RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE IP/Q/FRA/1
22October 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-4437)
Original: French/English*Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
REPLIES OFLEGISLATION ONCOPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS
France1
Thepresent document reproduces thequestions puttothedelegation ofFrance andtheresponses
given inthereview oflegislation oncopyright andrelated rights attheCouncil 'smeeting of22to
25July1996.2
_______________
REPLIES TOQUESTIONS POSED BYTHE UNITED STATES
1. Please explain whether andhowFrench lawprovides protection forworks, phonograms
andperformances from other WTO Members, andwhether andhowitdoessoonthebasis of
national treatment, asrequired byTRIPS Article 3(generally, withrespect toallcopyrights and
neighbouringrights)andArticle9.1(incorporatingBerneArticle5(1)).Inparticular,pleaseexplain
hownational treatment isafforded withrespect tothedistribution oflevies forprivate copying
under therelevant provisions ofyour law.
Inaccordance with Article 55oftheConstitution, international agreements aredirectly
incorporated intotheinternal legalsystem. France hasbeenaparty totheBerne Convention since
5December 1887. Thetwofundamental ruleslaiddown bytheBerne Convention infavour ofauthors,
national treatment andmoral rights, aretherefore granted toforeign authors.
Levies forprivate copying forAmerican authors ofmusical andaudiovisual works arepaid
through collective management companies responsible under thelawforcollecting anddistributing
thelevies.
2. Does France apply the"rule oftheshorter term" tophonograms andperformances from
other WTO Members? Ifso,please explain howyoujustify suchaction under TRIPS Article 4.
*French forthereplies andEnglish forthequestions.
1France 'snotification oflawsandregulations intheareaofcopyright andrelated rights under Article 63.2
oftheAgreement hasbeen circulated indocuments IP/N/1/FRA/1 andIP/N/FRA/C/1.
2Theminutes ofthemeeting have been circulated indocument IP/C/M/8.
./.IP/Q/FRA/1
Page2
TheLawof3July1985 (Article L-211.4, Intellectual Property Code) fixes theduration of
protection forneighbouring rights ofperformers andproducers ofphonograms at50years. France
complies withtheprovisions ofEuropean Directive No.93/98 of29October 1993, which provides
forthesame duration (Articles 3.1and2).
3. Please explain whether andhowFrance protects against both thedirect andindirect
reproduction ofphonograms asrequired byTRIPS Article 14.2, including bydigital transmission
inthecontext ofsubscription orinteractive services.
Article L-213.1 oftheIntellectual Property Code protects producers ofphonograms bygranting
themtherighttoauthorize reproduction offixations andthuscomplies withtheprovisions oftheRome
Convention (Article 7),ratified on3July1987, Directive No.92-100 of1November 1992(Article 7)
andArticle 14.2oftheTRIPS Agreement. Reproduction covers anyphysical fixation anddirect or
indirect reproduction.
Allphonograms whose protection hasnotexpired areprotected withrespect toreproduction
carried outsubsequently totheentry intoforce oftheLawof3July1985 (1January 1986).
In1996, anyphonogram published afterorinthecourse ofthemonth ofJanuary 1946 is
protected.
4. Please explain whether andhowFrance provides fullretroactive protection toworks,
phonograms andperformances from other WTO Members, asrequired byBerne Article 18,as
incorporated through Article 9.1ofTRIPS, andTRIPS Article 14.6, andgivethedateback to
which protection extends astoeachofthese categories ofsubject matter.
Article 18oftheBerne Convention isincorporated intoFrench lawasaresult oftheratification
oftheConvention andoftheUniversal Convention of1952. Consequently, awork protected by
copyright initscountry oforigin mayclaim protection. Hence, onlyworks thathavefallen intothe
public domain arenotprotected.
Allphonograms whose protection hasnotexpired inthecountry oforigin areprotected with
respect tousesmade subsequently totheentry intoforce oftheFrench Law of3July1985
(1January 1986).