With effect from 28 June 2024, for trade mark, patent and design applicants or their agents who are registered e-filers, the Hong Kong Trade Marks, Patents and Designs Registries (collectively “the Registries”) will start issuing electronic (instead of paper) certificates to them.

This default arrangement will cover applications published on or after a certain cut-off date as follows — 

trade mark applications published on or after 15 March 2024; 

patent applications published for grant on or after 28 June 2024; and 

design applications published on or after 28 June 2024.

In individual cases, registered e-filers may wish to opt out of the above default arrangement and receive paper certificates instead. 

If so, they must send their requests in writing to the Registries in advance and in accordance with the following notice periods- 

(a) for trade mark applications: within six weeks from the date of notice of publication of the application in question; 

(b) for patent applications: within two weeks from the date of notice of publication for grant of the patent in question; and 

(c) for design applications: within two weeks from the date of notice of acceptance of the application in question.