James M. Collison

Europe Asia Patent and Patent Information Conference 2011 (EAP²IC) in Singapore November 8, 2011

The European Patent Office (EPO), the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore (IPOS) are holding the Europe Asia Patent and Patent Information Conference (EAP²IC) in Singapore from the 9th to the 11th of November, 2011.  In its ninth year, the conference combines one day of presentations from WIPO officials and local practitioners with two days of workshops on practical skills, such as “Reading and Understanding Patent Claims for Non-Patent Professionals.”  

Forum on the Future Development of Patent System in Hong Kong, 28 February 2011 February 11, 2011

After hearing from a number of different groups about the need for changes in Hong Kong’s patent system, the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department together with the Commerce, Economic and Development Bureau has planned a “Forum on the Future Development of Patent System in Hong Kong”.  There will be speakers from both the Intellectual Property Department as well as from members of the community.  The Forum is intended to be an information gathering event where the Hong Kong government can learn more about what local stakeholders’ think about Hong Kong’s patent law and systems.

The Forum will take place on Monday, the 28th of February, 2011 at  The Charles K. Kao Auditorium in the Hong Kong Science Park.   Time : 9:15 a.m. to 5:15 p.m.

To attend, please register by email with businesscentre@ipd.gov.hk by 18 February 2011. You can call the Intellectual Property Department Business Centre at 2961 6852 for additional information.

China technology joint venture with G.E. January 18, 2011

As reported in a New York Times article on January 17th, 2011, G.E.  is entering a joint venture with a China State-owned enterprise in which G.E. will share some of the same technology that is used in Boeing airplanes. 

This type of joint venture is an example of a “pay to play” situation where U.S. companies must disclose their technology in order to have access to growing Chinese market.  Many IP professionals fear that this will result in an unfair, irreversible transfer of key technologies to Chinese companies that could later become international competitors.  With the needed technology in hand, these Chinese companies could be able to exit the joint venture, closing of the market for U.S. and other foreign companies, while repeating the benefits of the technology exchange.

Without knowing the eventual outcome, this type of transaction again highlights the importance of both: (a) having a credible legal system whether the ownership of rights can be agreed upon and enforced in the case of any breach; and (b) continuing to innovate so market leadership depends not on who can produce the cheapest but on who can innovate successfully and consistently.

China’s Drive for ‘Indigenous Innovation’ December 3, 2010

James McGregor, author and consultant with APCO Worldwide, spoke at the Hong Kong American Chamber of Commerce to discuss topics covered in his publication, “China’s Drive for ‘Indigenous Innovation.’”  Generally, McGregor’s view is that the recently instituted policy of Indigenous Innovation has the potential to strip valuable intellectual property, one of the United State’s most valuable assets, out of U.S. companies, thereby making them uncompetitive in the global market.  Since China is the only place where companies can scale their technology, U.S. companies will give away their rights in exchange for access to the market. 

While many appear to agree that such a policy would in and of itself actual create innovation without a bottom up change in educational structures and funding mechanisms, there are differing ideas about how harmful these China policies will be to U.S. companies.  However, China’s copycat past leaves people mostly cynical that China will become the innovation leader anytime soon.

AmCham IP Committee meeting with Stephen Selby, Director, Hong Kong IP Department November 18, 2010

Stephen Selby, the Director of the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department, spoke at the most recent meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce Intellectual Property Committee on November 16, 2010.  The IP committee often has speakers attend their meetings to discuss recent IP issues affecting Hong Kong and Asia. 

Stephen Selby gave an update on recent Hong Kong IP issues, namely proposed amendments to the Hong Kong Copyrights ordinance that will bring Hong Kong’s law more in line with U.S. and international standards.  There was also some heated discussion about whether Hong Kong needed its own Hong Kong originating patent, the main argument being that such an locally originating patent right helped turn Singapore and Taiwan into the R&D hubs that they are today.  Many people, myself included, believe that a more formalized patent profession is needed in Hong Kong to support innovation by local companies and the universities and research institutes that are here.