Hong Kong maintains its own trademark system through the Intellectual Property Department, separate from mainland China. Protection requires a dedicated national filing and is not covered by China's Madrid designation, so a standalone application is essential.
At a Glance
IP Authority
Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department (IPD)
Filing Route
National filing only
Trademark Term
10 years from filing, renewable indefinitely for like periods
Classification
Nice (International) Classification of goods and services
Filing Basis
First-to-file — priority belongs to the earliest applicant
International Frameworks
Treaties that shape protection here.
Protection We Secure
The four rights that protect a brand in Hong Kong.
Trademarks
Word marks, logos, and trade dress are registered with the Intellectual Property Department on a first-to-file basis. Elite handles clearance searches, filing, examination responses, oppositions, and renewals, building a portfolio that scales as you add classes and markets.
Patents
Patents protect new, inventive, and industrially applicable technology. Elite advises on patentability, drafting, and filing through the national route, and on keeping inventions confidential until rights are secured.
Industrial Designs
Industrial design rights protect the visual appearance of a product, its shape, pattern, and ornamentation. Registration secures exclusivity against copying and is a fast, cost-effective complement to trademark and patent protection.
Copyright
Copyright protects original creative work, content, designs, software, packaging, and campaigns, generally from the moment of creation. Elite advises on ownership, licensing, recordal where available, and cross-border enforcement.
How Elite Helps
Protecting your brand in Hong Kong.
- Trademark clearance searches and filing strategy
- Prosecution, office actions, and opposition proceedings
- Portfolio management, renewals, and recordals
- Standalone Hong Kong filing, separate from mainland China
- Enforcement and customs support
Information is provided for general guidance. Specific filing requirements, timelines, and fees are confirmed by Elite for each matter against the current rules of the Intellectual Property Department.
Filing in Hong Kong?