HK titles similar to mainland brands are being used
Hong Kong-registered companies are being warned about possible trademark violations by using names similar to popular mainland brands.
The warning comes as officials from Hong Kong and Guangdong agree to step up their efforts to protect intellectual property rights.
Hong Kong's deputy director of intellectual property, Peter Cheung Kam-fai, said officials had noticed a trend of companies registering a name in Hong Kong and then marketing their products across the border, especially in Guangdong.
'Sometimes, the names are the same or similar to those of some famous mainland trademark products and services, and this can be misleading,' he said.
'Using such an identity to sell products could create unfair competition which is not only morally wrong but may also open the possibility of trademark infringement.'
Mr Cheung, speaking after the third meeting of the Guangdong-Hong Kong expert group on protection of intellectual property rights, said the same practice could happen in reverse with mainland products imported to Hong Kong.
