[Q] What is considered a trademark under the trademark law of the HKSAR?

[A] A trademark is a mark that is used to promote and identify the owner's goods or services and to enable the public to distinguish them from the goods or services of other traders. It may be a logo or device, name, signature, word, letter, numeral, smell, figurative elements or a combination of colours and includes any combination of such signs and three-dimensional shapes, provided that it is represented in a form which can be recorded and published, such as by way of drawing or description.

[Q] What are the benefits of registering a trademark?

[A] Registration of a trademark will give the owner of a trademark the right to prevent third parties from using his mark, or a deceptively similar mark, without his consent for the goods or services for which it is registered or for similar goods or services. For unregistered trademarks, owners have to rely on common law for protection. It is more difficult to establish one's case under common law.

[Q] What trademarks can be registered?

[A] A trademark can be registered if it is:-

(1) The name of a company, individual or firm represented in a special manner;

(2) The signature (except in Chinese characters) of the applicant;

(3) An invented word;

(4) A word that is not either descriptive of the goods or services for which the trademark is used or is not a geographical name or is not a surname; or

(5) Any other distinctive mark.

[Q] Who can register a trademark in Hong Kong?

[A] There is no restriction on the nationality or place of incorporation of the applicant.

[Q] How long does it take to register a trademark in Hong Kong?

[A] The registration process in a straightforward case normally takes around 8 months.

[Q] What documents will I receive after my trademark is registered?

[A] The Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department will issue a certificate after the mark is registered. The certificate serves as evidence that a trademark has been formally registered.

[Q] How long will my rights be protected for?

[A] The protection period of a trademark when registered will last for a period of 10 years and can be renewed indefinitely for successive periods of 10 years.

[Q] What are the registration procedures?

[A] It is advisable to conduct a trademark search before filing the application to ensure that no similar trademarks have been registered. It takes about 3 months for the Trademark Registry to respond to an application. If the Trademark Registry approves the application, an advertisement has to be placed in the Trademark Journal to see if any third party will raise any objections. If no objections are raised within 3 months, the application will proceed to registration. The effective date of the registration will be back-dated to the date of the application.

However, if the Trademark Registry does not approve the application and raises objections, it is possible to raise counter-objections and persuade the Trademark Registry to withdraw their objections. Discussing these objections and counter-objections will take considerable time. In such a situation the application could take more than 6 months.

[Q] What information and documents are required for filing an application?

[A] (1). The name of the applicant.

(2.) The correspondence or registered address of the applicant.

(3). A copy of a Hong Kong Identity card or passport for individual applicants; a copy of the business registration certificate or Certificate of Incorporation of the applicant for companies;

(4). An electronic copy of the proposed mark;

(5). The desired class of registration or details of the goods or services within those classes which are traded.