Seventh Meeting of Guangdong-Hong Kong Expert Group on Protection of IPRs
The Guangdong-Hong Kong Expert Group on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) has agreed to step up cooperation to raise intellectual property (IP) awareness among the public and enterprises.
During the seventh meeting of the Expert Group on July 18, the two sides reviewed the latest IP developments in both Hong Kong and Guangdong Province and concluded that many IP cooperation items had been successfully completed.
These included an IP seminar in Shantou, joint production of an Announcement in the Public Interest on "No Fakes Pledge" Scheme, "Intellectual Capital Management" seminars, a roundtable discussion for IP Agents in Guangdong and Hong Kong and Guangdong/Hong Kong IP Cooperation columns on the official Web sites of both sides.
The two sides also organized an exchange program for universities and science and technological institutes.
Law enforcement authorities in both places have been working closely to strengthen the coordination mechanism for cross-boundary IP-related cases.
The group also discussed projects for the second half of the year, including enhancing exploitation and management of IP by enterprises and an exchange program on the flow of business for IP professionals.
Speaking at the meeting, Hong Kong Director of Intellectual Property, Stephen Selby, said that raising public awareness about protecting IP was one of the important goals of cooperation between the two sides.
The IP authorities in Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao jointly established the "Intellectual Property Database for Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao" in late 2003. The database enables the public to obtain the latest information on IP in the three regions.
The one-stop database is a resourceful tool for the international business community. For this reason, the IP authorities in the three regions plan to produce an IP booklet to enable the public and enterprises to obtain IP information in the three regions with a view to attracting further investment.
Mr. Selby thanked the IP professionals in both places for their support for the cooperation activities in Guangdong and Hong Kong. He said IP professionals had played an important role in IP protection. Both sides plan to organize exchange activities on the flow of business for IP intermediaries of the two places to enhance the standards of IP professional services of the two places.
The Expert Group, set up after the Sixth Plenary of the Guangdong/Hong Kong Co-operation Joint Conference in August 2003, is aimed at enhancing exchanges and cooperation on various aspects of IP, including promotion and education, training, enforcement and information dissemination.
The Hong Kong delegation is headed by Mr. Selby, and comprises officials from the Commerce and Economic Development Bureau and the Customs and Excise Department.
The Guangdong delegation is led by the Director of Guangdong Provincial Intellectual Property Office, Tao Kaiyuan, and comprises officials from the Public Security Bureau, the Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation Department, the Administration for Industry and Commerce, the Copyright Bureau, the Guangdong Customs and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of Guangdong Province.
A summary of the cooperation items is posted on the Web site of the Intellectual Property Department at www.ipd.gov.hk
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