WORLD TRADE IP/N/6/NOR/1
2September 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-3433)
Original: English Council forTrade Related-Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
CHECKLIST OFISSUES ONENFORCEMENT1
Responses from Norway
Civil andAdministrative Procedures andRemedies
(a) Civiljudicial procedures andremedies
1. Specify thecourts which have jurisdiction overIPRinfringement cases.
Allcourts except theconciliation board havejurisdiction overIPRinfringement cases.
2. Which persons havestanding toassert IPRs? How maytheyberepresented? Arethere
requirements formandatory personal appearances before thecourt bytheright holder?
Allpersons whohavealegalinterest inasserting IPRs, havestanding todoso.They may
berepresented byindependent legalcounsel before thecourt.
Ingeneral, eachparty tocivilproceedings isrequired toappear personally before thecourt
(Sections 115,116,117,and278oftheAct13August 1915 No.6relating toJudicial procedure in
Civil Cases (JPCCA). However, aparty whowould havetotravel farinorder toappear personally,
isexempted fromtheobligation todoso,provided thatthecourt hasnotdecided differently (JPCCA
Section 199,cfSection 115). Thecourt mayorder aparty whoisdomiciled inDenmark, Sweden,
Finland, orIceland toappear before thecourt pursuant totheAct21March 1975 No.9relating to
theDuty ofNordic Witnesses toGiveTestimony (cfJPCCA Section 115). Thisis,however, seldom
done, andapartywhoisdomiciled abroad willtherefore normally notbeunder anyobligation toappear
personally.
3. What authority dothejudicial authorities have toorder, attherequest ofanopposing
party, aparty toaproceeding toproduce evidence which lieswithin itscontrol?
Thejudicial authorities may,attherequest ofanopposing party, order apartytotheproceedings
toproduce written evidence which lieswithin thatparty'scontrol, unless thewritten evidence contains
information which thatparty pursuant totheprovisions relating towitnesses would nothavetoreveal
ifitwereanoraltestimony (JPCCA Section 250). Theprovisions relating towitnesses areprimarily
found inSection 204to209aoftheJPCCA, andmaybedivided intotwocategories: (i)provisions
which prohibit thewitness from giving testimony (eg,incases where thetestimony could damage
thesecurity oftherealm orrelations toaforeign state), and(ii)provisions which allow awitness to
refuse togivetestimony, butwithout prohibiting thewitness fromgiving testimony (eg,incases where
thetestimony would beself-incriminating).
1Document IP/C/5IP/N/6/NOR/1
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4. What means exist toidentify andprotect confidential information brought forward as
evidence?
Inorder toprotect confidential information being brought forward asevidence, thecourt may
decide toheartheevidence inaclosed-doors session pursuant toSections 125and127oftheAct
13August 1915 No.5Relating totheCourts ofJustice (theCourts Act)orSections 204to206of
theJPCCA. Furthermore, incases concerning patent rights, Section 65ofthePatents Actempowers
thecourt todecide thatthepublic, forthesakeofcommercial orbusiness secrets ofaparty orawitness,
shallbeexcluded from allorapartoftheproceedings.
Thecourt mayinstruct allthose present inaclosed-doors session nottoreveal anything that
theyhavelearned inthatsession (Section 130oftheCourts Act).
5. Describetheremediesthatmaybeorderedbythejudicialauthoritiesandcriteria,legislative
orjurisprudential, fortheir use:
- injunctions;
- damages, including recovery ofprofits, andexpenses, including attorney 'sfees;
- destruction orother disposal ofinfringing goods andmaterials/implements for
their production;
- anyother remedies.
Noparticular termoflawapplies inNorwegian towhatinEnglish would bean"injunction",
andNorwegian lawtherefore hasnoparticular rulesrelating toinjunctions assuch. However, asregards
Article 44oftheTRIPS Agreement, itshould benoted thatarightholder, oranyone elsewithalegal
interest therein, mayrequest thejudicial authorities toestablish theexistence ornon-existence ofa
legalright(JPCCA Section 54).Thecourt mayinsuchcases proclaim thataparty doesnothavethe
righttocommit anact,ifcommitting itwould constitute aninfringement ofanintellectual property
right. Thecourt may, e.g,proclaim thataparty doesnothavetheright toenter intothechannels
ofcommerce imported goods thatinvolve theinfringement ofanintellectual property right.
Furthermore, itshould inthiscontext benoted thatinfringements ofIPRsmaybecriminally
prosecuted (cftheanswers infratoquestions 20to25).Itmaytherefore alsobesaidtofollow ipso
jurethataparty isunder anobligation todesist from infringement ofIPRs.
Damages inrespect ofaninfringement ofanintellectual property rightmaybeawarded pursuant
toSection 38oftheTrade Marks Act,Section 58ofthePatents Act,Section 36oftheDesigns Act,
Section 6oftheLayout-Designs Act,Section 23ofthePlant Breeder 'sRight ActandSection 55of
theCopyright Act. Such damages include payment ofareasonable compensation forthe(unlawful)
useoftheprotected right, aswellasforother losses thattheinfringement hascaused therightholder.
Aparty tocivilproceedings maybegranted compensation forexpenses incurred during the
proceedings, including appropriate attorney 'sfees,pursuant toChapter 13oftheJPCCA. Thegeneral
ruleisthataparty wholosesacasebefore thecourt, shallbeordered tocompensate theother party's
expenses infull(Section 172). Ifacaseispartly wonandpartly lost,themainruleisthattheparties
havetocover theirownexpenses (Section 174).IP/N/6/NOR/1
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Provisions onthedestruction orother disposal ofinfringing goods arefound inSection 40
oftheTrade Marks Act,Section 59ofthePatents Act,Section 37oftheDesigns Act,Section 8of
theLayout-Designs ActandSection 56oftheCopyright Act.
6. Inwhat circumstances, ifany, dojudicial authorities have theauthority toorder the
infringer toinform theright holder oftheidentity ofthird persons involved inthe
production anddistribution ofthegoods orservices found tobeinfringing andoftheir
channels ofdistribution?
There arenoparticular provisions inNorwegian lawgiving judicial authorities inacivilcase
theauthority toorder theinfringer toinform therightholder oftheidentity ofthirdpersons involved
intheproduction anddistribution ofthegoods orservices found tobeinfringing, oroftheirchannels
ofdistribution.
7. Describe provisions relating totheindemnification ofdefendants wrongfully enjoined.
Towhat extent arepublic authorities and/or officials liable insuchasituation andwhat
"remedial measures" areapplicable tothem?
Apartywhohasabusedenforcementproceduresbyrequestingmeasurestobetakentowrongfully
enjoin orrestrain another party, maybeordered bythejudicial authorities toprovide compensation
fortheinjury suffered because ofsuchabuse (Section 3-5oftheAct26June1992 No.86Relating
totheEnforcement ofClaims). Thecompensation isnormally intended tocover allthelosses that
theabuse hascaused theotherparty. Thecompensation maytherefore alsoinclude allexpenses incurred
intheprocess ofexoneration, including appropriate attorney 'sfees.
Public authorities are,alsoonthebasis ofjurisprudential law,notexempted fromliability to
appropriate remedial measures, where actions aretaken orintended inbadfaithinthecourse ofthe
administration ofanylawpertaining totheprotection orenforcement ofIPRs.
8. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost.
There arenoparticular provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Wehave
noavailable dataontheactual duration ofproceedings ortheircost.
(b) Administrative procedures andremedies
9. Reply totheabove questions inrelation toanyadministrative procedures onthemerits
and remedies thatmayresult from these procedures.
There areinNorway noadministrative procedures orremedies relating totheissues dealtwith
inquestions 1to8.IP/N/6/NOR/1
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Provisional Measures
(a) Judicial measures
10. Describe thetypes ofprovisional measures thatjudicial authorities mayorder, andthe
legal basis forsuchauthority.
Aperson (theclaimant) whohasaclaim against another person (thedefendant) forsomething
otherthanmoney, mayrequest aprovisional measure ("midlertidig forfoyning") pursuant toChapter 15
oftheAct26June1992 No.86Relating totheEnforcement ofClaims (ECA).
Iftheclaim isformoney, theclaimant mayrequest that"arrest" betaken inapiece ofproperty
owned bythedefendant (Chapter 14oftheECA). Therules relating toarrest aretoalarge extent
thesame astherulesrelating toother provisional measures, buttheywillnotbeelaborated heresince
theyareofnoparticular interest inrelation totherequirements oftheTRIPS Agreement.
Aprovisional measure maybeordered bythecourt if:
(i) thedefendant 'sbehaviour necessitates aprovisional safeguard ofthemainclaim because
theenforcement orthecarrying outofthatclaim otherwise would become considerably
more difficult, or
(ii) itisnecessary toestablish aprovisional arrangement inalegaldispute inorder toavoid
substantialdamageorinconvenience,ortoavoidanysuchviolentactionasthebehaviour
ofthedefendant might givereason tofear.
Aprovisional measure may, however, under nocircumstances beordered ifthedamage or
inconvenience brought uponthedefendant isinobvious disproportion totheclaimant 'sinterest inhaving
themeasure ordered (ECA Section 15-2).
Asaprovisional measure, thecourt mayorder thedefendant torefrain from, tocommit or
totolerate anact.Thecourt mayalsoorder thatapiece ofproperty betaken outofthedefendant 's
possession, ortaken under custody ormanagement. Imprisonment oranyother form ofrestriction
ofthedefendant 'spersonal liberty mayontheother handnotbeordered asaprovisional measure (ECA
Section 15-8).
11. Inwhat circumstances maysuchmeasures beordered inaudita altera parte?
Provisional measures maybeordered inaudita altera parte intwosituations (ECA Section 15-7
firstsubsection):
(i) Ifduenotice oftheoralproceedings hasbeengiven tothedefendant, thecourt may
order aprovisional measure evenifthedefendant doesnotappear before thecourt.
Thecourt may, however, decide topostpone theproceedings instead ifitislikely that
thedefendant hasavalid reason fornotappearing, orifthecourt hasbeeninformed
thatthedefendant hasavalid reason forbeing absent.
(ii) Ifadelay might bedangerous, thecourt mayorder aprovisional measure without
hearingthedefendantfirstinoralproceedings.(Adelaymaybeconsidered"dangerous"
if,e.g.,itislikely tocause irreparable harm totherightholder, orwhere there isa
demonstrable riskofevidence being destroyed.) Insuchcases, thedefendant (aswellIP/N/6/NOR/1
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asanyone elseaffected bythemeasure) hastherighttorequest thatoralproceedings
beheldsubsequently withaview todeciding, within areasonable period afterthe
notification ofthemeasures, whether themeasures shall benotified, revoked or
confirmed (ECA Section 15-10). Theparties shallbeinformed bythecourt ofthis
right(ECA Section 15-8fourth subsection).
12. Describe themain procedures fortheinitiation, ordering andmaintenance inforce of
provisional measures, inparticular relevant time-limits andsafeguards toprotect the
legitimate interests ofthedefendant.
Aprovisional measure mayasageneral rulenotbeordered unless theclaimant hasproven
thatitismore likely thannotthathehasaclaim against thedefendant (ECA Section 15-6). Thecourt
maymake itacondition forordering aprovisional measure thattheclaimant provides asecurity or
equivalent assurance sufficient toprotect thedefendant.
Ifthecourt decides toorder aprovisional measure, itshallatthesame timedecide howthe
measure istobeeffectuated (ECA Section 15-8second subsection). Thecourt maydecide when the
measure istoenter intoforce, andtheduration ofit.Thecourt mayalsodecide thatthedefendant
istobeabletoavoid theentering intoforce andtheeffectuation ofaprovisional measure byproviding
asecurity orequivalent assurance sufficient toprotect theclaimant.
Thecourt mayinitsdecision toorder aprovisional measure, orinalaterdecision made upon
therequest ofthedefendant, determine areasonable period inwhich theclaimant must initiate civil
proceedings leading toadecision onthemerits ofthecase(ECA Section 15-8thirdsubsection).
Thedefendant mayrequest anullification orlimitation ofthemeasure ifnewevidence isput
forward, orifthecircumstances which thedecision toorder theprovisional measure wasbased upon,
insome other wayhavechanged (ECA Section 15-11).
Where theprovisional measures arerevoked orwhere theylapse duetoanyactoromission
bytheclaimant, orwhere itissubsequently found thattherehadbeennoinfringement ofanintellectual
property rightwhen theprovisional measure wasordered, thejudicial authorities havetheauthority
toorder theclaimant toprovide thedefendant appropriate compensation foranyinjury caused bythe
measures (ECA Section 3-5).
13. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost.
Theduration oftheseproceedings isgenerally veryshort, andtheproceedings arecomparatively
cheap. Weunfortunately donothavemore concrete information available.
(b) Administrative measures
14. Reply totheabove questions inrelation toanyadministrative provisional measures.
Provisional measures maynotbeordered administratively inNorway.IP/N/6/NOR/1
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Special Requirements Related toBorder Measures
15. Indicate forwhich goods itispossible toapply forthesuspension bythecustoms authorities
oftherelease intofreecirculation, inparticular whether these procedures areavailable
alsoinrespect ofgoods which involve infringements ofintellectual property rights other
thancounterfeit trademark orpirated copyright goods asdefined intheTRIPS Agreement
(footnote toArticle 51). Specify, together withrelevant criteria, anyimports excluded
from theapplication ofsuchprocedures (such asgoods from another member ofacustoms
union, goods intransit ordeminimis imports). Dotheprocedures apply toimports of
goods putonthemarket inanother country byorwiththeconsent oftheright holder
andtogoods destined forexportation?
Thelawsandregulations relating toborder measures arecurrently under revision withaview
toensuring theconformity oftherelevant provisions withtherequirements oftheTRIPS Agreement.
Thiswilli.a.include changes intheActRelating toControl ofMarketing andContract Terms and
Conditions withregard toborder control measures relating towineandalcohol.
16. Provide adescription ofthemain elements oftheprocedures relating tothesuspension
oftherelease ofgoods bycustoms authorities, inparticular thecompetent authorities
(Article 51),therequirements foranapplication (Article 52)andvarious requirements
related totheduration ofsuspension (Article 55). How have Articles 53(security or
equivalent assurance), 56(indemnification oftheimporter andoftheowner ofthegoods)
and57(right ofinspection andinformation) been implemented?
Seeanswer toquestion 15.
17. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost. How longisthevalidity of
decisions bythecompetent authorities forthesuspension oftherelease ofgoods intofree
circulation?
Seeanswer toquestion 15.
18. Arecompetent authorities required toactupon their owninitiative and, ifso,inwhat
circumstances? Arethere anyspecial provisions applicable toexofficio action?
Seeanswer question 15.
19. Describe theremedies thatthecompetent authorities havetheauthority toorder andany
criteria regulating their use.
Seeanswer question 15.
Criminal Procedures
20. Specify thecourts which have jurisdiction overcriminal actsofinfringement ofIPRs.
Allcourts except theConciliation Board havejurisdiction overcriminal actsofinfringement
ofIPRs.IP/N/6/NOR/1
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21. Inrespect ofwhich infringements ofwhich intellectual property rights arecriminal
procedures andpenalties available?
Criminal procedures andpenalties areavailable inrespect of:
(i) thewilful useofatrademark iftheuseconstitutes aninfringement ofanother person 's
rightunder theTrade Marks Act(Section 37ofthatAct),
(ii) anywilful infringement ofapatent (Patents ActSection 57),
(iii) anywilful infringement ofarighttoadesign (Designs ActSection 57),and
(iv) thewilful orgrossly negligent infringement ofanother person 'srightunder theLayout-
Designs Act(Section 9ofthatAct).
(v) thewilful ornegligent contravention oftheCopyright Act(Section 54)
(vi) thewilful infringement ofthePlant Breeder 'sRight Act(Section 22)
Criminal proceedings andpenalties arealsoavailable inrespect ofanyone whoisanaccessory
toanyoftheActsmentioned above under (i)to(vi).
22. Which public authorities areresponsible forinitiating criminal proceedings? Arethey
required todothisontheir owninitiative and/or inresponse tocomplaints?
Thepolice areresponsible forinitiating criminal proceedings inrespect ofinfringement of
IPRs (Section 67oftheCriminal Procedure Act(CPA)).
Inrespect ofviolations oftheTrade Marks Act,thePatents Act,andtheDesigns Act,criminal
proceedings mayonlybeinitiated attherequest oftheaggrieved person. Inrespect ofviolations of
theLayout-Designs Act,criminal proceedings mayalsobeinitiated ontheowninitiative ofthepolice,
ifthisisrequired inthepublic interest.
23. Doprivate persons have standing toinitiate criminal proceedings and,ifso,who?
Theaggrieved party hasstanding toinitiate criminal proceedings ifthepolice decide notto
initiate suchproceedings, provided thatprosecution hasnotbeenwaived pursuant toSections 69or
70oftheCriminal Procedures Act(CPA Section 402).
24. Specify, bycategory ofIPRandtypeofinfringement where necessary, thepenalties and
other remedies thatmaybeimposed:
- imprisonment;
- monetary fines;
- seizure,forfeitureanddestructionofinfringinggoodsandmaterialsandimplements
fortheir production;
- other.
Fines ortheimprisonment foruptothree months isthepunishment foranyone whoisfound
guilty ofinfringement ofanother person 'srightunder theTrade Marks Act(seeSection 37),thePatents
Act(seeSection 57),theDesigns Act(seeSection 35),theLayout-Designs Act(seeSection 9),the
Copyright Act(seeSection 54)orthePlant Breeder 'sRight Act(seeSection 22).IP/N/6/NOR/1
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Fortherules governing theconfiscation, destruction oramendment ofgoods constituting an
infringement of:
(i) atrade-mark, seeSection 40oftheTrade Marks Act.
(ii) apatent, seeSection 59ofthePatents Act.
(iii) adesign, seeSection 37oftheDesigns Act.
(iv) alayout-design, seeSection 8oftheLayout-Designs Act.
(v) acopyright oraneighbouring right, seeSection 56oftheCopyright Act.
(vi) aplant breeder 'sright, seeSection 24ofthePlant Breeder 'sRight Act.
25. Describeprovisionsgoverningthelengthandanycostofproceedings.Provideanyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost, ifany.
There arenoprovisions particularly governing thelength orcostofproceedings. Wehave
noavailable dataontheactual duration ofproceedings ortheircost.