WORLD TRADE IP/N/6/SWE/1
13September 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-3546)
Original: English Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
CHECKLIST OFISSUES ONENFORCEMENT1
Responses from Sweden
Civil andAdministrative Procedures andRemedies
(a) Civiljudicial procedures andremedies
1. Specify thecourts which have jurisdiction overIPRinfringement cases.
Theordinary Courts (theDistrict Courts, theCourts ofAppeal andtheSupreme Court) have
jurisdiction overIPRinfringement cases. TheStockholm District Court isthefirstinstance incertain
cases under theCopyright Act(mainly relating tobroadcasting andtothedetermination ofcertain
remunerations under compulsory licenses), under theTrademarks Act(concerning certain Community
trademark matters) andunder thePatents Act(concerning theproper titletoaninvention forwhich
patent issought, invalidation ortransfer ofapatent, granting ofcompulsory licenses, patent
infringements, declaratory judgements, etc).
Decisions onregistration ofpatents, trademarks, names andindustrial designs maybeappealed
totheCourt ofPatent Appeals, fromwhich decisions maybebrought totheSupreme Administrative
Court.
2. Which persons havestanding toassert IPRs? How maytheyberepresented? Arethere
requirements formandatory personal appearances before thecourt bytheright holder?
Basically, IPRswillhavetobeasserted bytheright-owner orhissuccessor intitle. Hemay
berepresented byanattorney, whodoesnotnecessarily havetobeamember oftheBar. Mandatory
personal appearance inIPRcases israre,atleastincivilcases, where itmaybecalled forwhen the
party concerned istobeheard inthecaseorhispersonal appearance would otherwise beofimportance.
Incriminal cases personal appearance may,however, berequired. According toChapter 21,Article 2
oftheCode ofJudicial Procedure, thesuspect shallappear inperson atthemain hearing ofthecase
intheDistrict Court andintheCourt ofAppeal, unless thecasemaybedecided evenwithout him
appearing personally andhispresence canbeassumed tobewithout importance fortheinquiry inthe
case. Intheproceedings intheSupreme Court thesuspect hastoappear personally inthemainhearing
onlywhere hispresence isnecessary fortheinquiry inthecase.
1Document IP/C/5IP/N/6/SWE/1
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3. What authority dothejudicial authorities have toorder, attherequest ofanopposing
party, aparty toaproceeding toproduce evidence which lieswithin itscontrol?
Chapter 38,Article 2,oftheCode ofJudicial Procedure provides thatanyone whopossesses
adocument which canbeassumed tobeofimportance asevidence hasanobligation toproduce that
document. Such anobligation, however, doesnotextend totheperson suspected inacriminal case
oranyone related tohim. Thus, where anyone hasanobligation toproduce adocument, theCourt
mayorder himtodoso.Before thatorder isissued, theperson against whom theorder willbedirected,
shallbegiven anopportunity tomake anyobjections which hemayhave. Theorder maybeissued
under thepenalty ofafine; if,however, thisisfound more feasible, theCourt mayorder thatthe
document should beobtained through anenforcement officer.
4. What means exist toidentify andprotect confidential information brought forward as
evidence?
Thegeneral principle under procedural lawisthatproceedings inCourts anddocuments relating
tocourt proceedings areopentothepublic/publicly available. Detailed provisions governing these
matters areincluded principally inChapter 5oftheCode ofJudicial Procedure andChapter 12ofthe
Secrecy Act(Swedish Statute Book 1980:100).
Thegeneral principle isthatdocuments andinformation inCourts andpublic authorities are
publicly available unless theSecrecy Actprescribes that,inspecified andrather narrowly defined cases,
thedocuments/information shallbekeptsecret. TheSecrecy Actcontains agreatnumber ofprovisions
inthisrespect. Inthiscontext, primarily theprovisions inChapter 9ofthatActisofinterest; this
Chapter contains provisions on"Secrecy withRegard toPrivate Persons 'Economic Relations". Thus,
forinstance, Article 17ofthatChapter provides thatsecrecy applies intheproceedings inCourts as
regardsinformationconcerningcommercialorindustrialrelationsofpublicauthoritiesorprivatepersons
ifitcanbeassumed thatsignificant damage would follow fortheauthority/person concerned.
Asregards thepublicity ofthehearings inCourts, theCourt mayincertain cases order the
hearing tobeheldbehind closed doors. Thisapplies, forinstance, when itcanbeassumed thatmatters
maybepresented atthehearing concerning which secrecy shallbeapplied attheCourt under theSecrecy
Actandthere areextraordinary reasons forthematter nottoberevealed (Chapter 5,Article 1,ofthe
Code ofJudicial Procedure). Furthermore, ifsecrecy shallbeobserved concerning information on
private persons 'personal andeconomic circumstances under theprovisions inChapter 9oftheSecrecy
Act,thissecrecy shallcontinue tobeapplied intheCourt.
Ifahearing hasbeenheldbehind closed doors andif,atsuchahearing, information hasbeen
revealed concerning which, under theSecrecy Act,secrecy shallbeapplied attheCourt, theCourt
mayorder thatthatinformation shallcontinue tobekeptsecret (Chapter 12,Article 3oftheSecrecy
Act). Secrecy forinformation incourt cases consequently depends onwhether thehearing hasbeen
public ornotand,ifithasbeenheldbehind closed doors, whether theCourt hasordered continued
secrecy tobeapplied.
Asregards secrecy ofinformation included inthejudgement, anorder tothiseffect maybe
issued onlyinspecial cases. Onesuchcaseisiftheinformation shallbekeptsecret according toan
agreement withaforeign Statewhich hasbeenapproved bytheParliament. Suchsecrecy maybeapplied
totheverdict itself onlyinextraordinary cases when thisisabsolutely necessary withregard tothe
national security ortoanother interest ofextraordinary character. (Chapter 12,Article 4,second
paragraph, oftheSecrecy Act).IP/N/6/SWE/1
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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
Theremedies thatmaybeordered bythejudicial authorities andthecriteria fortheiruseare
prescribed inthevarious intellectual property laws, asfollows.
- Injunctions
Article 53aoftheCopyright Act
Article 37aoftheTrademarks Act
Article 35aoftheDesign Protection Act
Article 57aofthePatents Act
Article 9aoftheSemiconductor Act
Articles 11to13oftheTrade Secrets Act,and
Article 36aofthePlant Breeders 'Protection Act
- Damages (seealsobelow)
Article 54oftheCopyright Act
Articles 38to40oftheTrademarks Act
Article 36oftheDesign Protection Act
Article 58ofthePatents Act
Article 11oftheSemiconductor Act
Articles 5to10oftheTrade Secrets Act,and
Article 37ofthePlant Breeders 'Protection Act
- Destruction, disposal, etc.
Articles 55and56oftheCopyright Act
Article 41oftheTrademarks Act
Articles 37to39oftheDesign Protection Act
Article 59ofthePatents Act
Article 12to14oftheSemiconductor Act
Article 14oftheTrade Secrets Act,and
Article 38ofthePlant Breeders 'Protection Act
- Other remedies
Forinstance, Article 57aoftheCopyright Actprovides acriminal sanction forthe
removal orcircumvention ofdevices aiming atprotecting against unauthorized copying
ofcomputer programs.IP/N/6/SWE/1
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Attorney 'sfees
Thegeneral ruleincivilcases is,according toChapter 18,Article 1oftheCode ofJudicial
Procedure, thattheparty losing thecaseshallreimburse hisadversary litigation expenses, subject to
provisionstothecontrary.Nosuchspecial"contrary"provisionsexistinthefieldofintellectualproperty
law. TheChapter mentioned contains anumber ofprovisions relating tospecial cases, forinstance
inthesituation when thereareseveral parties orseveral claims andinthecaseofunnecessary litigation.
Thecompensation forlitigation expenses shall, under Article 8ofthesame Chapter, fullycover the
expenses forthepreparation andpresentation oftheaction, including attorney 'sfees,alltotheextent
thattheexpenses were reasonably incurred fortheprotection oftheparty'sinterest. Provisions on
litigation costs incriminal cases areincluded inChapter 31oftheCode ofJudicial Procedure. The
general ruleisthatthedefendant shall, incaseheisconvicted, havetoreimburse totheStatetheamount
ofpublic funds spent forhisattendance atthehearing, forthepreliminary investigation, forproviding
evidence inthecaseandforthedefence attorney appointed bytheState.
Theremedies areessentially thesame foralltypes ofintellectual property laws. Therefore,
onlytheprovisions onthismatter intheCopyright Actarementioned here(with some emphasis added),
ontheunderstanding thattheyarebasically thesame fortheother IPRs. TheEnglish translation of
allthose Actshasbeennotified totheWorld Trade Organization.
"Article 53a. Attherequest oftheauthor orhissuccessor intitleorofaperson who, on
thebasis ofalicense, hastheright tousethework, theCourt mayissue aninjunction
prohibiting, under penalty ofafine,aperson whocommits anactimplying aninfringement
of,oraviolation referred toin,Article 53tocontinue thatact.
Iftheplaintiff shows aprobable cause thatanactimplying aninfringement oraviolation as
referred toinArticle 53takes place andifitcanreasonably beexpected thatthedefendant,
through thecontinuation oftheact,diminishes thevalue thatthecopyright confers, theCourt
mayissue aninjunction forthetimeuntilthecasehasbeenfinally adjudicated orotherwise
isdecided. Noinjunction maybeissued before thedefendant hasbeengiven anopportunity
torespond, unless adelay would entail ariskfordamage.
Aninjunction asmentioned inthesecond paragraph maybeissued onlyiftheplaintiff deposits
asecurity withtheCourt forthedamage which maybecaused tothedefendant. Iftheplaintiff
isnotcapable ofdepositing suchasecurity, theCourt mayliberate himfrom making such
adeposit. Asregards thetypeofsecurity, theprovisions ofChapter 2,Article 25,oftheCode
onEnforcement shallapply. Thesecurity shallbeexamined bytheCourt unless thedefendant
hasaccepted it.
When thecaseisadjudicated, theCourt shalldecide whether aprohibition issued under the
second paragraph shallcontinue toapply.
Theprovisions onappeal against decisions inChapter 15oftheCode ofJudicial Procedure
shallapply asregards appeals against decisions under thesecond andthird paragraphs and
asregards theproceedings inhigher Courts.
Arequest fortheimposition ofafinemaybemade bytheperson whohasrequested the
injunction. Inconnection withsuchanimposition, arequest maybemade foranewinjunction
tobeissued under penalty ofafine.
Asregards thecontents ofwireless broadcasts andbroadcasts bywire, theprovisions ofthe
Radio Act(1966:755) apply.IP/N/6/SWE/1
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Article 54.Anyone whoexploits awork inviolation ofthisActorofdirections given under
Article 41,second paragraph, shallpaysuchacompensation totheauthor orcopyright owner
aswillconstitute areasonable remuneration fortheexploitation.
Inthecaseofanexploitation carried outwilfully orwithgross negligence, acompensation
shallbepaidalsoforlosses other thanlostremuneration aswellasformental suffering and
forother injury.
Anyone whootherwise wilfully orwithnegligence commits anactinvolving aninfringement
oraviolation under Article 53,shallpaytotheauthor orhissuccessor intitleacompensation
forlosses, mental suffering orother injury caused bytheact.
Article 55.Anyone whocommits anactinvolving aninfringement oraviolation under Article
53shall, ifsoisconsidered reasonable, surrender totheauthor orhissuccessor intitle,for
acompensation, theproperty involved intheinfringement ortheviolation. Thesame shall
apply totypematter, printing blocks, moulds orother similar devices which canbeusedonly
fortheproduction ofproperty ofthekindnowmentioned.
Instead ofissuing anorder forsurrender asprescribed inthefirstparagraph, theCourt may,
attherequest oftheauthor orhissuccessor intitle,inaccordance withwhat isconsidered
reasonable, order thatsuchproperty shallbedestroyed oraltered inspecific waysorthatother
measures shallbetaken toprevent unauthorized use. Such arequest maybemade alsoby
apublic prosecutor, ifsoisconsidered desirable from thepoint ofview ofpublic interest.
Orders asmentioned inthisparagraph shallnotbeissued ifsurrender ormeasures forthe
prevention ofunauthorized usearetobedecided under theCriminal Code.
Theprovisions ofthefirstandthethirdparagraphs shallnotapply inrespect ofpersons who
haveingoodfaithacquired theproperty orarightinit,norincases involving theconstruction
ofawork ofarchitecture.
Ifpropertyotherthansuchmentionedinthefirstparagraphhasbeenusedforsuchmanufacturing
ofcopies ofworks which isacriminal violation under thisAct,theproperty oritsvalue may
beordered tobesurrendered ifsuchameasure isconsidered necessary toprevent criminal
violations orthere areotherwise special reasons forsuchanorder. Thisshallapply alsoin
relation toproperty which hasbeenusedinconnection withattempts tocommit violations as
mentioned hereorwhich form partoftheplanning ofsuchviolations.
Article 56.Notwithstanding theprovisions ofArticle 55,theCourt may, ifitsoconsiders
reasonable inview oftheartistic oreconomic value ofthecopies ofawork orofother
circumstances, upon arequest tothateffect, decide thatthecopies, against thepayment of
aspecific remuneration totheauthor orhissuccessor intitle,bemade available tothepublic
orotherwise usedfortheirintended purpose."
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 arenolegislative provisions aiming specifically atobliging aninfringer toinform the
rightholder oftheidentity ofpersons involved intheproduction anddistribution ofinfringing goods
orservices ortheirchannels ofdistribution. Indirectly, however, suchinformation maybeobtainedIP/N/6/SWE/1
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through anorder -asmentioned inrelation toitem3-toproduce documents inthepossession ofthe
infringer.
7. Describe provisions relating totheindemnification ofdefendants wrongfully enjoined.
Towhat extent arepublic authorities and/or officials liable insuchasituation andwhat
"remedial measures" areapplicable tothem?
According toChapter 9,Article 1,oftheCode ofJudicial Procedure aparty which, inbad
faith, commences, orcauses thecommencement of,acivilaction shallbepunished byfines. Insuch
acasealsocompensation fordamages maybeawarded. Furthermore, according toChapter 3,Article 2,
oftheActonCompensation ofDamages, theStateoranyMunicipality shallpayacompensation for
injury topersons orobjects, andpureeconomic injury, caused through wrongdoing ornegligence in
thecarrying outofofficial duties inthecourse ofactivities forwhich theState ortheMunicipality
isresponsible.
8. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost.
Incivilcases theproceedings inCourt generally startwithoneormore preliminary hearings,
atwhich alsothecasemaybedecided ifthecircumstances areclearenough. There isevenapossibility
thatthepreliminary hearing, under certain conditions, maybeconducted overthetelephone. Ifacivil
caseisnotdecided atthepreliminary stage itshallbebrought toamain hearing. Thegeneral rule
under procedural lawis(according tothe"principle ofconcentration") thatthemain hearing inany
criminal orcivilcaseshallcontinue without interruption untilthecaseisready forfinaldisposition
bytheCourt. Acontinuation ofthemainhearing maytakeplace within fifteen days; where thisperiod
islonger afullnewmain hearing must beheld.
Asmentioned above, themain ruleasregards thecosts incivilproceedings, according to
Chapter 18,Article 1,oftheCode ofJudicial Procedure, isthattheparty wholoses hiscaseshall
reimburse hisadversary forlitigation expenses subject toprovisions tothecontrary. Nosuchspecial
"contrary" provisions existinthefieldofintellectual property law. TheChapter contains anumber
ofprovisions relating tospecial cases, forinstance forthesituation when there areseveral parties or
several claims orinthecaseofunnecessary litigation. Thecompensation forlitigation expenses shall,
under Article 8ofthesame Chapter, fullycover theexpenses forthepreparation andpresentation of
theaction, including attorney 'sfees,alltotheextent thattheexpenses werereasonably incurred for
theprotection oftheparty'sinterest.
Itisnotpossible toindicate dataconcerning theactual duration ofintellectual property cases
asthecircumstances differ considerably, norisitpossible fortheMinistry ofJustice togiveany
indications oftheactual costs incurred.
(b) Administrative procedures andremedies
9. Reply totheabove questions inrelation toanyadministrative procedures onthemerits
andremedies thatmayresult from these procedures.
There arenoadministrative procedures applicable astoremedies inthecaseofintellectual
property infringements. They aredealtwithexclusively bytheCourts oflaw.IP/N/6/SWE/1
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Provisional Measures
(a) Judicial measures
10. Describe thetypes ofprovisional measures thatjudicial authorities mayorder, andthe
legal basis forsuchauthority.
Provisions onprovisional measures intheform ofinterlocutory injunctions existasregards
infringements incopyright/neighbouring Rights (Article 53a,second andfollowing paragraphs, ofthe
Copyright Act), trademarks (Article 37a,second andfollowing paragraphs oftheTrademarks Act),
patents (Article 58,second andfollowing paragraphs, ofthePatents Act), semiconductor integrated
circuits(Article11,secondandfollowingparagraphs,oftheSemiconductorAct),tradesecrets(Article13
oftheTrade Secrets Act)andtheprotection ofplant varieties (Article 36aofthePlant Breeders '
Protection Act). Those provisions haveallthesame main structure. Asanexample isshown here
therelevant provision (Article 53aoftheCopyright Act), which reads:
"Iftheplaintiff shows aprobable cause thatanactimplying aninfringement oraviolation
asreferred toinArticle 53takes place andifitcanreasonably beexpected thatthedefendant,
through thecontinuation oftheact,diminishes thevalue thatthecopyright confers, theCourt
mayissue aninjunction forthetimeuntilthecasehasbeenfinally adjudicated orotherwise
isdecided. Noinjunction maybeissued before thedefendant hasbeengiven anopportunity
torespond, unless adelay would entail ariskfordamage.
Aninjunction asmentioned inthesecond paragraph maybeissued onlyiftheplaintiff deposits
asecurity withtheCourt forthedamage which maybecaused tothedefendant. Iftheplaintiff
isnotcapable ofdepositing suchasecurity, theCourt mayliberate himfrom making such
adeposit. Asregards thetypeofsecurity, theprovisions ofChapter 2,Article 25,oftheCode
ofEnforcement shallapply. Thesecurity shallbeexamined bytheCourt unless thedefendant
hasaccepted it.
When thecaseisadjudicated, theCourt shalldecide whether aprohibition issued under the
second paragraph shallcontinue toapply.
Theprovisions onappeal against decisions inChapter 15oftheCode ofJudicial Procedure
shallapply asregards appeals against decisions under thesecond andthird paragraphs and
asregards theproceedings inhigher Courts."
Inaddition tothosespecial provisional measures mentioned directly intherespective intellectual
property codes, therearegeneral provisions onprovisional measures intheCode ofJudicial Procedure
which apply notonlytointellectual property cases butmore generally, some incivilcases andother
incriminal cases.
Asfarasgeneral provisional measures incivilcases areconcerned, theprovisions relevant
inthepresent context arecontained inChapter 15oftheCode ofJudicial Procedure.
Article 1ofthisChapter contains thegeneral provision onprovisional attachment ofproperty.
Itreads: "Where someone shows aprobable casethathehasaclaim which is,ormaybeassumed
tobe,thesubject ofacourt trialorofanexamination inanother similar way, anditcanreasonably
beassumed thattheadverse party willevade thepayment ofthedebtthrough absconding, removal
ofproperty orotherwise, theCourt mayorder aprovisional attachment oftheadverse party'sproperty
tosuchanextent thattheclaim canpresumably becovered inanactoflegal execution". Those
provisions arecomplemented bytheprovisions ofArticle 3,thefirstparagraph, which states: "WhereIP/N/6/SWE/1
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someone shows aprobable casethathe,insituations other thanthose referred toinArticle 1......,
hasaclaim against someone elsewhich isormaybeassumed tobethesubject ofacourt trialorof
anexamination inanother similar way,anditcanreasonably beassumed thattheadverse party through
thecontinuation ofacertain activity, ortheundertaking, ortherefraining from, acertain actprevents
orrenders difficult theexercise oftheapplicant 'srightorsubstantially diminishes hisright, theCourt
mayorder appropriate measures tosafeguard theapplicant 'sright". According tothesecond paragraph
"(M)easures under thefirstparagraph mayinclude aprohibition, onpenalty ofafine,toexercise a
certain activity orperform acertain actoranother order, onpenalty ofafine,totakeintoaccount
theapplicant 'sclaim ortheappointment ofacustodian ortheordering ofameasure which otherwise
isofanature astoprevent aninfringement oftheapplicant 'srights".
Measures indicated hereareordered bytheCourts oflaw. Inprinciple, suchmeasures shall,
according toChapter 15,Article 5,thirdparagraph, beundertaken onlyaftertheadverse party has
beengiven anopportunity torespond totherequest. If,however, adelay would entail arisk,theCourt
mayissue anorder immediately toapply untilotherwise ordered.
Theissuing ofanorder presupposes, according toChapter 15,Article 6,inprinciple, that
theapplicant deposits withtheCourt asecurity forthedamage thatmaybecaused totheadverse party.
Where theapplicant isnotabletoprovide suchasecurity andhehasshown extraordinary merits for
hisclaim, theCourt mayliberate himfrommaking suchadeposit. TheState, municipalities, county
municipalities andmunicipality associations donothavetomake adeposit. Chapter 2,Article 25,
oftheCode ofEnforcement, applies tothecharacter ofthesecurity. TheCourt shallexamine the
security, unless ithasbeenapproved bytheadverse party.
When aCourt orders ameasure mentioned above andtheapplicant hasnotinstituted a
proceeding, heshall, according toChapter 15,Article 7,institute, within onemonth fromtheorder,
aproceeding inCourt or,where theclaim shallbeexamined inanother way,apply whatisprovided
inthisrespect. Ifaproceeding isnotinstituted according tothese provisions, themeasure shall
immediately cease toapply.
Furthermore, according toChapter 15,Article 8,themeasure shallimmediately beterminated
where anadequate security hasbeendeposited orthereisotherwise nolonger areason forthemeasure.
Themeasure shallalsobeinvalidated where theaction which hasbeeninstituted inthecaseiswithdrawn
orshallbeconsidered asabandoned. When thecaseisunder consideration byaCourt andthecase
isadjudicated, theCourt shallconsider whether themeasure shallcontinue tobevalid. TheCourt
mayalso,inconnection withthejudgement, order ameasure asnowindicated.
Provisions onprovisional measures andsecurity measures incriminal cases arecontained in
Chapters 24(ondetention andarrest), 25(ontravel prohibition andobligation toreport topolice
authorities), 26(onprovisional attachment), 27(onseizure and lawful interception of
telecommunications), and28(onsearch ofpremises andsearch andexamination ofpersons). Itis
notpossible toindicate herethecriteria forallthedifferent situations when theapplication ofthose
measures maybeinvoked. Itshould bementioned, however, thatdetention under Chapter 24may,
oncertain conditions, beordered foroffences forwhich thepenalty maybeimprisonment foroneyear
ormore. AsIPRoffences mayresult inimprisonment foruptotwoyears, detention maybeordered
insuchcases.
11. Inwhat circumstances maysuchmeasures beordered inaudita altera parte?
Ascanbeseenfrom thedescription above, certain measures maybetaken without hearing
theother party ifadelay would entail arisk(fortheother party'sinterests); insuchacasetheCourt
mayissue anorder immediately toapply untilotherwise ordered.IP/N/6/SWE/1
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12. Describe themain procedures fortheinitiation, ordering andmaintenance inforce of
provisional measures, inparticular relevant time-limits andsafeguards toprotect the
legitimate interests ofthedefendant.
Themain procedures fortheinitiation, ordering andmaintenance ofthemeasures, andthe
safeguards, areindicated inconnection withitem10above. Asmentioned there, ageneral condition
foraprovisional measure isthattheapplicant institutes aproceeding inCourt within onemonth, failing
which themeasure willbeterminated. Asregards appropriate safeguards, reference ismade towhat
issaidinconnection withitem10onthecontents ofChapter 15,Article 6,concerning thedeposit
ofasecurity.
13. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost.
There arenospecific provisions onthelength andcostofproceedings inIPRcases; inthis
respect reference ismade towhatissaidabove inrelation toitem8.
14. Reply totheabove questions inrelation toanyadministrative provisional measures .
Reference ismade tothereply toitem9.These matters aredealtwithbytheCourts oflaw.
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?
Sweden applies theEuropean Union Council Regulation No.3295/94 of22December 1995,
asfurther implemented bytheActonCustoms Control ofTrademark Infringements of
15December 1994, aslateramended. Thesuspension oftherelease, etc.,bythecustoms authorities
applies onlytocounterfeit trademark orpirated copyright goods, including goods protected under design
law.Itdoesnotapply toother infringements ofintellectual property law.Theactions bythecustoms
authorities apply alsototheexport orre-export ofgoods which havebeenimported intotheEuropean
Community fromthirdcountries. From theapplication oftheseprocedures areexempted goods which
areimportedfromthirdcountrieswithinthelimitsestablishedforduty-freeimport.Also,theprocedures
donotapply to,forinstance, cases where goods bearthetrademark withtheconsent ofthetrademark
owner orwhich areprotected under copyright, neighbouring rights oradesign rightbutwhich have,
without theconsent oftheright-owner, beenincluded inasituation which would make themcounterfeit
orcopyright pirated goods under theRegulation. Theprovisions ontheactions tobetaken bythe
customs authorities inrelation tocounterfeit andpirated goods apply onlyintherelations between the
European Community andthird countries andnotinrelations between Sweden andother members
oftheEuropean Union ortheEuropean Economic Area.IP/N/6/SWE/1
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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?
Theessential elements oftheprovisions isthataright-owner mayapply inwriting tothecustoms
authorities foranaction against theimport ofcounterfeit orpirated goods. Theapplication shallcontain
asufficiently detailed description ofthegoods andevidence thattheapplicant isactually theright-owner
inrelation tothegoods. Following anexamination oftheapplication, thecustoms authority maysuspend
therelease ofthegoods orretain them. Where therelevant customs authority hasnotwithin tendays
from theapplication beeninformed about thefactthatthematter hasbeenreferred tothecompetent
authority, thegoods shallbereleased; thisperiod may, however, where necessary, beextended by
notmore thantendays. Thecustoms authorities mayrequest theapplicant toprovide asecurity in
order toguarantee hisobligations towards thepersons affected bytheaction andthepayment ofthe
costs forthekeeping ofthegoods bythecustoms authorities. Theowner, importer orreceiver may
request therelease ofthegoods, against providing asecurity inorder toprotect theinterests ofthe
right-owner. Thecustomers authority shall, attherequest oftheright-owner, inform himabout the
person whohassubmitted thecustoms declaration andabout thereceiver, ifheisknown. Also, the
authority shallgivetheright-owner andother persons whoareaffected byanyoftheactions taken,
apossibility toinspect thegoods.
17. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost. How longisthevalidity of
decisions bythecompetent authorities forthesuspension oftherelease ofgoods intofree
circulation?
Theprovisions onthelength oftheproceedings, inparticular thetime-limit forsuspension
oftherelease ortheretention (10dayswithapossibility foranadditional 10days) havebeenindicated
above. There isnodataavailable asregards thecosts ofsuchproceedings. TheGovernment hasthe
authority toprescribe afeeforanyapplication asreferred toabove.
18. Arecompetent authorities required toactupon their owninitiative and, ifso,inwhat
circumstances? Arethere anyspecial provisions applicable toexofficio action?
Where thecustoms authority, inthecourse ofregular checks ofimported goods, finds that
goods, finds thatgoods areactually counterfeited orpirated, itmayretain thegoods foraperiod of
three daysandinform theright-owner inorder tomake itpossible forhimtofileanapplication as
mentioned above. Otherwise, thecustoms authorities mayactonlyuponapplication andnotexofficio .
19. Describe theremedies thatthecompetent authorities havetheauthority toorder andany
criteria regulating their use.
Theremediesavailableinclude,inparticular,thatcounterfeitorpiratedgoods,withoutprejudice
toother remedies available fortheright-owners, bedestroyed bythecustoms authorities orotherwise
placed outside commercial channels without compensation andwithout anycostsfortheStateandthat,
withregard tothose goods, every othermeasure beundertaken todeprive effectively persons concerned
oftheeconomic benefits oftheiractivities. Assuchmeasures shallnotbeconsidered re-export of
thegoods inunaltered condition, theremoval ofthetrademark (except inextraordinary cases) and
thatthegoods betransferred toanother customs procedure.IP/N/6/SWE/1
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Criminal Procedures
20. Specify thecourts which have jurisdiction overcriminal actsofinfringement ofIPRs.
Theordinary courts havejurisdiction overcriminal actsofinfringement ofintellectual property
rights. Incertain special cases under theCopyright ActandtheTrademark Actthecompetence is
concentrated totheStockholm District Court (seeabove reply inrelation toitem1).
21. Inrespect ofwhich infringements ofwhich intellectual property rights arecriminal
procedures andpenalties available?
Criminal procedures andremedies inIPRcasesaregenerally available asregards infringements
conducted wilfully orwithgross negligence. Criminal liability mayliebothwiththemainperpetrator
oftheactandwithanyone whohascontributed totheact.Also, attempts tocommit suchactsand
theplanning ofthemare,under certain conditions, punishable according totheprovisions ofChapter 23
oftheCriminal Code.
22. Which public authorities areresponsible forinitiating criminal proceedings? Arethey
required todothisontheir owninitiative and/or inresponse tocomplaints?
Public prosecutors areresponsible forinitiating criminal procedures. Aprerequisite isthat
there isacomplaint fromtheinjured party. Asregards copyright/neighbouring rights infringements,
thepublic prosecutors areentitled tobring acriminal action alsowithout complaint, ifthisiscalled
forinthepublic interest. Asregards other intellectual property lawinfringements, actions maybe
taken byprosecutors onlyifthere isacomplaint fromtheinjured party andanaction iscalled forin
thepublic interest. Iftheprerequisites aremet,theprosecutors haveadutytobring anaction (provided,
ofcourse, thattheyconsider thatthere isareasonable possibility foraconviction).
23. Doprivate persons have standing toinitiate criminal proceedings and,ifso,who?
Aprivate person has,according toChapter 20,Article 8,oftheCode ofJudicial Procedure,
astanding toinitiate acriminal proceeding inthedomain ofpublic prosecution (thatis,alsointhe
caseofinfringements ofintellectual property rights), ifhehasbrought acomplaint andthepublic
prosecutor haddecided nottobring anyaction. Furthermore, ifapublic prosecutor hasinitiated an
action, theinjured party hasarighttojointhecriminal action andtoappeal alower court'sdecision
toahigher court.
24. Specify, bycategory ofIPRandtypeofinfringement where necessary, thepenalties and
other remedies thatmaybeimposed:
- imprisonment;
- monetary fines;
- seizure,forfeitureanddestructionofinfringinggoodsandmaterialsandimplements
fortheir production;
- other.
Thecriminal remedies available arebasically thesame inrespect ofallintellectual property
rights andinclude finesorimprisonment foruptotwoyears foractscommitted wilfully orwithgross
negligence. Asfarasfinesareconcerned, those areusually determined inso-called "day-fines". ThisIP/N/6/SWE/1
Page12
means thatthefineconsists ofacertain number ofindividual fines. Thenumber offinesisbetween
30and150Swedish Crowns andisdetermined bytheseverity oftheoffence. Then thesizeofeach
fineisdetermined toacertain amount, between 30and1,000 Swedish Crowns (oneSwiss Franc
corresponds presently toabout 5.50Swedish Crowns), depending ontheeconomic circumstances of
theconvicted person.
Alsotheprovisions onseizure, forfeiture ordestruction ofmaterials andimplements fortheir
production arebasically thesameasregards allintellectual property rights. They havebeendescribed
inthecontext ofitem5.
25. Describeprovisionsgoverningthelengthandanycostofproceedings.Provideanyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost, ifany.
Reference ismade tothereply toitem13.Situations maydiffer widely between individual
cases.