RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE IP/C/W/39/Add.1
17October 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-4317)
Original: English Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
REVIEW OFLEGISLATION ONTRADEMARKS, GEOGRAPHICAL
INDICATIONS AND INDUSTRIAL DESIGNS
Questions posed bytheUnited States
Addendum
Bymeans ofacommunication fromthePermanent Mission oftheUnited States totheWTO,
dated 11October 1996, theSecretariat hasreceived questions thattheUnited States hadcommunicated
tothefollowing WTO Members concerning thereview ofnational implementing legislation intheareas
oftrademarks, geographical indications andindustrial designs:
Page
Ecuador 2
Hong Kong 4
Israel 5
Korea 6
Kuwait 7
Mexico 8
Singapore 9
Turkey 10IP/C/W/39/Add.1
Page2
ECUADOR
Trademarks
1. Article 81ofAndean PactDecision 344specifies thesignsthatcanbeprotected astrademarks,
andspecifies thatsignsmustbecapable ofgraphic representation. InArticle 82(f), “colours considered
inisolation ”arealsoexcluded fromregistration asatrademark. Asaresult, itwould appear thatcolours,
scents andsounds cannot beprotected astrademarks. Please indicate whether thisisacorrect
interpretation ofArticle 81and,ifso,please explain howthisprovision isconsistent withTRIPS
Article 15.1.
2. Article 82(d) ofAndean PactDecision 344specifies thatmarks “thatcanserve incommerce
todesignate ordescribe thetype,quality, use,value, place oforigin, timeofproduction orother data,
characteristics orinformation ”cannot beregistered asmarks. Thiswould appear topreclude the
registration ofcertification marks. Please explain howthisprovision isconsistent withTRIPS
Article 15.1.
3. Article 82(g) ofAndean PactDecision 344precludes registration ofmarks thatare“contrary
tolaw,morals, public policy orproper customs ”.Please explain howthisprovision conforms to
TRIPS Article 15.4, which specifies thatthenature ofthegoods orservices towhich atrademark applies
shallnotserve asanobstacle toregistration ofthetrademark.
4. Article 83(d) ofAndean PactDecision 344extends protection totrademarks thatarewell-known
ininternational trade butonlywhen theyare“subject toreciprocity byinterested sectors ”.Please
explain howthisprovision isconsistent withTRIPS Articles 16.2and16.3which incorporate andextend
application ofArticle 6bisoftheParis Convention.
5. Article 84(a) ofAndean PactDecision 344appears toprovide thatEcuador willrelyon
knowledge among the“consumer public ”toevaluate whether amark satisfies theconditions forstatus
asawell-known mark. Article 84(c) ofDecision 344further specifies thattheageofthemark and
itscontinuous useshallbefactors thatareusedintheevaluation ofthemark fordetermining ifitis
well-known.PleaseexplainhowtheseprovisionsareconsistentwithTRIPSArticle16.2,whichspecifies
thattheevaluation shallbeundertaken withrespect totherelevant sectors ofthepublic, shallinclude
consideration ofknowledge ofthemark inthecountry thatderives frompromotion ofthemark, and
doesnotincorporate timeoruseconditions withregard toamark achieving status asbeing well-known.
6. Please explain whether Decision 344oranyother Ecuadorian lawsorregulations incorporate
thecriteria ofdistinctiveness intothedetermination ofwhether amark mayberegistered where the
mark isnotinherently capable ofdistinguishing therelevant goods orservices.
7. Article 96ofAndean PactDecision 344specifies thatanapplicant foraregistration willbe
notified ofthegrant ordenial oftherequest forregistration viaa“dulysubstantiated decision ”.Please
indicate whether judicial review maybeobtained ofadecision denying arequest forregistration and,
ifnot,howthispractice complies withTRIPS Article 41.4.
8. Ecuadorian LawNo.1038–a(theDealers ’Act)of28December 1976, prohibits foreign
companies fromterminating trademark licensing anddistribution contracts withEcuadorian companies
iftheproducts onwhich themarks areplaced areimported intoEcuador. Please indicate howthe
Dealers ’Act’srestriction onthefreeuseoftrademarks isconsistent withTRIPS Article 20,which
provides thattheuseofatrademark inthecourse oftrade shallnotbeunjustifiably encumbered by
special requirements.IP/C/W/39/Add.1
Page3
9. Please indicate howtheDealers ’Actisconsistent withthenational treatment provisions in
theTRIPS Agreement, which obligate Members toprovide trademark protection fornationals ofother
Members thatisnolessfavourable thantheyaccord totheirownnationals. Thisobligation extends
totherighttouseatrademark. With itsfocus ondomestically produced products, theDealers ’Act
effectively putsforeign trademark owners inalessfavourable position withrespect totheuseoftheir
marks thanEcuadorian trademark owners.
10. Please explain whether theregistration ofatrademark maybecancelled onthebasisofnon-use
under thelawofEcuador orDecisions oftheAndean Pact.
11. Article121ofAndeanPactDecision344specifiesthat“commercialslogans”mustbetransferred
together withthemark withwhich theyareassociated. Please explain howthispractice isconsistent
withTRIPS Article 21,which specifies thattheowner ofaregistered trademark shallhavetheright
toassign thetrademark withorwithout thetransfer ofthebusiness towhich thetrademark belongs.
Geographical Indications
12. Please explain howgeographical indications areprotected under theEcuadorian law,asrequired
byTRIPS Articles 22and23.
Industrial Designs
13. Article 58ofAndean PactDecision 344excludes fromprotection industrial designs “referring
toclothing ”.Thisauthority appears toexclude protection fortextile designs. Please explain howthis
provision isconsistent withTRIPS Article 25.
14. Thetermofprotection afforded toindustrial designs under Andean PactDecision 344is8years
fromthedateoffiling. Please explain howthisprovision canbereconciled withTRIPS Article 26.3
which requires WTO members toprovide atermofprotection thatshallamount toatleast10years.
15. Please describe themethods bywhich industrial designs areprotected inEcuador, inparticular:
(a) theform orforms ofintellectual property usedtoprotect thedesign
(e.g.,patent, copyright, suigeneris );
(b) theconditions thatmust besatisfied toobtain thegrant ofsuchprotection
(e.g.,whether designs mustbenewororiginal andtheparameters ofthese concepts),
andabriefdescription oftheregistration orgranting procedure;
(c) thenature oftherights granted andthetermofprotection provided;
(d) thenature ofremedies available totheowner ofeachtypeofprotection, including
adescription oftheconditions thatmaybeimposed (e.g.,whether commercial use
isrequired); and
(e) whether anyexceptions toprotection orrights existforeachtypeofintellectual property
involved.IP/C/W/39/Add.1
Page4
HONG KONG
Trademarks
1. PleaseexplainwhetherapresumptionoflikelihoodofconfusionisprovidedthroughHongKong
lawinthedetermination ofconfusing similarity involving identical marks thatareusedonidentical
goods, asrequired byTRIPS Article 16.1. Ifso,please identify andexplain thelegalbasis forthis
presumption.
2. Please explain whether thenature ofgoods orservices towhich atrademark istobeapplied
canserve asanobstacle totheregistration ofthemark under Hong Kong law. Ifso,please identify
andexplain thesubject matter excluded under thisauthority andtherelative provisions ofthelawthat
serve asabasis forthese exclusions.
3. HowdoesHongKonglawimplementtherequirementthattherenownofthemarkbedetermined
bytaking intoaccount theknowledge ofthetrademark within therelevant sector ofthepublic?
4. Please explain howHong Kong lawprotects well-known marks inaccordance withthe
requirements ofTRIPS Article 16.2.
Geographical Indications
5. Please explain howgeographical indications areprotected inHong Kong, asrequired byTRIPS
Articles 22and23.
Industrial Designs
6. Please describe themethods bywhich industrial designs areprotected inHong Kong, in
particular:
(a) theform orforms ofintellectual property usedtoprotect thedesign
(e.g.,patent, copyright, suigeneris );
(b) theconditions thatmust besatisfied toobtain thegrant ofsuchprotection
(e.g.,whether designs mustbenewororiginal andtheparameters ofthese concepts),
andabriefdescription oftheregistration orgranting procedure;
(c) thenature oftherights granted andthetermofprotection provided;
(d) thenature ofremedies available totheowner ofeachtypeofprotection, including a
description oftheconditions thatmaybeimposed (e.g.,whether commercial useis
required); and
(e) whether anyexceptions toprotection orrights existforeachtypeofintellectual property
involved.
7. Please explain howtextile designs areprotected under yourlaw.IP/C/W/39/Add.1
Page5
ISRAEL
Trademarks
1. Please explain whether apresumption oflikelihood ofconfusion isprovided through Israeli
lawinthedetermination ofconfusing similarity involving identical marks thatareusedonidentical
goods, asrequired byTRIPS Article 16.1. Ifso,please identify andexplain thelegalbasis forthis
presumption.
2. Please explain whether thenature ofgoods orservices towhich atrademark istobeapplied
canserve asanobstacle totheregistration ofthemark under Israeli law. Ifso,please identify and
explain thesubject matter excluded under thisauthority andtherelative provisions ofthelawthatserve
asabasis forthese exclusions.
3. HowdoesIsraeli lawimplement therequirement thattherenown ofthemark bedetermined
bytaking intoaccount theknowledge ofthetrademark within therelevant sector ofthepublic?
4. Please explain howIsraeli lawprotects well-known marks inaccordance withtherequirements
ofTRIPS Article 16.2.
Geographical Indications
5. Please explain howgeographical indications areprotected inIsrael, asrequired byTRIPS
Articles 22and23.
Industrial Designs
6. Please describe themethods bywhich industrial designs areprotected inIsrael, inparticular:
(a) theform orforms ofintellectual property usedtoprotect thedesign
(e.g., patent, copyright, suigeneris );
(b) theconditions thatmust besatisfied toobtain thegrant ofsuchprotection
(e.g.,whether designs mustbenewororiginal andtheparameters ofthese concepts),
andabriefdescription oftheregistration orgranting procedure;
(c) thenature oftherights granted andthetermofprotection provided;
(d) thenature ofremedies available totheowner ofeachtypeofprotection, including a
description oftheconditions thatmaybeimposed (e.g.,whether commercial useis
required); and
(e) whether anyexceptions toprotection orrights existforeachtypeofintellectual property
involved.
7. Please explain howtextile designs areprotected under yourlaw.IP/C/W/39/Add.1
Page6
KOREA
Trademarks
1. Please explain whether apresumption oflikelihood ofconfusion isprovided through Korean
lawinthedetermination ofconfusing similarity involving identical marks thatareusedonidentical
goods, asrequired byTRIPS Article 16.1. Ifso,please identify andexplain thelegalbasis forthis
presumption.
2. Please explain whether thenature ofgoods orservices towhich atrademark istobeapplied
canserve asanobstacle totheregistration ofthemark under Korean law. Ifso,please identify and
explain thesubject matter excluded under thisauthority andtherelative provisions ofthelawthatserve
asabasis forthese exclusions.
3. HowdoesKorean lawimplement therequirement thattherenown ofthemark bedetermined
bytaking intoaccount theknowledge ofthetrademark within therelevant sector ofthepublic?
4. Please explain howKorean lawprotects well-known marks inaccordance withtherequirements
ofTRIPS Article 16.2.
Geographical Indications
5. Please explain howgeographical indications areprotected inKorea, asrequired byTRIPS
Articles 22and23.
Industrial Designs
6. Please describe themethods bywhich industrial designs areprotected inKorea, inparticular:
(a) theform orforms ofintellectual property usedtoprotect thedesign
(e.g.,patent, copyright, suigeneris );
(b) theconditions thatmust besatisfied toobtain thegrant ofsuchprotection
(e.g.,whether designs mustbenewororiginal andtheparameters ofthese concepts),
andabriefdescription oftheregistration orgranting procedure;
(c) thenature oftherights granted andthetermofprotection provided;
(d) thenature ofremedies available totheowner ofeachtypeofprotection, including a
description oftheconditions thatmaybeimposed (e.g.,whether commercial useis
required); and
(e) whether anyexceptions toprotection orrights existforeachtypeofintellectual property
involved.
7. Please explain howtextile designs areprotected under yourlaw.IP/C/W/39/Add.1
Page7
KUWAIT
Trademarks
1. Please explain whether apresumption oflikelihood ofconfusion isprovided through Kuwaiti
lawinthedetermination ofconfusing similarity involving identical marks thatareusedonidentical
goods, asrequired byTRIPS Article 16.1. Ifso,please identify andexplain thelegalbasis forthis
presumption.
2. Please explain whether thenature ofgoods orservices towhich atrademark istobeapplied
canserve asanobstacle totheregistration ofthemark under Kuwaiti law. Ifso,please identify and
explain thesubject matter excluded under thisauthority andtherelative provisions ofthelawthatserve
asabasis forthese exclusions.
3. HowdoesKuwaiti lawimplement therequirement thattherenown ofthemark bedetermined
bytaking intoaccount theknowledge ofthetrademark within therelevant sector ofthepublic?
4. Please explain howKuwaiti lawprotects well-known marks inaccordance withtherequirements
ofTRIPS Article 16.2.
Geographical Indications
5. Please explain howgeographical indications areprotected inKuwait, asrequired byTRIPS
Articles 22and23.
Industrial Designs
6. Please describe themethods bywhich industrial designs areprotected inKuwait, inparticular:
(a) theform orforms ofintellectual property usedtoprotect thedesign
(e.g.,patent, copyright, suigeneris );
(b) theconditions thatmust besatisfied toobtain thegrant ofsuchprotection
(e.g.,whether designs mustbenewororiginal andtheparameters ofthese concepts),
andabriefdescription oftheregistration orgranting procedure;
(c) thenature oftherights granted andthetermofprotection provided;
(d) thenature ofremedies available totheowner ofeachtypeofprotection, including a
description oftheconditions thatmaybeimposed (e.g.,whether commercial useis
required); and
(e) whether anyexceptions toprotection orrights existforeachtypeofintellectual property
involved.
7. Please explain howtextile designs areprotected under yourlaw.IP/C/W/39/Add.1
Page8
MEXICO
Trademarks
1. Please explain whether apresumption oflikelihood ofconfusion isprovided through Mexican
lawinthedetermination ofconfusing similarity involving identical marks thatareusedonidentical
goods, asrequired byTRIPS Article 16.1. Ifso,please identify andexplain thelegalbasis forthis
presumption.
2. Please explain whether thenature ofgoods orservices towhich atrademark istobeapplied
canserve asanobstacle totheregistration ofthemark under Mexican law. Ifso,please identify and
explain thesubject matter excluded under thisauthority andtherelative provisions ofthelawthatserve
asabasis forthese exclusions.
3. HowdoesMexican lawimplement therequirement thattherenown ofthemark bedetermined
bytaking intoaccount theknowledge ofthetrademark within therelevant sector ofthepublic?
4. PleaseexplainhowMexicanlawprotectswell-knownmarksinaccordancewiththerequirements
ofTRIPS Article 16.2.
Geographical Indications
5. Please explain howgeographical indications areprotected inMexico, asrequired byTRIPS
Articles 22and23.
Industrial Designs
6. Please describe themethods bywhich industrial designs areprotected inMexico, inparticular:
(a) theform orforms ofintellectual property usedtoprotect thedesign
(e.g.,patent, copyright, suigeneris );
(b) theconditions thatmust besatisfied toobtain thegrant ofsuchprotection
(e.g.,whether designs mustbenewororiginal andtheparameters ofthese concepts),
andabriefdescription oftheregistration orgranting procedure;
(c) thenature oftherights granted andthetermofprotection provided;
(d) thenature ofremedies available totheowner ofeachtypeofprotection, including a
description oftheconditions thatmaybeimposed (e.g.,whether commercial useis
required); and
(e) whether anyexceptions toprotection orrights existforeachtypeofintellectual property
involved.
7. Please explain howtextile designs areprotected under yourlaw.IP/C/W/39/Add.1
Page9
SINGAPORE
Trademarks
1. PleaseexplainwhetherapresumptionoflikelihoodofconfusionisprovidedthroughSingaporian
lawinthedetermination ofconfusing similarity involving identical marks thatareusedonidentical
goods, asrequired byTRIPS Article 16.1. Ifso,please identify andexplain thelegalbasis forthis
presumption.
2. Please explain whether thenature ofgoods orservices towhich atrademark istobeapplied
canserve asanobstacle totheregistration ofthemark under Singaporian law. Ifso,please identify
andexplain thesubject matter excluded under thisauthority andtherelative provisions ofthelawthat
serve asabasis forthese exclusions.
3. HowdoesSingaporianlawimplementtherequirementthattherenownofthemarkbedetermined
bytaking intoaccount theknowledge ofthetrademark within therelevant sector ofthepublic?
4. Please explain howSingaporian lawprotects well-known marks inaccordance withthe
requirements ofTRIPS Article 16.2.
Geographical Indications
5. Please explain howgeographical indications areprotected inSingapore, asrequired byTRIPS
Articles 22and23.
Industrial Designs
6. PleasedescribethemethodsbywhichindustrialdesignsareprotectedinSingapore,inparticular:
(a) theform orforms ofintellectual property usedtoprotect thedesign
(e.g.,patent, copyright, suigeneris );
(b) theconditions thatmust besatisfied toobtain thegrant ofsuchprotection
(e.g.,whether designs mustbenewororiginal andtheparameters ofthese concepts),
andabriefdescription oftheregistration orgranting procedure;
(c) thenature oftherights granted andthetermofprotection provided;
(d) thenature ofremedies available totheowner ofeachtypeofprotection, including a
description oftheconditions thatmaybeimposed (e.g.,whether commercial useis
required); and
(e) whether anyexceptions toprotection orrights existforeachtypeofintellectual property
involved.
7. Please explain howtextile designs areprotected under yourlaw.IP/C/W/39/Add.1
Page10
TURKEY
Trademarks
1. Please explain whether thenature ofthegoods orservices towhich atrademark istobeapplied
canserve asanobstacle totheregistration ofthemark under Turkey ’slaw. Ifso,please identify and
explain thesubject matter excluded under thisauthority andtherelative provisions ofTurkey ’slaw
thatserve asabasis forthese exclusions.
2. Please explain whether Turkish trademark lawpermits thefiling ofanapplication toregister
atrademark based onanintention tousethemark, rather thanupon abasis ofactual use. Ifnot,
please explain howthispractice isconsistent withTRIPS Article 15.3.
3. Article 5ofTurkey ’sTrademark Lawsetsforth thetypes ofsigns thatarecapable ofbeing
protected asatrademark. Thislistofsigns doesnotinclude colour marks. Please indicate whether
colour marks arecapable ofconstituting atrademark under Turkish trademark lawand,ifso,under
whatauthority.
4. Please explain whether Turkish trademark lawprotects unregistered well-known marks and,
ifso,howthisisreconciled withArticle 6ofTurkey ’sTrademark Law, which requires registration
toobtain protection. Ifunregistered well-known marks areprotected, please identify theprovision(s)
thatprovide(s) suchprotection.
5. Please explain whether apresumption oflikelihood ofconfusion isprovided through Turkish
lawinthedetermination ofconfusing similarity involving identical marks thatareusedonidentical
goods, asrequired byTRIPS Article 16.1. Ifso,please identify andexplain thelegalbasis forthis
presumption.
6. Article 14oftheTurkish Trademark Lawpermits invalidation ofaregistered trademark within
afive-year period following registration ifthemarkhasnotbeenputtouse“without ajustifiable reason ”
oriftheusehasbeensuspended foranuninterrupted period offiveyears. Please explain thetypes
ofcircumstances thatwould besufficient tosatisfy thisprovision, including, where relevant, results
ofadministrative orjudicial decisions addressing thisissue.
7. Article 79oftheTurkish Trademark Lawprovides trademark owners anopportunity toseek
Customs enforcement assistance against theimportation orexportation ofinfringing goods. Please
explain howthe10-day period specified inArticle 79complies withTRIPS Article 55,which requires
the10-day suspension period beaminimum of10working dayswiththepossibility ofanadditional
10-working dayextension.
Geographical Indications
8. Please explain howgeographical indications areprotected under Turkish law,asrequired by
TRIPS Articles 22and23.
Industrial Designs
9. Please describe themethods bywhich industrial designs areprotected inTurkey, inparticular:
(a) theform orforms ofintellectual property usedtoprotect thedesign
(e.g.,patent, copyright, suigeneris );IP/C/W/39/Add.1
Page11
(b) theconditions thatmust besatisfied toobtain thegrant ofsuchprotection
(e.g.,whether designs mustbenewororiginal andtheparameters ofthese concepts),
andabriefdescription oftheregistration orgranting procedure;
(c) thenature oftherights granted andthetermofprotection provided;
(d) thenature ofremedies available totheowner ofeachtypeofprotection, including a
description oftheconditions thatmaybeimposed (e.g.,whether commercial useis
required); and
(e) whether anyexceptions toprotection orrights existforeachtypeofintellectual property
involved.
10. Please explain howtextile designs areprotected under yourlaw.