Looking At The World Interview with Accolade Intellectual Property Co Ltd.

Source: "China Intellectual Property" Magazine No. 202

Hong Kong has long been a convergence point of Eastern and Western civilizations and a global hub for commerce and technological innovation. Its prosperous business environment, well-established intellectual property (IP) system, and rigorous enforcement mechanisms have consistently positioned the city as one of the world’s leading IP trading markets. This strong foundation has also attracted a large number of IP professionals to gather under Victoria Peak, providing comprehensive and specialized services for the industry. Within Hong Kong’s highly competitive IP service market, Accolade IP Limited (hereinafter referred to as Accolade IP) has risen prominently in recent years, winning the trust of numerous corporate and individual rights holders.

Founded in Hong Kong in 2009, Accolade began with traditional company incorporation services. Over 14 years of steady development, it has grown into a global intellectual property strategy consulting and professional service agency. By 2013, Accolade had successfully achieved its goal of expanding its IP registration services worldwide.

As the IP-focused agency under the Accolade Group, Accolade IP provides domestic and international clients with comprehensive consultation and registration services for trademarks, copyrights, designs, patents, and domain names. Among these, trademark registration has undoubtedly become the company’s flagship service.

Recently, China IP reporters were invited to Hong Kong for an in-depth conversation with Accolade IP, centering on the theme of international intellectual property services.

Based in Hong Kong, An International Elite Team Pursues Excellence

Since its establishment, Accolade has remained committed to building a global intellectual property (IP) registration service network — and has achieved remarkable results. As of December 2023, in addition to its Hong Kong headquarters, Accolade has set up subsidiaries in Beijing (2016), Singapore (2018), Macau (2019), Taipei (2021), Manila (2022), and Kuala Lumpur (2023), as well as representative offices in the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, and Switzerland. Today, Accolade partners with foreign law firms and agencies across more than 180 jurisdictions worldwide, providing long-term, one-stop, and high-quality business services to clients in Hong Kong, mainland China, and beyond. Our clients include renowned state-owned and central enterprises, government departments, listed companies, and Fortune Global 500 corporations, winning us broad recognition both locally and internationally.

Among the many IP service providers in Hong Kong, the key to Accolade’s success lies in its people. Accolade IP now employs over 100 professionals worldwide, each with solid expertise and extensive practical experience. Senior trademark consultants bring overseas study or work backgrounds, and most project leaders handling large-scale trademark portfolios have more than four years of hands-on experience. With seamless communication and close collaboration, our team covers the entire project cycle — from preliminary consultation and mid-term follow-up to long-term portfolio management. Our services range from global trademark portfolio strategy, clearance searches, maintenance, examination response, opposition and invalidation proceedings, and post-registration recordals. In particular, Accolade possesses strong capabilities and extensive experience in international IP registration.

With its professional expertise and worldwide service network, Accolade upholds the core value of “Integrity and Pursuit of Excellence.” We spare no effort in enhancing service quality and client experience. Tailored services are offered according to each client’s needs, with a guaranteed reply within 24 hours. Free trademark search reports can be provided within 48 hours, supported by proprietary databases for paid trademark watch services and free renewal reminders. All service fees are transparent, with no hidden charges. Accolade’s results speak for themselves — the company has ranked #1 in trademark filing volume in Hong Kong for five consecutive years, #2 in Singapore, and among the top 3 in Macau, while its monthly filing volume in Taiwan has consistently placed within the top 20.

Building on Hong Kong while looking globally, Accolade has continuously expanded its service network across mainland China and key overseas markets. In 2016, Accolade became a member of the China Trademark Association and the International Trademark Association (INTA). In 2022, thanks to its outstanding professionalism and competitive services, Accolade was honored as one of the “Hong Kong Top Service Brands” by the Hong Kong Brand Development Council — one of only ten recipients of the award. The title recognizes Hong Kong’s most distinguished service brands, raising their profile, enhancing public trust, and reinforcing Hong Kong’s image as a hub of service excellence. In the same year, Accolade also received the Enterprise Contribution Award in Trade and Business Services at the “25th Anniversary of Hong Kong’s Reunification Enterprise Contribution Awards,” organized by Metro Broadcast and supported by the Federation of Hong Kong Industries, HKTDC, CMA, and other institutions. These honors serve as strong testimony to Accolade’s service quality and commitment.

For years, Accolade has been dedicated to delivering high-quality, efficient, and cost-effective one-stop IP registration and management services, helping clients maximize business value with optimal costs. Our long-term vision is to grow together with clients, building mutual trust and expanding globally. To achieve this, Accolade remains firmly client-centric, consistently providing superior business services. With deep understanding of the operational models and communication practices of mainland enterprises, and direct working experience with corporate management teams and project leaders, Accolade is well-positioned to support more Chinese enterprises and individual rights holders in shaping a global commercial and IP landscape.

Soldiers Come, A General Stops Them. Waters Come, The Earth Stems It. Practice Verifies the Quality of Accolade

Practical cases are the best benchmark for evaluating the quality of intellectual property (IP) services. With the rapid development of the internet industry and the maturity of global trade, cross-border online IP infringements have become increasingly prevalent. To combat various forms of infringement — including counterfeit goods, fraudulent domain names, and fake online stores — Accolade has devised targeted strategies for its clients, building a strong track record of success.

One notable case occurred in 2023 involving domain name infringement. A fashion brand faced a surge of counterfeit domains and entrusted Accolade to lead the enforcement campaign. Within a short period, Accolade successfully took down nearly 40 counterfeit domains. Over years of domain enforcement practice, the team observed that infringers have become increasingly sophisticated, often concealing their identities with false information. By employing multiple strategies — ranging from dispute resolution to domain arbitration — Accolade has been able to block infringing domains or transfer them to rightful owners, effectively safeguarding client interests.

Accolade also brings extensive experience in anti-counterfeiting enforcement. The firm has assisted clients in shutting down unauthorized online stores on major e-commerce platforms and enforcing IP rights on global sites such as Amazon, Instagram, and Facebook. In addition, Accolade provides customs recordal services and targeted enforcement strategies with proven results. For instance, one client was advised to file customs recordals early. Over the past year alone, this client received around 10 customs notifications from Nansha, Shekou, Dulata, and Tianhe Airport Customs, which intercepted goods suspected of infringing the client’s trademarks. Many of these shipments were confirmed as counterfeit and ultimately destroyed, preventing low-quality counterfeits from entering the global market. Customs penalty decisions also provided further support for the client’s subsequent enforcement efforts. Since many jurisdictions worldwide offer customs recordal systems similar to mainland China, Accolade recommends that businesses — especially those expanding internationally — take advantage of this crucial enforcement tool.

As Accolade’s brand reputation continues to grow, the company has also actively defended its own IP rights to prevent unfair free-riding on its goodwill. In one case, a mainland IP agency adopted “Zhuoyuan” (Accolade’s Chinese trade name) as part of its company name, creating confusion with Accolade IP Limited (Hong Kong headquarters) and Accolade IP Service (Beijing). After attempts at negotiation failed, Accolade’s Beijing subsidiary filed a lawsuit in May 2023 for infringement of its service mark in Class 45, trade name rights, and unfair competition. Under court-supervised mediation, both parties reached a settlement, and the infringing company agreed to change its name.

In Hong Kong, Accolade also took action against a local IP firm that had illegally used “卓遠” and “accolade” (registered trademarks of Accolade) as Google Ads keywords to divert traffic. Because both firms operated in the same industry and targeted similar clients, such keyword use could mislead the public into believing there was an association between the two, potentially causing customer loss and reputational harm to Accolade. By filing complaints with Google and sending legal warnings, Accolade successfully put an end to the infringing activity.

The infringements Accolade has faced are the same types of challenges many clients encounter, often in even more complex forms. By defending its own rights vigorously and tirelessly safeguarding its clients’ interests, Accolade demonstrates a dual commitment. In an age of rapid digital development and expanding global trade, cross-border online infringements are increasingly rampant. By designing tailored enforcement strategies and leveraging the IP protection frameworks of multiple platforms, Accolade continues to create a robust IP protection environment for rights holders worldwide.

Fully Supporting Mainland Enterprises in Building Bridges of Communication Across Hong Kong

In recent years, economic and trade exchanges as well as intellectual property (IP) cooperation between Hong Kong and Mainland China have grown increasingly close. More and more Mainland enterprises are showing strong interest in Hong Kong’s IP legal system and market environment. As an international trade hub, Hong Kong offers a unique legal framework. Mainland enterprises with a deeper understanding of the Special Administrative Region’s IP system will be better positioned to integrate into Hong Kong’s business ecosystem and operate effectively on this global platform.

Trademark and patent registrations in Hong Kong are administered by the Hong Kong Intellectual Property Department (HKIPD), while in Mainland China they fall under the jurisdiction of the China National Intellectual Property Administration (CNIPA). Compared to the Mainland, Hong Kong has distinct differences in the legal systems and administrative procedures across trademarks, designs, patents, copyrights, and domain names.

For example:

• Trademarks: A trademark registered in Hong Kong is only effective within the Hong Kong SAR, whereas a Mainland trademark registration is valid throughout Mainland China.

• Designs: Both Hong Kong and the Mainland have design registration systems, but the requirements and scope of rights differ significantly.

• Patents: Under Hong Kong’s Patents Ordinance (Cap. 514), there are two types of patents — the standard patent (providing up to 20 years of protection) and the short-term patent (providing up to 8 years of protection). This distinction is one of the most prominent features of Hong Kong’s patent system compared with the Mainland.

• Copyright: Hong Kong has no official copyright registration authority, whereas in the Mainland, copyright registration is administered by the China Copyright Protection Center, providing additional legal advantages for copyright holders, especially in the case of software and literary works.

Due to cultural and linguistic differences, Mainland enterprises and rights holders who are unfamiliar with these specialized areas often encounter a range of IP-related challenges in Hong Kong, such as trademark/patent/copyright infringement, trade secret disputes, unfair competition, and domain name conflicts. Under the “One Country, Two Systems” framework, the differences between Hong Kong’s and Mainland’s legal systems are evident. Enterprises seeking to expand into Hong Kong should familiarize themselves with Hong Kong’s IP legal environment and procedures, develop comprehensive protection strategies, and establish mechanisms for monitoring potential infringement in order to safeguard their legitimate rights effectively.

Accolade IP, leveraging its extensive service network and professional expertise, is well-positioned to provide Mainland enterprises with tailored consultancy services for Hong Kong-related IP issues. We assist clients in establishing cross-border cooperation mechanisms, monitoring potential infringement activities, and formulating effective enforcement strategies. At the same time, we help clients understand Hong Kong’s IP legal system and market culture, ensuring smooth adaptation to local business practices and regulatory requirements. Overall, through comprehensive legal and commercial support,

Accolade can help Mainland enterprises navigate IP challenges more effectively, enhancing their competitiveness in both Hong Kong and international markets.

As the interview drew to a close, the Accolade team shared detailed recommendations on IP strategy and enforcement for both Mainland and Hong Kong enterprises. We consistently advise every client to approach IP protection from multiple dimensions — prevention, monitoring, and enforcement — to safeguard their rights comprehensively.

• Prevention: Apply and register early. Securing rights to trademarks, patents, and copyrights as soon as possible establishes a solid foundation for any future enforcement actions.

• Monitoring: Conduct regular and targeted online monitoring of how your IP is being used to detect potential infringements at the earliest opportunity.

• Enforcement: When infringement arises, there is no need to be overly concerned. With the right professional partner and a sound enforcement strategy, addressing infringement is far less difficult than many may imagine.

Just as the saying goes, “when the soldiers come, we block them; when the water rises, we use the earth to stop it.” Accolade is committed to being a steadfast partner for clients on their IP protection journey, safeguarding every client’s IP commercial strategy and ensuring long-term success.