Highlights of Hong Kong’s patent system
- There are two types of patents in Hong Kong:
– Standard patent (up to 20 years)
– Short-term patents (up to 8 years)
- Methods for obtaining a standard patent:
– Filing a standard patent application directly in Hong Kong (original standard patent)
– Registering patents obtained in designated patent offices (National Intellectual Property Office, UK Patent Office, European Patent Office) in Hong Kong (transfer standard patent)
- Acquisition of short-term patents:
– You can apply directly to the Hong Kong Patents Registry without having to obtain a patent elsewhere first
– There is no need for substantive examination of the patentability of the invention, and patent protection can be obtained faster
- Patent application requirements:
– The invention must be available for industrial use
– The invention must be new
– The invention must involve an inventive step
– The application must disclose the details of the invention in detail
- Engage a patent attorney or lawyer to assist with application drafting and communication, especially when it comes to overseas applications.
Intellectual Property Department https://www.ipd.gov.hk/tc/patents/apply-for-a-patent/index.html
