IP/N/1/HKG/40  
IP/N/1/HKG/C/4  
IP/N/1/HKG/I/5  
 
2 June 2023  
(23-3792) Page: 1/2 
Council for Trade -Related Aspects of   
Intellectual Property Rights  Original: English  
 
NOTIFICATION OF LAWS AND REGULATIONS  
UNDER ARTICLE 63.2 OF THE TRIPS AGREEMENT  
HONG KONG, CHINA : COPYRIGHT (AMENDMENT) ORDINANCE 2022 (ORD. NO. 16 OF 2022 ) 
Notifying Member  HONG KONG, CHINA 
 
Details of the notified legal text  
 
Title Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 (Ord. No. 16 of 2022)  
Subject matter  Copyright and related rights; Industrial property (general)  
Nature of 
notification  [X] Main dedicated intellectual property law or regulation  
[  ] Other law or regulation  
Link to legal text* https://ip -documents.info/2023/IP/HKG/23_10037_00_e.pdf  
Notification status  [  ] First notification  
[X] Amendment or revision to notified legal text  
[  ] Replacement or consolidation of notified legal text(s)  
Previous 
notification(s) 
referred to  IP/N/1/HKG/37 ; IP/N/1/HKG/4 ; IP/N/1/HKG/2 ; IP/N/1/HKG/C/2/Add.3 ; 
IP/N/1/HKG/C/2/Add.2 ; IP/N/1/HKG/C/2 ; IP/N/1/HKG/C/1/Add.14 ; 
IP/N/1/HKG/C/1/Add.13 ; IP/N/1/HKG/C/1/Add.12 ; 
IP/N/1/HK G/C/1/Add.11 ; IP/N/1/HKG/C/1/Add.10 ; IP/N/1/HKG/C/1/Add.9 ; 
IP/N/1/HKG/C/1/Add.8 ; IP/N/1/HKG/C/1/Add.7 ; IP/N/1/HKG/C/1/Add.6 ; 
IP/N/1/HKG/C/1/Add.5 ; IP/N/1/HKG/C/1/Add.4 ; IP/N/1/HKG/C/1/Add.3 ; 
IP/N/1/HKG/C/1/Add.2 ; IP/N/1/HKG/C/1/Add.1 ; IP/N/1/HKG/C/1  
 
Brief description of the notified legal text  
 
1. The Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2022 (the "Amendment Ordinance ") updates the 
Copyright Ordinance (Cap. 528) mainly to strengthen copyright protection in the digital environment, 
covering the following five key areas:  
 
(a) To introduce a new technology -neutral exclusive communication right for copyright owners to 
communicate their c opyright works to the public through any mode of electronic transmission;  
 
(b) To introduce criminal sanctions against infringements relating to the new communication 
right;  
 
(c) To revise and expand the scope of copyright exceptions to allow use of copyri ght works in 
certain common Internet activities; facilitate online learning and operation of libraries, 
museums and archives; and allow media shifting of sound recordings for private and domestic 
use, etc.;  
 IP/N/1/HKG/40 • IP/N/1/HKG/C/4 • IP/N/1/HKG/I/5  
 
- 2 - 
 
  (d) To introduce "safe harbour" provisions to provide incentives for online service providers to co -
operate with copyright owners in combating online piracy; and  
 
(e) To introduce two additional statutory factors for the court to consider when assessing whether 
to award additional damage s to copyright owners in civil cases involving copyright 
infringements.  
 
2. The Amendment Ordinance also repeals a few outdated and not -in-operation provisions of the 
Copyright (Amendment) Ordinance 2007 (Ord. No. 15 of 2007) relating to rental rights for comic 
books.  
 
Language(s) of 
notified legal text English  
Entry into force  1 May 2023  
Other date    
 
Notification details  
 
Submission date 
of notification  12 May 2023  
Other information   
Agency or 
authority 
responsible  Intellectual Property Department  
Government of Hong Kong, China  
 
Telephone :  (852) 2961 6901  
Fax:   (852) 2574 9102  
Email:  enquiry@ipd.gov.hk   
 
 
 
* Links are provided to texts of laws and regulations notified under the TRIPS Agreement in the form 
supplied by the Member concerned; the WTO Secretariat does not endorse or revise their content.