Trademarks Registration

HongKong Company Registration

  • Within around 60 days, Acceptance of Registration Application can be issued by Trademark Office and trademark marked “TM” can be used
  • Around 1 year after application submitted, Preliminary Examination Announcement can be issued by Trademark Office
  • 3 months after Preliminary Examination Announcement issued, Trademark Registration Certificate can be issued by Trademark Office
  • The valid period of Trademark Registration Certificate is 10 years. Renewal no earlier 6 months before expiry

Chinese Company Registration

  • Around 1 week after application submitted, Preliminary Advice from HK Intellectual Property Department can be issued
  • Only 6 months from receipt of application to registration
  • The valid period of Certificate of Registration is 10 years. Renewal no earlier 6 months before expiry

Overseas Company Registration

  • Trademarks registered with one language and one fee can be used in more than 90 countries under Madrid Agreement
  • Only 6 - 8 months from receipt of application to registration
  • Completion period of trademark registration is 2 years

Trademarks Registration Fees

Registration Jurisdiction 1st Category Fee (RMB) 2nd Category Fee (RMB) Search and Advice Fee per Category (RMB) Duration of Registration (Month) Validity (Year)
P. R. China 2000 2000 Free 12-18 10
Hong Kong 2500 1500 Free 6-8 10
Macau 2800 2800 Free 9 7
Taiwan 5500 4500 Free 8-12 10
Japan 12500 11800 Free 8-12 10
S. Korea 8500 7800 Free 8-12 10
Singapore 4000 4000 Free 6-8 10
Malaysia 8000 7000 Free 12-18 10
Philippines 4500 4000 Free 12-18 10
India 6000 6000 Free 12 10
Thailand 9500 8500 Free 14 10
Indonesia 6800 6500 Free 24-26 10
Vietnam 6000 3500 Free 12-18 10
USA 6500 4500 Free 16 10
EU 11500 1000 Free 6 10
UK 5500 4500 Free 6-8 10

*The price listed above only shows the normal standard price. The actual price may be adjusted by exchange rate fluctuation, tax increase and additional work procedures.

Patent Application

There are three types of patent in Hong Kong: Standard Patents, Short-term Patents, and Designs, which are reviewed by the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department.

Standard Patents

Application:

Phase 1: The application is initiated on the basis of the record of the designated patent application, which refers to the patent application issued by the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China, the European Patent Office (designated United Kingdom) or the United Kingdom Patent Office.

Phase 2: Submitting a registration and grant request in Hong Kong on a patent granted by the State Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China, the European Patent Office (designated United Kingdom) or the United Kingdom Patent Office.

Validity: 3 years at first application, 20 years at most.

Short-term Patents

Application:

The grant of a Short-term Patent is based on the inspection report (novel search report) prepared by one of the following international inspection authorities or one of the designated patent authorities.:

  • International inspection authorities appointed under Article 16 of the Patent Cooperation Treaty;
  • National Intellectual Property Office of the People's Republic of China;
  • European Patent Office;
  • United Kingdom Patent Office.

Validity: 4 years at first application, 8 years at most.

Designs

Registered designs protect only the appearance of products, for example the look of a computer monitor. Registration of the design does not protect the way in which the product relating to the design works.

Protection for the way in which a product works may be available under patent law. Computer software is protected under copyright law.

Validity: 5 years at first application, 25 years at most.