HonG KonG
HonG KonG
HoW to GEt It RIGHt In tHE CoPYRIGHt REGIME Is
A qUEstIon tHAt HAs BEEn oCCUPYInG tHE MInDs of
HonG KonG PoLICY AnD LAW MAKERs foR tHE PAst DECADE
• Introducing a media shift ing exception for sound recordings. It was • Empowering the tribunal to exercise active case management
proposed that the owner of a non-infringing copy of a sound recording
• Promoting alternative dispute resolution
may make one copy of that recording in each device that he lawfully owns
• Empowering a single member of the tribunal to exercise certain
for his personal and domestic use. Perhaps, such exception should well
adjudication powers
be applied to non profi t-making organisations, such as churches. For
instance, sound recordings on cassette may be lent to members or even
• Using practice directions to regulate proceedings before the tribunal, if
appropriate
visitors of a church, which is apparently beyond ‘personal and domestic
use’. Churches may wish to copy and transfer the sound recordings from
• Prescribing a set of self-contained rules.
cassettes to other advanced media in order to save space, which they are
In light of the Hong Kong government’s conscientious eff orts to enhance
barred from doing under the current law.
the copyright regime both in substantial law and hearing procedures, well-
Th e Hong Kong government will start preparing legislative amendments
balanced reforms are foreseeable. Hopefully, the question of how to get it
and intends to introduce a bill in the second half of 2010.
right in the copyright regime will not remain unanswered.
Th ere are also reforms of the Copyright Tribunal Rules, mainly aimed at
procedural changes. Th e Copyright Tribunal is an independent, quasi-judicial
Ella Cheong is chairman of Ella Cheong (Hong Kong) Patent and Trademark
body established under the Copyright Ordinance to hear and resolve disputes
Agents and proprietor of Ella Cheong Law Offi ce. She can be contacted at:
over the use and licensing of copyrighted works. A public consultation was
ellacheong@ellacheong.com
launched on August 31, 2009 and ended on September 30, 2009.
Th e key proposals are:
Ella Cheong of Ella Cheong (Hong Kong) Patent and trademark
• Applying the relevant principles of the Civil Justice Reform as the Agents and Ella Cheong Law offi ce, solicitors, is a renowned IP
fundamental value of dispute resolution before the tribunal practitioner. she has won many awards and is chairman of the
• Prescribing one standard procedure and application form for all types of
group comprising independent members of the AIPPI.
applications and references before the tribunal
84 World Intellectual Property Review Digest 2009 www.worldipreview.com
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