WORLD TRADE IP/N/6/SVK/1
17September 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-3696)
Original: English Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
CHECKLIST OFISSUES ONENFORCEMENT1
Responses from theSlovak Republic
Civil andAdministrative Procedures andRemedies
(a) Civiljudicial procedures andremedies
Asanintroduction itisnecessary tomention thatintheSlovak Republic thereisathreeinstance
judicial system, thecourt ofthefirstinstance isthedistrict court asthecourt withfulljurisdiction,
thesecond instance court istheregional court asthecourt ofappeal, andthecourt ofthethirdinstance
isthesupreme court, which decides, above all,about extraordinary remedies. Inseveral, strictly defined
commercial andcriminal matters, decisions aremade bytheregional court asthecourt ofthefirst
instance, thesupreme court having thefunction ofthecourt ofappeal.
1. Specify thecourts which have jurisdiction overIPRinfringement cases.
Court jurisdiction isprovided bySection 9oftheCode ofCivil Procedure, thefirstinstance
proceedings areinthejurisdiction oftheappropriate district courts. Inspecified cases regional courts
make decisions asthecourts ofthefirstinstance. Theregional court asthecourt ofthefirstinstance
decides thedisputes concerning patent rights, utility model andindustrial design rights, aswellas
topographies ofsemiconductor products provided theyarethesubject matter oftrade. Furthermore,
ittakes decisions ondisputes concerning rights totradenames, trademarks andappellations oforigin.
Regional courts ofthefirstinstance actondisputes involving theprotection ofeconomic competition
andunfair competition. Inthefirstinstance thedecisions aremade bythesingle judge, theappeals
aredecided bythesenate ofthree.
2. Which persons havestanding toassert IPRs? How maytheyberepresented? Arethere
requirements formandatory personal appearances before thecourt bytheright holder?
Standingtoindustrialorintellectualpropertyrightscanbeassertedwithoutlimitationbyanybody
whoisarightholder. There arenospecial requirements formandatory personal appearances before
thecourt. Aparty toaproceeding canbe,butneednotbe,represented byalegal representative.
Itisonlyapplied incaseofaminor, whomustberepresented byalegalrepresentative (parent), and
aperson deprived ofcapacity tolegalactsmusthaveaguardian. Compulsory representation byan
attorney isordered onlyintheproceedings forextraordinary remedies before thesupreme court.
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3. What authority dothejudicial authorities have toorder, attherequest ofanopposing
party, aparty toaproceeding toproduce evidence which lieswithin itscontrol?
Every institution isobligated toproduce evidence, orevidential measures attheirdisposal.
Special treatment concerns evidence which isthesubject matter ofofficial orprofessional secrets which
canbesubmitted tothecourt onlyonfulfilling particular, strictly defined, conditions.
4. What means exist toidentify andprotect confidential information brought forward as
evidence?
Themethod oftreatment ofconfidential information, aswellasinformation which isthesubject
ofaprofessional orofficial secret, isstrictly andcomprehensively regulated bytheLawonProtection
ofOfficial andProfessional Secrets No.100/1996 Coll. Every institution which isinvolved withthe
subject matter ofconfidential information gives anotice intheCollection ofLaws bywhich therange
ofthesubject matter ofprofessional, orofficial secrets isdefined. Thedisposal ofsuchinformation
isamenable tostrictly defined special treatment inevery institution including courts. There is,above
all,onlyalimited number ofpersons whohaveaccess toconfidential information. Incases ofjudicial
proceedings, oraproceeding before theIndustrial Property Office, confidential information isidentified
onthebasis ofarequest ofaparty toaproceeding, whohastherighttorequire certain information
tobeconsidered confidential andthusthesubject ofaprofessional secret inaccordance withlaw,and
public administration workers orjudges arebound bysecrecy totreatconfidential information and
actaccordingly. Theliabilities inthisrespect arestipulated alsobytheLawonProtection ofEconomic
Competition No.188/1994 Coll., Sections 15and16,aswellastheCommercial Code.
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.
Ingeneral, thecourt canorder, onthebasis ofaproposal ofaplaintiff, thatadefendant is
obligated todosomething, toabstain from something, ortocountenance something. Inthe
above-mentioned cases thecourt cantakeafinaldecision oraprovisional measure ifaplaintiff requires
it.Thecourt canorder thecompensation ofdamage, ortheobligation ofcompensation ofnon-property
damage byadjudicating therighttosatisfaction intheformofpecuniary implementation. Thecourt
alsomakes declaratory decisions withregard totheexistence ornon-existence oflegal relations.
Regarding theconditions oflawenforcement intheSlovak legal system, theprinciples applied are
thesame asthose valid inallEuropean continental systems. Generally, aplaintiff hastoprove that
heistheholder oftherightwhich heasserts, orthathehasawell-founded legalinterest indetermining
theexistence ornon-existence ofalegalrelation. Itisontheplaintiff, however, thattheburden of
proof liesinrelation tothedetermination andproof thatthedefendant isthebearer ofanobligation,
orisaperson liable. Inmostfrequent cases ofcompensation fordamage itisnecessary toprove the
existence ofillegal action, nexus causalis andvalue ofdamage. Inthecaseofcompensation for
non-property damage, itsdetermination islefttothediscretion ofthecourt.IP/N/6/SVK/1
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Ifaperson isheldliable, thenorders forthedestruction orother disposal ofgoods, materials
andimplements fortheirproduction canbeconsidered. Thisstatement, however, remains onlyin
thetheoretical domain since there hasnotyetbeenanyexperience withtheabove-mentioned method
intheSlovak Republic.
According totheCode ofCivil Procedure theparty, fullyorprevailingly successful inthe
courtproceedings,hastherighttocompensationfortheexpensesoftheproceedings,includingattorney's
feesaswellaslegalpayments andother legitimate costs related tothelawenforcement.
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?
Theholder ofatrademark hastherighttorequire information ofthirdpersons according to
Section 25.2ofLawNo.55/1997 onTrademarks. Theholder canapply thisrightagainst everybody
whoputs, orintends toputonthemarket goods orservices marked bytheidentical ormisleadingly
similar signasatrademark. Thisrightcanbeenforced bylaw.
7. Describe provisions relating totheindemnification ofdefendants wrongfully enjoined.
Towhat extent arepublic authorities and/or officials liable insuchasituation andwhat
"remedial measures" areapplicable tothem?
Theliability ofthepublic authorities, including thecourt, forthecompensation ofdamage
caused bywrongful administrative procedures orbybreach oflaw,isregulated bythelawofthesame
name from1968 which wasthefirstand,formore thantwodecades, theonlylegalregulation inthe
former socialist states. Thisregulation bylawprovides procedural conditions fortheapplication of
theliability ofthepublic authority, while theliable person isrepresented byadepartment, orcentral
authority ofthepublic administration which, through itsillegal action orwrongful administrative
procedure caused damage, oristhesuperior authority tothebodywhich caused damage. Thepublic
authorities areliable forthedamage caused inthefullextent. Theofficial whocaused damage directly
canbeheldpersonally responsible andagainst whom canbedrawn labour legal and,under certain
circumstances,alsocriminallegalconsequences(criminalactofabusebyapublicadministrationofficial).
8. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost.
Thecostofproceedings before thecourtisrepresented bythecourtfeepaidbothfortheproposal
andappeal. Thecourt feeis4%ofthevalue ofthesubject matter oftheproceedings, ifsuchavalue
canbeexpressed innumbers, butatmostitisSk100,000. Incasethesubject matter oftheproceedings
cannot beevaluated, thecourt feeisSk1,000. From thefinancial point ofview, thecourt proceedings
arerelatively available, thecourt feesdonothavearestrictive effect, which canbeproven bythefact
that90%ofdisputes aresolved through court proceedings andonlytheremaining 10%bymeans of
arbitration, ormediation structures. Thelength ofproceedings stillpresents aproblem although the
situation hasimproved. Thelength ofregular civilproceedings isoneyear, including theappeal
procedure. Inexceptional cases, thelength canbethreeyears andmore. Ingeneral, theworst situation
isincommercial lawwhich was,andstillis,burdened withanenormous amount ofcases caused by
insolvency ofenterprises, andthustheaverage length ofproceedings canbeestimated from twoto
three years -theexact figures canbeobtained from thestatistical outputs oftheMinistry ofJustice
oftheSlovak Republic. Theabove-mentioned statistical figures arenotavailable fortheIndustrial
Property Office, theexception being theprovisional measures which canbeordered bythecourt, in
accordance withlaw,intheperiod ofonemonth from thefiling oftheproposal.IP/N/6/SVK/1
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(b) Administrative procedures andremedies
9. Reply totheabove questions inrelation toanyadministrative procedures onthemerits
and remedies thatmayresult from these procedures.
Alltheabove-mentioned procedures canbeapplied inanyadministrative procedures before
institutions other thanthecourts. Allthese procedures canbeapplied toanappropriate extent since,
unlike thecourts which havegeneral jurisdiction, other authorities ofpublic administration cantake
decisions onlyonmatters strictly defined bylawinthesphere oftheircapacity andcompetence.
Decisions ofthepublic administration authorities onprinciple canbeinspected bythecourts. The
procedural regulations inadministrative procedures arelessstrict thanthose injudicial procedures.
Authoritiesotherthanthecourtscannottakedecisionsregardingcompensationorsatisfaction,asopposed
tothecourt'sjurisdiction. Thepowers ofother authorities ofpublic administration, ashasalready
beenmentioned, arespecifically defined inapositive manner.
Provisional Measures
(a) Judicial measures
10. Describe thetypes ofprovisional measures thatjudicial authorities mayorder, andthe
legal basis forsuchauthority.
11. Inwhat circumstances maysuchmeasures beordered inaudita altera parte?
12. Describe themain procedures fortheinitiation, ordering andmaintenance inforce of
provisional measures, inparticular relevant time-limits andsafeguards toprotect the
legitimate interests ofthedefendant.
13. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost.
Provisional measures areregulated bySection 74andthefollowing sections oftheCode of
Civil Procedure. Provisional measures canbeordered bythecourt attheproposal ofaparty, before
making aduepetition, aswellasduring theregular judicial proceedings. Foraprovisional measure
tobeordered, apart from thepetition, itisnecessary toprove theneedforaprovisional measure
regarding thecircumstances, oralegitimate apprehension thattheexecution ofthejudicial decision
willbeendangered. Provisional measures canbeordered bythesame court which isappropriate for
theproceedings inthematter. Thedecision regarding provisional measures istaken bythecourtwithout
undue delay nolaterthan30daysfrom themaking ofthepetition. Parties totheproceedings need
notbeheard before thecourt. Thepetition toorder provisional measures isinprinciple given tothe
other party forobservation. Ashasbeenmentioned above, bymeans ofaprovisional measure the
court canorder aparty toaproceeding todosomething, toabstain from something, ortotolerate
something. Where aprovisional measure wasinitiated before bringing aduesanction inrem,thecourt
determines theliability ofaplaintiff tobring adueaction within acertain timelimit: iftheplaintiff
failstodoso,thevalidity oftheprovisional measure willbeextinct. Thevalidity ofprovisional
measures islimited bythecourt toareasonable andappropriate time-limit, forinstance aperiod until
legalcompletion ofthematter itself. Provisional measures arenotthesubject oflegalfees. Whether
thejudge inaproceeding concerning aprovisional measure willhearparties toaproceeding remains
atthediscretion ofthejudge. Thedecision bywhich aprovisional measure wasordered isexecutable,
i.e.itisthesubject ofexecution regardless ofwhether ithascome intoforce orwasappealed to.IP/N/6/SVK/1
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(b) Administrative measures
14. Reply totheabove questions inrelation toanyadministrative provisional measures.
Provisional measures maybeordered alsobyapublic administration authority inaccordance
withSection 43,LawonAdministrative Procedure No.71/1997 Coll. Asopposed tothecourt, the
public administration authority canissuesuchadecision onlyduring theproceedings about thematter
itself. According tothismethod, thepublic administration authority canorder parties todosomething,
toabstain fromsomething, ortocountenance something. Itcanalsoorder thesafeguarding ofthings
which should bedestroyed, ormade dysfunctional, orwhich arenecessary forestablishing evidence.
Theadministration authority willcancel aprovisional measure when thereason forordering itwill
elapse. Aprovisional measure isnolonger inforce when thedecision inrembecomes valid. Insuch
acase, theappeal against thedecision concerning aprovisional measure doesnothaveanadjourned
effect.
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?
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?
17. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost. How longisthevalidity of
decisions bythecompetent authorities forthesuspension oftherelease ofgoods intofree
circulation?
18 Arecompetent authorities required toactupon their owninitiative and,ifso,inwhat
circumstances? Arethere anyspecial provisions applicable toexofficio action?
19. Describe theremedies thatthecompetent authorities havetheauthority toorder andany
criteria regulating their use.
Answer toquestions 15-19
TheIndustrial Property Office hasnodetailed knowledge andinformation regarding the
above-mentioned questions asthespecial regulation doesnotexistatpresent, andtheprotection on
theborder withregard toindustrial andintellectual property isgoverned bygeneral customs regulations.
Thecompetent authority inthiscaseistheMinistry ofFinance, ortheCentral Customs Office.IP/N/6/SVK/1
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Criminal Procedures
20. Specify thecourts which have jurisdiction overcriminal actsofinfringement ofIPRs.
Penal CodeNo.140/1961 Coll.inthewording ofsubsequent amendments recognizes individual
criminal actsasopposed tocriminal actsagainst industrial rights andcopyright. Itisofnoconsequence
toquote theexact definition ofindividual criminal acts; more important isthecriminal liability of
personswhounlawfullyinfringetherightstotrademarks,appellationsoforigin,tradenames,inventions,
utility models, industrial designs, ortopographies ofsemiconductor products. Atpresent, the
recodification ofthePenal Code isunder preparation, which willinclude initsfourth partcriminal
actsagainst industrial rights andcopyright. Criminal actsaccording totheirsignificance arepunished
inthiscasebyimprisonment, ormonetary fines, orbyforfeiture ofsomething. Thecourts which
havejurisdiction overcriminal actsarethecourts ofthefirstinstance -district courts.
21. Inrespect ofwhich infringements ofwhich intellectual property rights arecriminal
procedures andpenalties available?
22. Which public authorities areresponsible forinitiating criminal proceedings? Arethey
required todothisontheir owninitiative and/or inresponse tocomplaints?
23. Doprivate persons have standing toinitiate criminal proceedings and,ifso,who?
24. Specify, bycategory ofIPRandtypeofinfringement where necessary, thepenalties and
other remedies thatmaybeimposed:
- imprisonment;
- monetary fines;
- seizure,forfeitureanddestructionofinfringinggoodsandmaterialsandimplements
fortheir production;
- other.
25. Describeprovisionsgoverningthelengthandanycostofproceedings.Provideanyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost, ifany.
Answer toquestions 21-25
Criminal liability canbeapplied inthose cases where aperson putsgoods intocirculation,
orprovides services, unlawfully marked byatrademark which istheproperty ofanother person, or
byasignmisleadingly similar. Thesame provision isapplied inthecaseofusing anappellation of
origin oratrade name. Ineachoftheabove-mentioned cases, thepenalty ofimprisonment canbe
imposed foraperiod ofuptothree years, ormonetary fineorforfeiture ofsomething. Inthecase
ofcausingmajordamagesorcommittingacriminalactintheformofanorganizedcrime,thepunishment
ofimprisonment canbeimposed foraperiod ofuptofiveyears.
Aperson whounlawfully infringes therighttoaninvention, utility model, industrial design
ortopography ofsemiconductor products canbepunished byimprisonment foraperiod ofupto
three years, orbymonetary fineorforfeiture. Thecriminal sanction ofimprisonment isincreased
toaperiod ofuptofiveyears incases ofcausing major damages orofcommitting acriminal actin
theformofanorganized crime. Thecriminal prosecution initspreparatory phase isinitiated bytheIP/N/6/SVK/1
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prosecutor 'soffice which leadscriminal prosecution through thepolice authorities andbrings theaction
tothecourt where theprosecutor represents thestate. Private persons havestanding toinitiate criminal
proceedings bysubmitting aproposal totheprosecutor 'soffice orthepolice authority, butincriminal
proceedings theycanappear onlyasaninjured party claiming damages. Theprosecutor isobligated
toinitiate criminal proceedings; where hehasknowledge ofthecriminal acthecandosoonhisown
initiative exofficio, oronthebasis ofaninitiative ofathirdperson. Thecriminal proceedings can
beinitiated byanyone whohasknowledge ofthecommitting ofacriminal act.Injured persons, or
another person whoinitiates criminal proceedings, donotpayanyfees,norinthecasewhere thisperson
asserts hisrightforcompensation incriminal proceedings, andalsowithin thecriminal proceedings
thecourt canadjudicate therighttocompensation, provided itsamount isindisputable.