On 5 February 2026, Dr. Yannie Chan, Partner at inCompass IP, was honoured to speak at the Intellectual Property Department’s IP Training Programme. The hybrid class, Registration and Application Procedure of IP Rights in Hong Kong, was held at VTC Tower in Wan Chai.

Dr. Chan presented the lecture: Registration of Patents & Designs and Related Strategies for IP Registration. The session was designed to give participants practical insight into how businesses, innovators and rights holders can approach the protection of patents and registered designs in Hong Kong and beyond.

Key Topics Covered

Dr. Chan’s lecture addressed the following areas:

Key considerations for enterprises when formulating an IP registration strategy.

– Patent and design registration and application procedures;

– Common deficiencies in patent and design applications;

– Intellectual property searches in Hong Kong, Mainland China and overseas;

– The differing IP registration needs of various markets; and

– The seminar provided practical comparative insights to help innovators formulate robust, cost-effective patent filing and prosecution strategies across these primary markets.

A Strategic Approach to IP Registration

Effective IP protection requires more than simply filing an application. A well-considered strategy should take account of the nature of the innovation or design, the relevant markets, commercial objectives, timing, available budgets and the scope of protection required.

The session explored the importance of conducting appropriate searches, identifying potential issues at an early stage and avoiding common deficiencies that may affect an application. It also highlighted the value of aligning registration decisions with a business’s wider commercial plans, particularly where products, technologies or designs are intended for use or commercialisation in multiple jurisdictions.

Supporting Hong Kong’s Innovation Community

Dr. Chan is a professionally qualified patent attorney in Australia and New Zealand, and a registered trade mark attorney in Australia. Her practice includes drafting, filing and prosecuting patent applications in major jurisdictions, as well as advising on patent infringement, freedom-to-operate and validity matters. She also handles design and trade mark matters for clients ranging from universities and research institutes to start-ups, SMEs, listed companies and multinational enterprises. Her technical experience spans chemical and chemical engineering, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology and bioengineering, polymers and material science, nanotechnology, medical and healthcare technologies, skincare and cosmeceuticals, as well as green technology and ESG-related innovation.

inCompass IP is pleased to support initiatives that strengthen practical IP knowledge among Hong Kong’s innovators, businesses and IP community. We thank the Intellectual Property Department and all participants for the opportunity to contribute to this important training programme.

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If you would like to discuss international patent strategy, patentability assessments, or local filing requirements in Hong Kong, China, or abroad, please feel free to get in touch with our team.