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

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Common pitfalls

• The most common one is specification

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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

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Specification – Example of wrong class no.

“playing cards”

• Class 16 X

• Class 28

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Specification – Example of imprecise terms

“retail services”

• not acceptable

• “retail services by electronic means” acceptable

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Specification –Example of repetitive terms

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

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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”

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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

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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

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Language in completing application form

• Either English or Chinese

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

• Registry Work Manual

• FAQ

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

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Points to note in e-filing

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Representation in colour (1)

Colour claim application

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

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Representation in colour (2)

For glossy, golden or silver mark,

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

• use digital camera

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Image before enhancement

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Image after enhancement

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Clarity of image

Sample Trademark

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ISO country codes:applicant’s address (1)

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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

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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”

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Remedy deficiencies

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

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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

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Q & A