Trademark registration is one way to protect your brand and is highly valued by investors in various countries. Trademark protection has regional characteristics, and different countries have different requirements for trademark registration. WS CPA Limited provides specialized trademark registration services in Hong Kong and helps clients with various matters related to the trademark registration process.
Trademark Classification
There are a total of 45 classes, including goods in classes 1-34 and services in classes 35-45.
Goods and Services – Category Titles
Goods
• Class 1
Chemicals for use in industry, science, photography, agriculture, horticulture, and forestry; unprocessed synthetic resins; unprocessed plastics; fertilizers; synthetic materials for extinguishing fires; tempering and soldering preparations; chemicals for preserving food; tanning substances; industrial adhesives.
• Class 2
Paints, varnishes, lacquers; rust preventatives and wood preservatives; colorants; mordants; raw natural resins; metal foil and powder for painters, decorators, printers, and artists.
• Class 3
Bleaching preparations and other substances for laundry use; cleaning, polishing, scouring, and abrasive preparations; soaps; perfumery, essential oils, cosmetics, hair lotions; dentifrices.
• Class 4
Industrial oils and greases; lubricants; synthetic materials used for absorbing, wetting, and binding dust; fuels (including motor spirit) and illuminants; candles and wicks for lighting.
• Class 5
Pharmaceutical and veterinary preparations; sanitary preparations for medical purposes; dietary food and substances for medical or veterinary use, baby food; dietary supplements for humans and animals; plasters, materials for dressings; dental filling materials, dental wax; disinfectants; preparations for destroying vermin; fungicides, herbicides.
• Class 6
Common metals and their alloys; metal building materials; transportable metal buildings; metal materials for railway tracks; non-electric cables and wires of common metal; hardware, metal small items of hardware; metal pipes; safes; other common metal products not included in other classes; ores.
• Class 7
Machines and machine tools; motors and engines (except for land vehicles); machine coupling and transmission components (except for land vehicles); non-manual agricultural implements; incubators; automatic vending machines.
• Class 8
Hand tools and implements (hand-operated); cutlery, forks and spoons; side arms; razors.
• Class 9
Scientific, nautical, surveying, photographic, cinematographic, optical, weighing, measuring, signalling, checking (supervision), life-saving and teaching apparatus and instruments; apparatus and instruments for conducting, switching, transforming, accumulating, regulating or controlling electricity; apparatus for recording, transmission or reproduction of sound or images; magnetic data carriers, recording discs; optical discs, DVD discs and other digital storage media; mechanical structures for coin-operated apparatus; cash registers, calculating machines, data processing equipment, computers; computer software; fire extinguishing apparatus.
• Class 10:
Surgical, medical, dental, and veterinary instruments and apparatus; prostheses, artificial eyes and teeth; orthopedic articles; suture materials.
• Class 11:
Apparatus for lighting, heating, steam generating, cooking, refrigerating, drying, ventilating, water supply and sanitary purposes.
• Class 12:
Vehicles; apparatus for locomotion by land, air, or water.
• Class 13:
Firearms; ammunition and projectiles; explosives; fireworks.
• Class 14:
Precious metals and their alloys, and goods in precious metals or coated therewith, not included in other classes; jewelry, precious stones; watches and chronometric instruments.
• Class 15:
Musical instruments.
• Class 16:
Paper and cardboard, and goods made from these materials, not included in other classes; printed matter; bookbinding material; photographs; stationery; adhesives for stationery or household purposes; artists’ materials; paintbrushes; typewriters and office requisites (except furniture); instructional and teaching material (except apparatus); plastic materials for packaging (not included in other classes); printing blocks; printing type.
• Class 17:
Rubber, gutta-percha, gum, asbestos, mica, and goods made from these materials and not included in other classes; plastics in extruded form for use in manufacture; packing, stopping and insulating materials; non-metallic flexible pipes.
• Class 18:
Leather and imitations of leather, and goods made of these materials and not included in other classes; animal skins, hides; trunks and travelling bags; umbrellas, parasols and walking sticks; whips, harness and saddlery.
• Class 19:
Building materials (non-metallic); non-metallic rigid pipes for building; asphalt, pitch and bitumen; non-metallic transportable buildings; monuments, not of metal.
• Class 20:
Furniture, mirrors, picture frames; goods (not included in other classes) of wood, cork, reed, cane, wicker, horn, bone, ivory, whalebone, shell, amber, mother-of-pearl, meerschaum and substitutes for all these materials, or of plastics.
• Class 21:
Household or kitchen utensils and containers; combs and sponges; brushes (except paint brushes); brush-making materials; articles for cleaning purposes; steel wool; unworked or semi-worked glass (except building glass); glassware, porcelain and earthenware not included in other classes.
• Class 22:
Ropes, string, nets, tents, awnings, tarpaulins, sails, sacks and bags (not included in other classes); padding and stuffing materials (except of rubber or plastics); raw fibrous textile materials.
• Class 23:
Yarns and threads for textile use.
• Class 24:
Textiles and textile goods, not included in other classes; bed and table covers.
• Class 25:
Clothing, footwear, headgear.
• Class 26:
Lace and embroidery, ribbons and braid; buttons, hooks and eyes, pins and needles; artificial flowers.
• Class 27:
Carpets, rugs, mats and matting, linoleum and other materials for covering existing floors; wall hangings (non-textile).
• Class 28:
Games and playthings; gymnastic and sporting articles not included in other classes; decorations for Christmas trees.
• Class 29:
Meat, fish, poultry and game; meat extracts; preserved, dried and cooked fruits and vegetables; jellies, jams, fruit sauces; eggs, milk and milk products; edible oils and fats.
• Class 30:
Coffee, tea, cocoa and artificial coffee; rice; tapioca and sago; flour and preparations made from cereals; bread, pastry and confectionery; ices; sugar, honey, treacle; yeast, baking-powder; salt; mustard; vinegar, sauces (condiments); spices; ice.
• Class 31:
Agricultural, horticultural and forestry products and grains not included in other classes; live animals; fresh fruits and vegetables; seeds; natural plants and flowers; animal feed; malt.
• Class 32:
Beers; mineral and aerated waters and other non-alcoholic drinks; fruit drinks and fruit juices; syrups and other preparations for making beverages.
• Class 33:
Alcoholic beverages (except beers).
• Class 34:
Tobacco; smokers’ articles; matches.
Service
•Class 35
Advertising; Business administration; Commercial management; Office functions.
•Class 36
Insurance; Financial affairs; Monetary affairs; Real estate affairs.
•Class 37
Building construction; Repair; Installation services.
•Class 38
Telecommunications.
•Class 39
Transport; Packing and storage of goods; Travel arrangement.
•Class 40
Treatment of materials.
•Class 41
Education; Providing of training; Entertainment; Cultural activities.
•Class 42
Scientific and technological services and research and design relating thereto; Industrial analysis and research services; Design and development of computer hardware and software.
•Class 43
Services for providing food and drink; Temporary accommodation.
•Class 44
Medical services; Veterinary services; Hygienic and beauty care for human beings or animals; Agriculture, horticulture and forestry services.
•Class 45
Legal services; Security services for the protection of property and individuals; Personal and social services rendered by others to meet the needs of individuals.
When it comes to trademark registration in Hong Kong, it’s essential to know the service procedures and timelines involved. Here’s what you need to know:
Trademark search and evaluation typically take around a day. We offer expert advice on trademark registration and the application process, which usually takes six to eight months.
Once registered, trademarks are valid for ten years. We offer a range of additional services, including trademark changes, renewals, certifications, transfers, and licensing.
We can also help with trademark review, rejection, defense, cancellation, objections, and disputes. We take care of the publication of the registration certificate in the Gazette and arrange for its collection. We can even help with customs registration for trademark protection and assist with anti-counterfeiting efforts.
If you have a trademark application pending in a Paris Convention or WTO member country for the same goods or services, you can enjoy priority status when applying for a Hong Kong trademark.
To apply for a Hong Kong trademark, you’ll need to provide some necessary information:
For corporate applications, we require your company registration certificate. For individual applications, we need your ID and address proof. You’ll also need to provide your trademark image in jpeg, png, bmp, or gif format.
With our expert assistance, you can navigate the trademark registration process with ease and confidence. Contact us today to get started!
Question: How to apply for trademark registration in Hong Kong?
Answer: To apply for trademark registration in Hong Kong, follow these steps:
Check the Chinese and English characters included in the trademark you want to register.
Conduct a search with the Intellectual Property Department to see if any identical or similar trademarks have already been registered.
Create a trademark sample.
Submit the registration application, and wait 2-3 months for the trademark examination report to be completed.
If the trademark is approved, it will be published in the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Journal, and objections can be raised within 4 months.
Once objections are resolved, the Intellectual Property Department will issue a certificate of registration.
Question: What documents are needed to apply for a trademark?
Answer: The required documents for trademark registration in Hong Kong are:
For corporate entity: one copy of the business registration certificate. For natural persons: one copy of the personal identification document.
One trademark sample with a picture size of no more than 9 x 9 cm (one color and one black and white).
One completed application form signed by the applicant or their agent.
Question: What is the difference between trademark protection and company registration?
Answer: In Hong Kong, the registration of company names, business names, and trademarks are regulated by different laws and systems. Registering a company or business name does not automatically grant the right to use that name as a trademark. Similarly, having a Hong Kong business registration certificate or company registration certificate does not imply the right to use that name as a trademark for promoting or operating goods or services.
Question: What should be considered before submitting a trademark registration application to the Intellectual Property Department?
Answer: Before submitting a trademark registration application, the following factors should be considered:
Is the trademark distinctive and different from others in the industry?
Does the trademark clearly distinguish the goods or services of the applicant from others in the industry?
Is the trademark a commonly used term in the industry?
Are there any identical or similar trademarks registered or pending registration?
It is important to consider these factors to avoid objections and delays in the trademark registration process. It is recommended to use the Intellectual Property Department’s search and preliminary opinion service to ensure the trademark meets registration requirements before submitting an application.