Another panel was discussing “Hong Kong’s Response” on patent reform chaired by Mr. Thomas Tsang (photo: left), Assistant Director (Patents), HKIPD. First speaker of that panel was Ms. Charmaine Koo (photo: right), Partner and Co-Head of Deacons IP Department: She put Hong Kong’s lack of an independent patent system in perspective by remarking that Macao S.A.R. has an independent patent system, and that Hong Kong is in the same league as … Fiji and the Seychelles.
Ms Koo realistically sees many problems but, tried her best to provide the best arguments for the implementation of Hong Kong’s OGP. In general a perception by R&D companies that the level of protection and enforcement in Hong Kong is at a high level is important. In particular to OGP: Singapore’s GDP increased after the implementation of their OGP.
Ms Koo argued that if Hong Kong would do the examination and grant OGPs under Hong Kong law, and not under PRC or EU law, this could be beneficial to the needs of Hong Kong. It would be also interesting if SIPO would recognize Hong Kong OGPs in China. This could distinguish Hong Kong OGPs from Chinese patents by a higher standard in quality.
Professor Alice Lee, Associate Dean Faculty of law, University of Hong Kong advocated a culture of innovation which should start at school. This is a sound analysis: innovation cannot start early enough. Therefore, rote learning should make place for liberating education, which can lead to environment what provides room for experimenting and can incubate innovation.
Mr. Kenneth Yip, Vice President, International IP Commercialization Council (IIPCC) was looking into the future, and questioned the wisdom to invest into a new OGP system which might takes years, especially since nobody knows what will happen when the “two systems, one country” period of 50 years will expires, now after 32 years. Mr Yip points to the use of patents not for innovation, but for fundraising purposes and grants for professors and other researchers.
Read Mr Yip’s slides here: http://www.lawtech.hk/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/HKU-HK-Patent_conferencen-Kenneth.pdf.
Mr. Ronald Yu, Vice President Knowledge Management IIPCC, Lecturer at the University of Hong Kong discussed the freedom of innovation.
On the right hand side of the picture is Mr Timothy Hancock, President of Asian Patent Attorneys Association Hong Kong Group.
See more of the Worldwide Patent Law Reform and Hong Kong’s Response HKU Workshop here: http://www.ipdragon.org/2015/01/17/worldwide-patent-law-reform-and-hong-kongs-response-hku-worksop/