Hong Kong has always been the best choice for mainland corporate customers to register offshore companies. These people carry out business activities and market and promote new products and services on the premise of Hong Kong companies. With the widespread promotion of the core concept of intellectual property protection, more and more entrepreneurs are gradually realizing the need to create their own corporate brands. The main concern is the application and registration of trademarks, and Hong Kong, as a link between mainland China and the world, Hub has great influence in foreign markets. At this time, they need to choose between mainland China trademarks and Hong Kong trademarks.

1. Principles of trademark registration application and use

Hong Kong: based on the principle of actual use, supplemented by trademark registration application;

Mainland: application for trademark registration Mainly use;

2. The start and end time of trademark use

Hong Kong: Because of the importance of use, the acquisition of trademark rights is calculated from the date of submission of trademark registration application;

Mainland: Based on the application for registration, the start time of using the trademark is calculated from the date the trademark is approved for registration;

3. Selection criteria for goods and services of the trademark

Hong Kong: When registering a Hong Kong trademark, you can select multiple categories of goods or services according to product type in the International Goods and Services Classification form, and fill in all categories when describing the goods or services.

Mainland China: You can only apply for registration of one trademark per category. In terms of product or service selection, you can only select up to 10 products under one category. The excess will require additional fees. of.

4. Corporate brand protection clauses

Hong Kong: Hong Kong’s Trademark Law clearly stipulates that trademark holders can significantly reduce the probability of brand-name trademark infringement by applying to register a defensive trademark;

Mainland China: There are still gaps in this aspect of trademark law at this stage;

Note: A defensive trademark refers to a trademark owner’s use of trademarks on different categories of goods or services. Apply to register a series of identical trademarks, and apply for registration according to the mainly used trademarks, while the remaining trademarks are defensive trademarks.

5. Corporate brand management functional departments and authorities

Hong Kong: The competent authority for trademark registration in Hong Kong is the Intellectual Property and Trademark Registry, and the functional department for resolving matters related to trademark infringement is Hong Kong Customs;

Mainland China: Trademark registration application and management are divided into two different functional departments, namely the Trademark Office of the State Administration for Industry and Commerce to apply for registration, and the Industrial and Commercial Administration Bureaus at all levels to accept trademark infringement cases. Fair competition department;

6. Trademark registration time

Hong Kong: Based on the premise of use and the high efficiency of government departments, the time to register a trademark in Hong Kong is 6-9 days Months;

Mainland China: It usually takes 12-18 months from trademark application to acquisition;

The trademark registration system brings regional protection to registered trademarks, which This means that trademarks applied for registration in mainland China cannot be protected in Hong Kong.

Of course, if entrepreneurs need their trademarks to be protected in both mainland China and Hong Kong, they can choose to register their trademarks in mainland China and Hong Kong.

The above is all the content of "The Differences between Hong Kong Trademarks and Mainland China Trademarks". I hope it will be of some help to you~