Frequently Asked Quesions

Trademarks are protected by intellectual property rights. Through a registered trademark, you can protect your brand (or “mark”) by restricting other traders from using its name or logo.
Registering your trade mark means that you have the exclusive right to use the trade mark in relation to the goods and services for which the mark is registered. If other traders use it in the registered country in relation to the same or similar goods or services without your consent, they may be liable for infringement of your mark and you may take legal action.

Benefits of registering a trademark

A trade mark, also known as a brand, is often the most valuable assets of a company. It is the identity and image of a brand presented to the customers. A registered trademark provide the registrant a legal and exclusive right to use the trademark for the goods and services listed in the registration and grant the registrant the legal right to sue for infringement in court. Trademark vs. Patent vs. Copyrights (example of common case)

Some people confused about the difference between trademarks, copyrights, and patents. They are three distinct types of property right designed to protect different type of intellectual property and serve different purposes.
Copyright protect original works of authorship including books, articles, songs, photographic and other intellectual works.
Trademarks protect any name, word, slogan, symbol, design, and/or image that identifies a business or brand and distinguishes it from others.
Patents protect inventions or original designs, such as machines, processes, or chemical compositions.

What is the protection coverage of a registered trademark?
The trademark registration provides territorial protection. A registered trademarks in Hong Kong will not protect a trademark in a foreign country. Likewise, a trademark registered in the Mainland China or other countries do not automatically receive protection in Hong Kong.

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Requirements for trademark application

1. A copy of passport and address of the applicant. If the applicant is a corporation, the certificate of incorporation or business registration license should be provided
2. A list of goods and/or services for which registration is required.
3. A soft copy of the trademark to be registered.
4. A completed KPC trademark registration form

Duration of application
6-10 months (varies from countries)


Registration flow

1. Identify class of goods/services
2. Trademark search
3. Initial application
4. Examination of application
5. Publication for opposition / Advertisement for public scrutiny
6. Successful registration & the issuance of certificate

A trademark when registered in valid for 10 years. It can be renewed indefinitely for successive period of 10 years.

- It is not required by law to register a same domain name with the registered trademark. However, to maximizing the brand effectiveness and avoiding customer confusion on difference domain name, most companies prefer to register the same domain name as their registered trademark.
- The registration of trademark will not automatically give right to protect the related domain name. The application process of registering a domain names is separate from the trademark registration. In order to avoid trademark infringement when you choose a domain name, it is recommended to register both the trademark and domain name at the same time.

- Not neccessary. You may choose a desired Company Name at your own preference, while the Trademarks can be symbols, designs, words, colors, shape of the goods/services.. etc, you are selling.

While, both Trademarks registration and Company Name registration provides a uniqueness protection. A Hong Kong business registration certificate or a certificate of incorporation / registration does not by itself indicate that the business or company has rights to use its name or a trademark in promoting or dealing in goods and services.