

side

thei

r fie

ld o

f ex

perti

se a

nd, c

onve

rsel

y, th

at s

olic

itors

not

oth

erw

ise

qual

ified

do

not

hand

le t

he d

rafti

ng o

f pa

tent

spe

cific

atio

ns a

nd c

laim

s, as

ver

y di

ffere

nt sk

ill se

ts a

re in

volv

ed in

thes

e di

ffere

nt fi

elds

of e

ndea

vour

.

�

APA

A a

dvis

es t

hat

form

al q

ualif

icat

ions

, in

clud

ing

educ

atio

n, t

rain

ing,

req

uisi

te

skill

s an

d ex

perie

nce

for a

pat

ent a

gent

and

/or p

aten

t atto

rney

in H

ong

Kon

g sh

ould

be

kep

t up

with

the

stan

dard

s ad

opte

d by

juris

dict

ions

hav

ing

cred

ible

pat

ent a

gent

s an

d/or

atto

rney

pro

fess

ions

and

syst

ems.

�

APA

A

reco

mm

ends

th

at

any

form

al

qual

ifica

tion

mus

t be

a

prof

essi

onal

qu

alifi

catio

n co

mpa

rabl

e to

the

sta

ndar

ds r

equi

red

by l

egal

pra

ctiti

oner

s in

Hon

g K

ong

and

pate

nt a

gent

s/at

torn

eys

in o

ther

com

para

ble

juris

dict

ions

, or t

hat o

f oth

er

prof

essi

ons.

�

APA

A e

mph

asis

es th

at n

eith

er A

PAA

nor

any

of

the

bodi

es in

Hon

g K

ong

whi

ch

curr

ently

offe

rs t

rain

ing

cour

ses

in r

elat

ion

to p

aten

ts,

offe

rs a

nyth

ing

rem

otel

y ap

proa

chin

g th

e le

vel r

equi

red

to q

ualif

y as

a p

rofe

ssio

nal p

aten

t age

nt/a

ttorn

ey (i

.e.

with

a

scie

ntifi

c ba

ckgr

ound

an

d th

e ab

ility

to

dr

aft

and

inte

rpre

t pa

tent

sp

ecifi

catio

ns a

nd c

laim

s).

For

exa

mpl

e, n

one

of th

e co

urse

s of

fere

d re

cent

ly b

y A

PAA

(in

ass

ocia

tion

with

FIC

PI (

Fédé

ratio

n In

tern

atio

nale

des

Con

seils

en

Prop

riété

Ind

ustri

elle

) an

d SE

AD

(So

uth

East

Asi

an D

rafti

ng C

ours

e))

and

HK

IPA

(w

ith W

arw

ick

Uni

vers

ity)

com

e cl

ose

to q

ualif

ying

the

atte

ndee

s to

des

crib

e

17

0

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

13.

Oth

er su

gges

tions

/ co

mm

ents

rec

eive

d.

them

selv

es a

s reg

iste

red

pate

nt a

gent

s/pa

tent

atto

rney

s.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

is

conc

erne

d w

ith t

he u

se o

f tit

les

prot

ecte

d in

the

int

erna

tiona

l ar

ena

(but

not

in H

ong

Kon

g) b

y un

regu

late

d or

gani

satio

ns w

hich

asp

ire to

con

fer

such

regi

ster

ed ti

tles

to th

eir m

embe

rs a

s th

eir a

ctio

ns c

ould

wel

l con

fuse

the

publ

ic

into

be

lievi

ng

that

su

ch

orga

nisa

tions

an

d m

embe

rs

wer

e in

deed

of

ficia

lly

reco

gnis

ed a

nd re

gula

ted.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

refe

rs to

Ms.

Ip’s

Let

ter w

hich

cla

ims

that

ther

e is

a la

ck o

f loc

al

pate

nt e

xper

ts c

apab

le o

f dra

fting

pat

ent s

peci

ficat

ions

for e

nter

pris

es in

Hon

g K

ong

for u

se a

nd p

rote

ctio

n in

Hon

g K

ong.

Th

e La

w S

ocie

ty d

oes

not a

gree

and

poi

nts

out t

hat m

any

of th

e pa

tent

app

licat

ions

mad

e in

Hon

g K

ong

are

done

thro

ugh

law

fir

ms

or p

aten

t age

ncie

s ba

sed

in H

ong

Kon

g th

at e

mpl

oy p

aten

t pro

fess

iona

ls w

ho

have

atta

ined

the

ir re

cogn

ised

titl

es a

nd q

ualif

icat

ions

ove

rsea

s. T

his

is b

ecau

se

Hon

g K

ong

adop

ts a

re-

regi

stra

tion

syst

em a

nd it

is n

ot s

urpr

isin

g th

at m

ost o

f th

e pa

tent

spec

ifica

tions

are

dra

fted

by n

on-lo

cal p

aten

t pro

fess

iona

ls.

13.3

Po

litic

al P

artie

s / G

roup

s

�

DA

B

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

�

New

Peo

ple’

s Par

ty

�

DA

B o

pine

s th

at in

the

first

sta

ge o

f th

e im

plem

enta

tion

of th

e re

gula

tory

reg

ime,

th

e pr

ofes

sion

al s

tand

ards

ado

pted

by

the

Law

Soc

iety

, th

e H

ong

Kon

g B

ar

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

IPA

, H

IPP

and

APA

A s

houl

d be

rec

ogni

sed

as t

he s

tand

ard

of

regu

latio

n of

pat

ent a

gent

s. I

n th

e se

cond

sta

ge, a

com

mitt

ee f

orm

ed b

y th

e fiv

e as

soci

atio

ns m

entio

ned

abov

e fo

r re

gula

tion

of p

aten

t ag

ents

sho

uld

be s

et u

p to

fo

rmul

ate

unifi

ed p

rofe

ssio

nal g

uide

and

cod

es o

f con

duct

of p

aten

t age

nts.

�

Econ

omic

Syn

ergy

opi

nes

that

the

Gov

ernm

ent

shou

ld p

rovi

de t

rain

ing

to p

aten

t pr

actit

ione

rs,

engi

neer

s, ag

ents

and

res

earc

hers

in

rela

tion

to d

rafti

ng o

f pa

tent

do

cum

ents

and

han

dlin

g of

pat

ent-r

elat

ed m

atte

rs.

The

Gov

ernm

ent

shou

ld a

lso

17

1

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

13.

Oth

er su

gges

tions

/ co

mm

ents

rec

eive

d.

crea

te jo

b op

portu

nitie

s for

scie

nce

grad

uate

s.

�

New

Peo

ple’

s Par

ty e

mph

asis

es th

e im

porta

nce

of h

avin

g an

ove

rall

plan

for t

rain

ing

of

pers

onne

l, re

cogn

ition

of

qu

alifi

catio

ns,

qual

ity

assu

ranc

e of

ed

ucat

iona

l pr

ogra

ms

and

regi

stra

tion

and

regu

latio

n of

pat

ent

agen

ts.

The

y ar

e of

the

vie

w

that

the

Gov

ernm

ent s

houl

d di

scus

s w

ith re

leva

nt a

cade

mic

and

pro

fess

iona

l bod

ies,

as w

ell a

s SI

PO a

nd W

IPO

abo

ut th

e re

quis

ite tr

aini

ng a

nd th

e se

tting

of s

tand

ards

of

pra

ctic

e fo

r pat

ent p

erso

nnel

.

13.4

Le

gal P

ract

ition

ers /

Pat

ent P

ract

ition

ers

�

QPA

Gro

up

�

Song

& C

han

�

Dan

ny C

han

�

Ken

neth

Yip

�

QPA

Gro

up c

onsi

ders

it o

f par

amou

nt im

porta

nce

that

shou

ld a

regu

lato

ry re

gim

e be

in

trodu

ced,

it m

ust m

eet t

he n

eeds

of t

he le

gal s

yste

m in

Hon

g K

ong

as w

ell a

s th

e st

anda

rd o

f int

erna

tiona

l pra

ctic

e.

�

Song

& C

han

reco

mm

end

that

all

com

pani

es p

rovi

ding

pat

ent

agen

cy s

ervi

ces

shou

ld b

e re

gist

ered

with

IPD

or

an u

noffi

cial

org

anis

atio

n; in

form

atio

n re

gard

ing

such

com

pani

es in

clud

ing

qual

ifica

tions

and

exp

erie

nce

of th

eir p

erso

nnel

sho

uld

be

publ

ishe

d an

d up

date

d pe

riodi

cally

. I

nfor

mat

ion

rega

rdin

g pa

tent

age

nts

or p

aten

t ag

ency

firm

s th

at h

ave

faile

d to

pro

vide

sat

isfa

ctor

y pa

tent

age

ncy

serv

ices

cau

sing

lo

ss to

thei

r clie

nts s

houl

d al

so b

e pu

blis

hed

perio

dica

lly.

�

Dan

ny C

han

note

s th

at a

pat

ent a

gent

regi

stra

tion

syst

em is

com

mon

ly re

gula

ted

by

regi

onal

gov

ernm

ents

, not

by

indi

vidu

al o

rgan

isat

ions

.

�

Ken

neth

Yip

sug

gest

s th

at t

here

sho

uld

not

be a

dis

tinct

ion

betw

een

a te

chni

cal

educ

atio

n ga

ined

fro

m a

uni

vers

ity a

nd o

ne g

aine

d el

sew

here

so

long

as

the

tech

nica

l ed

ucat

ion

requ

irem

ent

is r

ecog

nise

d by

the

Gov

ernm

ent.

As

rega

rds

know

ledg

e of

pat

ent

law

, K

enne

th Y

ip b

elie

ves

that

for

mal

pro

cedu

ral

train

ing

17

2

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

13.

Oth

er su

gges

tions

/ co

mm

ents

rec

eive

d.

thro

ugh

appr

entic

eshi

p, c

ours

e st

udy

or e

xam

inat

ion

shou

ld b

e m

anda

tory

. I

n ad

ditio

n, h

e su

gges

ts r

ecip

roca

l rec

ogni

tion

of p

aten

t pro

fess

iona

l qua

lific

atio

ns to

be

arr

ange

d w

ith o

ther

gov

ernm

ents

.

13.5

O

ther

s

�

API

CC

�

Blu

e O

cean

Stra

tegy

Con

sulti

ng/A

rt G

roup

Li

mite

d

�

API

CC

sug

gest

s th

at th

e rig

ht to

gra

nt li

cenc

es s

houl

d no

t be

give

n ex

clus

ivel

y to

a

sing

le p

rofe

ssio

nal

or t

rade

ass

ocia

tion.

A

min

imum

of

four

to

five

trade

and

pr

ofes

sion

al b

odie

s sh

ould

hav

e th

e rig

ht to

gra

nt li

cenc

e so

as

to e

nsur

e th

at a

fair,

op

en a

nd c

ost-e

ffect

ive

licen

sing

syst

em is

mai

ntai

ned.

�

Blu

e O

cean

Stra

tegy

Con

sulti

ng/A

rt G

roup

Lim

ited

reco

mm

ends

that

the

regu

lato

ry

regi

me

shou

ld b

e le

ft to

an

inde

pend

ent c

omm

ittee

com

pris

ing

acad

emic

s, bu

sine

ss

cons

ulta

nts,

licen

sing

pro

fess

iona

ls,

lega

l pr

ofes

sion

s an

d ce

rtifie

d en

gine

erin

g pr

ofes

sion

als

shou

ld a

dec

isio

n of

est

ablis

hing

an

OG

P sy

stem

in H

ong

Kon

g is

to

proc

eed.

13.6

In

divi

dual

s

�

Ng

Cha

n W

ai

� XYZ

�

Wils

on, L

ee W

aim

Win

g

�

Ng

Cha

n W

ai o

pine

s th

at c

urre

ntly

, H

ong

Kon

g do

es n

ot h

ave

suffi

cien

t pa

tent

ag

ents

who

are

qua

lifie

d to

writ

e pa

tent

cla

ims

in v

ario

us f

ield

s, e.

g. e

lect

roni

cs,

biol

ogy

and

mec

hani

cs,

and

sugg

ests

tha

t th

e G

over

nmen

t se

ts u

p a

train

ing

and

asse

ssm

ent c

entre

for w

ritin

g of

pat

ent c

laim

s.

� XYZ

sug

gest

s th

at t

he G

over

nmen

t sh

ould

pro

vide

tra

inin

g an

d as

sist

ance

to

peop

le w

ho a

re in

tere

sted

in b

ecom

ing

pate

nt a

gent

s in

Hon

g K

ong

and

Chi

na.

�

Wils

on, L

ee W

aim

Min

g ha

s exp

ress

ed a

num

ber o

f spe

cific

vie

ws:

(a)

Hon

g K

ong

shou

ld s

trive

to

achi

eve

an i

ndep

ende

nt s

tatu

s lik

e Ta

iwan

for

w

hich

the

rig

ht o

f pr

iorit

y is

rec

ogni

sed

in t

he U

S af

ter

it ha

s si

gned

an

17

3

Cha

pter

3 :

Reg

ulat

ion

of P

aten

t Age

ncy

Serv

ices

in H

ong

Kon

g (5

5 su

bmis

sion

s rec

eive

d)

13.

Oth

er su

gges

tions

/ co

mm

ents

rec

eive

d.

agre

emen

t with

the

US

for t

he p

urpo

se;

(b)

the

clai

m o

f pr

iorit

y un

der

the

Paris

Con

vent

ion

is l

imite

d to

ind

ustri

alis

ed

natio

ns w

hich

are

par

ties

to th

e C

onve

ntio

n, s

o H

ong

Kon

g sh

ould

join

Chi

na

to c

onta

ct n

atio

ns o

ther

tha

n pa

rties

to

the

Con

vent

ion

to s

eek

expo

rt op

portu

nitie

s;

(c

) th

e lim

itatio

ns o

n IP

rig

hts

shou

ld b

e cl

early

def

ined

if

they

con

flict

with

pu

blic

inte

rest

s (e.

g. if

they

har

m h

ealth

or p

reve

nt p

rogr

ess)

;

(d)

mem

bers

fro

m d

iffer

ent

com

mun

ities

sho

uld

be i

nvol

ved

to d

efin

e so

cial

rig

hts s

o as

to e

limin

ate

or re

solv

e co

nflic

ts th

at m

ay e

xist

bet

wee

n th

e re

spec

t fo

r an

d im

plem

enta

tion

of t

he c

urre

nt I

P sy

stem

and

int

erna

tiona

l hu

man

rig

hts,

and

IP sy

stem

shou

ld c

onfo

rm w

ith h

uman

righ

t law

s and

soci

al ri

ghts

;

(e

) ru

les

or g

uide

lines

sho

uld

be m

ade

for

Hon

g K

ong

desi

gns

or p

aten

ted

prod

ucts

to c

reat

e br

and

nam

e im

ages

; and

(f)

a w

orki

ng m

odel

repr

esen

ting

the

final

pro

duct

rela

ting

to th

e pa

tent

shou

ld b

e su

bmitt

ed w

ith th

e pa

tent

app

licat

ion.

17

4

Oth

er C

omm

ents

Reg

ardi

ng th

e Pa

tent

Sys

tem

(25

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

14.

How

els

e sh

ould

we

posi

tion

our

syst

em fo

r th

e pu

rpos

es o

f enc

oura

ging

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

attr

actin

g in

vest

ors

to u

se H

ong

Kon

g as

a la

unch

ing

pad

for

thei

r re

sear

ch a

nd d

evel

opm

ent o

pera

tions

?

O

rgan

isat

ions

/ In

divi

dual

s V

iew

s / C

once

rns

14.1

In

dust

rial /

Tra

de A

ssoc

iatio

ns

�

Am

Cha

m

�

HK

API

�

Am

Cha

m su

gges

ts th

e fo

llow

ing

chan

ges:

(a)

prov

ide

the

oppo

rtuni

ty to

reco

ver p

aten

t ter

m fo

r pha

rmac

eutic

al p

rodu

cts l

ost

durin

g ex

tens

ive

clin

ical

tria

ls a

nd o

ther

reg

ulat

ory

appr

oval

pro

cedu

res

that

ar

e re

quire

d be

fore

the

y re

ceiv

e ph

arm

aceu

tical

pro

duct

lic

ence

s an

d ca

n be

m

arke

ted;

(b)

amen

d th

e Pa

tent

s O

rdin

ance

to

enab

le t

he E

urop

ean

and

UK

pat

ents

for

se

cond

med

ical

use

s to

cont

inue

to b

e va

lidly

regi

ster

ed in

Hon

g K

ong;

(c)

cons

ider

intro

duci

ng w

ider

def

ence

s to

grou

ndle

ss th

reat

s (as

in th

e gr

ound

less

th

reat

s pr

ovis

ions

rela

ting

to tr

ade

mar

ks a

nd in

the

amen

ded

sect

ion

70 o

f the

U

K P

aten

ts A

ct 1

977)

to

allo

w p

artie

s to

atte

mpt

to

settl

e di

sput

es b

efor

e lit

igat

ion

with

out t

he r

isk

of b

eing

alle

ged

to h

ave

mad

e gr

ound

less

thre

at b

y se

ndin

g a

ceas

e an

d de

sist

lette

r;

(d)

revi

ew a

nd u

pdat

e th

e pr

oced

ural

rul

es f

or p

aten

t lit

igat

ion

in c

ourts

(O

rder

10

3 of

the

Rul

es o

f H

igh

Cou

rt) w

ith r

efer

ence

to c

urre

nt p

roce

dure

s us

ed in

th

e En

glis

h Pa

tent

s C

ourt

and

the

Engl

ish

Pate

nts

Cou

nty

Cou

rt, w

hich

hav

e be

en s

igni

fican

tly r

efor

med

and

im

prov

ed o

ver

the

last

10

year

s to

mak

e pa

tent

litig

atio

n le

ss c

ostly

and

muc

h qu

icke

r to

reso

lve;

17

5

Oth

er C

omm

ents

Reg

ardi

ng th

e Pa

tent

Sys

tem

(25

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

14.

How

els

e sh

ould

we

posi

tion

our

syst

em fo

r th

e pu

rpos

es o

f enc

oura

ging

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

attr

actin

g in

vest

ors

to u

se H

ong

Kon

g as

a la

unch

ing

pad

for

thei

r re

sear

ch a

nd d

evel

opm

ent o

pera

tions

?

(e)

set u

p an

IP

List

at t

he H

igh

Cou

rt by

app

oint

ing

a pa

nel o

r lis

t of

judg

es to

de

al w

ith IP

cas

es, i

nclu

ding

pat

ent c

ases

;

(f)

intro

duce

cle

ar p

roce

dura

l rul

es fo

r am

endi

ng p

aten

ts;

(g)

intro

duce

pro

visi

ons

in t

he P

aten

ts O

rdin

ance

to

deal

spe

cific

ally

with

the

pa

tent

abili

ty o

f bio

tech

nolo

gica

l inv

entio

ns; a

nd

(h)

intro

duce

pat

ent l

inka

ge to

ens

ure

that

mar

ketin

g ap

prov

al fo

r pha

rmac

eutic

al

prod

ucts

will

not

be

gran

ted

to i

nfrin

ging

pro

duct

s be

fore

exp

iry o

f th

e re

leva

nt p

aten

ts.

�

HK

API

pro

pose

s the

follo

win

g ch

ange

s:

(a)

impl

emen

t pat

ent e

xten

sion

s for

pha

rmac

eutic

als;

(b)

mai

ntai

n an

d gr

ow H

ong

Kon

g’s

com

petit

ive

edge

in c

linic

al tr

ials

and

oth

er

R&

D in

the

wor

ld’s

incr

easi

ng fl

uid

know

ledg

e ec

onom

y;

(c)

amen

d th

e Pa

tent

s O

rdin

ance

to

affo

rd p

aten

t pr

otec

tion

to p

harm

aceu

tical

s w

ith se

cond

or f

urth

er m

edic

al u

ses;

(d)

intro

duce

pat

ent

linka

ge t

o pr

even

t th

e gr

ant

of m

arke

ting

auth

oris

atio

n to

ge

neric

dru

gs b

efor

e ex

pira

tion

of p

aten

t pro

tect

ing

the

orig

inal

dru

g pr

oduc

t or

its

pate

nted

use

, so

as to

avo

id u

nnec

essa

ry li

tigat

ion,

pro

vide

read

y ac

cess

to

info

rmat

ion

abou

t the

sco

pe a

nd e

xpiry

of p

aten

ts a

nd in

crea

se e

ffici

ency

in

the

phar

mac

eutic

al in

dust

ry b

y in

crea

sing

pre

dict

abili

ty a

nd tr

ansp

aren

cy;

(e)

upda

te p

rovi

sion

s re

gard

ing

proc

edur

es f

or p

aten

t en

forc

emen

t un

der

Ord

er

17

6

Oth

er C

omm

ents

Reg

ardi

ng th

e Pa

tent

Sys

tem

(25

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

14.

How

els

e sh

ould

we

posi

tion

our

syst

em fo

r th

e pu

rpos

es o

f enc

oura

ging

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

attr

actin

g in

vest

ors

to u

se H

ong

Kon

g as

a la

unch

ing

pad

for

thei

r re

sear

ch a

nd d

evel

opm

ent o

pera

tions

?

103

of t

he R

ules

of

the

Hig

h C

ourt

to r

efle

ct t

he p

ositi

on u

nder

the

cur

rent

Pa

tent

s Ord

inan

ce a

nd th

e gl

obal

tren

ds in

pat

ent l

itiga

tion;

(f)

intro

duce

le

ss

expe

nsiv

e pr

oced

ures

fo

r lit

igat

ing

stra

ight

forw

ard

pate

nt

disp

utes

; and

(g)

esta

blis

h a

spec

ialis

t cou

rt or

div

isio

n in

cou

rt to

dea

l with

pat

ent a

nd o

ther

IP

litig

atio

n in

Hon

g K

ong.

14.2

Pr

ofes

sion

al B

odie

s

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

�

HIP

P

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

is

of t

he v

iew

tha

t in

stea

d of

mak

ing

expe

nsiv

e fu

ndam

enta

l ch

ange

s to

the

pat

ent

syst

em, t

he G

over

nmen

t sh

ould

rev

iew

its

sup

port,

sub

sidy

an

d gr

ant

proc

edur

e to

loc

al e

nter

pris

es t

o re

gist

er p

aten

ts i

n H

ong

Kon

g an

d ov

erse

as.

�

The

Law

Soc

iety

pro

pose

s up

datin

g th

e su

bsta

ntiv

e la

w, f

or e

xam

ple,

with

rega

rd to

se

cond

med

ical

use

and

“Sw

iss-

type

” cl

aim

s.

�

HIP

P re

com

men

ds th

at a

Pat

ent R

e-ex

amin

atio

n B

oard

(“PR

B”)

sho

uld

be s

et u

p to

ha

ndle

re-

exam

inat

ion

requ

ests

aris

ing

unde

r th

e fu

ll O

GP

syst

em,

to r

evie

w t

he

deci

sion

s on

sho

rt-te

rm p

aten

ts m

ade

by th

e se

arch

and

exa

min

atio

n di

visi

on a

nd to

re

view

com

plai

nts

rela

ting

to t

he a

pplic

atio

ns f

or a

nd t

he g

rant

of

pate

nts.

The

PR

B s

houl

d pr

ovid

e pa

tent

abili

ty o

pini

ons

base

d on

the

inv

entio

n di

sclo

sure

or

pate

nt s

peci

ficat

ion

subm

itted

to it

in o

rder

to r

educ

e th

e co

sts

of p

aten

t dis

pute

s.

The

PRB

may

als

o ac

t as

a d

esig

nate

d au

thor

ity f

or r

esol

ving

IP

disp

utes

by

func

tioni

ng a

s a

pate

nt m

edia

tion

or a

rbitr

atio

n ce

ntre

. H

IPP

also

sug

gest

s th

at

IPD

may

act

as

a PC

T R

ecei

ving

Offi

ce.

HIP

P al

so p

ropo

ses

that

a w

orki

ng te

am

17

7

Oth

er C

omm

ents

Reg

ardi

ng th

e Pa

tent

Sys

tem

(25

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

14.

How

els

e sh

ould

we

posi

tion

our

syst

em fo

r th

e pu

rpos

es o

f enc

oura

ging

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

attr

actin

g in

vest

ors

to u

se H

ong

Kon

g as

a la

unch

ing

pad

for

thei

r re

sear

ch a

nd d

evel

opm

ent o

pera

tions

?

to b

e se

t up

to

com

mun

icat

e w

ith W

IPO

, SI

PO a

nd U

SPTO

and

to

stud

y th

e fe

asib

ility

of (

a) a

ccre

ditin

g th

e H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

sea

rch

and

exam

inat

ion

offic

e as

an

ISA

and

an

IPEA

; and

(b) a

ctin

g as

a sa

telli

te o

ffice

of S

IPO

.

14.3

R

esea

rch

& D

evel

opm

ent I

ndus

try

�

Hon

g K

ong

Inve

ntio

n A

ssoc

iatio

ns L

td.c��

de�f

(“H

KIA

”)

�

HK

IA h

as th

e fo

llow

ing

sugg

estio

ns:

(a)

a fu

nd f

or d

evel

opm

ent

of i

nnov

atio

n in

vent

ions

sho

uld

be s

et u

p fo

r pr

omot

ion

of in

nova

tion;

(b)

a fu

nd fo

r men

tors

hip

for i

nven

tors

sho

uld

be s

et u

p to

enc

oura

ge e

xper

ienc

ed

inve

ntor

s to

shar

e th

eir e

xper

ienc

e w

ith th

e yo

unge

r gen

erat

ion;

(c)

a pe

rman

ent i

nnov

ativ

e an

d te

chni

cal i

nven

tions

mus

eum

sho

uld

be b

uilt

for

inve

ntor

s to

disp

lay

thei

r inv

entio

ns fo

r fre

e;

(d)

conf

eren

ces

for i

ntro

duci

ng p

aten

t inv

estm

ent t

o po

tent

ial i

nves

tors

sho

uld

be

held

freq

uent

ly to

allo

w in

vest

ors

to p

rom

ote

thei

r pat

ente

d in

vent

ions

and

to

faci

litat

e ex

ploi

tatio

n of

thei

r inv

entio

ns;

(e)

an “

Inno

vatio

n Fu

nd”

shou

ld b

e se

t up

to a

ssis

t the

indu

strie

s to

dev

elop

thei

r pr

oduc

ts;

(f)

the

secu

ritis

atio

n of

the

said

Inno

vatio

n Fu

nd s

houl

d be

car

ried

out s

o th

at th

e va

lue

of in

tang

ible

pro

perti

es c

an b

e de

term

ined

by

asse

ssm

ent a

nd e

valu

atio

n an

d en

terp

rises

en

gagi

ng

in

R&

D

coul

d ra

ise

capi

tal

thro

ugh

publ

ic

inve

stm

ent;

and

17

8

Oth

er C

omm

ents

Reg

ardi

ng th

e Pa

tent

Sys

tem

(25

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

14.

How

els

e sh

ould

we

posi

tion

our

syst

em fo

r th

e pu

rpos

es o

f enc

oura

ging

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

attr

actin

g in

vest

ors

to u

se H

ong

Kon

g as

a la

unch

ing

pad

for

thei

r re

sear

ch a

nd d

evel

opm

ent o

pera

tions

?

(g)

a su

perv

isor

y co

mm

ittee

for

ent

erpr

ises

on

the

boar

d of

Gro

wth

Ent

erpr

ises

M

arke

t (“G

EM”)

sho

uld

be s

et u

p to

mon

itor a

nd s

uper

vise

the

adm

inis

tratio

n of

the

ent

erpr

ises

lis

ted

on G

EM,

so a

s to

ens

ure

the

heal

thy

grow

th o

f in

nova

tive

liste

d en

terp

rises

.

14.4

Po

litic

al P

artie

s / G

roup

s

�

New

Peo

ple’

s Par

ty

�

New

Peo

ple’

s Pa

rty a

sks

the

Gov

ernm

ent t

o ta

ke n

ote

of th

e op

erat

ion

of th

e PC

T an

d PP

H a

rran

gem

ents

pio

neer

ed in

16

PCT

sign

ing

parti

es, a

s wel

l as t

he se

tting

up

of a

Gua

ngdo

ng C

entre

of S

IPO

as

the

first

org

anis

atio

n ou

tsid

e B

eijin

g th

at c

arrie

s ou

t ex

amin

atio

n fo

r in

vent

ion

pate

nts

for

SIPO

. N

ew P

eopl

e’s

Party

thi

nks

that

H

ong

Kon

g sh

ould

stri

ve to

set

up

anot

her e

xam

inat

ion

cent

re re

cogn

ised

by

SIPO

, as

wel

l as a

n IS

A a

nd a

n IP

EA u

nder

PC

T.

14.5

A

cade

mic

Sec

tor

�

Ron

ald

Yu (p

art-t

ime

lect

urer

of t

he U

nive

rsity

of

Hon

g K

ong)

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

�

Ron

ald

Yu su

gges

ts th

at H

ong

Kon

g m

ust h

ave

loca

l abi

lity

to a

sses

s the

val

ue o

f IP

in o

rder

for H

ong

Kon

g to

bec

ome

a tra

ding

hub

for I

P.

Hen

ce, a

faci

lity

to a

sses

s th

e va

lidity

of

pate

nts

thro

ugh

loca

l ex

amin

atio

n sh

ould

be

set

up.

Loc

al

exam

inat

ion

capa

bilit

y w

ould

elim

inat

e pa

st p

robl

ems

of s

hort-

term

pat

ents

bei

ng

gran

ted

for i

nven

tions

whe

reas

the

pate

nts o

f whi

ch w

ere

reje

cted

els

ewhe

re.

�

Bio

chem

istry

Alu

mni

Ass

ocia

tion,

HK

UST

con

side

rs th

at H

ong

Kon

g ha

s th

e ni

che

to l

aunc

h th

e de

velo

pmen

t of

IP

exch

ange

ind

ustri

es,

and

wou

ld i

nitia

te t

he n

ew

wav

e of

“kn

owle

dge-

base

d ec

onom

y”, a

nd it

sho

uld

serv

e as

the

win

dow

for g

loba

l de

velo

pmen

t of

M

ainl

and

Chi

na

inno

vativ

e co

mpa

nies

an

d th

e pl

atfo

rm

for

mul

tinat

iona

l co

rpor

atio

ns t

o m

arke

t in

Mai

nlan

d C

hina

, an

d al

so p

rovi

de t

he

plat

form

for s

mal

ler f

irms t

o ga

ther

fina

ncia

l sup

port

and

expa

nd th

eir b

usin

esse

s.

17

9

Oth

er C

omm

ents

Reg

ardi

ng th

e Pa

tent

Sys

tem

(25

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

14.

How

els

e sh

ould

we

posi

tion

our

syst

em fo

r th

e pu

rpos

es o

f enc

oura

ging

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

attr

actin

g in

vest

ors

to u

se H

ong

Kon

g as

a la

unch

ing

pad

for

thei

r re

sear

ch a

nd d

evel

opm

ent o

pera

tions

?

14.6

Le

gal P

ract

ition

ers /

Pat

ent P

ract

ition

ers

�

QPA

Gro

up

�

Song

& C

han

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

t

�

QPA

Gro

up b

elie

ves

that

inno

vatio

n an

d in

vest

men

t can

be

enco

urag

ed b

y w

ay o

f ta

xatio

n in

cent

ives

for

IP-

rela

ted

busi

ness

es.

Gra

nts

may

als

o be

util

ised

, bu

t ap

plic

atio

ns n

eed

to b

e re

view

ed c

aref

ully

and

mec

hani

sms

to d

isco

urag

e ab

use

need

to b

e im

plem

ente

d.

�

Song

& C

han

belie

ve th

at H

ong

Kon

g sh

ould

inve

st r

esou

rces

in d

evel

opin

g its

elf

into

a k

now

ledg

e ex

chan

ge c

entre

.

�

A r

espo

nden

t pr

opos

es t

hat

ince

ntiv

es s

uch

as t

ax c

redi

t or

ded

uctio

n sh

ould

be

prov

ided

to

pros

pect

ive

pate

nt a

pplic

ants

for

the

m t

o fil

e pa

tent

app

licat

ions

in

Hon

g K

ong

and

that

con

ditio

ns s

houl

d be

impo

sed

on th

e cu

rren

t gra

nt s

chem

e so

th

at a

pplic

ants

cou

ld o

nly

appo

int H

ong

Kon

g se

rvic

e pr

ovid

ers.

14.7

O

ther

s

�

HK

PC

�

Bac

h Li

mite

d

�

Blu

e O

cean

Stra

tegy

Con

sulti

ng/A

rt G

roup

Li

mite

d

�

HK

PC c

onsi

ders

that

:

(a)

the

Gov

ernm

ent’s

pol

icie

s sh

ould

be

orie

nted

tow

ards

sup

porti

ng H

ong

Kon

g in

dust

ry

to

prom

ote

the

utili

satio

n of

in

vent

ions

ge

nera

ted

by

gove

rnm

ent-s

uppo

rted

proj

ect;

(b)

the

Pate

nt A

pplic

atio

n G

rant

sho

uld

be re

laxe

d to

acc

ept a

pplic

ants

oth

er th

an

first

tim

e co

mer

s;

(c)

the

Gov

ernm

ent s

houl

d m

ake

avai

labl

e di

ffere

nt in

cent

ive

sche

mes

;

(d)

a m

ore

attra

ctiv

e ta

x re

gim

e sh

ould

be

set

up t

o su

ppor

t co

mpa

nies

in

licen

sing

, pur

chas

ing

and

trans

ferr

ing

IPs

by p

rovi

ding

tax

ince

ntiv

es to

cov

er

18

0

Oth

er C

omm

ents

Reg

ardi

ng th

e Pa

tent

Sys

tem

(25

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

14.

How

els

e sh

ould

we

posi

tion

our

syst

em fo

r th

e pu

rpos

es o

f enc

oura

ging

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

attr

actin

g in

vest

ors

to u

se H

ong

Kon

g as

a la

unch

ing

pad

for

thei

r re

sear

ch a

nd d

evel

opm

ent o

pera

tions

?

expe

nditu

re o

n ex

tern

al t

echn

olog

y ac

quis

ition

by

R&

D c

oope

ratio

n an

d m

achi

nery

and

equ

ipm

ent a

cqui

sitio

n th

at e

mbo

dies

new

tech

nolo

gies

;

(e)

an I

P C

ourt

shou

ld b

e se

t up

to

hand

le l

itiga

tion

aris

ing

from

IP

tradi

ng

disp

utes

and

IP e

nfor

cem

ent;

and

(f)

the

Gov

ernm

ent

shou

ld w

ork

on a

rec

ipro

cal

reco

gniti

on s

yste

m o

f pa

tent

s re

gist

ered

with

SIP

O a

nd in

Hon

g K

ong.

�

Bac

h Li

mite

d co

nsid

ers

“use

r pay

s” a

ppro

ach

impo

rtant

to th

e re

puta

tion

and

publ

ic

finan

ce o

f H

ong

Kon

g.

It is

als

o co

ncer

ned

that

the

Gov

ernm

ent m

ay c

onfu

se it

s ob

ject

ive

to

enco

urag

e lo

cal

inno

vatio

n by

m

isal

loca

ting

fund

s an

d pr

ovid

e su

bsid

ies

to o

vers

eas

R&

D c

entre

s. I

t is

of th

e vi

ew th

at f

inan

cial

hel

p fo

r sm

all

busi

ness

es w

ith p

oten

tial

shou

ld c

ome

from

priv

ate

equi

ty,

ange

l in

vest

ors

and

vent

ure

capi

tal f

unds

inst

ead

of th

e G

over

nmen

t.

�

Bac

h Li

mite

d po

ints

out

that

whe

n re

view

ing

the

subm

issi

ons

rece

ived

in r

espo

nse

to th

e C

onsu

ltatio

n Pa

per,

the

Gov

ernm

ent m

ust “

bala

nce

inte

rest

s” b

y co

nsid

erin

g ho

w m

any

peop

le e

ach

lette

r w

riter

rep

rese

nts

and

also

how

man

y of

tho

se

peop

le/e

ntiti

es f

ile p

aten

ts,

and

the

num

ber

of p

aten

ts e

ach

of t

hem

has

file

d.

Bod

ies

like

the

HK

ITM

P, A

PAA

and

the

Law

Soc

iety

rep

rese

nt a

vas

t num

ber

of

pate

nt f

iling

ent

ities

, su

ch a

s la

rge

mul

tinat

iona

l co

rpor

atio

ns w

hich

file

man

y pa

tent

s eac

h ye

ar.

�

Bac

h Li

mite

d co

nsid

ers

it an

ov

erst

atem

ent

to

say

that

th

e pa

tent

sy

stem

“e

ncou

rage

s dev

elop

men

t” a

nd “

driv

es th

e gr

owth

of t

he e

cono

my”

.

18

1

Oth

er C

omm

ents

Reg

ardi

ng th

e Pa

tent

Sys

tem

(25

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

14.

How

els

e sh

ould

we

posi

tion

our

syst

em fo

r th

e pu

rpos

es o

f enc

oura

ging

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

attr

actin

g in

vest

ors

to u

se H

ong

Kon

g as

a la

unch

ing

pad

for

thei

r re

sear

ch a

nd d

evel

opm

ent o

pera

tions

?

�

Blu

e O

cean

Stra

tegy

Con

sulti

ng/A

rt G

roup

Lim

ited

cons

ider

s it

impo

rtant

for

the

G

over

nmen

t to

be tr

ansp

aren

t to

the

com

mun

ity a

t lar

ge o

n its

pos

ition

on

how

it

view

s th

e pa

tent

abili

ty o

f bu

sine

ss m

etho

d, c

ompu

ter

prog

ram

and

sof

twar

e pr

ogra

m in

an

OG

P sy

stem

.

14.8

In

divi

dual

s

�

Eric

Yun

g

�

Alfr

ed L

ee

�

Guy

Cha

n

� ^_K

� ghO

�

Stan

ley

�

Phili

p Yu

ng T

ak L

am

� i�j

�

Ms.

Lee

�

Ano

nym

ous r

espo

nden

ts

�

Eric

Yun

g su

gges

ts th

at th

e G

over

nmen

t sho

uld

cons

ider

set

ting

up a

sys

tem

whi

ch

prov

ides

as

sist

ance

to

su

cces

sful

pa

tent

ap

plic

atio

ns

whi

ch

have

un

derg

one

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion.

He

belie

ves

assi

stan

ce

and

awar

d sc

hem

es

wou

ld

enco

urag

e lo

cal

inno

vatio

n an

d at

tract

inv

esto

rs t

o us

e H

ong

Kon

g as

the

ir la

unch

ing

loca

tion

for t

heir

scie

ntifi

c re

sear

ch o

pera

tions

.

�

Alfr

ed L

ee th

inks

that

the

exis

ting

pate

nt s

yste

m is

not

yet

dev

elop

ed to

the

poin

t of

loca

lisat

ion

for

cate

ring

effe

ctiv

ely

all t

he f

orm

aliti

es o

f do

cum

enta

tions

bot

h w

ith

tech

nica

l an

d le

gal

invo

lvem

ents

. H

e su

gges

ts t

hat

the

exis

ting

Hon

g K

ong

Econ

omic

and

Tra

de O

ffice

s O

vers

eas

to d

oubl

e up

and

ext

end

thei

r se

rvic

es o

f co

nnec

tions

for h

andl

ing

form

aliti

es a

nd d

ocum

enta

tions

.

�

Guy

Cha

n ha

s th

e fo

llow

ing

sugg

estio

ns: (

a) fr

ee s

harin

g of

pat

ent r

ight

s in

lieu

of

appl

icat

ion

fee;

(b)

set

ting

up o

f an

offi

ce o

pera

ting

sche

mes

to

help

inv

ento

rs t

o m

arke

t the

ir in

vent

ions

in re

turn

for c

omm

issi

on to

fund

the

offic

e; a

nd (c

) fun

ding

by

the

offic

e to

thes

e re

sear

ches

is g

rant

ed o

n co

nditi

on th

at a

ny r

ight

s or

pat

ents

ob

tain

ed fr

om th

e re

sults

of s

uch

rese

arch

es w

ill b

e sh

ared

.

� ^_K

sug

gest

s se

tting

up

a pa

nel

with

exp

ertis

e fr

om r

elev

ant

field

s to

ass

ess

inve

ntio

ns a

nd t

o pr

ovid

e as

sist

ance

onl

y to

tho

se i

nven

tions

tha

t ar

e w

orth

18

2

Oth

er C

omm

ents

Reg

ardi

ng th

e Pa

tent

Sys

tem

(25

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

14.

How

els

e sh

ould

we

posi

tion

our

syst

em fo

r th

e pu

rpos

es o

f enc

oura

ging

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

attr

actin

g in

vest

ors

to u

se H

ong

Kon

g as

a la

unch

ing

pad

for

thei

r re

sear

ch a

nd d

evel

opm

ent o

pera

tions

?

supp

ortin

g.

� ghO

prop

oses

that

a d

epar

tmen

t or

unit

in w

hich

ther

e ar

e pr

ofes

sion

al s

taff

to

help

inv

ento

rs t

o pr

epar

e ne

cess

ary

docu

men

ts f

or p

aten

t ap

plic

atio

ns a

nd f

or

appl

icat

ions

to th

e Pa

tent

App

licat

ion

Gra

nt sh

ould

be

set u

p.

Ano

ther

fund

shou

ld

also

be

set

up t

o he

lp i

nven

tors

in

the

prod

uctio

n of

pro

duct

s to

rea

lise

thei

r in

vent

ions

. T

he G

over

nmen

t sh

ould

hel

p in

vent

ors

by m

atch

ing

or r

efer

ring

inve

ntor

s to

pot

entia

l man

ufac

ture

rs o

r ent

repr

eneu

rs w

ho m

ay b

e in

tere

sted

in th

eir

inve

ntio

ns.

�

Stan

ley

prop

oses

tha

t th

e pa

tent

leg

isla

tion

shou

ld b

e re

view

ed t

oget

her

with

the

co

pyrig

ht le

gisl

atio

n so

as

to p

rom

ote

inno

vatio

n, a

ttrac

t inv

estm

ents

in H

ong

Kon

g an

d to

avo

id u

nnec

essa

ry l

itiga

tion.

H

e al

so s

ugge

sts

the

excl

usio

n of

ind

ustri

al

prod

ucts

from

cop

yrig

ht p

rote

ctio

n.

�

Phili

p Yu

ng T

ak L

am s

ugge

sts

that

citi

zens

who

are

stu

dent

s, th

e el

derly

and

the

ha

ndic

appe

d sh

ould

be

entit

led

to r

educ

ed p

aten

t ap

plic

atio

n fe

es.

He

also

pr

opos

es t

hat

pate

nt a

pplic

ants

cou

ld f

ile p

relim

inar

y or

rou

gh i

deas

of

thei

r in

vent

ions

to

a co

mm

ittee

and

the

pat

ent

appl

icat

ion

will

be

draf

ted

at t

he

appl

ican

ts’ c

ost.

If t

he c

omm

ittee

app

rove

s the

val

ue o

f the

inve

ntio

ns, t

he c

osts

to

be b

orne

by

the

appl

ican

t fo

r pa

tent

app

licat

ion

can

be s

ecur

ed b

y ch

argi

ng t

he

inve

ntio

ns to

the

com

mitt

ee a

nd th

e as

sign

men

t of t

he ri

ght t

o gr

ant l

icen

ces

to th

e co

mm

ittee

. H

e re

com

men

ds se

tting

up

the

follo

win

g co

mm

ittee

s: (a

) a “

Pate

ntab

le

Elev

atio

n C

omm

ittee

” to

offe

r se

rvic

es to

pot

entia

l pat

ent a

pplic

ants

for

ass

essi

ng

pate

ntab

ility

; (b

) a

“Lic

ensi

ng C

omm

ittee

” to

pro

vide

pat

ent

licen

sing

ser

vice

s to

pa

tent

ow

ners

; an

d (c

) an

“In

dust

rial

Mot

ion

Com

mitt

ee”

to p

rom

ote

pate

nted

18

3

Oth

er C

omm

ents

Reg

ardi

ng th

e Pa

tent

Sys

tem

(25

subm

issi

ons r

ecei

ved)

14.

How

els

e sh

ould

we

posi

tion

our

syst

em fo

r th

e pu

rpos

es o

f enc

oura

ging

loca

l inn

ovat

ion

and

attr

actin

g in

vest

ors

to u

se H

ong

Kon

g as

a la

unch

ing

pad

for

thei

r re

sear

ch a

nd d

evel

opm

ent o

pera

tions

?

prod

ucts

to m

anuf

actu

rers

and

to a

ssis

t in

the

mar

ketin

g of

the

pate

nted

pro

duct

s.

�

Phili

p Yu

ng

Tak

Lam

al

so

sugg

ests

th

at

(a)

the

Gov

ernm

ent

shou

ld

mak

e ar

rang

emen

ts w

ith th

e M

ainl

and

Chi

nese

aut

horit

ies

and

Wor

ld T

rade

Org

aniz

atio

n fo

r H

ong

Kon

g pa

tent

s to

be

acce

pted

by

othe

r co

untri

es a

s an

alte

rnat

ive

rout

e to

PC

T; a

nd (b

) a w

ebsi

te in

whi

ch p

aten

ts in

all

coun

tries

can

be

sear

ched

to p

rom

ote

know

ledg

e of

prio

r arts

or g

rant

ed p

aten

ts sh

ould

be

set u

p.

� i�j

sug

gest

s th

at th

e G

over

nmen

t sho

uld

set u

p a

fund

to p

ay fo

r the

exp

ense

s in

curr

ed in

the

man

ufac

ture

of p

rodu

cts i

ncor

pora

ting

the

inno

vativ

e in

vent

ions

.

�

Ms.

Lee

sugg

ests

that

the

publ

ic s

houl

d be

allo

wed

to in

spec

t the

regi

ster

of p

aten

ts

onlin

e an

d th

e la

test

pat

ents

gra

nted

sho

uld

be p

ublis

hed.

Th

e G

over

nmen

t sho

uld

assi

st th

e ap

plic

ants

in a

pply

ing

for

pate

nts

so th

at a

pplic

ants

do

not h

ave

to f

ind

thei

r ow

n la

wye

rs o

r age

nts.

�

A r

espo

nden

t su

gges

ts s

ettin

g up

new

ass

ista

nce

sche

mes

to

enco

urag

e gr

adua

tes

with

a s

cien

ce a

nd e

ngin

eerin

g de

gree

to s

tudy

law

as

a se

cond

deg

ree

to m

eet t

he

need

s of a

n O

GP

syst

em.

�

A re

spon

dent

sugg

ests

that

stan

dard

form

s/lis

ts to

geth

er w

ith g

uide

on

com

plet

ion

of

form

s sh

ould

be

prov

ided

. T

he p

aten

t ow

ners

sho

uld

be a

llow

ed t

o at

tend

leg

al

proc

eedi

ngs

with

the

pate

nt a

gent

s so

that

the

pate

nt o

wne

rs c

ould

pro

vide

det

aile

d ex

plan

atio

n if

need

ed.

18

4

Ann

ex C

Com

pari

son

of K

ey F

eatu

res o

f the

Sta

ndar

d/In

vent

ion

Pate

nt S

yste

ms i

n H

ong

Kon

g, M

acao

and

Sin

gapo

re1

H

ON

G K

ON

G

MA

CA

O

SIN

GA

POR

E

Nom

encl

atur

e St

anda

rd p

aten

t In

vent

ion

pate

nt

Pa

tent

(Sin

gapo

re o

nly

gran

ts o

ne ty

pe o

f pat

ent a

nd

has n

o le

sser

pat

ent s

yste

m)

Gov

erni

ng la

ws a

nd

regu

latio

ns

(a)

Pate

nts

Ord

inan

ce (

Cap

514

, La

ws

of H

ong

Kon

g)

(b)

Pate

nts

(Des

igna

tion

of P

aten

t O

ffice

s) N

otic

e (C

ap 5

14A

) (c

) Pa

tent

s (T

rans

ition

al A

rran

gem

ents

) Rul

es (C

ap

514B

) (d

) Pa

tent

s (G

ener

al) R

ules

(Cap

514

C)

Indu

stria

l Pr

oper

ty C

ode

(Dec

ree-

Law

Nº

97/9

9/M

of

13

Dec

embe

r 199

9) (I

PC)

(a)

Pate

nts A

ct (C

ap 2

21, L

aws o

f Sin

gapo

re)

(b)

Pate

nts R

ules

and

cor

resp

ondi

ng u

pdat

es

(c)

Pate

nts (

Pate

nt A

gent

s) R

ules

200

1 (d

) Pa

tent

s (C

ompo

sitio

n of

Offe

nces

) R

egul

atio

ns

2001

Res

pons

ible

de

part

men

t In

telle

ctua

l Pro

perty

Dep

artm

ent

Inte

llect

ual P

rope

rty D

epar

tmen

t of t

he D

irecç

ão d

os

Serv

iços

de

Econ

omia

(Mac

ao IP

D)

Inte

llect

ual P

rope

rty O

ffice

of S

inga

pore

(IPO

S)

Nat

ure

of th

e sy

stem

A “

re-r

egis

tratio

n” s

yste

m, w

here

pat

ents

gra

nted

by

any

one

of th

e de

sign

ated

pat

ent o

ffice

s, na

mel

y th

e Eu

rope

an P

aten

t Offi

ce (

for

pate

nts

desi

gnat

ing

the

Uni

ted

Kin

gdom

), th

e St

ate

Inte

llect

ual

Prop

erty

O

ffice

(SI

PO)

of t

he P

eopl

e’s

Rep

ublic

of

Chi

na

(PR

C)

and

the

Uni

ted

Kin

gdom

Pa

tent

O

ffice

(c

olle

ctiv

ely,

the

Des

igna

ted

Pate

nt O

ffice

s),

are

regi

ster

ed in

Hon

g K

ong.

An

“orig

inal

gr

ant”

pa

tent

(O

GP)

sy

stem

w

ith

outs

ourc

ing

arra

ngem

ents

(su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

to S

IPO

) A

ND

Ex

tens

ion

of P

RC

pat

ents

: an

app

lican

t w

ho h

as

filed

an

appl

icat

ion

for

an i

nven

tion

pate

nt w

ith

SIPO

or

the

gran

tee

of a

n in

vent

ion

pate

nt g

rant

ed

by S

IPO

may

file

a r

eque

st w

ith M

acao

IPD

to

exte

nd th

e pa

tent

righ

t to

Mac

ao.

An

OG

P sy

stem

w

ith

outs

ourc

ing

arra

ngem

ents

(s

ubst

antiv

e ex

amin

atio

n ou

tsou

rced

to th

e A

ustri

an

Pate

nt O

ffice

, th

e D

anis

h Pa

tent

and

Tra

dem

ark

Offi

ce

and

the

Hun

garia

n In

telle

ctua

l Pr

oper

ty

Offi

ce),

with

opt

ions

for a

pplic

ants

to re

ly o

n se

arch

an

d ex

amin

atio

n re

ports

fr

om

a nu

mbe

r of

pr

escr

ibed

pa

tent

of

fices

(th

e Pr

escr

ibed

Pa

tent

O

ffice

s)

inst

ead

of

requ

estin

g se

arch

an

d ex

amin

atio

n w

hen

mak

ing

the

appl

icat

ion

in

Sing

apor

e.

Th

e Pr

escr

ibed

Pa

tent

O

ffice

s in

clud

e th

ose

of

Aus

tralia

, C

anad

a (in

res

pect

of

appl

icat

ions

for

a

Can

adia

n pa

tent

fil

ed

in

Engl

ish)

, Ja

pan,

N

ew

Zeal

and,

Rep

ublic

of

Kor

ea,

the

Uni

ted

Kin

gdom

1

Info

rmat

ion

cont

aine

d in

var

ious

par

ts o

f thi

s tab

le is

bas

ed o

n in

form

atio

n fo

und

on v

ario

us w

ebsi

tes o

r pub

licat

ions

, inc

ludi

ng b

ut n

ot li

mite

d to

the

offic

ial w

ebsi

tes o

f the

rele

vant

pat

ent

offic

es.

18

5

H

ON

G K

ON

G

MA

CA

O

SIN

GA

POR

E

and

the

Uni

ted

Stat

es o

f Am

eric

a, a

nd th

e Eu

rope

an

Pate

nt

Offi

ce

(in

resp

ect

of

appl

icat

ions

fo

r a

Euro

pean

pat

ent f

iled

in E

nglis

h).

Sing

apor

e ru

ns

a se

lf-as

sess

men

t re

gim

e un

der

whi

ch t

he a

pplic

ant

can

choo

se t

o pr

ocee

d w

ith a

gr

ant

even

if

the

exam

inat

ion

resu

lt is

neg

ativ

e or

m

ixed

. S

inga

pore

is

mov

ing

tow

ard

a “p

ositi

ve

gran

t” s

yste

m,

whe

re o

nly

appl

icat

ions

tha

t fu

lly

mee

t the

pat

enta

bilit

y re

quire

men

ts c

an b

e gr

ante

d.

Pate

nt C

oope

ratio

n Tr

eaty

(PC

T)

The

PCT,

to

whi

ch P

RC

is

a co

ntra

ctin

g st

ate,

ap

plie

s to

Hon

g K

ong

with

eff

ect f

rom

1 J

uly

1997

.

A H

ong

Kon

g re

side

nt m

ay f

ile a

n in

tern

atio

nal

appl

icat

ion

eith

er w

ith S

IPO

or

the

Inte

rnat

iona

l B

urea

u of

th

e W

orld

In

telle

ctua

l Pr

oper

ty

Org

aniz

atio

n (W

IPO

). T

he H

ong

Kon

g Pa

tent

s R

egis

try i

s no

t a

rece

ivin

g of

fice

for

inte

rnat

iona

l ap

plic

atio

ns u

nder

PC

T.

The

PCT

is n

ot a

pplic

able

to M

acao

. Si

ngap

ore

is

a PC

T co

ntra

ctin

g st

ate.

An

inte

rnat

iona

l app

licat

ion

may

be

filed

by

a re

side

nt

or n

atio

nal o

f Sin

gapo

re u

nder

the

PCT

dire

ctly

with

th

e R

egis

try o

f Pa

tent

s at

IPO

S as

the

rec

eivi

ng

offic

e or

the

Inte

rnat

iona

l Bur

eau

of W

IPO

.

Pate

ntab

ility

R

equi

rem

ents

A

n in

vent

ion

is p

aten

tabl

e if

it:

(a)

is su

scep

tible

of i

ndus

trial

app

licat

ion;

(b

) is

new

; and

(c

) in

volv

es a

n in

vent

ive

step

.

An

inve

ntio

n is

pat

enta

ble

if it:

(a

) is

nov

el;

(b)

invo

lves

an

inve

ntiv

e st

ep; a

nd

(c)

is in

dust

rially

app

licab

le.

A

pate

ntab

le

inve

ntio

n is

on

e th

at

satis

fies

the

follo

win

g co

nditi

ons:

(a

) th

e in

vent

ion

is n

ew;

(b)

it in

volv

es a

n in

vent

ive

step

; and

(c

) it

is c

apab

le o

f ind

ustri

al a

pplic

atio

n.

N

on-p

aten

tabl

e in

vent

ions

Th

e fo

llow

ing

are

not p

aten

tabl

e:

(a)

a di

scov

ery,

sci

entif

ic t

heor

y or

mat

hem

atic

al

met

hod;

(b

) an

aes

thet

ic c

reat

ion;

(c

) a

sche

me,

rul

e or

met

hod

for

perf

orm

ing

a m

enta

l act

, pla

ying

a g

ame

or d

oing

bus

ines

s, or

a

prog

ram

for a

com

pute

r; (d

) th

e pr

esen

tatio

n of

info

rmat

ion;

(e

) a

met

hod

for

treat

men

t of

the

hum

an o

r an

imal

The

follo

win

g ar

e no

t pat

enta

ble:

(a

) di

scov

erie

s, as

wel

l as

sci

entif

ic t

heor

ies

and

mat

hem

atic

al m

etho

ds;

(b)

mat

eria

ls

or

subs

tanc

es

alre

ady

exis

ting

natu

rally

and

nuc

lear

mat

ter;

(c)

aest

hetic

cre

atio

ns;

(d)

sche

mes

, ru

les

and

met

hods

fo

r pe

rfor

min

g m

enta

l act

s, pl

ayin

g ga

mes

or d

oing

bus

ines

s as

w

ell a

s com

pute

r pro

gram

s, as

such

;

The

follo

win

g ar

e no

t pat

enta

ble:

(a

) an

inv

entio

n th

e pu

blic

atio

n or

exp

loita

tion

of

whi

ch

wou

ld

be

gene

rally

ex

pect

ed

to

enco

urag

e of

fens

ive,

im

mor

al

or

anti-

soci

al

beha

viou

r; an

d

(b)

an i

nven

tion

of a

met

hod

of t

reat

men

t of

the

hu

man

or a

nim

al b

ody

by s

urge

ry o

r the

rapy

or

of d

iagn

osis

pra

ctis

ed o

n th

e hu

man

or

anim

al

body

.

18

6

H

ON

G K

ON

G

MA

CA

O

SIN

GA

POR

E

body

by

surg

ery

or t

hera

py a

nd a

dia

gnos

tic

met

hod

prac

tised

on

the

hum

an o

r ani

mal

bod

y;(f

) an

in

vent

ion

the

publ

icat

ion

or

wor

king

of

w

hich

wou

ld b

e co

ntra

ry to

pub

lic o

rder

(or

dre

publ

ic) o

r mor

ality

; and

(g

) a

plan

t or

an

imal

va

riety

or

an

es

sent

ially

bi

olog

ical

pro

cess

for

the

pro

duct

ion

of p

lant

s or

ani

mal

s, ot

her t

han

a m

icro

biol

ogic

al p

roce

ss

or th

e pr

oduc

ts o

f suc

h a

proc

ess.

(e)

pres

enta

tion

of in

form

atio

n;

(f)

inve

ntio

ns

who

se

com

mer

cial

ex

ploi

tatio

n w

ould

be

illeg

al, c

ontra

ry to

pub

lic o

rder

, pub

lic

heal

th o

r mor

ality

, inc

ludi

ng:

(i)

the

hum

an b

ody,

in th

e va

rious

sta

ges

of it

s fo

rmat

ion

and

deve

lopm

ent,

as w

ell a

s th

e si

mpl

e di

scov

ery

of o

ne o

f its

ele

men

ts,

incl

udin

g th

e se

quen

ce o

r pa

rtial

seq

uenc

e of

a g

ene;

(ii

) hu

man

clo

ning

pro

cess

es;

(iii)

hum

an

germ

inal

ge

netic

id

entit

y m

odifi

catio

n pr

oces

ses;

(iv

) th

e us

e of

hum

an e

mbr

yos

for i

ndus

trial

or

com

mer

cial

pur

pose

s;

(v)

proc

esse

s fo

r th

e m

odifi

catio

n of

th

e ge

netic

ide

ntity

of

anim

als

that

can

cau

se

them

su

fferin

g w

ithou

t an

y su

bsta

ntia

l m

edic

al

bene

fit

to

man

kind

or

an

imal

- ki

nd,

as w

ell

as t

he a

nim

als

obta

ined

by

thos

e pr

oces

ses;

(g

) m

etho

ds

for

the

surg

ical

or

th

erap

eutic

tre

atm

ent

of t

he h

uman

or

anim

al b

ody

and

met

hods

of

diag

nosi

s ap

plie

d to

the

hum

an o

r an

imal

bod

y, e

xclu

ding

pro

duct

s, su

bsta

nces

or

com

posi

tions

use

d in

any

of t

hose

met

hods

; and

(h)

plan

t va

rietie

s or

bre

eds

of a

nim

al,

as w

ell

as

esse

ntia

lly

biol

ogic

al

proc

esse

s fo

r th

e pr

oduc

tion

of p

lant

s or a

nim

als.

Arti

cle

63 o

f the

IPC

pro

vide

s fo

r mat

ters

that

sha

ll no

t be

exc

lude

d fr

om p

aten

tabi

lity

in s

pite

of

the

abov

e.

Ext

ensi

on o

f pat

ent

term

Th

ere

is n

o ex

tens

ion

of p

aten

t te

rm b

eyon

d its

or

igin

al te

rm fo

r 20

year

s. A

sys

tem

for

ext

ensi

on o

f pa

tent

ter

m b

eyon

d its

or

igin

al te

rm fo

r 20

year

s is

ava

ilabl

e fo

r med

icin

es

and

phyt

o-ph

arm

aceu

tical

pro

duct

to c

ompe

nsat

e th

e pa

tent

-rig

ht h

olde

r fo

r th

e lo

ss o

f pr

otec

tion

perio

d

The

orig

inal

term

for

20

year

s m

ay b

e ex

tend

ed o

n on

e of

the

follo

win

g gr

ound

s:

(a)

ther

e w

as a

n un

reas

onab

le d

elay

by

IPO

S in

18

7

H

ON

G K

ON

G

MA

CA

O

SIN

GA

POR

E

in

seek

ing

mar

ketin

g ap

prov

al.

Th

e le

ngth

of

ex

tens

ion

of p

aten

t sh

all

not

exce

ed s

even

yea

rs

from

the

orig

inal

term

of t

he p

aten

t.

gran

ting

the

pate

nt;

(b)

ther

e w

as a

n un

reas

onab

le d

elay

by

one

of th

e Pr

escr

ibed

Pa

tent

O

ffic

es

in

issu

ing

the

corr

espo

ndin

g pa

tent

on

w

hich

th

e na

tiona

l ap

plic

atio

n in

Si

ngap

ore

is

base

d,

and

the

Pres

crib

ed

Pate

nt

Off

ice

has

gran

ted

an

exte

nsio

n of

ter

m o

f th

e co

rres

pond

ing

pate

nt

on th

e ba

sis o

f suc

h de

lay;

and

(c

) th

ere

was

a

dela

y in

ob

tain

ing

mar

ketin

g ap

prov

al

for

a ph

arm

aceu

tical

pr

oduc

t co

ntai

ning

a p

aten

ted

activ

e in

gred

ient

whi

ch

unre

ason

ably

cur

tails

the

oppo

rtuni

ty to

exp

loit

the

pate

nt.

For g

roun

d (a

), a

dela

y is

con

side

red

unre

ason

able

if

(i) th

e in

terv

al b

etw

een

the

date

of

filin

g an

d gr

ant

exce

eds

four

yea

rs;

or (

ii) t

he i

nter

val

betw

een

the

date

of

requ

est

for

exam

inat

ion

(with

or

with

out

sear

ch)

repo

rt an

d gr

ant

exce

eds

two

year

s. A

ny

dela

y at

tribu

tabl

e to

the

appl

ican

t is

excl

uded

fro

m

the

calc

ulat

ion.

The

term

of

pa

tent

sh

all

be

exte

nded

by

th

e pe

riod

by

whi

ch

the

inte

rval

ex

ceed

s fo

ur y

ears

or

two

year

s re

spec

tivel

y; o

r in

ca

ses

whe

re b

oth

(i) a

nd (i

i) ap

ply,

the

long

er o

f the

tw

o pe

riods

. Fo

r ex

tens

ion

on g

roun

ds (

b) o

r (c

), th

e te

rm o

f ex

tens

ion

shal

l not

exc

eed

five

year

s.

Dis

pute

as t

o en

title

men

t A

t an

y tim

e be

fore

a s

tand

ard

pate

nt h

as b

een

gran

ted

for

an

inve

ntio

n (w

heth

er

or

not

an

appl

icat

ion

has

been

mad

e), a

ny p

erso

n m

ay re

fer t

o th

e R

egis

trar o

r the

cou

rt th

e qu

estio

n of

whe

ther

he

is e

ntitl

ed to

app

ly fo

r the

gra

nt o

f a s

tand

ard

pate

nt

for t

he in

vent

ion.

Whe

re a

pat

ent

right

is

gran

ted

to a

per

son

not

entit

led

ther

eto

or i

n in

frin

gem

ent

of a

ny r

ight

s of

th

ird p

artie

s, an

inte

rest

ed p

arty

may

app

ly to

cou

rt to

ann

ul t

he p

aten

t rig

ht,

or a

ltern

ativ

ely,

req

uest

re

vers

ion

of ti

tle to

him

.

At

any

time

befo

re a

pat

ent

is g

rant

ed f

or a

n in

vent

ion,

any

per

son

may

refe

r to

the

Reg

istra

r the

qu

estio

n w

heth

er h

e is

ent

itled

to b

e gr

ante

d a

pate

nt

for t

he in

vent

ion.

W

here

it a

ppea

rs to

the

Reg

istra

r th

at th

e qu

estio

n in

volv

es m

atte

rs w

hich

wou

ld m

ore

prop

erly

be

dete

rmin

ed b

y th

e co

urt,

the

cour

t sha

ll ha

ve ju

risdi

ctio

n to

do

so.

18

8

H

ON

G K

ON

G

MA

CA

O

SIN

GA

POR

E

Afte

r a s

tand

ard

pate

nt h

as b

een

gran

ted,

any

per

son

havi

ng o

r cla

imin

g a

prop

rieta

ry in

tere

st in

or u

nder

th

e pa

tent

may

ref

er t

o th

e co

urt

to d

eter

min

e di

sput

es a

s to

righ

ts to

a p

aten

t. T

he c

ourt

may

by

orde

r tra

nsfe

r or

rev

oke

the

pate

nt o

r or

der

the

appl

ican

t fo

r re

voca

tion

to m

ake

a ne

w a

pplic

atio

n fo

r a p

aten

t.

Afte

r a

pate

nt h

as b

een

gran

ted,

any

per

son

havi

ng

or c

laim

ing

a pr

oprie

tary

int

eres

t in

or

unde

r th

e pa

tent

may

ref

er t

o th

e R

egis

trar

ques

tions

as

to

right

s to

a p

aten

t. T

he R

egis

trar (

or th

e co

urt i

f so

refe

rred

) m

ay b

y or

der

trans

fer

or r

evok

e th

e pa

tent

or

ord

er th

e ap

plic

ant f

or r

evoc

atio

n to

mak

e a

new

ap

plic

atio

n fo

r a p

aten

t.

App

licat

ion

and

gran

t pro

cedu

res

A s

tand

ard

pate

nt a

pplic

atio

n in

Hon

g K

ong

is m

ade

in t

wo

stag

es:

(1)

a re

ques

t to

rec

ord

a de

sign

ated

pa

tent

app

licat

ion

(sta

ge 1

); an

d (2

) a

requ

est

for

regi

stra

tion

and

gran

t (st

age

2).

Stag

e 1:

Req

uest

to

reco

rd a

des

igna

ted

pate

nt

appl

icat

ion

A p

erso

n en

title

d to

app

ly f

or a

gra

nt o

f st

anda

rd

pate

nt i

n H

ong

Kon

g m

ay f

ile a

req

uest

with

the

R

egis

trar

to e

nter

a r

ecor

d of

an

appl

icat

ion

for

pate

nt in

one

of

the

Des

igna

ted

Pate

nt O

ffice

s (th

e D

esig

nate

d Pa

tent

App

licat

ion)

, w

ithin

six

mon

ths

from

the

date

of p

ublic

atio

n of

that

app

licat

ion.

Afte

r fo

rmal

ity

exam

inat

ion,

th

e R

egis

trar

will

pu

blis

h th

e re

ques

t to

reco

rd th

e D

esig

nate

d Pa

tent

A

pplic

atio

n an

d ad

verti

se i

t in

the

Hon

g K

ong

Inte

llect

ual P

rope

rty Jo

urna

l (H

KIP

Jour

nal).

St

age

2: R

eque

st fo

r reg

istr

atio

n an

d gr

ant

No

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

on p

aten

tabi

lity

will

be

cond

ucte

d by

the

Reg

istra

r and

regi

stra

tion

is m

erel

y de

pend

ent

on t

he g

rant

mad

e by

the

Des

igna

ted

Pate

nt

Offi

ce.

W

hen

a re

ques

t to

re

cord

th

e D

esig

nate

d Pa

tent

App

licat

ion

has

been

rec

orde

d in

(a)

The

OG

P ro

ute:

app

licat

ion

for i

nven

tion

pate

nts

in M

acao

An

appl

icat

ion

for

a M

acao

inv

entio

n pa

tent

is

roug

hly

divi

ded

into

four

stag

es:

(1

) Fo

rmal

exa

min

atio

n

Onc

e M

acao

IP

D

has

rece

ived

an

ap

plic

atio

n fo

r pa

tent

reg

istra

tion,

it

will

ch

eck

if th

e ap

plic

atio

n fo

rm a

nd s

uppo

rting

do

cum

ents

satis

fy th

e le

gal r

equi

rem

ents

.

(2)

Publ

icat

ion

of th

e no

tice

of re

ques

t

If a

n ap

plic

atio

n is

in o

rder

, the

app

licat

ion

will

be

publ

ishe

d in

the

form

of

“dis

clos

ure

notic

e” in

the

Offi

cial

Gaz

ette

of M

acao

(the

M

acao

Gaz

ette

) af

ter

18 m

onth

s fr

om t

he

date

of f

iling

the

appl

icat

ion

or, i

f a p

riorit

y rig

ht w

as c

laim

ed, f

rom

the

prio

rity

date

.

(3)

Subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion

W

ithin

sev

en y

ears

fro

m t

he d

ate

of f

iling

, th

e ap

plic

ant

shou

ld

file

a re

ques

t of

su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n.

Th

e pa

tent

The

natio

nal

rout

e an

d th

e in

tern

atio

nal

rout

e fo

r pa

tent

app

licat

ions

in S

inga

pore

: (a

) N

atio

nal r

oute

(1)

Subm

issi

on o

f nat

iona

l app

licat

ion

� A

fter r

ecei

ving

a re

ques

t for

a p

aten

t, IP

OS

shal

l pr

ocee

d to

che

ck t

he f

orm

aliti

es a

nd

cond

uct p

relim

inar

y ex

amin

atio

n.

� T

he d

ate

of f

iling

(D

oF)

is th

e ea

rlies

t dat

e on

whi

ch d

ocum

ents

req

uire

d ar

e fil

ed t

o in

itiat

e th

e ap

plic

atio

n.

The

appl

icat

ion

shal

l be

pu

blis

hed

upon

ex

piry

of

18

m

onth

s fr

om th

e de

clar

ed p

riorit

y da

te o

r, if

none

, the

DoF

.

(2)

Sear

ch a

nd e

xam

inat

ion

Su

bseq

uent

to th

e pr

elim

inar

y ex

amin

atio

n,

the

appl

icat

ion

proc

eeds

to

the

sear

ch a

nd

exam

inat

ion

proc

ess.

Th

e pr

oces

s is

di

vide

d in

to

“all-

loca

l ap

proa

ch”,

“a

ll-fo

reig

n ap

proa

ch”

and

“com

bina

tion

appr

oach

”:

18

9

H

ON

G K

ON

G

MA

CA

O

SIN

GA

POR

E

the

regi

ster

and

a p

aten

t in

rela

tion

ther

eto

has

been

gr

ante

d by

th

e D

esig

nate

d Pa

tent

O

ffice

, th

e ap

plic

ant

may

re

ques

t th

e R

egis

trar,

with

in

six

mon

ths

from

th

e da

te

of

the

rele

vant

gr

ant

or

publ

icat

ion

of t

he r

eque

st t

o re

cord

in

Hon

g K

ong

(whi

chev

er is

late

r), t

o re

gist

er th

e de

sign

ated

pat

ent

and

gran

t to

it a

stan

dard

pat

ent f

or th

e in

vent

ion

in

Hon

g K

ong.

A

fter

form

ality

ex

amin

atio

n,

the

Reg

istra

r w

ill

publ

ish

the

requ

est

for

regi

stra

tion

and

gran

t an

d ad

verti

se it

in th

e H

KIP

Jour

nal.

Mai

nten

ance

of p

aten

t app

licat

ions

Whe

n an

app

licat

ion

for

stan

dard

pat

ent

has

been

in

activ

e fo

r fiv

e ye

ars (

i.e. n

o re

ques

t for

regi

stra

tion

and

gran

t is

mad

e af

ter

stag

e 1)

, the

app

lican

t sha

ll m

ake

an

appl

icat

ion

to

mai

ntai

n th

e pa

tent

ap

plic

atio

n (th

e M

aint

enan

ce A

pplic

atio

n).

The

R

egis

trar

may

ref

use

to m

aint

ain

the

appl

icat

ion

if th

ere

are

defic

ienc

ies

in

the

Mai

nten

ance

A

pplic

atio

n or

the

Reg

istra

r is

not

sat

isfie

d th

at th

e D

esig

nate

d Pa

tent

A

pplic

atio

n ha

s no

t be

en

with

draw

n or

aba

ndon

ed o

r its

fin

al d

ecis

ion

is s

till

pend

ing.

appl

icat

ion

will

be

re

fuse

d if

the

exam

inat

ion

requ

est i

s no

t mad

e w

ithin

the

abov

e tim

e pe

riod.

O

nce

the

appl

ican

t fil

es

the

requ

est

of

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion,

th

e pa

tent

ap

plic

atio

n an

d th

e su

ppor

ting

docu

men

ts

(with

C

hine

se

trans

latio

ns)

will

be

fo

rwar

ded

to

SIPO

fo

r su

bsta

ntiv

e ex

amin

atio

n.

The

SIPO

ex

amin

ers

will

pr

ovid

e a

sear

ch a

nd e

xam

inat

ion

repo

rt an

d ap

plic

ants

may

file

fur

ther

sub

mis

sion

s in

or

der

to

satis

fy

the

pate

ntab

ility

re

quire

men

ts.

(4

) Re

gist

ratio

n an

d pu

blic

atio

n of

regi

stra

tion

A

fter

subs

tant

ive

exam

inat

ion,

Mac

ao I

PD

will

mak

e a

deci

sion

bas

ed o

n th

e re

port(

s)

prep

ared

by

SI

PO.

If

th

e ap

plic

atio

n sa

tisfie

s th

e re

gist

ratio

n re

quire

men

ts u

nder

th

e IP

C a

nd th

ere

is n

o ob

ject

ion

with

in th

e sp

ecifi

ed

time

limit

or

the

obje

ctio

n is

un

succ

essf

ul, t

he a

pplic

atio

n w

ill p

roce

ed to

re

gist

ratio

n.

Mac

ao I

PD w

ill t

hen

publ

ish

notic

e of

reg

istra

tion

in t

he M

acao

Gaz

ette

an

d a

certi

ficat

e of

re

gist

ratio

n w

ill

be

issu

ed to

the

appl

ican

t.

(b) T

he e

xten

sion

of P

RC

pat

ent r

oute

App

licat

ions

for

ext

ensi

on m

ay b

e m

ade

eith

er

(i) a

fter

an a

pplic

atio

n fo

r in

vent

ion

pate

nt h

as

been

subm

itted

to S

IPO

or (

ii) a

fter t

he in

vent

ion

pate

nt h

as b

een

gran

ted

by S

IPO

.

(1

) Fo

rmal

exa

min

atio

n

All-

loca

l ap

proa

ch

An

appl

ican

t sh

all

mak

e a

requ

est

with

in

13 m

onth

s or

21

mon

ths

resp

ectiv

ely

from

th

e de

clar

ed p

riorit

y da

te o

r, if

none

, th

e D

oF to

und

ergo

eith

er:

(i)

a se

arch

-then

-exa

min

atio

n pr

oces

s; o

r (ii

) a

com

bine

d se

arch

-and

-exa

min

atio

n pr

oces

s.

A

ll-fo

reig

n ap

proa

ch

An

appl

ican

t sh

all

furn

ish

IPO

S w

ith t

he

final

sea

rch

and

exam

inat

ion

resu

lts o

r co

py o

f th

e gr

ant

with

in 4

2 m

onth

s fr

om

the

decl

ared

prio

rity

date

or,

if no

ne,

the

DoF

of:

(i)

an a

pplic

atio

n fil

ed a

t any

Pre

scrib

ed

Pate

nt O

ffice

s; o

r

(ii)

an a

pplic

atio

n fil

ed u

nder

PC

T.

(the

corr

espo

ndin

g ap

plic

atio

n an

d co

rres

pond

ing

inte

rnat

iona

l ap

plic

atio

n re

spec

tivel

y)

No

inde

pend

ent s

earc

h an

d ex

amin

atio

n is

re

quire

d to

be

done

in S

inga

pore

und

er th

is

appr

oach

.

Com

bina

tion

appr

oach

A

n ap

plic

ant m

ay re

ly o

n th

e se

arch

resu

lts

of

a co

rres

pond

ing

appl

icat

ion

or

a co

rres

pond

ing

inte

rnat

iona

l ap

plic

atio

n an

d re

ques

t ex

amin

atio

n in

Si

ngap

ore

with

in

21

mon

ths

from

th

e de

clar

ed

prio

rity

date

or,

if no

ne, t

he D

oF.

Tw

o-tr

ack

appl

icat

ion

syst

em

Th

e ab

ove

timel

ine

is

the

defa

ult

“fas

t-tra

ck”

sche

dule

ad

opte

d by

IP

OS.

A

n ap

plic

ant

may

app

ly t

o IP

OS

for

a “b

lock

ex

tens

ion”

an

d co

nver

t hi

s

19

0

H

ON

G K

ON

G

MA

CA

O

SIN

GA

POR

E

A

fter r

ecei

ving

the

appl

icat

ion

for e

xten

sion

of

a p

endi

ng a

pplic

atio

n or

an

inve

ntio

n pa

tent

, Mac

ao IP

D w

ill p

roce

ed to

form

ality

ex

amin

atio

n to

che

ck if

the

appl

icat

ion

form

an

d su

ppor

ting

docu

men

ts s

atis

fy t

he l

egal

re

quire

men

ts.

(2

) Pu

blic

atio

n of

not

ice

of a

pplic

atio

n (fo

r ex

tens

ion

appl

icat

ion

with

pe

ndin

g ap

plic

atio

n in

SIP

O o

nly)

If th

e in

vent

ion

conc

erne

d is

stil

l pen

ding

a

gran

t of

pa

tent

by

SI

PO,

notic

e of

th

e ap

plic

atio

n w

ill b

e pu

blis

hed

in t

he M

acao

G

azet

te a

fter

18 m

onth

s fr

om t

he d

ate

of

filin

g w

ith S

IPO

or,

in c

ase

a pr

iorit

y rig

ht

was

cla

imed

, fr

om t

he d

ate

of t

he f

irst

rele

vant

app

licat

ion.

W

ithin

thre

e m

onth

s fr

om th

e pu

blic

atio

n of

th

e gr

ant o

f th

e co

rres

pond

ing

SIPO

pat

ent,

the

appl

ican

t sh

all

file

the

pres

crib

ed

info

rmat

ion

with

Mac

ao IP

D.

(3

) Ap

prov

al o

f ap

plic

atio

n an

d pu

blic

atio

n of

no

tice

of g

rant

Whe

n th

e ap

plic

atio

n is

in o

rder

(an

d w

hen

the

pate

nt is

gra

nted

by

SIPO

in th

e ca

se o

f an

ext

ensi

on o

f pe

ndin

g SI

PO a

pplic

atio

n),

the

appl

icat

ion

will

pro

ceed

to

appr

oval

st

age

prov

ided

th

at

it sa

tisfie

s th

e re

gist

ratio

n re

quire

men

ts

unde

r th

e IP

C

(incl

udin

g co

mpl

ianc

e of

al

l fo

rmal

ities

un

der t

he IP

C).

The

not

ice

of g

rant

will

be

publ

ishe

d in

the

Mac

ao G

azet

te b

y M

acao

appl

icat

ion

into

a

“slo

w

track

” sy

stem

.

Und

er

the

“slo

w

track

” sy

stem

, th

e ap

plic

ants

may

file

exa

min

atio

n re

ques

t or

se

arch

and

exa

min

atio

n re

ques

t w

ithin

39

mon

ths

or f

ile f

inal

for

eign

sea

rch

and

exam

inat

ion

resu

lts w

ithin

60

mon

ths

from

th

e de

clar

ed p

riorit

y da

te o

r, if

none

, th

e D

oF.

(3)

Gra

nt o

f pat

ent

Upo

n re

ceiv

ing

all r

equi

red

docu

men

ts a

nd

satis

fyin

g its

elf

that

al

l co

nditi

ons

have

be

en m

et,

in t

he a

bsen

ce o

f an

y pe

ndin

g ap

peal

, IP

OS

shal

l gr

ant

the

appl

ican

t a

pate

nt

and

publ

ish

in

the

IPO

S pa

tent

jo

urna

l a

notic

e th

at t

he p

aten

t ha

s be

en

gran

ted.

(b

) In

tern

atio

nal r

oute

(i.

e. A

pplic

atio

n fil

ed u

nder

the

PCT)

App

lican

ts r

esid

ing

in S

inga

pore

may

file

an

inte

rnat

iona

l ap

plic

atio

n w

ith

IPO

S as

a

rece

ivin

g of

fice

or w

ith th

e In

tern

atio

nal B

urea

u of

WIP

O in

Gen

eva.

A

n in

tern

atio

nal

appl

icat

ion

cons

ists

of

th

e in

tern

atio

nal

phas

e an

d na

tiona

l ph

ase.

D

urin

g th

e in

tern

atio

nal p

hase

, an

appl

ican

t will

re

ceiv

e an

inte

rnat

iona

l sea

rch

repo

rt (I

SR)

and

has

the

optio

n to

ob

tain

an

in

tern

atio

nal

prel

imin

ary

repo

rt on

pa

tent

abili

ty

(IPR

P).

Th

e in

tern

atio

nal a

pplic

atio

n w

ill th

en e

nter

the

natio

nal

phas

e an

d ap

plic

ants

may

use

the

ISR

(u

nder

th

e co

mbi

natio

n ap

proa

ch)

and,

if

avai

labl

e, IP

RP

(und

er th

e al

l-for

eign

app

roac

h)

19

1

H

ON

G K

ON

G

MA

CA

O

SIN

GA

POR

E

IPD

and

the

certi

ficat

e of

regi

stra

tion

will

be

issu

ed to

the

appl

ican

t. to

app

ly fo

r a g

rant

of p

aten

t in

Sing

apor

e.

Post

-gra

nt se

arch

an

d ex

amin

atio

n Th

ere

are

no r

elev

ant

prov

isio

ns i

n th

e Pa

tent

s O

rdin

ance

. Th

ere

are

no re

leva

nt p

rovi

sion

s in

the

IPC

. A

ny p

erso

n m

ay r

eque

st a

pos

t-gra

nt s

earc

h an

d ex

amin

atio

n fo

r an

y cl

aim

(s)

in

a pa

tent

sp

ecifi

catio

n on

the

grou

nd th

at, p

rior t

o gr

ant (

a) a

t le

ast o

ne c

laim

in th

e pa

tent

app

licat

ion,

at t

he ti

me

of re

ques

t for

a g

rant

, was

not

rela

ted

to a

ny c

laim

in

the

appl

icat

ion

at t

he t

ime

the

exam

inat

ion

repo

rt w

as i

ssue

d w

hich

has

bee

n ex

amin

ed a

nd w

hich

is

refe

rred

to in

the

repo

rt, o

r (b)

the

exam

iner

did

not

co

nsid

er a

ll re

leva

nt p

rior

art

befo

re p

repa

ring

the

repo

rt.

The

prop

rieto

r of t

he p

aten

t is

give

n a

right

to

re

spon

d be

fore

th

e po

st-g

rant

se

arch

an

d ex

amin

atio

n re

port

is is

sued

.

Rel

ief f

or

infr

inge

men

t C

ivil

proc

eedi

ngs m

ay b

e br

ough

t in

the

cour

t by

the

prop

rieto

r of

a p

aten

t in

res

pect

of

any

act

of

infr

inge

men

t w

hich

he

al

lege

s he

is

en

title

d (w

heth

er e

xclu

sive

ly o

r not

) und

er s

ectio

ns 7

3 to

75

of th

e Pa

tent

s Ord

inan

ce to

pre

vent

.

Upo

n a

pate

nt ri

ght b

ecom

ing

valid

, a p

aten

t hol

der

is e

ntitl

ed to

opp

ose

any

acts

that

con

stitu

te a

bre

ach

of

his

pate

nt,

and

spec

ifica

lly

to

prev

ent

third

pa

rties

, w

ithou

t hi

s co

nsen

t, fr

om m

anuf

actu

ring,

of

ferin

g,

stor

ing,

m

arke

ting

or

usin

g a

prod

uct

cove

red

by t

he p

aten

t, or

im

porti

ng o

r ow

ning

the

sa

me

for a

ny o

f the

abo

ve p

urpo

ses.

Civ

il pr

ocee

ding

s may

be

brou

ght i

n th

e co

urt b

y th

e pa

tent

hol

der

agai

nst a

ny p

erso

n w

ho c

omm

its a

cts

as st

ipul

ated

und

er se

ctio

n 66

of t

he P

aten

ts A

ct.

As

an

alte

rnat

ive

sim

plifi

ed

proc

edur

e,

the

prop

rieto

r of

a p

aten

t and

any

oth

er p

erso

n m

ay, b

y ag

reem

ent w

ith e

ach

othe

r, re

fer t

o th

e R

egis

trar t

he

ques

tion

whe

ther

that

oth

er p

erso

n ha

s in

frin

ged

the

pate

nt.

Proc

eedi

ngs b

efor

e R

egis

trar

/Cou

rt

Proc

eedi

ngs

that

may

be

begu

n be

fore

the

Reg

istra

r in

clud

e:

(a)

dete

rmin

atio

n be

fore

gra

nt o

f qu

estio

ns a

s to

w

ho m

ay a

pply

; (b

) re

stor

atio

n of

rig

hts

in

stan

dard

pa

tent

ap

plic

atio

ns;

(c)

rest

orat

ion

of la

psed

stan

dard

pat

ents

; (d

) op

posi

tion

to su

rren

der o

f pat

ents

; (e

) re

voca

tion

of

pate

nt

on

grou

nds

of

“ord

re

publ

ic”

and

mor

ality

; and

Proc

eedi

ngs

that

may

be

begu

n be

fore

Mac

ao I

PD

incl

ude:

(a

) pr

e-gr

ant

oppo

sitio

n by

th

ird

party

to

th

e pa

tent

abili

ty o

f an

inve

ntio

n;

(b)

appl

icat

ion

for d

ecla

ratio

n of

forf

eitu

re; a

nd

(c)

appl

icat

ion

for g

rant

ing

of m

anda

tory

lice

nce.

Pr

ocee

ding

s tha

t mus

t be

begu

n in

cou

rt in

clud

e:

(a)

appe

al a

gain

st d

ecis

ions

of M

acao

IPD

whe

reby

Proc

eedi

ngs

that

may

be

begu

n be

fore

the

Reg

istra

r in

clud

e:

(a)

dete

rmin

atio

n be

fore

gra

nt o

f qu

estio

ns a

bout

en

title

men

t to

pate

nts,

etc.

; (b

) ex

tens

ion

of te

rm o

f pat

ent;

(c)

amen

dmen

t of

sp

ecifi

catio

n of

pa

tent

af

ter

gran

t; (d

) re

stor

atio

n of

laps

ed p

aten

ts;

(e)

oppo

sitio

n to

surr

ende

r of p

aten

ts;

(f)

dete

rmin

atio

n af

ter

gran

t of

que

stio

ns a

bout

19

2

H

ON

G K

ON

G

MA

CA

O

SIN

GA

POR

E

(f)

revo

catio

n of

pat

ent

follo

win

g op

posi

tion

or

revo

catio

n pr

ocee

ding

s of

the

cor

resp

ondi

ng

pate

nt in

the

Des

igna

ted

Pate

nt O

ffice

. Th

e R

egis

trar

shal

l gi

ve a

ny p

arty

to

a pr

ocee

ding

be

fore

him

an

oppo

rtuni

ty o

f be

ing

hear

d be

fore

ex

erci

sing

any

dis

cret

ion

adve

rsel

y to

that

par

ty.

Proc

eedi

ngs t

hat m

ust b

e be

gun

in c

ourt

incl

ude:

(a

) ap

peal

ag

ains

t de

cisi

ons

or

orde

rs

of

the

Reg

istra

r; (b

) ap

plic

atio

n w

hich

is re

late

d to

an

actio

n pe

ndin

g be

fore

the

cour

t, an

d ap

plic

atio

n re

ferr

ed b

y th

e R

egis

trar t

o th

e co

urt;

(c)

amen

dmen

t of

sp

ecifi

catio

n of

pa

tent

s af

ter

gran

t; (d

) re

ctifi

catio

n of

regi

ster

; (e

) di

sput

es o

ver

prop

rieta

ry i

nter

est

of a

pat

ent

alre

ady

gran

ted;

(f

) ap

plic

atio

n fo

r co

mpu

lsor

y lic

ence

s fo

r

stan

dard

pat

ents

; (g

) re

fere

nce

of d

ispu

tes

as t

o go

vern

men

t us

e in

ex

trem

e ur

genc

y,

and

impo

rt an

d ex

port

com

puls

ory

licen

ces

for

pate

nted

ph

arm

aceu

tical

pro

duct

s;

(h)

infr

inge

men

t of p

aten

t;

(i)

infr

inge

men

t of

right

s co

nfer

red

by p

ublic

atio

n of

app

licat

ion

for a

stan

dard

pat

ent;

(j)

grou

ndle

ss th

reat

s of i

nfrin

gem

ent p

roce

edin

gs;

(k)

decl

arat

ion

as to

non

-infr

inge

men

t; an

d (l)

ap

plic

atio

n to

re

voke

a

pate

nt

on

vario

us

grou

nds i

nclu

ding

pat

enta

bilit

y, e

ntitl

emen

t, et

c.

pate

nt

right

s ar

e gr

ante

d,

refu

sed,

af

fect

ed,

mod

ified

or t

erm

inat

ed; a

nd

(b)

appl

icat

ion

for a

nnul

men

t.

entit

lem

ent t

o pa

tent

s;

(g)

infr

inge

men

t of p

aten

ts (q

uest

ion

refe

rred

to th

e

Reg

istra

r by

agre

emen

t);

(h)

decl

arat

ion

as to

non

-infr

inge

men

t; an

d (i)

re

voca

tion

of

pate

nts

on

vario

us

grou

nds

incl

udin

g pa

tent

abili

ty, e

ntitl

emen

t, et

c..

The

Reg

istra

r sh

all

give

any

par

ty t

o a

proc

eedi

ng

befo

re h

im a

n op

portu

nity

of

bein

g he

ard

befo

re

exer

cisi

ng a

ny d

iscr

etio

n ad

vers

ely

to th

at p

arty

. Pr

ocee

ding

s tha

t mus

t be

begu

n in

cou

rt in

clud

e (b

ut

not l

imite

d to

): (a

) ap

peal

s fro

m c

erta

in d

ecis

ions

of t

he R

egis

trar;

(b)

refe

renc

es o

f dis

pute

s as t

o go

vern

men

t use

; (c

) ap

plic

atio

n fo

r com

puls

ory

licen

ces;

(d

) in

frin

gem

ent

of p

aten

ts o

ther

tha

n th

at b

egun

un

der s

ectio

n 67

(3) o

f the

Pat

ents

Act

; (e

) pr

ocee

ding

s fo

r gr

ound

less

th

reat

s of

in

frin

gem

ent p

roce

edin

gs; a

nd

(f)

ques

tions

re

ferr

ed

by

the

Reg

istra

r un

der

sect

ions

20,

47

and

67 o

f the

Pat

ents

Act

.

193

Ann

ex D

An

Ove

rvie

w o

f the

Les

ser

Pate

nt S

yste

ms i

n So

me

Juri

sdic

tions

C

ount

ry

Title

M

axim

um

term

of

prot

ectio

n

Pate

ntab

ility

req

uire

men

t L

imita

tion

on

num

ber

of

clai

ms

Exa

min

atio

n &

Enf

orce

men

t

Aus

tralia

In

nova

tion

Pate

nt

(rep

laci

ng

petty

pa

tent

1 on

24.5

.200

1)

8 ye

ars

- Th

e in

vent

ion

mus

t sat

isfy

the

follo

win

g co

nditi

ons :

�

is

a m

anne

r of m

anuf

actu

re;

�

nove

l (ab

solu

te n

ovel

ty2 i

s re

quire

d);

�

invo

lves

an

inno

vativ

e st

ep3 (

a lo

wer

inve

ntiv

e th

resh

old

as

com

pare

d to

app

licat

ions

for

stan

dard

pat

ents

)4 ; �

us

eful

; and

�

w

as n

ot se

cret

ly u

sed

in th

e pa

tent

are

a pr

ior t

o ap

plic

atio

n da

te.

Up

to 5

cla

ims

- To

obt

ain

gran

t : fo

rmal

ity e

xam

inat

ion

only

. -

The

Com

mis

sion

er o

f Pat

ents

may

dec

ide

to e

xam

ine

the

inno

vatio

n pa

tent

, or

the

pate

nt o

wne

r or

a th

ird

party

may

spe

cific

ally

req

uest

an

exam

inat

ion

afte

r gr

ant.

If

th

e in

nova

tion

pate

nt

mee

ts

the

pate

ntab

ility

req

uire

men

ts,

a ce

rtific

ate

of v

alid

ity

will

be

issu

ed to

the

pate

nt o

wne

r. I

f the

inno

vatio

n pa

tent

fai

ls to

mee

t the

req

uire

men

ts, t

he in

nova

tion

pate

nt w

ill b

e re

voke

d by

the

pat

ent

offic

e.

An

appe

al m

ay b

e fil

ed a

t the

Fed

eral

Cou

rt ag

ains

t the

pa

tent

offi

ce’s

dec

isio

n to

rev

oke

the

inno

vatio

n pa

tent

. -

At

any

time

afte

r an

inn

ovat

ion

pate

nt h

as b

een

certi

fied

: (1

) th

e pa

tent

offi

ce m

ay d

ecid

e to

re-

exam

ine

the

inno

vatio

n pa

tent

, or t

he p

aten

t ow

ner o

r a th

ird

party

may

req

uest

for

re-

exam

inat

ion.

O

nly

nove

lty

and

inno

vativ

e st

ep

issu

es

are

cons

ider

ed

durin

g re

-exa

min

atio

n.

If

an

ad

vers

e re

port

is i

ssue

d, a

nd t

he p

aten

t ow

ner

1

Und

er th

e pr

evio

us sy

stem

in A

ustra

lia, t

he p

aten

tabi

lity

requ

irem

ents

for s

tand

ard

pate

nts a

nd p

etty

pat

ents

wer

e la

rgel

y th

e sa

me.

2

Abs

olut

e no

velty

mea

ns th

at th

e in

vent

ion

is n

ot p

ublic

ly k

now

n an

ywhe

re in

the

wor

ld p

rior t

o th

e fil

ing

of th

e ap

plic

atio

n fo

r a le

sser

pat

ent.

3 Th

e re

quire

men

t of a

n “i

nnov

ativ

e st

ep”

wou

ld b

e sa

tisfie

d if

the

inve

ntio

n di

ffers

from

wha

t has

bee

n kn

own

in a

way

that

is n

ot m

erel

y su

perf

icia

l or p

erip

hera

l to

the

inve

ntio

n.

The

varia

tion

mus

t be

of p

ract

ical

sig

nific

ance

to th

e w

ay th

e in

vent

ion

wor

ks, s

o as

to m

ake

a su

bsta

ntia

l con

tribu

tion

to th

e w

orki

ng o

f th

e in

vent

ion.

Th

ere

is n

o re

quire

men

t tha

t an

inve

ntio

n cl

aim

ed in

an

inno

vatio

n pa

tent

mus

t be

non-

obvi

ous.

4 F

or a

n in

vent

ion

to b

e pa

tent

able

as a

stan

dard

pat

ent,

it m

ust s

atis

fy th

e fo

llow

ing

requ

irem

ents

: (1)

is a

man

ner o

f man

ufac

ture

; (2)

nov

el (a

bsol

ute

nove

lty re

quire

d); (

3)

invo

lves

an

inve

ntiv

e st

ep (i

.e. t

he in

vent

ion

is n

ot o

bvio

us to

som

eone

with

kno

wle

dge

and

expe

rienc

e in

the

tech

nolo

gica

l fie

ld o

f the

inve

ntio

n); (

4) u

sefu

l; an

d (5

) was

no

t sec

retly

use

d in

the

pate

nt a

rea

befo

re a

pplic

atio

n da

te.

194

Cou

ntry

Ti

tle

Max

imum

te

rm o

f pr

otec

tion

Pate

ntab

ility

req

uire

men

t L

imita

tion

on

num

ber

of

clai

ms

Exa

min

atio

n &

Enf

orce

men

t

fails

to

reso

lve

all

issu

es w

ithin

the

stip

ulat

ed

perio

d of

tim

e, t

he i

nnov

atio

n pa

tent

will

be

revo

ked.

Th

e pa

tent

ow

ner m

ay a

ppea

l to

the

Fede

ral

Cou

rt ag

ains

t th

e pa

tent

of

fice’

s de

cisi

on t

o re

voke

the

inn

ovat

ion

pate

nt a

fter

re-e

xam

inat

ion;

and

(2

) an

y pe

rson

may

opp

ose

an i

nnov

atio

n pa

tent

an

d se

ek th

e re

voca

tion

of it

(af

ter

it ha

s be

en

adve

rtise

d as

bei

ng c

ertif

ied)

bas

ed o

n ce

rtain

sp

ecifi

ed g

roun

ds.

Eith

er p

arty

may

file

an

appe

al

to

the

Fede

ral

Cou

rt ag

ains

t an

y de

cisi

on is

sued

by

the

pate

nt o

ffice

. -

Infr

inge

men

t pro

ceed

ings

in re

spec

t of a

n in

nova

tion

pate

nt c

anno

t be

star

ted

unle

ss it

has

bee

n ex

amin

ed

and

certi

fied.

Mai

nlan

d C

hina

U

tility

M

odel

Pa

tent

5

10 y

ears

-

The

utili

ty m

odel

mus

t sat

isfy

the

follo

win

g co

nditi

ons :

�

no

vel (

abso

lute

nov

elty

is

requ

ired)

; �

cr

eativ

e; a

nd

�

of p

ract

ical

use

; and

-

Esse

ntia

lly th

e sa

me

pate

ntab

ility

re

quire

men

ts a

s for

inve

ntio

n pa

tent

ap

plic

atio

ns.

Unl

imite

d –

but s

ubje

ct to

ad

ditio

nal

offic

ial f

ee fo

r ea

ch c

laim

in

exce

ss o

f the

in

itial

10

- To

obt

ain

gran

t : fo

rmal

ity e

xam

inat

ion

only

. -

Exam

inat

ion

on

the

pate

ntab

ility

of

th

e su

bjec

t m

atte

r of

a u

tility

mod

el w

ill b

e co

nduc

ted

by t

he

Pate

nt R

e-ex

amin

atio

n B

oard

dur

ing

the

cour

se o

f an

inva

lidat

ion

proc

eedi

ng.

If

it is

fou

nd t

hat

the

subj

ect

mat

ter

fails

to

m

eet

the

pate

ntab

ility

re

quire

men

ts,

the

utili

ty m

odel

will

be

inva

lidat

ed.

App

eal

agai

nst

the

Pate

nt R

e-ex

amin

atio

n B

oard

’s

deci

sion

may

be

filed

at t

he P

eopl

e’s C

ourt.

-

If a

n in

frin

gem

ent d

ispu

te a

rises

ove

r a u

tility

mod

el

pate

nt,

the

Peop

le's

Cou

rt or

th

e ad

min

istra

tion

depa

rtmen

t fo

r pa

tent

-rel

ated

wor

k m

ay r

equi

re t

he

pate

nt o

wne

r or

the

com

plai

nant

to p

rese

nt a

pat

ent

right

as

sess

men

t re

port

prep

ared

by

th

e pa

tent

ad

min

istra

tion

depa

rtmen

t un

der

the

Stat

e C

ounc

il.

Such

a

repo

rt w

ill

serv

e as

ev

iden

ce

in

the

infr

inge

men

t dis

pute

.

5

In M

ainl

and

Chi

na, “

utili

ty m

odel

s” r

efer

to n

ew te

chni

cal s

olut

ions

pro

pose

d fo

r th

e sh

ape

and

stru

ctur

e of

a p

rodu

ct, o

r th

e co

mbi

natio

n th

ereo

f, w

hich

are

fit f

or

prac

tical

use

.

195

Cou

ntry

Ti

tle

Max

imum

te

rm o

f pr

otec

tion

Pate

ntab

ility

req

uire

men

t L

imita

tion

on

num

ber

of

clai

ms

Exa

min

atio

n &

Enf

orce

men

t

Den

mar

k U

tility

M

odel

10

yea

rs

- A

cre

atio

n m

ust s

atis

fy th

e fo

llow

ing

requ

irem

ents

: �

ne

w (a

bsol

ute

nove

lty is

re

quire

d);

�

diffe

rs d

istin

ctly

from

the

prio

r ar

t; an

d �

su

scep

tible

of i

ndus

trial

ap

plic

atio

n; a

nd

- Es

sent

ially

the

sam

e pa

tent

abili

ty

requ

irem

ents

as f

or p

aten

t ap

plic

atio

ns.6

App

ears

to b

e un

limite

d -

To o

btai

n gr

ant :

form

ality

exa

min

atio

n on

ly.

- Pr

ior

to

gran

t, an

ap

plic

ant

may

re

ques

t an

ex

amin

atio

n on

nov

elty

of t

he c

reat

ion

and

whe

ther

it

diffe

rs d

istin

ctly

fro

m th

e re

leva

nt p

rior

art.

If

the

pate

nt o

ffice

fin

ds t

hat

the

appl

icat

ion

does

not

co

mpl

y w

ith t

he a

bove

req

uire

men

ts,

the

appl

ican

t w

ill b

e no

tifie

d an

d be

invi

ted

to fi

le h

is o

bser

vatio

ns

or c

orre

ct t

he a

pplic

atio

n w

ithin

a t

ime

limit.

Th

e ap

plic

atio

n w

ill b

e sh

elve

d if

the

appl

ican

t doe

s no

t re

spon

d to

the

not

ice

or t

ake

step

s to

cor

rect

the

ap

plic

atio

n.

- Ex

amin

atio

n af

ter g

rant

may

be

requ

este

d by

any

one,

bu

t th

e re

ques

t m

ay o

nly

be m

ade

base

d on

cer

tain

gr

ound

s fo

r re

voca

tion

set

out

in

Den

mar

k’s

Con

solid

ated

Util

ity M

odel

s A

ct.

If

the

pate

nt

offic

e fin

ds t

hat

ther

e ar

e ob

stac

les

to r

egis

tratio

n,

the

regi

stra

tion

shal

l la

pse.

W

here

the

reg

istra

tion

coul

d be

mai

ntai

ned

subj

ect t

o ce

rtain

am

endm

ents

, th

e pa

tent

offi

ce m

ay a

men

d th

e re

gist

ratio

n up

on

obta

inin

g th

e ag

reem

ent

of t

he p

ropr

ieto

r of

the

ut

ility

mod

el.

G

erm

any7

Geb

rauc

hs-m

uste

r (U

tility

M

odel

)

10 y

ears

-

Inve

ntio

ns m

ust s

atis

fy th

e fo

llow

ing

cond

ition

s :

�

new

(nov

elty

onl

y ne

eds t

o be

lo

calk , i

.e. a

low

er n

ovel

ty

thre

shol

d as

com

pare

d to

pat

ent

App

ears

to b

e un

limite

d -

To o

btai

n gr

ant :

form

ality

exa

min

atio

n on

ly.

- A

t any

tim

e be

fore

or a

fter g

rant

, upo

n re

ques

t fro

m

the

appl

ican

t, th

e re

gist

ered

pro

prie

tor

or a

ny o

ther

pe

rson

, the

pat

ent o

ffice

will

con

duct

a s

earc

h fo

r the

pu

rpos

e of

hel

ping

the

appl

ican

t and

/or t

hird

par

ty to

6 To

obt

ain

the

gran

t of a

pat

ent,

an in

vent

ion

mus

t sat

isfy

the

follo

win

g co

nditi

ons:

(1) n

ew; (

2) d

iffer

s es

sent

ially

from

the

prio

r art;

and

(3) b

e su

scep

tible

of i

ndus

trial

ap

plic

atio

n.

7 In

form

atio

n ba

sed

on u

noffi

cial

Eng

lish

trans

latio

n of

rele

vant

legi

slat

ion

of G

erm

any.

8

In G

erm

any,

a u

tility

mod

el m

ay b

e re

gard

ed a

s new

if it

doe

s not

com

pris

e an

y kn

owle

dge

mad

e av

aila

ble

to th

e pu

blic

with

in G

erm

any.

9

Pate

nts

may

be

gran

ted

to a

n in

vent

ion

in a

ny te

chni

cal f

ield

if it

sat

isfie

s th

e fo

llow

ing

requ

irem

ents

: (1)

abs

olut

e no

velty

; (2)

invo

lves

an

inve

ntiv

e st

ep; a

nd (

3) is

su

scep

tible

of i

ndus

trial

app

licat

ion.

196

Cou

ntry

Ti

tle

Max

imum

te

rm o

f pr

otec

tion

Pate

ntab

ility

req

uire

men

t L

imita

tion

on

num

ber

of

clai

ms

Exa

min

atio

n &

Enf

orce

men

t

appl

icat

ions

)9 ; �

in

volv

e an

inve

ntiv

e st

ep; a

nd

�

susc

eptib

le o

f ind

ustri

al

appl

icat

ion.

asce

rtain

w

heth

er

the

subj

ect

mat

ter

of

an

appl

icat

ion/

gran

t is n

ovel

. -

Exam

inat

ion

on th

e pa

tent

abili

ty o

f the

subj

ect m

atte

r of

a u

tility

mod

el w

ill b

e co

nduc

ted

by t

he p

aten

t of

fice

in a

can

cella

tion

proc

eedi

ng (w

ith a

n av

enue

of

appe

al t

o th

e Pa

tent

Cou

rt) o

r in

an

infr

inge

men

t pr

ocee

ding

.

Japa

n10

Util

ity

Mod

el11

10 y

ears

-

The

devi

ce m

ust s

atis

fy th

e fo

llow

ing

cond

ition

s :

�

nove

l (ab

solu

te n

ovel

ty is

re

quire

d);

�

indu

stria

lly a

pplic

able

; and

�

a

pers

on o

rdin

arily

skill

ed in

the

art o

f the

dev

ice

wou

ld n

ot h

ave

been

exc

eedi

ngly

eas

y to

cre

ate

the

devi

ce, a

low

er in

vent

ive

thre

shol

d as

com

pare

d to

ap

plic

atio

ns fo

r pat

ents

.12

App

ears

to b

e un

limite

d -

To o

btai

n gr

ant :

form

ality

exa

min

atio

n on

ly.

- A

t any

tim

e be

fore

or

afte

r gr

ant o

f a

utili

ty m

odel

, an

y pe

rson

may

file

a r

eque

st f

or a

Util

ity M

odel

Te

chni

cal

Opi

nion

(th

e “U

MTO

Rep

ort”

). W

hen

prep

arin

g th

e U

MTO

Rep

ort,

the

pate

nt o

ffice

will

ev

alua

te:

(a)

the

nove

lty o

f th

e su

bjec

t m

atte

r; an

d (b

) whe

ther

the

clai

med

dev

ice

invo

lves

an

inve

ntiv

e st

ep.

-

Hol

der

of u

tility

mod

el o

r ex

clus

ive

licen

see

mus

t ob

tain

a U

MTO

Rep

ort

prio

r to

exe

rcis

e of

util

ity

mod

el ri

ght a

gain

st a

n al

lege

d in

frin

ger.

- Ex

amin

atio

n on

th

e pa

tent

abili

ty

of

the

subj

ect

mat

ter

of a

util

ity m

odel

will

be

cond

ucte

d by

the

pa

tent

offi

ce in

an

inva

lidat

ion

proc

eedi

ng.

App

eal

agai

nst t

he p

aten

t offi

ce’s

dec

isio

n m

ay b

e fil

ed w

ith

the

Toky

o H

igh

Cou

rt.

10

Info

rmat

ion

base

d on

uno

ffici

al E

nglis

h tra

nsla

tion

of re

leva

nt le

gisl

atio

n of

Japa

n.

11

In Ja

pan,

“ut

ility

mod

els”

refe

r to

devi

ces r

elat

ing

to th

e sh

ape

or st

ruct

ure

of a

n ar

ticle

or c

ombi

natio

n of

art

icle

s. 12

To

obt

ain

the

gran

t of a

pat

ent,

an in

vent

ion

mus

t sat

isfy

the

follo

win

g co

nditi

ons:

(1) n

ew; (

2) in

dust

rially

app

licab

le; a

nd (3

) a p

erso

n or

dina

rily

skill

ed in

the

art o

f the

in

vent

ion

wou

ld n

ot h

ave

been

abl

e to

eas

ily m

ake

the

inve

ntio

n.

- 197 -

Annex E

Short-Term Patents : Number of Applications Filed and Granted in Hong Kong

Number of applications filed

Number of short-term patents granted

1997 30 0

1998 113 51

1999 175 117

2000 274 233

2001 312 271

2002 333 265

2003 398 335

2004 416 329

2005 463 419

2006 520 436

2007 599 492

2008 488 435

2009 551 474

2010 614 522

2011 615 517

2012 (as at 30.11.2012)

589 475

198

Ann

ex F

An

Ove

rvie

w o

f the

Pat

ent A

genc

y R

egul

ator

y R

egim

es in

Som

e Ju

risd

ictio

ns

with

an

“Ori

gina

l Gra

nt”

Pate

nt S

yste

m

Juri

sdic

tion

Reg

ulat

ory

Bod

y

Pers

ons p

erm

itted

to a

ct a

s ag

ent i

n ap

plyi

ng fo

r pa

tent

/ co

nduc

ting

pate

nt r

elat

ed

proc

eedi

ngs b

efor

e th

e pa

tent

off

ice

and

the

cour

t

Res

tric

tion

on U

se o

f Titl

esQ

ualif

icat

ions

Aus

tralia

Pr

ofes

sion

al

Stan

dard

s B

oard

for

Pate

nt a

nd

Trad

e M

arks

A

ttorn

eys

(PSB

)1

Eith

er :

– re

gist

ered

pat

ent a

ttorn

eys

(they

are

not

aut

horis

ed to

pr

epar

e do

cum

ents

to b

e is

sued

from

or f

iled

in a

co

urt o

r to

trans

act

busi

ness

, or c

ondu

ct

proc

eedi

ngs,

in c

ourt)

; or

– le

gal p

ract

ition

ers

(they

are

not

allo

wed

to

prep

are

spec

ifica

tion,

or

docu

men

t rel

atin

g to

am

endm

ent o

f sp

ecifi

catio

n un

less

they

ar

e in

stru

cted

by

regi

ster

ed

pate

nt a

ttorn

eys o

r the

am

endm

ent i

s dire

cted

by

the

cour

t).

Use

of t

he ti

tles “

pate

nt

agen

t” a

nd “

pate

nt a

ttorn

ey”

is re

stric

ted

to re

gist

ered

pa

tent

atto

rney

s who

se

nam

es a

re e

nter

ed o

n th

e R

egis

ter o

f Pat

ent A

ttorn

eys

kept

by

the

Dire

ctor

Gen

eral

of

IP A

ustra

lia.

Qua

lific

atio

ns o

f a re

gist

ered

pat

ent a

ttorn

ey :

– a

resi

dent

of A

ustra

lia;

– a

hold

er

of

a de

gree

, di

plom

a,

adva

nced

di

plom

a or

gr

adua

te

dipl

oma

unde

r th

e A

ustra

lian

Qua

lific

atio

n Fr

amew

ork

whi

ch is

in a

fie

ld o

f te

chno

logy

that

con

tain

s po

tent

ially

pat

enta

ble

subj

ect m

atte

r an

d is

aw

arde

d in

the

high

er e

duca

tion

sect

or;

– sa

tisfie

d th

e re

quire

men

ts o

f an

acc

redi

ted

cour

se o

f st

udy

cond

ucte

d by

an

appr

opria

te te

rtiar

y in

stitu

tion;

–

with

at

leas

t tw

o ye

ars

of w

orki

ng e

xper

ienc

e in

pat

ent

rela

ted

wor

k; a

nd

– of

goo

d fa

me,

inte

grity

or c

hara

cter

.

1

PSB

is a

stat

utor

y bo

dy e

stab

lishe

d to

adm

inis

ter t

he re

gula

tory

and

dis

cipl

inar

y re

gim

es fo

r pat

ent a

ttorn

eys i

n A

ustra

lia (s

ee w

ww.

psb.

gov.

au).

199

Juri

sdic

tion

Reg

ulat

ory

Bod

y

Pers

ons p

erm

itted

to a

ct a

s ag

ent i

n ap

plyi

ng fo

r pa

tent

/ co

nduc

ting

pate

nt r

elat

ed

proc

eedi

ngs b

efor

e th

e pa

tent

off

ice

and

the

cour

t

Res

tric

tion

on U

se o

f Titl

esQ

ualif

icat

ions

Mai

nlan

d C

hina

All

Chi

na

Pate

nt A

gent

s A

ssoc

iatio

n (a

utho

rised

by

the

Stat

e In

telle

ctua

l Pr

oper

ty O

ffice

)

Pate

nt a

gent

s U

se o

f the

title

“pa

tent

ag

ent”

in th

e pr

ovis

ion

of

pate

nt a

genc

y se

rvic

es fo

r ec

onom

ic b

enef

its is

re

stric

ted

to th

e pa

tent

age

nts

with

pro

fess

iona

l pra

ctic

e ce

rtific

ates

.

Qua

lific

atio

ns fo

r obt

aini

ng a

pro

fess

iona

l pra

ctic

e ce

rtific

ate

: –

a C

hine

se c

itize

n;

– ag

ed b

etw

een

18 a

nd 7

0, w

ith fu

ll ca

paci

ty o

f civ

il co

nduc

t; –

grad

uate

d fr

om

a hi

gher

ed

ucat

ion

inst

itutio

n w

ith

a sc

ienc

e de

gree

(o

r po

sses

sed

equi

vale

nt

educ

atio

nal

qual

ifica

tion)

; –

prof

icie

nt in

at l

east

one

fore

ign

lang

uage

; –

fam

iliar

with

the

Pat

ent

Law

and

oth

er r

elat

ed l

aws

and

regu

latio

ns;

– w

ith a

t le

ast

two

year

s of

wor

king

exp

erie

nce

in t

he

scie

ntifi

c an

d te

chno

logi

cal f

ield

or t

he le

gal f

ield

; –

pass

ed t

he P

aten

t A

gent

s Q

ualif

icat

ion

Exam

inat

ion

held

by

the

Pate

nt A

gent

Exa

min

atio

n C

omm

issi

on; a

nd

– in

em

ploy

men

t w

ith

a pa

tent

ag

ency

(f

or

first

-tim

e ap

plic

ants

: m

ust

com

plet

e on

e ye

ar o

f in

tern

ship

with

a

pate

nt a

genc

y be

fore

a p

rofe

ssio

nal p

ract

ice

certi

ficat

e m

ay

be is

sued

).

Euro

pean

Pa

tent

C

onve

ntio

n (E

PC)

C

ount

ries

Euro

pean

Pat

ent

Offi

ce (E

PO)

and

the

Inst

itute

of

Pro

fess

iona

l R

epre

sent

ativ

es

befo

re th

e Eu

rope

an P

aten

t O

ffice

(the

In

stitu

te)2

Eith

er :

– pr

ofes

sion

al

repr

esen

tativ

es o

n th

e lis

t of

repr

esen

tativ

es

mai

ntai

ned

by E

PO; o

r –

lega

l pra

ctiti

oner

s hav

ing

a pl

ace

of b

usin

ess i

n a

cont

ract

ing

stat

e.

The

Inst

itute

of P

rofe

ssio

nal

Rep

rese

ntat

ives

bef

ore

EPO

re

com

men

ds th

at u

se o

f the

tit

les “

pate

nt a

ttorn

ey”

and

“pat

ent a

gent

” be

rest

ricte

d to

pro

fess

iona

l re

pres

enta

tives

who

se n

ames

ap

pear

on

the

list m

aint

aine

d by

EPO

. I

ndiv

idua

l EPC

C

ount

ries m

ay p

rovi

de fo

r si

mila

r res

trict

ions

in th

eir

Qua

lific

atio

ns o

f a p

rofe

ssio

nal r

epre

sent

ativ

e :

– a

natio

nal o

f any

con

tract

ing

stat

e;

– ha

s a

plac

e of

bus

ines

s /

empl

oym

ent

in a

ny c

ontra

ctin

g st

ate;

–

poss

esse

d a

scie

ntifi

c or

tec

hnic

al q

ualif

icat

ion,

e.g

. in

bi

olog

y,

bioc

hem

istry

, ch

emis

try,

elec

troni

cs,

phar

mac

olog

y or

phy

sics

; –

train

ed

unde

r th

e su

perv

isio

n of

a

prof

essi

onal

re

pres

enta

tive

or

as

an

empl

oyee

de

alin

g w

ith

pate

nt

mat

ters

in a

n in

dust

rial c

ompa

ny e

stab

lishe

d in

one

of

the

cont

ract

ing

stat

es; a

nd

2

The

Inst

itute

is a

n in

tern

atio

nal n

on-g

over

nmen

tal p

ublic

law

cor

pora

tion

that

repr

esen

ts th

e Eu

rope

an p

aten

t pro

fess

ion

and

has

its o

wn

by-la

ws

and

code

of p

rofe

ssio

nal c

ondu

ct

(see

ww

w.pa

tent

epi.c

om/p

aten

tepi

/en/

).

200

Juri

sdic

tion

Reg

ulat

ory

Bod

y

Pers

ons p

erm

itted

to a

ct a

s ag

ent i

n ap

plyi

ng fo

r pa

tent

/ co

nduc

ting

pate

nt r

elat

ed

proc

eedi

ngs b

efor

e th

e pa

tent

off

ice

and

the

cour

t

Res

tric

tion

on U

se o

f Titl

esQ

ualif

icat

ions

legi

slat

ion

(e.g

. the

UK

). –

pass

ed th

e Eu

rope

an q

ualif

ying

exa

min

atio

n co

nduc

ted

by

vario

us b

oard

s and

com

mitt

ees o

f EPO

and

the

Inst

itute

.

New

Ze

alan

d N

ew Z

eala

nd

Inte

llect

ual

Prop

erty

Offi

ce

(IPO

NZ)

Eith

er :

– re

gist

ered

pat

ent a

ttorn

eys

(they

are

not

aut

horis

ed to

tra

nsac

t bus

ines

s or

cond

uct p

roce

edin

gs in

co

urt,

unle

ss th

ey a

re a

lso

a ba

rris

ter o

r sol

icito

r); o

r –

barr

iste

rs /

solic

itors

.

Use

of t

he ti

tles “

pate

nt

agen

t” a

nd “

pate

nt a

ttorn

ey”

is re

stric

ted

to p

erso

ns w

hose

na

mes

are

ent

ered

into

the

regi

ster

of p

aten

t atto

rney

s ke

pt b

y IP

ON

Z.

Qua

lific

atio

ns o

f a re

gist

ered

pat

ent a

ttorn

ey :

– a

New

Zea

land

citi

zen,

Com

mon

wea

lth c

itize

n (B

ritis

h su

bjec

t) or

a c

itize

n of

the

Rep

ublic

of I

rela

nd;

– no

t les

s tha

n 21

yea

rs o

f age

; –

pass

ed th

e N

ew Z

eala

nd P

aten

t Atto

rney

Exa

min

atio

ns h

eld

by IP

ON

Z;

– of

goo

d ch

arac

ter;

and

– in

em

ploy

men

t for

a p

erio

d(s)

of

at le

ast t

hree

yea

rs b

y a

pate

nt a

ttorn

ey in

New

Zea

land

, the

Pat

ent O

ffice

, or

in a

fo

rm

of

empl

oym

ent

that

of

fers

su

bsta

ntia

lly

sim

ilar

prac

tical

exp

erie

nce.

Sing

apor

e

Inte

llect

ual

Prop

erty

Offi

ce

of S

inga

pore

(I

POS)

Eith

er :

– re

gist

ered

pat

ent a

gent

s (th

ey a

re n

ot a

utho

rised

to

repr

esen

t his

clie

nts b

efor

e th

e co

urt,

unle

ss h

e is

als

o an

adv

ocat

e / s

olic

itor)

; or

– ad

voca

tes /

solic

itors

.

Onl

y a

regi

ster

ed p

aten

t ag

ent w

ith p

ract

isin

g ce

rtific

ates

issu

ed b

y th

e R

egis

trar o

f Pat

ents

may

ho

ld o

ut a

s a “

pate

nt a

gent

” an

d “p

aten

t atto

rney

s”.

Qua

lific

atio

ns o

f a re

gist

ered

pat

ent a

gent

: –

a re

side

nt o

f Sin

gapo

re;

– a

hold

er o

f a

univ

ersi

ty d

egre

e or

equ

ival

ent q

ualif

icat

ion

appr

oved

by

the

Reg

istra

r of P

aten

ts;

– pa

ssed

the

Gra

duat

e C

ertif

icat

e in

Int

elle

ctua

l Pr

oper

ty

Law

cou

rse

cond

ucte

d by

the

Fac

ulty

of

Law

, N

atio

nal

Uni

vers

ity o

f Sin

gapo

re;

– pa

ssed

th

e Pa

tent

A

gent

s Q

ualif

ying

Ex

amin

atio

ns

cond

ucte

d by

the

Reg

istra

r of P

aten

ts; a

nd

– co

mpl

eted

int

erns

hip

in p

aten

t ag

ency

wor

k un

der

the

supe

rvis

ion

of a

reg

iste

red

pate

nt a

gent

, or

an

indi

vidu

al

regi

ster

ed a

s a

pate

nt a

gent

or

its e

quiv

alen

t in

Aus

tralia

, C

anad

a, N

ew Z

eala

nd,

the

UK

or

the

US,

or

EPO

for

a

perio

d of

at l

east

12

mon

ths.

201

Juri

sdic

tion

Reg

ulat

ory

Bod

y

Pers

ons p

erm

itted

to a

ct a

s ag

ent i

n ap

plyi

ng fo

r pa

tent

/ co

nduc

ting

pate

nt r

elat

ed

proc

eedi

ngs b

efor

e th

e pa

tent

off

ice

and

the

cour

t

Res

tric

tion

on U

se o

f Titl

esQ

ualif

icat

ions

Con

ditio

ns fo

r iss

uanc

e of

a p

ract

isin

g ce

rtific

ate

: –

obta

ined

pr

ofes

sion

al

inde

mni

ty

insu

ranc

e ag

ains

t an

y lia

bilit

y in

curr

ed w

hen

carr

ying

out

pat

ent a

genc

y w

ork

in

that

pra

ctic

e ye

ar.

U

nite

d K

ingd

om

(UK

)

Inte

llect

ual

Prop

erty

R

egul

atio

n B

oard

(IPR

eg)3

Any

per

son

may

con

duct

pr

ocee

ding

s bef

ore

the

pate

nt

offic

e.

How

ever

, onl

y ba

rris

ters

(and

in c

erta

in

circ

umst

ance

s, so

licito

rs a

nd

pate

nt a

ttorn

eys)

may

act

as

advo

cate

s in

cour

t.4

Use

of t

he ti

tle “

pate

nt

agen

t” a

nd/o

r “pa

tent

at

torn

ey”

is re

stric

ted

to

thos

e pe

rson

s who

se n

ames

ar

e en

tere

d in

to th

e re

gist

er

of p

aten

t atto

rney

s5 kep

t by

the

Cha

rtere

d In

stitu

te o

f Pa

tent

Atto

rney

s (C

IPA

); bu

t so

licito

rs m

ay u

se th

e tit

le

“pat

ent a

ttorn

ey”

with

out

bein

g so

regi

ster

ed.

Qua

lific

atio

ns o

f a p

aten

t age

nt /

pate

nt a

ttorn

ey :

– a

degr

ee c

onfe

rred

by

a un

iver

sity

or

high

er e

duca

tion

inst

itutio

n in

the

UK

or a

pas

s in

the

Fina

l Exa

min

atio

n of

th

e La

w

Soci

ety

of

the

UK

(o

r ot

her

equi

vale

nt

qual

ifica

tion)

; –

pass

ed th

e Q

ualif

ying

Exa

min

atio

ns h

eld

by C

IPA

; –

eith

er (

1) c

ompl

eted

not

les

s th

an t

wo

year

s’ fu

ll-tim

e pr

actic

e in

the

fie

ld o

f in

telle

ctua

l pr

oper

ty,

incl

udin

g su

bsta

ntia

l ex

perie

nce

of p

aten

t at

torn

ey w

ork,

und

er t

he

supe

rvis

ion

of a

reg

iste

red

pate

nt a

ttorn

ey,

or a

bar

riste

r, so

licito

r or

adv

ocat

e w

ho is

eng

aged

in o

r ha

s su

bsta

ntia

l ex

perie

nce

of p

aten

t at

torn

ey w

ork

in t

he U

K,

or (

2)

com

plet

ed n

ot le

ss th

an fo

ur y

ears

’ ful

l-tim

e pr

actic

e in

the

field

of

in

telle

ctua

l pr

oper

ty,

incl

udin

g su

bsta

ntia

l ex

perie

nce

of p

aten

t atto

rney

wor

k in

the

UK

; –

hone

st a

nd tr

ustw

orth

y;

– w

illin

g to

com

ply

with

regu

lato

ry re

quire

men

ts; a

nd

– ab

le to

man

age

finan

cial

affa

irs f

or th

emse

lves

and

clie

nts

resp

onsi

bly.

3

IPR

eg is

a n

on-g

over

nmen

tal o

rgan

isat

ion

join

tly s

et u

p by

CIP

A a

nd th

e In

stitu

te o

f Tra

de M

ark

Atto

rney

s to

regu

late

the

pate

nt a

ttorn

ey a

nd tr

ade

mar

k at

torn

ey p

rofe

ssio

ns (s

ee

ww

w.ip

reg.

org.

uk/in

dex.

php

for f

urth

er d

etai

ls).

4

Trad

ition

ally

, onl

y ba

rris

ters

may

act

as a

dvoc

ates

in c

ourt.

H

owev

er, i

n re

cent

yea

rs, s

olic

itors

and

pat

ent a

ttorn

eys a

re a

ble

to a

ct a

s adv

ocat

es in

cou

rt in

cer

tain

circ

umst

ance

s.

5 Th

e re

gist

er w

as p

revi

ousl

y pu

blis

hed

as th

e “r

egis

ter o

f pat

ent a

gent

s”.

Thi

s was

cha

nged

to th

e “r

egis

ter o

f pat

ent a

ttorn

eys”

on

1 Ja

nuar

y 20

10.

202

Juri

sdic

tion

Reg

ulat

ory

Bod

y

Pers

ons p

erm

itted

to a

ct a

s ag

ent i

n ap

plyi

ng fo

r pa

tent

/ co

nduc

ting

pate

nt r

elat

ed

proc

eedi

ngs b

efor

e th

e pa

tent

off

ice

and

the

cour

t

Res

tric

tion

on U

se o

f Titl

esQ

ualif

icat

ions

Uni

ted

Stat

es

(US)

Uni

ted

Stat

es

Pate

nt a

nd

Trad

emar

k O

ffice

(U

SPTO

)

Eith

er :

– re

gist

ered

pat

ent a

ttorn

eys;

or

–

regi

ster

ed p

aten

t age

nts

(they

can

not c

ondu

ct p

aten

t lit

igat

ion

in th

e co

urts

or

perf

orm

var

ious

serv

ices

w

hich

the

loca

l jur

isdi

ctio

n co

nsid

ers a

s pra

ctis

ing

law

).

Use

of t

he ti

tles

“r

egis

tere

d pa

tent

atto

rney

s”

and

“reg

iste

red

pate

nt

agen

ts”

is re

stric

ted

to

pers

ons w

hose

nam

es a

re

ente

red

on th

e re

gist

er o

f at

torn

eys a

nd a

gent

s kep

t in

USP

TO.

Qua

lific

atio

ns o

f a re

gist

ered

pat

ent a

ttorn

ey /

regi

ster

ed p

aten

t ag

ent :

–

a U

S ci

tizen

; –

poss

esse

d th

e le

gal,

scie

ntifi

c, a

nd te

chni

cal q

ualif

icat

ions

ne

cess

ary

for h

im to

rend

er a

pplic

ants

val

uabl

e se

rvic

e;

– pa

ssed

the

“Ex

amin

atio

n fo

r R

egis

tratio

n to

Pra

ctic

e in

Pa

tent

Cas

es b

efor

e U

SPTO

” he

ld b

y U

SPTO

; and

–

of g

ood

mor

al c

hara

cter

and

repu

tatio

n.

Add

ition

al re

quire

men

t for

regi

ster

ed p

aten

t atto

rney

s :

– ad

mitt

ed t

o th

e pr

actic

e of

law

in

at l

east

one

sta

te o

r te

rrito

ry o

f the

Uni

ted

Stat

es.