The IP Roundtable was successfully held on 17 July 2025 at HKTDC Hong Kong Book Fair. This event was hosted by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC), co-organised by HKRRLS and supported by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA) of HKSAR.

The panel discussion, moderated by Dr. Sharon Wong, Executive Director of HKRRLS and Vice Chair of Asia Pacific Committee (APC), explored the topic of “A Forward-Looking Copyright Framework – How to Balance Interests Between Innovation and IP Protection”.

We were honoured to have distinguished panelists to share the practices from different regions, examining the adaptation of their IP ecosystem frameworks to respond to AI advancements. The panel discussion featured five distinguished speakers, including Majd Hassan Al Shehhi, Director of The Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association (ERRA); Sarah Tran, Head of Regional Policy and Public Affairs of the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO); Andrew Fong, CEO of the Copyright Licensing and Administration Society of Singapore (CLASS); Toshimichi Ishijima, Secretary General of the Japan Academic Association for Copyright Clearance (JAC); and James Bennett, Head of Rightsholder Relations of The Copyright Licensing Agency (CLA).

HKRRLS was honored to be invited to attend the “International Seminar on Copyright Protection in the Digital Age” at Beijing on 23 June 2025. This event was jointly organized by the Copyright Society of China (CSC), the International Federation of Reprographic Rights Organisations (IFRRO), the China Written Works Copyright Society (CWWCS), and the International Publishers Copyright Protection Coalition in China (IPCC). The seminar was opened by speeches from Zhao Jie, Deputy Director of the Copyright Administration Bureau of the PRC and Yan Xiaohong, Chairman of the CSC. Dr. Sharon Wong, Executive Director of HKRRLS delivered the keynote speech titled “Advocating for Rightsholders in the AI Era”. This seminar reflected the country’s strong emphasis on copyright system development and international cooperation in the digital era.

The Award Presentation and Closing Ceremony of the “2024/25 Hong Kong Inter-School Respect Copyright Education Campaign”, organized by the HKRRLS and co-organized by the IPD and the C&ED, was successfully held on 21 June 2025.

HKRRLS has been organizing a large-scale Hong Kong Inter-school Respect Copyright Education Campaign since 2007, with the aim of fostering students’ creativity, understanding of the creative industry and the importance of respecting copyright. In the 2024-2025 school year, we organized the 10th Copyright Education Campaign.

This year, we have also introduced a new award for “Innovation and Copyright Protection” to encourage interest in emerging technologies and highlight the importance of protecting creative works.

A total of 22 organizations were invited to be the supporting organizations for this year’s campaign, with special thanks for the support of Education Bureau, all the school councils, The Hong Kong Association for Computer Education, Hong Kong Education City, Hong Kong Publishing Federation, The Hong Kong Association of Professional Education Publishing Limited, Customs YES, Hong Kong Teacher-Librarians’ Association , Hong Kong Information Technology Industry Council (Group 25) and Education Committee of Federation of Hong Kong Industries, The Hong Kong Academy for Gifted Education, Hong Kong Alliance of Technology and Innovation, Rotary Club of Hong Kong and Rotaract Club of The University of Hong Kong. Rotary Club of Hong Kong and Rotaract Club of The University of Hong Kong sent student performers to add to the splendor of the ceremony.

Thanks to the support of the community, the campaign of this year has attracted more than 3,300 student submissions from 470 schools, an increase of approximately 200 schools from last year.

Once again, we would like to thank the co-organizers and supporting organizations, guests, panel of judges, IP Stars, as well as students and parents for attending the ceremony.

“The Role of Recordation Examiner and Copyright Enforcement Case Sharing” co-hosted by the Hong Kong Reprographic Rights Licensing Society and the Hong Kong Customs & Excise Department took place successfully on 26 May 2025. Representatives from the Customs & Excise Department explained the procedures for reporting copyright infringement and shared real-life cases during the seminar. In addition, a mock court session was included to give participants a deeper understanding of the judicial process in handling such cases and to demonstrate techniques for witnesses.

We would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the Hong Kong Customs & Excise Department for their in-depth exchanges and sharing, which have enhanced the industry’s understanding of copyright enforcement and demonstrated a strong commitment to combating infringement.

In collaboration with the Leisure and Cultural Services Department, and with the Hong Kong Reprographic Rights Licensing Society (HKRRLS) serving as the implementing organisation, the ” The Promotion of Local Publications and Reading Culture Programme ” (referred to as the “Promotion Programme”) has entered its sixth year. On 8 April 2025, HKRRLS hosted an industry briefing session on the Electronic Distribution and Payment System to present system upgrades, new electronic payment features, and their applications, paving the way for digitalized catalogue management and funding processes.

HKRRLS extends its heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Derek LEE, Convener and Programme Implementation Committee member of the “Promotion Programme”; Dr. Elvin LEE, Programme Implementation Committee member and President of the Hong Kong Publishing Federation; Mr. William SO, Programme Implementation Committee member and President of the Hong Kong Book & Magazine Trade Association; and Dr. Sharon WONG, Executive Director of HKRRLS, for their in-depth exchanges with industry participants and addressing related questions.

HKRRLS also expresses its sincere appreciation to all publishers and authors for their unwavering support, empowering the embrace of digital transformation and driving the collective promotion of a high-quality reading culture in Hong Kong.