Kenny Wong

Senior Consultant

Hong Kong

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+852 3752 2083

Kenny Wong is recognized as an IP luminary in Hong Kong and Mainland China.

His experience covers the full spectrum of IP and IT laws. He also practises franchise law advising clients on setting up franchised operations in Hong Kong and the PRC and enjoys an enviable gaming and entertainment practice advising gaming operators, entertainment-related guilds and federations, A-list artistes, film producers and directors, film production companies, and record companies. He is unique in understanding and handling film collaborations between Hong Kong, China and the United States.

Kenny is also a seasoned professor. In addition to his part-time teaching at the University of Hong Kong where he has taught Cybercrime, IP and Entertainment laws, he has delivered over 130 lectures, seminars, and presentations to judges, IP enforcement officers, lawyers, enterprises, universities, and members of the public on IP, IT and entertainment subjects in Hong Kong, China and overseas.

Kenny publishes extensively too. He has published over 100 articles. Together with another HKU professor, he has co-authored all the editions of Intellectual Property Law and Practice in Hong Kong, a book recommended by the 3 universities in Hong Kong which offer IP courses and also the IP chapters in the tort reference book Tort Law & Practice in Hong Kong. His 2 booklets on IP Licensing and IP Audit and Due Diligence which are jointly published by the Government Intellectual Property Department and the Law Society of Hong Kong remain immensely popular.

Here is a snapshot of Kenny’s impressive bio:

35 years of experience in handling the full range of IP matters including IP advisory and strategy, portfolio management, licensing, franchising, enforcement and litigation
Received more than 130 professional accolades in IP, franchise and entertainment practices
Chairman of the IP Committee of the Law Society of Hong Kong
Deputy Chairman of the Hong Kong Copyright Tribunal
Adjunct Professor of the University of Hong Kong (Cybercrime, Intellectual Property Law and Entertainment Law)
Honorary advisor of the following charitable institutions: Wai Yin Association, First Initiative Foundation and Hear Talk Foundation
Past chairman of the Appeal Board Panel of the Urban Renewal Authority and wrote 3 of its 7 decisions
Past governor of Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra

PRACTICE AREAS

Intellectual Property

INDUSTRIES

PUBLICATIONS

Accolades

Kenny has been recommended since 1997 by local and foreign publications as one of Hong Kong’s leading IP practitioners. Kenny has received over 130 awards and is no doubt one of Hong Kong lawyers who received the most recommendations.

IP Recognitions & Awards

Pro Bono Awards

10-Year Achievement Award – Law Society of Hong Kong 2019, 2010
Gold Award – Law Society of Hong Kong – 2011 – 2025
Silver Award – Law Society of Hong Kong – 2010
Gold Award – Professional Volunteer Service Accreditation Programme, Hong Kong Council of Volunteering – 2011 – 2024

Other Current Posts

Chairman, IP Committee, Law Society of Hong Kong
Member, Standing Committee of Law Society of Hong Kong
Member, Legal Education Committee, Law Society of Hong Kong
Honorary Legal advisor, Wai Yin Association
Executive Committee Member, First Initiative Foundation

Past Positions

Chairman, Appeal Board, Urban Renewal Authority (2015 – 2022)
Deputy Chairman, Copyright Tribunal of Hong Kong (2017 – 2023)
Publications Committee – Trademark Cancellation, International Trademark Association (2008 – 2024)
Adjunct Professor, University of Hong Kong (2012 – 2024)
Member, Appeal Board Panel (Town Planning), 2013 – 2019
Member, Appeal Committee, Home Purchase Allowance Scheme, 2014 – 2020
Government-appointed Governor of Hong Kong Philharmonic Orchestra – 2008 – 2012

Industry Representations

Drafted and advised Hong Kong Federation of Filmmakers on the terms and conditions of its first ever film-making initiative
Designed and delivered a series of three lectures on entertainment and IP laws co-organised by the Government Intellectual Property Department, Directors Guild, Scriptwriters Guild and Performing Artistes Guild
Represented The Hong Kong Jockey Club and successfully lobbied the government and worked with the law draftsman to revise the Betting Duty Ordinance to facilitate commingling betting in Hong Kong
Represented the film, animation, and comics industries and successfully lobbied for rental rights in Hong Kong, and advised on setting up a rental scheme for comics
Represented Composers & Authors Society of Hong Kong in the first Copyright Tribunal reference under Copyright Ordinance 1997 initiated by telecasters to review its applicable licensing scheme and fee structure
Advised various universities and the Heads of the Joint Universities Committee on copyright matters regarding education
Represented the Software Publishers Association to lobby the government to implement various measures to improve copyright protection in Hong Kong against software piracy

Artistes, Directors and other Creatives

Advising A-list artists such as Chow Yun Fat, Andy Lau, Louis Koo, Donnie Yen, Eason Chan, and Karen Mok on entertainment projects relating to films, music, endorsements etc in Hong Kong and China
Advised film directors such as Andrew Lau, Teddy Chen and Pang Ho Cheung on their films projects in Hong Kong, China and overseas
Advising on contracts relating to the funding, sponsorship and production of concert world tours of mega-stars such as George Lam, Sally Yeh, Andy Lau, Karen Mok and Eason Chan
Advised on an Asian megastar’s sale of a library of 500 songs to a record label

Notable Entertainment Projects

Advised First Initiative Foundation on bringing fossil dinosaurs to Hong Kong for exhibition and on legal issues, including sponsorships, for their other arts and culture projects
Advised a PRC online platform on a licence of over 2,000 hours of foreign television contents
Advised VSPN on the contracts for esports competition: PUBG – Star Challenge 2019
Advised on the legal issues and contracts for the adaptation of literary works into films and films into musicals
Advised on issues and handling following Hong Kong first largest concert cancellation
Advising a Hong Kong investor on the co-financing legal documentations of 5 animations for global release, 1 of which was nominated for Oscar best animation
Prepared contracts for an Asia-Pacific music contest organized by Universal Music Group for Aloft hotels of Marriott International
Advised Universal Pictures on production issues of Battleship and Contagion in Hong Kong and their agreement on rights in Keanu Reeves first directed movie “Man of Tai Chi”
Advised a leading record label on the due diligence for a repertoire of over 1,000 songs
Reviewing and settling recording, management and merchandising contracts for Asian artistes for an international music label
Advised China Star on the sale of 100 films to STAR TV
Advised Universal Music on the acquisition of a repertoire of songs and recordings of the late legendary megastar Leslie Cheung
Drafted and advised Mild Seven on all contracts related to the organization, management, promotion and broadcast of first outdoor quest in China

Gaming

Advising The Hong Kong Jockey Club on rules and contracts relating to its Hong Kong and overseas betting initiatives, including commingled betting
Advised The Hong Kong Jockey Club on major IT, equipment and system development, acquisition, and licensing projects in relation to their gaming operations

Intellectual Property

Assisted corporations such as Ann Taylor, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman in dealing with trademark squatters in China and recovering their registrations
Assisted the Hospital Authority on patent clearances for drugs and on licensing and IP issues regarding their electronic health project
Advised Hang Seng Bank on trade mark and Hang Seng Index-linked derivatives licensing
Advised the University of Hong Kong, Polytechnic University, City University and the Open University on their IP policies and IP issues
Advised the University of Hong Kong on a number of collaborative researches and commercialization
Advised Rubik’s Cube on enforcement program in Hong Kong and China and procuring assistance from online service providers to fight infringement
Advised Purapharm on the sponsorship of collaborative researches with Hong Kong Baptist University and the Chinese University of Hong Kong
Advised and handled Dolby Laboratories’ IP registration, enforcement and licensing in Hong Kong and the PRC
Advised Anheuser-Busch on their dispute with Czech Budejovicky Budvar and assisted them with trademark registration and enforcement in Hong Kong and China

Others

Advised a top luxury brand on contracts concerning the establishment and operation of their e-shops in China
Advised Hong Kong Commercial Broadcasting Co Ltd on copyright licensing issues
Advised many high jewellery, fashion, restaurant and education brands in the setting up of franchised operations in Hong Kong and China
Advised City University on their collaboration with Cornell University on the setting up of a veterinary school in Hong Kong
Advised the Vocational Training Council on a number of major initiatives and projects including the contract for the architectural building design competition for their Design Institute building in Tseung Kwan O
Advised Hong Kong Telecommunications on their then pioneer video-on-demand project
Written 3 of currently 8 decisions of the Urban Renewal Authority appeal cases