Letters | Better IP protection will fire up Hong Kong’s creative industries

Readers discuss the government’s moves to recognise creative property rights and address livelihood and community concerns

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Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee attends a press conference for his third policy address on October 16. Photo: Xinhua

Published: 11:30am, 8 Nov 2024

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With the establishment in June of the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, formerly known as Create Hong Kong, stakeholders in the creative sector are eager for new policies to be implemented.

Earlier this year, Financial Secretary Paul Chan Mo-po announced that the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (TDC) is enhancing the Asia IP Exchange online platform to include content related to creative property rights, thereby promoting the trading of these rights and strengthening the cultural and creative industries.

In his policy address this year, Chief Executive John Lee Ka-chiu also emphasised the importance of the intellectual property trade.

The Asia IP Exchange platform, which the TDC has been running for over a decade, has primarily focused on technology copyrights, with limited representation of creative property rights. As a stakeholder, I have high expectations for the government and the TDC to improve this platform.

The unique nature of copyright in the cultural sector complicates matters, as the creator of a work, such as an illustrator or cartoonist, may not own the copyright. Additionally, copyright agreements often involve restrictions related to regions, languages and statutes of limitations, making ownership and licensing particularly complex.

As per the nation’s 14th five-year plan, the Hong Kong government has prioritised developing Hong Kong as a centre for international cultural exchange and intellectual property trading. The TDC is well-positioned to enhance this platform, given its strong regional connections, which can facilitate trade. While Hong Kong’s creative industries are recognised for their potential, the local market remains small and underutilised. Improving this platform represents an opportunity to promote and integrate creative offerings efficiently.