Amendments to the Arbitration Ordinance (Cap 609) will be tabled to clarify that disputes over intellectual property rights can be resolved through arbitration.
The Department of Justice said today the amendments also clarify it is not contrary to Hong Kong’s public policy to enforce arbitral awards involving intellectual property rights.
The amendments are to help more parties resolve their intellectual property rights disputes through arbitration in Hong Kong.
Currently the ordinance does not have a specific provision on the issue nor is there relevant authoritative judgment in Hong Kong.
The Government believes the specific statutory provisions will clarify the legal position and remove uncertainty.
They will also enhance Hong Kong’s competitiveness as a leading international arbitration centre, giving it an edge over other jurisdictions in the region as a venue for settling intellectual property rights disputes.
The Arbitration (Amendment) Bill 2016 will be gazetted on December 2 and tabled at the Legislative Council on December 14.
