Speech by Mr K.K. Yeung after signing the Intellectual Property Management Protocol Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) at Suntec City Convention Centre
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Associate Professor Ho Peng Kee,
Ms. Liew Woon Yin,
Professor Alain Pompidou,
Mr. Ian Harvey,
Distinguished speakers,
Ladies and gentlemen,
- It was in January this year when Director-General Ms. Liew Woon Yin visited the Hong Kong Productivity Council when we had the opportunity to compare notes on initiatives undertaken in Singapore & Hong Kong that triggered off the idea of the establishment of a common framework to assess the extent of IP compliance by enterprises to meet the pressing business and legal needs for IP protection. The meeting was soon followed by 2 visits by Mr. Christopher Chow in June & August.
- I am indeed excited to be here in Singapore today to formalise this important Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between HKPC and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore.
- Under this preliminary agreement, we will jointly develop a mutually recognised system of IP audit, which we hope will eventually serve as a benchmark for the entire Asia Pacific region. The development will contribute tremendously to IP protection, which bears great significance in more ways than one.
- Firstly, and clearly, the criteria of a regionally recognised IP audit model will serve as guidelines for Asian enterprises on IP management and protection, helping them guard against IP rights (IPR) violation and ensure fair reward for their original designs and products. This is especially important at a time when businesses in the region are putting increasing emphasis on creativity and innovation in a determined strategy for industrial upgrading.
- Secondly, a universally recognised audit system for IP management practices is crucial for the region to stay competitive in its quest for a bigger share in the highly competitive outsourcing market. Increasingly many Asian countries operate as suppliers for world-leading brands in product development, components integration and technological localisation. But there are underlying worries.
- When outsourcing, the clients have to share with us confidential information about their products. Given the world’s rising concerns over IPR infringement, suppliers need to demonstrate to clients their capability in IP protection. The solution lies in the adoption of universally accepted standards, coupled with authoritative accreditations. A company thus accredited could hopefully offer its outsourcing clients a specific level of comfort on its ability and commitment to protection-compliance without making its business partners travel thousands of miles to complete the required due diligence exercise. Therefore, a mechanism to assess & certify the conformity of an enterprise to a set of widely accepted IP management practices is urgently needed in the region.
- The new audit model will comprise a set of common criteria based on Singapore’s SCOPE IP model and Hong Kong’s “Innovation Knowledge Enterprise Assessment and Award Scheme”.
- Together with the Guangdong Provincial Intellectual Property Office, HKPC carried out the Scheme in 2004 to audit the IP systems of 12 companies from Hong Kong & 9 from southern China’s Guangdong province. Findings of the audit were later consolidated into best practices and standards for IP management for Hong Kong & Mainland enterprises. The Scheme sets the benchmark for performance, enhancing the capabilities of industry & business communities in Hong Kong & Guangdong in the creation and protection of their intellectual assets.
- The Scheme was just one of the many initiatives undertaken by HKPC in IP protection.
- I am confident that with the joint efforts of the Hong Kong Productivity Council & the Singaporean government, a truly international benchmark will soon emerge to enhance IP protection in the Asia-Pacific, to the benefit of the millions of enterprises here.
Thank you. |
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