RESTRICTEDWORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONWT/ACC/OMN/11
22 September 1998
(98-3628)
Working Party on the Accession
of the Sultanate of OmanOriginal:  English
ACCESSION OF THE SULTANATE OF OMAN
Communication from the Sultanate of Oman
The following communication concerning the plan of action on implementation of the
Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights has been received from the
Ministry of Commerce and Industry of the Governme nt of the Sultanate of Oman, with the request
that it be circulated to members of the Working Party.
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Action Plan on Implementation of the TRIPS Agreement
Synoptic Table
The Sultanate of Oman is committed to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement.  An
action plan for this purpose is given in the following synoptic table.
S.No. Area of TRIPS Present Position and On-going
ProgrammeFuture Programme
1 Trademarks Trademark Law is in place since 1987
and is being implemented.
Points of conformity and non-
conformity of the existing law withthe provisions of the TRIPSAgreement have been identified.Draft amended law has been preparedin consultation with WIPO.  It is
under examination.* Amendments to be Trade
Marks Law will be
promulgated by June 1999, to
bring the Law into fullconformity with the provisionsof the TRIPS Agreement.
2 Copyright and related
rightsCopyright Law of Oman is in force
since 1996 and is being implemented.Points of conformity and non-conformity of the existing law withthe provisions of the TRIPSAgreement have been identified.
Draft amended law has been prepared
in consultation with WIPO and isunder examination.* Amendments to the Copyright
Law will be promulgated byJune 1999, to bring the Lawinto full conformity with theprovisions of the TRIPSAgreement.WT/ACC/OMN/11
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S.No. Area of TRIPS Present Position and On-going
ProgrammeFuture Programme
3 Patents GCC Unified Patent System is already
in place.  Oman subscribes to it.WIPO has made a study on theconformity of the Unified Patent
System with the provisions of the
TRIPS Agreement.Amended Unified Patent System ofthe GCC has been prepared, and hasbeen sent to WIPO for comments.A meeting of GCC officials will be
held in the end of September 1998 to
finalize the revised Unified PatentSystem.* A Ministerial Decree will be
issued by the end of June 1999to adopt the GCC UnifiedPatent System as the patent
law of Oman.
4 Geographical Indications There is no law at present on
geographical indications of origin.A draft addition to the Trade MarkLaw has been prepar ed in consultation
with WIPO* The revised Trademarks Law
will include a provision ongeographical indications.  Itwill be promulgated by June
1999.
5 Industrial Designs. There is no law at present on
industrial designs.A draft law prepared by WIPO isunder consideration.* A law on industrial designs in
conformity with the provisionsof the TRIPS Agreement willbe promulgated by June 1999.
 6 Plant Varieties There is no law at present.  A draft
law will be prepared in consultationwith the WIPO* A new law on protection of
plant varieties will bepromulgated by September
1999.
7 Layout Design of
Integrated Circuits There is no law at present.
WIPO is being requested to suggest a
draft law.* Draft law to be received from
WIPO will be examined.
* A new law will be
promulgated by (December1999).
8 Trade Secrets No law at present.
The issue is under study.* A draft law will be prepared in
consultation with WIPO.
* After consideration and
examination of the draft law, a
new law will be promulgatedby September 1999.
9A b u s e  o f  A n t i -
Competitive Practices.No law at present
The issue is under study, inconsultation with WIPO.* A new law will be
promulgated by September1999.WT/ACC/OMN/11
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S.No. Area of TRIPS Present Position and On-going
ProgrammeFuture Programme
10 Enforcement The existing Trade Mark Law and the
Copyright Law contain provisions onpenalties for violation of the twoLaws.
Imprisonment up to three years and a
fine not exceeding Rial Omani 500 forviolations of Trade Marks  Law.  Alsoprovisions to restrain the import andcirculation of counterfeit goods, andfor their confiscation and destruction.
Imprisonment for two years and fine
not exceeding RO 2000 for Copyrightpiracy.Enforcement action against videopiracy stepped up by conducting raids
and closing establishments.* Amendments to the Civil and
Criminal codes and to theCustoms Law, in line withArticles 41 to 61 of the TRIPS
Agreement will be
promulgated by the end of year2001.
* Training of staff responsible
for administration andenforcement of IP laws will be
undertaken in 1999 and 2000.
* Fuller implementation of
Part III of the TRIPSAgreement will be ensured bythe end of year 2002.
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