Intellectual Property: Business Opportunities and Changes for Hong Kong Professionals The Law...
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Transcript of Intellectual Property: Business Opportunities and Changes for Hong Kong Professionals The Law...
Intellectual Property: Business Opportunities and
Changes for Hong Kong Professionals
The Law Society of Hong Kong香港律師會
Michael Lintern-SmithPresident, The Law Society of Hong Kong
24 November 20041
Recent Development
CEPA in 2003; CEPA II in August 2004 Preferential market access treatment
Pan-PRD Regional Co-operation and Development
Barrier-free economic zone
2
Market Access Under CEPA – Legal Services
Operate in association with Mainland law firms Employed by Mainland law firms Acquire Mainland legal professional
qualification Intern & practise on non-litigation legal work
in the Mainland Minimum residency requirement waived/
shortened No permit needed for providing assistance on
individual cases 3
Market Access Under CEPA – Legal Services (2)
Comparison of representative offices of Hong Kong law firms before and after the implementation of CEPA
No. of Representative Offices of HK Law Firms
As at 31/12/2003
As at 3/7/2004
No. of new representative offices after 1/1/2004
Guangdong/ PRD 12 15 3
Beijing 19 19 0
Shanghai 15 16 1
Others 2 4 2
Total 48 54 6 4
Market Access Under CEPA – Trade Mark Agency Services
Hong Kong service supplier (HKSS) may conduct trade mark agency business in the Mainland
HKSS Certificate: A natural person/ a juridical person Engage in substantive business operation for > 3
years Pay Hong Kong profits tax Maintain business premises in Hong Kong 50% employees are Hong Kong residents
5
Market Access Under CEPA – Patent Agency Services
Hong Kong permanent residents Chinese citizenship Patent Agent Qualification
Certificate Practise patent agencies established
with permission in the Mainland Become partners/ shareholders
6
Market Access Under CEPA – Patent Agency Services (2)
Liberalisation of Patent Services Equal basis as Chinese citizens Expand the list of Mainland recognized universities Training course organized by IPD Allow to write the examination Requirement of Apprenticeship Become partners/ shareholders
7
Reality Check Separate professions:
Legal Trade Mark Agency Patent Agent
Varying opportunities / limitations to access the Mainland market
8
Reality Check (2) Market accessibility: partial
Justified restriction
Overly restrictive
Write qualification examinations
Post-qualification employment
Discourage HK residents to acquire the qualification
9
Reality Check (3)
Market of Trade Mark Agency
30,000 trade mark applications/ month 4,000-5,000 existing agents US$225-425 of fee income/ application Yearly income: US$1,350-3,187 Strategies – Profitable business
10
Meeting The Challenge
CEPA & Pan-PRD Regional Co-operation & Development
Big booster to HK economy Market liberalisation: controlled pace Position ourselves to exploit the
opportunity How to further the co-operation Maximize the benefits for both sides
11
Meeting The Challenge – Continuing the dialogue CEPA
Not a one-off agreement Set out framework for consultation Goal: liberalising the Mainland market
HK professionals Feed concerns to HKSAR government Exchange ideas (e.g. Forum/ Workshop) Work out practical, achievable suggestion
12
Meeting The Challenge – Wider Perspective Free of import tariff Hong Kong products
Substantially transformed in Hong Kong >30% of the value is added in HK
Encourage foreign companies To set up operations in HK To outsource processes to HK companies
More opportunities for HK IP professionals IP elements in R&D/ design Legal aspects of outsourcing & licensing Company formation Tenancy/ Employment
13
Meeting The Challenge – Wider Perspective (2)
Example I: Chinese language motion pictures
Import to the Mainland – quotation free basis Jointly-produced by HK & the Mainland –
“Mainland” motion pictures
Increased business opportunities for IP professionals Joint ventures/ copyrights/ film distribution
14
Meeting The Challenge – Wider Perspective (3)
Example II: Communications services sector
HK service suppliers – set up joint venture enterprises
Provide value-added telecommunications services
Increased business opportunities for IP professionals
Technology transfer/ branding/ co-branding/ licensing/ joint ventures
15
Meeting The Challenge – Wider Perspective (4)
CEPA – Preferential treatment Over 700 product categories 26 service sectors IP opportunities arise from increased
trade Brand is essential in marketing Need for IP protection, enforcement &
commercialisation16
Meeting The Challenge – IP Protection
Past: Inadequate awareness of IP protection
Present: Economy progresses IP becomes a competitive edge
Identify products Protect investment Realise profits
17
Meeting The Challenge – IP Protection (2) IPD – Raise awareness about IP Law Society – supply speakers at the following
seminars organized by the IPD:-
Date Event Held
02/2003
Seminar on IP & the Development of SMEs Hong Kong
03/2003
Seminar on Guangzhou and Hong Kong IP Services
Guangzhou
06/2003
Seminar on IP for Design Professionals Hong Kong
09/2003
Seminar on IP and the Development of SMEs Shenzhen
05/2004
Seminar on IP and the Development of SMEs Dongguan
11/2004
Seminar on IP and the Development of SMEs Shaoguan
12/2004
Seminar on IP and the Development of SMEs Shunde
18
Meeting The Challenge – IP Protection (3)
Law Society’s participation
Supported TDC’s Roadshows & exhibition 11 trips to Mainland in past 1 year Delegations to Beijing, Shanghai,
Chongqing, Guangzhou, Jilin, Tianjin & Zhejiang
Held exhibitions on HK legal services More participation in the future
19
Meeting The Challenge – Mainland Representative Office
More law firms consider establish representative offices in the Mainland
Contributing factors CEPA – to associate with Mainland firms Reduction of the requirement of
residency20
Meeting The Challenge – Mainland Representative Office (2)
Condition to apply to the Ministry of Justice of China for approval
Lawful practice in Hong Kong Representative of the office shall be -
Practicing lawyer A member of Law Society Practicing >2 yrs outside the Mainland No record of criminal offence/ professional/ misconduct
Chief Representative of the office shall be - Practicing >3 yrs outside the Mainland A partner in the law firm
Genuine need 21
Meeting The Challenge – Collaboration with Mainland Lawyers & Agents
Serving Mainland clients through referrals Benefit from closer co-operation with
Mainland companies Role of the Law Society
Develop contacts with provincial lawyers associations
Facilitate exchange of information Develop opportunities for training Example: Jiangsu Lawyers
22
Meeting The Challenge – Recruitment and Training Strategies
Recruitment Strategy Chinese language ability Science/ engineering background
Minimum requirement for establishing a patent agency Partnership: 3 qualified patent agents Company: 5 qualified patent agents Partner/ shareholder: no non-qualified people
23
Meeting The Challenge – Recruitment and Training Strategies (2)
Training Strategy
LL.B / LL.M Programmes provided by universities in the Mainland
China Law Seminars organized by the Law Society - Seminar in Shenzhen - Accredited courses on PRC
24
Conclusion CEPA & Pan-PRD development – business opportunities IP professionals – understand the new
environment Importance of idea exchange Role of the HKSAR Government Role of the Law Society
25