Trademarks are valuable assets that help businesses establish their brand identity and distinguish their products or services from competitors. In Hong Kong, trademark registration provides exclusive rights and protection for a specified period. However, to maintain these rights, trademark owners must be aware of the trademark renewal process. This article serves as a comprehensive guide to Hong Kong trademark renewal, providing essential information and guidance for businesses and trademark owners.
Understanding the Renewal Period:
Trademark owners in Hong Kong should be aware of the renewal period for their registered trademarks. The initial registration period is ten years, starting from the date of trademark registration. To ensure ongoing protection, trademark renewal must be initiated before the expiration of this ten-year period.
Initiating the Renewal Process:
Trademark renewal in Hong Kong involves submitting a renewal application to the Trade Marks Registry, Intellectual Property Department (IPD). It is crucial to start the renewal process well in advance to allow sufficient time for processing and avoid potential issues.
Requirements for Trademark Renewal:
When submitting a trademark renewal application, trademark owners need to provide certain essential information. This includes the trademark registration number, the class or classes of goods/services covered by the trademark, and the renewal fee payment.
Renewal Forms and Documents:
The IPD requires the completion of specific forms for trademark renewal. The application should be submitted using the prescribed form, which can be obtained from the IPD's official website or their physical office. Along with the form, trademark owners must also provide supporting documents, such as proof of payment.
Payment of Renewal Fees:
Trademark renewal in Hong Kong incurs a renewal fee, which must be paid to the IPD. The fee varies depending on the number of classes covered by the trademark. It is essential to ensure timely payment to avoid lapses in trademark protection.
Late Renewal and Restoration:
Trademark owners who miss the renewal deadline can apply for late renewal within six months after the expiration date. However, late renewal requires additional fees and is subject to approval by the IPD. If the trademark is not renewed within the six-month grace period, it may be deemed abandoned. In such cases, restoration procedures can be initiated, but the process is more complex and costly.
Updating Trademark Details:
During the renewal process, trademark owners have the opportunity to update certain details, such as contact information or a change in ownership. Any necessary changes or updates should be clearly indicated in the renewal application.
Duration of Renewed Trademark Protection:
Once the trademark renewal application is successfully processed, the trademark's protection is extended for another ten years from the date of expiration. It is crucial to keep track of the renewed registration's validity period to ensure ongoing protection.
Kangxin Partners, P.C. is a full-service IP firm with over 500 experienced and qualified IP professionals, including patent and trademark attorneys and attorneys-at-law, we are always here to help you with a full range of trademark matters, including trademark renewal application in Hong Kong, and our Kangxin IP Platform offers a streamlined and efficient trademark renewal process that minimizes the time and effort required from clients. The platform works 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and its user-friendly interface enables clients to easily upload their trademark renewal application, track the progress of their application, and receive updates on its status. The platform's advanced technology and automated workflows ensure that applications are processed quickly and efficiently, with the minimum of delays.
Below is the brief demonstration on using the Kangxin IP Platform to submit your order of trademark renewal application in Hong Kong. Submit an order of trademark renewal application in Hong Kong for the trademark registration number 302722699 for example. You will see the process step by step below.
Step 1:
Log in Kangxin IP Platform (link: https://eservice.kangxin.com) by using the account and password, if you don't have one, please register an account first:
After successfully logged in, you can click"Trademark" in the left, and then choose "Trademark Renewal."
Step 2:
It will jump into"Select Trademark" interface.
We make trademark renewal through this platform in 38 countries. It is quite easy to complete renewal through this platform. First, select the jurisdiction, Hong Hong, China (HK), and then you can just search a mark that needs renewal through applicant's name or application number. For example, we can type the application number, then click"search":
You can then select the mark that you would like to renew, and click,"Confirm."
Step 3:
It will jump into"Complete Information" interface.
You can select"Type of applicant" and"Nationality." After the information is completed, you can click"Submit."
Step 4:
It will jump into"Confirm" interface.
If your account was set up as a VIP account, you can choose to skip the online payment, and just click,"Next (Vip)" (we will send you a invoice after we file the applications, and you can pay offline as usual).
Step 5:
After you finish the payment, or you click "Next (Vip)", you will see the following page which confirm your application has been submitted successfully. We will then check the order and file the renewal application immediately.
Trademark renewal is a vital step in maintaining the exclusive rights and protection granted by trademark registration. Though the application process of renewal is not as complicated as trademark application for registration, each jurisdiction may have different requirement and procedure. Thus as a brand owner with trademarks in various countries/regions, it is highly recommended to use advanced system such as Kangxin IP Platform to manage, monitor and process trademark renewals all in one site.
The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.
