RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE IP/Q/CHE/1
31October 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-4611)
Original: English/French*Council forTrade-Related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights
REVIEW OFLEGISLATION ONCOPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS
Switzerland1
Thepresent document reproduces theintroductory statement made bythedelegation of
Switzerland inthereview oflegislation oncopyright andrelated rights attheCouncil 'smeeting of
22to26July19962,thequestions puttoitandtheresponses given.
_______________
I. INTRODUCTORY STATEMENT
TheFederal LawonCopyright andNeighbouring Rights wasadopted on9October 1992and
entered intoeffect on1July1993. Wetherefore haveamodern Lawadapted tonewinformation and
communication technology.
Theadoption ofthisnewLawwasinfluenced bytheharmonization programme forcopyright
andneighbouringrightspublishedbytheCommissionoftheEuropeanCommunitiesin1991.Ittherefore
grants thevarious categories ofpersons entitled averyhighlevelofprotection.
Themajor characteristics oftheSwiss Copyright Lawcanbesummarized asfollows:
1. Subjects ofprotection
Taking intoaccount newprotection requirements, thescope oftheLawhasbeensignificantly
extended compared withtheformer 1922 Law.
(a) Forexample, software isconsidered tobeawork andtheLawgrants italevel of
protection higher thanthatgranted toliterary works intheBerne Convention.
(b) Databases areprotected ascollections where theyarecreations ofanindividual nature
withregard totheirselection orarrangement.
*English, except forFrench fortheintroductory statement andthereplies tothefollow-up questions.
1Switzerland'snotificationoflawsandregulationsintheareaofcopyrightandrelatedrightsunderArticle63.2
oftheAgreement hasbeen circulated indocuments IP/N/1/CHE/1 andIP/N/1/CHE/C/1 and2.
2Theminutes ofthemeeting have been circulated indocument IP/C/M/8.IP/Q/CHE/1
Page2
(c) Under theconcept ofneighbouring rights, theLawnotonlyprotects thethreecategories
ofbeneficiary according totheRome Convention butalsoproducers ofvideograms
(inthesame wayasproducers ofphonograms).
2. Scope ofprotection
(a) Thelistoftheauthor 'sexclusive rights setoutinArticle 10.2oftheLawisnolonger
exhaustive, aswasthecaseintheformer Law. Newforms ofusethatmight emerge
inthefuture arethuscovered byexclusive rights.
(b) TheLawprovides fortherighttoremuneration foruseoflarge quantities which is
difficult toverify, inparticular:
- forphotocopying protected works forthepurposes ofdocumentation, internal
information, andinteaching establishments;
- andforprivate copies comprising sound oraudiovisual recordings intheform ofa
royalty onblank tapes.
(c) Secondary useofphonograms andvideograms issubject totheperformers 'rightto
remuneration. Thelatter must share thiswiththeproducers.
3. Term ofprotection
(a) Thetermis70years afterthedeath oftheauthor forliterary andartistic works in
general and50years forcomputer programs. Thedrafters oftheSwiss legislation
decided onthisdifference taking intoaccount theDirective oftheCouncil ofthe
European Communities onthelegalprotection ofcomputer programs.
(b) Forneighbouring rights, theLawprovides foratermofprotection of50years.
4. Collective administration
ThenewLawtakes intoaccount thegrowing importance ofthecollective administration of
rights byproviding forState supervision ofcollecting societies. Thisiscarried outbytwodifferent
bodies:
- Ontheonehand, theFederal Intellectual Property Office, which supervises thebusiness
management ofthese societies;
- andontheother bytheFederal Arbitration Board, which oversees andapproves the
societies 'tariffs.
5. Civil andcriminal protection
Thishasbeensignificantly improved soastocombat piracy better andthepositive results of
thismeasure canalready beseen.IP/Q/CHE/1
Page3
6. International agreements
Onthebasis ofthisnewLaw, Switzerland hasratified thetextsoftheBerne Convention and
theUniversal Copyright Convention adopted atParis in1971, aswellastheRome Convention, and
theGeneva Convention fortheprotection ofproducers ofphonograms.
7. TRIPS Agreement
SinceinmanyrespectsSwisslegislationalreadyhasrequirementsthatexceedthoseoftheTRIPS
Agreement, ratification ofthelatter onlyrequired theadoption ofminor amendments.
Only thesection onmeasures attheborder isconcerned bythese amendments:
Thefirsttwoconcern Articles 75and76oftheLawandallow customs andpersons entitled
toactnotonlyagainst theimport ofpirated products butalsoagainst theirexport.
Lastly, Article 77oftheLawhasbeenamended toconform withArticles 53and55ofthe
TRIPS Agreement:
Thecustoms mayrequire security ifthesuspension might leadtoinjury. Theymayalsoextend
thetime-limit forsuspension byanadditional 10working days, butonlyifthecircumstances sowarrant.
Theamendments entered intoforce on1July1995.
II. REPLIES TOQUESTIONS POSED BYTHE UNITED STATES
1. Please explain whether andhowSwiss lawprovides protection forworks, phonograms and
performances fromother WTO Members, andwhether andhowitdoessoonthebasis ofnational
treatment, asrequired byTRIPS Article 3(generally, withrespect toallcopyrights andneighbouring
rights) andArticle 9.1(incorporating Berne Article 5(1)). Inparticular, please explain hownational
treatment isafforded withrespect tothedistribution oflevies forprivate copying under Article 20of
theFederal Copyright Law.
TheFederal LawonCopyright andNeighbouring Rights (hereinafter referred toasthe"Federal
Copyright Law" or,whenever appropriate, "FCL") protects authors ofliterary andartistic works,
performers, producers ofphonograms andvideograms andbroadcasting organizations, independently
oftheirnationality. National treatment isaccorded inconformity withinternational conventions,
including theBerne Convention andtheTRIPS Agreement (seeinparticular Article 1.2FCL, which
saysthat"International treaties shallremain reserved.").
Under Article 20.4oftheFederal Copyright Law, claims forremuneration fortheprivate
reproduction ofworks mayonlybeasserted bytheapproved collecting societies. Authorization is
granted forliterary works toPRO LITTERIS, formusical works toSUISA, foraudiovisual works
toSUISSIMAGE andfordramatical works toSSA(Société Suisse desAuteurs). Remuneration of
foreign rightholders maybesummarized asfollows: ingeneral, theyreceive remuneration through
theirownnational collecting societies thathaveconcluded mutual agreements withSwiss collecting
societies. Ifthere isnosuchagreement (orifthere isnocollecting society), individual foreign
rightholders canconclude acontract withthecompetent Swiss collecting society andasktobe
remunerated directly.
2. Does Switzerland apply the“ruleoftheshorter term”tophonograms andperformances from
other WTO Members? Ifso,please explain howyoujustify suchaction under TRIPS Article 4.
No.IP/Q/CHE/1
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3. Please explain whether andhowSwitzerland protects against boththedirect andindirect
reproduction ofphonograms asrequired byTRIPS Article 14.2, including bydigital transmission in
thecontext ofinteractive services.
InconformitywithArticle10oftheRomeConvention,theexclusiverightprovidedbyArticle36
oftheFederal Copyright Lawcovers bothdirect andindirect reproductions ofphonograms aswell
asofvideograms.
Thetemporary fixation inconnection withadigital transmission maybeconsidered asa
reproduction.
4. Please explain whether andhowSwitzerland provides fullretroactive protection toworks,
phonograms andperformances fromother WTO Members, asrequired byTRIPS Articles 9.1,14.6
and70.2, eachofwhich incorporate byreference orrelyuponBerne Article 18.Please givethedate
backtowhich suchprotection extends withrespect toeachcategory ofsubject matter.
InaccordancewithArticle18oftheBerneConventionandArticle70.2oftheTRIPSAgreement,
theFederal Copyright Lawprovides forretroactive protection. ItsArticle 80.1stipulates thatthelaw
applies "also toworks, performances, phonograms andvideograms andalsotobroadcasts prior to
itsentry intoforce".
Theprotection afforded bytheFederal Copyright Lawextends toallworks which havenot
fallen inthepublic domain before thedateofitsentry intoforce, i.e.1July1993. Thetermof
protection ofallthose works maytherefore beextended from 50to70years postmortem auctoris .
Theprotection oftheFederal Copyright Lawapplies toallperformances, phonograms, videograms
andbroadcasts forwhich thetermof50years hasnotyetelapsed.
Itistobenoted thatSwitzerland hasbeengranting national treatment toallcountries asfrom
1July1993, whether theyaremembers oftheBerne Union ornot. Inaccordance withtheBerne
Convention andtheTRIPS Agreement, noformality isrequired forsuchretroactive protection.
5. Under Article 2.3oftheFederal Copyright Law, arecomputer programs considered tobe
“literary works ”asrequired byTRIPS Article 10.1, andifso,under whatlegal authority?
Under theFederal Copyright Law, "works" aredefined asbeing "literary andartistic creations
ofthemind, irrespective oftheirvalue orpurpose, thatpossess anindividual nature" (Article 2.1FCL).
Computer programs are"deemed works" (Article 2.3FCL). TheFederal Copyright Lawprovides
forcomputer programs protection which ishigher thanthatrequired bytheBerne Convention forliterary
works. Forexample, limitations toexclusive rights suchasprivate useofliterary works covered by
Article 9(2)oftheBerne Convention donotapply tocomputer programs (seeArticle 19.4FCLand
reply toquestion 8below). Theauthor ofacomputer program has,inaddition totherighttodecide
whether, when andhowhiswork istobeused, anexclusive rental right(Article 10.3FCL).
6. Please explain whether andhowSwiss lawprotects compilations ofdataorother materials
asrequired byTRIPS Article 10.2.
TheSwiss Federal Copyright Lawprotects collections ofdataorother materials ifthyare
creations ofanindividual nature withregard totheselection orarrangement ofdatawhich theycontain
(Article 4.1FCL).IP/Q/CHE/1
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7. Please explain howtheexception for“parodies andothercomparable variations ”inArticle 11.3
oftheFederal Copyright Lawhasbeeninterpreted orapplied.
Under theSwiss legislation, theintegrity ofanexisting work isnotaffected ifthatwork is
usedforthecreation ofparodies orother comparable variations ontheworks. Asaverycommon
formofcriticism made forhumoristic purposes, theparody ofawork isnotsubject totheauthorization
oftherightholder, Should therebeanyconfusion astothepurposes (e.g., intention toharm theauthor
oftheoriginal work), theparody would notbedeemed lawful. "Parodies andcomparable variations"
should notbeconfused withadaptations orplagiaries ofthework which maychange itsoriginal nature.
These forms ofusearenotcovered bythelaw.
8. Please explain howtheoperation ofArticle 19oftheFederal Copyright Lawonprivate use
complies withBerne Article 9(2)andTRIPS Article 13,bothofwhich require limitations andexceptions
toexclusive rights tobeconfined tocertain special cases which donotconflict withthenormal
exploitation oftheworkanddonotunreasonably prejudice thelegitimate interests oftherightholder.
Article 19oftheFederal Copyright Lawprovides foralimitation oftheexclusive right of
theauthor, namely private use.Inaccordance withArticle 9(2)oftheBerne Convention andArticle 19
oftheTRIPS Agreement, theFederal Copyright Lawhasmade suchusedependent onanumber of
requirements:
(a) Private useisrestricted toanexhaustive listofcases: useinprivate sphere orcircle,
useforteaching inaclass, reproduction ofcopies ofworks inenterprises orentities
(seeArticle 19.1, litt.atoc,FCL);
(b) Private useoutside theprivate circle defined inArticle 19.1.a issubject toadditional
limitations (seeArticle 19.3FCL);
(c) Reproduction ofworks inanymanner forprivate useother thaninprivate sphere or
circle is,toaverylarge extent, subject toarightofremuneration (Article 20).
Theprovisions onprivate usedonotapply tocomputer programs (Article 19.4FCL).
Furthermore, attention isdrawn toanimportant feature oftheSwiss law: anyperson who
imports ormanufactures blank cassettes orotherphonograms andvideograms suitable fortherecording
ofworks isrequired topayaremuneration totheauthor forprivate usesunder Article 19(Article 20
FCL).
[Follow-up question]
Please explain whether andhowtheliteral textofArticle 19oftheFederal Copyright Law
hasbeenlimited inapplication oroperation.
While Article 19concerning theexception forprivate useisdrafted inarather complicated
fashion, asfarasweareaware ithasnotcaused problems ofapplication. Inanyevent, there have
notyetbeendisputes inthisregard thathavehadtobesettled bythecourts. Wethink thatthequestion
raised bytheUnited States doesnotariseinpractice because alarge number oftheusespermitted
intheprivate-use context arecovered byarightofremuneration.IP/Q/CHE/1
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9. Please explain howArticle 22.2oftheFederal Copyright Law, which permits retransmission
ofbroadcasts insmall-scale networks, complies withBerne Article 11bis, asincorporated through TRIPS
Article 9.1,andTRIPS Article 13.
Article 11bisoftheBerne Convention provides forauthors ofliterary andartistic works the
exclusive right toauthorize anycommunication tothepublic bywireorbyrebroadcasting ofthe
broadcast ofthework. Theprovision ofArticle 22.2oftheFederal Copyright Lawconcerns exclusively
technical installations thatareintended toserve asmall number ofreceivers, suchasinstallations in
houses withmore thanoneoccupier orinaprivate building. Thisform ofretransmission isnot
considered asa"communication tothepublic" asdefined bytheBerne Convention, because there is
noneworganization between theoriginal broadcasting organization andthereceivers.
10. Please explain howArticle 23oftheFederal Copyright Lawrelating tocompulsory licenses
forthemanufacturing ofphonograms isapplied, andinparticular howitsapplication onlyto
manufacturers ofphonograms having anindustrial establishment inSwitzerland isconsistent withthe
national treatment requirements ofBerne Article 5(1)andTRIPS Article 3.
Thegranting ofcompulsory licenses forthemanufacturing ofphonograms against remuneration
isalimitation oftheexclusive rights permitted bytheBerne Convention. Article 13(1) oftheBerne
Convention allows eachcountry oftheUnion toimpose foritself reservations andconditions onthe
author 'sexclusive rightofrecording ofmusical works andanywords pertaining thereto, under the
condition thattheyarenot,inanycircumstances, prejudicial totherights ofthese authors toobtain
equitable remuneration. Asamatter offact,exclusive rights fortheperformance andbroadcasting
ofnon-theatrical works ofmusic andtheproduction ofphonograms andvideograms ofsuchworks
areadministered bycollecting societies (Article 40.1.a FCL). Inaccordance withtherequirement
ofequal treatment, theSwiss collecting society competent formusical works, SUISA, hastogivea
license toamanufacturer ofphonograms, ifsorequested (Article 45.2FCL). Anymanufacturer who
wants toreproduce aprotected musical work would nothavetoclaim foracompulsory license as
provided byArticle 23oftheFederal Copyright Law. Consequently, therequirement ofnational
treatmentforforeignmanufacturersofphonogramscouldnotbehamperedbytheprovisionsofArticle23
oftheFederal Copyright Law. Attention isdrawn tothefactthatthesystem ofcompulsory licenses
ascontained inthatArticle andwhich hasexisted formore than70years hasnever beenapplied.
Itwould probably beabrogated iftheFederal Copyright Lawwere toberevised inthefuture.
11. Please explain howtheoperation ofArticle 13oftheFederal Copyright Law,which establishes
anequitable right ofremuneration fortherental ofphonograms, avoids resulting inthe“material
impairment ”oftheexclusive right ofreproduction under TRIPS Article 14.4.
According toArticle 14.4oftheTRIPS Agreement, ifon15April 1994aWTO Member has
inforce asystem ofequitable remuneration ofrightholders inrespect oftherental ofphonograms,
itmaymaintain suchsystem ifthecommercial rental ofphonograms isnotgiving risetothematerial
impairment oftheexclusive rights ofreproduction ofrightholders. Theprovision ofArticle 13.1of
theFederal Copyright Lawisconsistent withtheTRIPS provisions. There was-andis-noneed
forsetting uprulestoavoid resulting inthematerial impairment oftheexclusive rights ofreproduction
ofrightholders. InSwitzerland, consumers seem toprefer buying phonograms torenting them.
12. Please explain thecriminal andcivilremedies available forcopyright infringement andthe
extent towhich theyfullyimplement theobligations inTRIPS Articles 41,45,50and61. Inthe
response, please specify, interalia,whether these remedies mayinclude theseizure, forfeiture and
destruction ofinfringing articles andequipment usedtomake theinfringing articles, asrequired by
Articles 46and61,andthemanner inwhich thegrant ofcivilprovisional reliefisprovided inaccordance
withTRIPS Article 50.IP/Q/CHE/1
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(a) Civil law:
Whoever suffers orislikely tosuffer aviolation ofhiscopyright orneighbouring rightmay
request thecivilcourts toprohibit animminent prejudice, toremove anexisting prejudice and
torequire thedefendant tostatetheorigin oftheunlawfully manufactured ormarketed articles
inhispossession (Article 62.1FCL). Proceedings fordamages andredress orforsurrender
ofprofits mayfurther beinstituted (Article 62.2FCLandrelevant provisions of"Code des
obligations"). Thecourt mayorder thattheunlawfully manufactured orutilized articles in
thepossession ofthedefendant beconfiscated, destroyed orrendered unusable (Article 63.1
FCL).
Anyperson whoproves alegal interest therein mayapply tothecourt foradeclaratory
judgement onwhether ornotarightoralegalrelationship subsists under theCopyright Law
(Article 61FCL).
Provisionalmeasuresmaybeorderedonrequestofanypersonwhoprovidesreasonableevidence
thathiscopyright orneighbouring rightisinfringed orislikely tobeinfringed andthatthe
infringement islikely toresult inaprejudice forhimthatmaynotbereadily made good. He
mayrequest, inparticular, thatthecourt order measures tosecure evidence, todetermine the
origin ofunlawfully manufactured ormarketed articles ortomaintain theexisting situation
ormeasures fortheprovisional execution ofpreventive andrestraining injunctions. Ifthe
ordered provisional measures could cause damage tothedefendant, thecourt mayaskthe
applicant toprovide asufficient security. Where provisional measures havebeenadopted
inaudita altera parte,thedefendant must beheard without delay aftertheexecution ofthe
measures. Provisional measures cease tohaveeffect iftheproceedings leading toadecision
onthemerits ofthecasearenotinitiated within thetimelimitfixed bythecourt, atthelatest
within 30days(Article 65FCLandArticle 28cto28foftheCivil Code).
Thecourt mayorder, attherequest ofthesuccessful party, thatthejudgement bepublished
atthecostoftheother party (Article 66FCL).
EachSwiss canton designates onesingle court thathasjurisdiction forthewhole ofitsterritory
forcivilproceedings. Decisions ofthecantonal court maybereviewed bytheSwiss supreme
court, theFederal Court ("Tribunal fédéral"). Inaddition tothefederal rules, thecantons
havetheirownprocedural rules, which must beinconformity withthefederal lawaswell
astheinternational law.
(b) Criminal law:
Attherequest oftherightholder, anyperson whoinfringes hisexclusive rights isliable to
imprisonment foratermnotexceeding oneyearortoafine(Article 67.1FCL). Infringement
bywayoftrade areprosecuted exofficio .Inthatcasethepenalty willbeimprisonment and
afineofupto100,000 Swiss francs (Article 67.2FCL). Anyperson whointentionally omits
tostatethesource where required bystatute (i.e., forquotations orforreporting oncurrent
events) and,where heisnamed therein, togivethename oftheauthor, ispunishable bya
fineattherequest oftheperson whose rights have been infringed (Article 68FCL).
Unauthorizedassertionofrightsisliabletoimprisonmentorafine(Article70FCL).Incriminal
proceedings confiscation maybeordered according totheprovisions oftheSwiss Criminal
Code; itmayconcern notonlyunlawful copies ofworks, phonograms andvideograms but
alsoinstruments ordevices usedforreproduction. Destruction oftheconfiscated goods may
beordered (Article 72FCLandArticle 58oftheCriminal Code).IP/Q/CHE/1
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Criminal proceedings fallwithin thecompetence ofthecantons. Final decisions ofthehighest
cantonal court maybereviewed bytheSwiss supreme court, theFederal Court ("Tribunal
fédéral"). Inaddition tothefederal rules, thecantons havetheirownprocedural rules, which
must beinconformity withthefederal lawaswellastheinternational law.
[Follow-up question]
Dothecivilremedies available forcopyright infringement under Swiss lawinclude forfeiture
anddestruction ofequipment usedtomake infringing articles?
Asstated above inourwritten reply toquestion 12,theobjects orinstruments usedtomake
pirate copies mayalsobeconfiscated, destroyed andputoutofaction (seeArticle 63).