Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government1 Workshop – How to avoid deficiencies in trademark applications? 13 May 2005.

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 1

Workshop – How to avoid deficiencies in

trademark applications?

13 May 2005

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 2

Objectives of the workshop

• Proper protection of IP rights with scope of rights clearly defined in the trademark application

• Do it once

• Do it right

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 3

Outline

We will run pass you:

• common pitfalls (applicable to paper and e-filing)

• points to note in e-filing

• way forward

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 4

Deficiency checking

• Deficiencies affecting filing date

• Deficiencies not affecting filing date

• Remedied in 2 months

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 5

Common pitfalls

• The most common one is specification

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 6

Classification of goods and services

Before filing, please check• Nice classification

http://www.wipo.org/cl

For further reference• UK Patent Office’s Trademark Classification search

http://www.patent.gov.uk/tm/dbase/goodsclass/index.htm

• IPD online searchhttp://ipsearch.ipd.gov.hk/trademark/jsp/index.html

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 7

Specification – Example of wrong class no.

“playing cards”

• Class 16 X

• Class 28

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 8

Specification – Example of imprecise terms

“retail services”

• not acceptable

• “retail services by electronic means” acceptable

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 9

Specification –Example of repetitive terms

computers; computer peripheral apparatus; printers; magnetic discs; modems; computers and computer software

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 10

Specification –Examples of additional phrases

Examples of additional phrases

X “all other goods in this class”

X “all other related services”

X “and supporting services”

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 11

Specification – language requirement

• Follows the language of proceedings

• For applications filed in Chinese, use of Chinese / English terms in the Chinese version of the Nice Classification is acceptable

T恤衫 , 非醫用 X光防護設備

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 12

Trademark Representation

• Unclear representation

• Representations in T2 and T2S are not identical

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 13

Convention Priority Claim

• Inaccurate priority date

Year 2004 Year 2005

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 14

Language in completing application form

• Either English or Chinese

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 15

IPD websitehttp://www.ipd.gov.hk

• Registry Work Manual

• FAQ

• How to apply to register a trademark in the Hong Kong SAR?

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 16

Points to note in e-filing

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 17

Representation in colour (1)

Colour claim application

• before filing, open the JPEG file to check the colours claimed are clearly shown

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 18

Representation in colour (2)

For glossy, golden or silver mark,

• use software e.g. photoshop, paintbrush to enhance the colour

• use digital camera

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 19

Image before enhancement

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 20

Image after enhancement

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 21

Clarity of image

Sample Trademark

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 22

ISO country codes:applicant’s address (1)

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 23

ISO country codes: applicant’s address (2)

• Manual mapping of ISO and the registry’s internal codes in the computer systemExample:– ISO: UNITED STATES– Internal: UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

• However, names of ISO countries are correctly reflected in online search, Hong Kong Intellectual Property Journal and registration certificate

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 24

ISO country codes:convention priority claim

• “European Community” does not exist in ISO country codes

• Use cover letter (PDF) if you wish to claim “European Community”

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 25

Remedy deficiencies

• Take action to remedy deficiencies in e-mode, avoid a mixed mode of e-filing and paper filing

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 26

Way forward

• Your views on how to assist you to get the application right upfront

• Deeper and broader e-commerce

– interactive features (DIY) for change of name, address, address for service, agent’s address and renewal

Intellectual Property Department, Hong Kong SAR Government 27

Q & A