IP Hong Kong-European Union Series 2013 (IP HK-EU) Intellectual Property Rights, Brands Protection & Creative Industries – EAP (Europe Asia Policy Centre for Comparative Research)

Date/Time
Date(s): 02/09/2013
Time: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm

Location
AAB 201; Academic and Administration Building

Language: English

Admission: Registration needed

European Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong

HK / EU Expert Conference:Hong Kong – European Union Cooperation in Protecting and Developing Intellectual Property and Brands: Current Situation and Future Trends

The HK/EU Expert Conference on 2 September was held to kick off its Intellectual Property (IP) Hong Kong-European Union Series 2013 with eminent guest speakers from the European Union and the HKSAR Government.

The conference on “Hong Kong – European Union Cooperation in Protecting and Developing Intellectual Property and Brands: Current Situation and Future Trends”, which attracted over 150 participants, featured five presentations and two panel discussions. Professor Rick Wong, Vice-President (Research and Development) of HKBU, and Mr. Stefan Amarasinha, Head of Trade & Economic Section, EU Office to Hong Kong and Macau officiated at the opening ceremony.

Speakers, officiating guests and the EUAP directors posing for photo

Mr. Anders Jessen, Head of Unit for Public Procurement and Intellectual Property, Directorate General Trade, European Commission Brussels, and Mr. Mayan Vaid, IP Director, Louis Vuitton Asia-Pacific Ltd., welcomed Hong Kong’s comprehensive, constructive IPR measures. They also appreciated the enormous progress made by the mainland Chinese government. Nonetheless cases of counterfeiting and smuggling are actually increasing up to a point where they may threaten Europe’s innovative industry and therefore EU-China trade relations as a whole.

In reply, Mr. Albert Ho, Assistant Commissioner, Intelligence and Investigation Branch, HK Customs, outlined various existing systems of intelligence and monitoring criminal activities in cooperation with mainland and EU authorities.

Mr. Albert Ho presenting on how the HK Custom combats counterfeit goods

Mr. Matthew Laight, EU China IPR SME Helpdesk Expert, emphasised that companies can protect themselves to a considerable degree by meticulously paying attention to IPR registrations in China and internationally as well as contract-based relationships with Chinese partners and, not the least, internal company organization. In actual cases of fraud, however, the enforcement of registered IP rights remains a lengthy process

In that context, Mr. Peter Cheung, Director, Intellectual Property Department, HKSAR Government, explained new efforts undertaken by the HKSAR Government as well as innovative entrepreneurs to assist in ‘monetising’ (i.e. defining, registering and protecting) sensitive knowledge of and within companies.

Download Corner:

Presentation of Mr. Anders Jessen

Presentation Mr. Peter Cheung

Presentation Mr. Matthew Laight

Presentation of Mr. Mayank Vaid

(available on Eurocham website)