Solid Structure Minimizes Dispute Hazard

Back Hong Kong, with a high concentration of international law firms, is well positioned to service regional licensing. Hong Kong's long-established regional links offer prospective advantages to overseas licensors seeking not only legal services, but also partners. "Hong Kong merchants have long traded on a substantial scale with the Chinese mainland, Taiwan and other parts of Asia, so they know how to do business in various places. They are famous for such go-between work," Lo says. The market for licensed products on the Chinese mainland should grow rapidly with the country's admission to the World Trade Organization. Regular LES meetings of licensing professionals and Hong Kong and mainland lawyers help to exchange legal ideas and information while reassuring overseas companies that communication channels are open. Covering 50 countries, LES is an umbrella organization for 27 national and regional Licensing Executive Societies. Members engage in licensing IP rights and technology transfers involving everything from technical know-how and patented inventions to software, copyright, design and trademarks. A wide range of industries benefit from active licensing, from high technology such as biotechnology and information technology to everyday merchandising in the industries of garments, toys, household products, publications and entertainment.   IP enforcement is the subject of many Hong Kong seminars and study sessions.     Back