In Short
The Situation: In addition to the current
standard patents and short-term patents, Hong Kong is making
available original grant standard patents and, starting December
19, 2019, conducting substantive examination over these
patents.
The Result: Under the current patent system, an
applicant can apply to re-register standard patents or file
short-term patents to enjoy maximum protection terms of 20 years
and eight years, respectively. Under the new patent system, Hong
Kong will, on top of the existing regime, accept applications of
original grant standard patents and perform substantive
examination. The advantages associated with original grant standard
patents compared to re-registered standard patents involve the
conditions for filing rather than the actual patent grants.
