Right to fight fakes

HONG KONG'S reputation as the home of imitation watches and fake Louis Vuitton handbags may soon become a thing of the past because of an increasing number of professionals who specialise in registering and protecting intellectual property (IP) rights. A concerted effort by the government to educate the public on the importance of IP is also making a difference.

According to Jenny Wong, head of marketing for the Intellectual Property Department (IPD), the government has to first ensure that the legal framework is in place.

'We follow principles established in Britain but Hong Kong is a signatory to the international conventions on IP and follows the WTO-related recommendations,' Ms Wong said.

She said the intellectual property department had three main functions: assist the Commerce, Industry and Technology Bureau with recommendations on legislation; maintain the registries for trademarks, patents and designs; and oversee promotion and education plans for IP rights.

These programmes target different sectors of the community. The department makes about 70 visits to schools every year and regularly conducts seminars to explain IP issues to local youth groups. It also has an initiative to help more teachers become qualified to spread awareness about IP effectively.

'For the business community, especially SMEs [small and medium-sized enterprises], we have programmes to disseminate information,' Ms Wong said. 'We explain to companies how they can use trademark protection for business advantage.'