RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE IP/C/W/56
25March 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-1225)
Council forTrade-Related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights
REVIEW OFLEGISLATION INTHE FIELDS OFPATENTS, LAYOUT-DESIGNS
(TOPOGRAPHIES) OFINTEGRATED CIRCUITS, PROTECTION OF
UNDISCLOSED INFORMATION AND CONTROL OF
ANTI-COMPETITIVE PRACTICES IN
CONTRACTUAL LICENCES
Questions Posed bytheEuropean Commission
Bymeans ofacommunication from thePermanent Delegation oftheEuropean Commission
dated18March1997,theSecretariathasreceivedthefollowingquestionsthattheEuropeanCommission
hadcommunicated toAustralia, Bulgaria, Iceland, NewZealand, Norway andJapan.
Page
Australia 2
Bulgaria 4
Iceland 7
Japan 8
NewZealand 10
Norway 11IP/C/W/56
Page2
AUSTRALIA
Patents
1. DoesAustralia granttemporary protection topatentable inventions inrespect ofgoods exhibited
atofficial exhibitions heldinAustralia inaccordance withArticle 11oftheParis Convention (1967)?
(Article 2.1TRIPS)
2. Inwhatcircumstances andunder whatconditions would theCommonwealth ofAustralia order
theacquisition ofapatent pursuant toSection 171ofthePatents Act? (Article 8TRIPS)
3. Does theexclusion ofaninvention which issecretly usedfrom thedefinition of"patentable
invention" inthePatents Actlimitinanywaythecircumstances inwhich "patents shallbeavailable"
within themeaning ofArticle 27.1TRIPS?
4. Pursuant toSection 51(1)(a) ofthePatents Act,isitwithin thediscretion oftheCommissioner
torefuse thegrant ofapatent where theprevention ofitsexploitation isnotrequired fortheinterests
listed inArticle 27.2TRIPS?
5. Would thegrantofacompulsory licence pursuant toSection 133ofthePatents Act,asamended,
besubject totherequirements ofArticle 31(c) and(f)TRIPS? Ifso,please explain.
6. IstheGovernment ofAustralia obliged tomake efforts toobtain authorization fromtheright
holder onreasonable commercial terms andconditions prior totheexploitation ofinventions bythe
Crown pursuant toSection 163ofthePatents Act1990, asamended? (Article 31(k) and(b)TRIPS)
7. Does Section 163ofthePatents Actallow forexploitation ofsemiconductor technology by
theCrown?
8. Would theexploitation ofapatent bytheCrown pursuant toSection 163ofthePatents Act
benon-exclusive inallareas and,ifso,onwhatbasis? (Article 31(d) TRIPS)
9. IstheexploitationofapatentbytheCrownpursuanttoSection163ofthePatentsActassignable?
Please explain. (Article 31(e) TRIPS)
10. Isuseofapatent fortheservices oftheCrown pursuant toSection 163ofthePatents Act
predominantly forthesupply oftheAustralian market, having regard inparticular toSection 168of
theAct? (Article 31(f) TRIPS)
11. Does Australia provide forthejudicial review ofthelegal validity ofanydecision relating
totheauthorization ofusebytheCrown pursuant toSection 163ofthePatents Actoristhislimited
toapplying foradeclaration tothecourt thattheexploitation isnolonger necessary assetoutin
Section 165A oftheAct? Please explain. (Article 31(i)TRIPS)
12. Does Australia provide fortheconditions assetoutinArticle 31(l)TRIPS inthecaseofuse
bytheCrown pursuant toSection 163ofthePatents Actofapatent which cannot beexploited without
infringing another patent? Please explain.IP/C/W/56
Page3
Layout-designs (topographies) ofintegrated circuits
1. DoesAustralia apply itslawonlayout-designs (topographies) ofintegrated circuits tonationals
ofalltheWTO Members? (Article 1.3TRIPS, Article 3.1TRIPS)
2. Does Australia require thattheexploitation ofacircuit layout bytheCrown pursuant to
Section 25oftheCircuit Layouts Actbenon-exclusive inallcases? (Article 31(d) TRIPS)
3. Istheexploitation ofacircuit layout bytheCrown pursuant toSection 25oftheCircuit Layouts
Actassignable? (Article 31(e) TRIPS)
4. CanusebytheCrown ofacircuit layout pursuant toSection 25oftheCircuit Layouts Act
beterminated ifandwhen thecircumstances which ledtoitcease toexistorareunlikely toreturn,
anddoesacompetent authority havetheability toreview onrequest theconfirmed useofthecircuit
layout? Please explain. (Article 31(g) TRIPS)
5. Does Australia require thatadequate remuneration bepaidtotheowner ofexclusive rights
inrelation tocircuit layouts, inallcases ofusebytheCrown pursuant toSection 25(4) oftheCircuit
Layouts Act? Please explain. (Article 31(h) TRIPS)
6. Does Australia provide forageneral right ofreview ofthedecision oftheCommonwealth
ofAustralia toundertake anactinrelation toaneligible layout pursuant toSection 25(4) oftheCircuit
Layouts Act? Please explain. (Article 31(i)TRIPS and(j))
Protection ofundisclosed information
Does Australia, andifsoonwhatlegal basis, protect (i)thetypeofinformation thatisthe
subjectmatterofArticle39.3TRIPSand(ii)inaccordancewiththerequirementsofArticle39.3TRIPS?
Ifnot,doesAustralia intend tointroduce legislation soastogrant thenecessary protection and,ifso,
when would thisbeinplace andwhatwould bethecontent ofsuchlegislation?IP/C/W/56
Page4
BULGARIA
Patents
1. Does thereference insection 1(2)oftheBulgarian Patent Lawof1993 to"foreign natural
andlegalperson" effectively extend patent protection toallnationals ofMembers oftheWorld Trade
Organization, asdefined in,andinaccordance with, Article 1.3ofTRIPS? Please explain.
2. Does theBulgarian Patent Law of1993 prohibit thegrant ofacompulsory licence in
circumstances where therightholder justifies hisorherfailure tousethesubject matter ofthepatent
inaccordance withArticle 2.1ofTRIPS inconjunction with5(A)(4) oftheParis Convention? Ifso,
whatarethese circumstances?
3. Does theBulgarian Patent Lawof1993 provide forthepatentability ofmicro-organisms in
accordance withparagraph (b)ofArticle 27.3ofTRIPS?
4. Article 30ofTRIPS mentions "notunreasonably prejudice" incases ofexceptions totherights
conferred toapatent owner. However, section 20(1) oftheBulgarian Patent Lawof1993 usesthe
term"does notcause significant material prejudice". HowisthispartofthePatent Lawinterpreted?
Please explain.
5. Does theBulgarian Patent Lawof1993, inparticular inlightofsection 32(7), comply with
Article 31ofTRIPS? Please explain.
6. DoestheBulgarianPatentLawof1993imposeonaproposedcompulsorylicensee,asacondition
precedent tothegrant ofthecompulsory licence, theobligation tomake reasonable efforts toobtain
authorization fromtherightholder onreasonable terms andconditions inaccordance withArticle 31(b)
ofTRIPS? Please explain.
7. Does theBulgarian Patent Lawof1993 require thatnotification ofacompulsory licence be
given totherightholder incases ofnational emergency inaccordance withArticle 31(b) ofTRIPS?
8. Does theBulgarian Patent Lawof1993 limitthescope andduration ofacompulsory licence
tothepurpose forwhich itwasauthorized inaccordance withArticle 31(c) ofTRIPS? Please explain.
9. Does theBulgarian Patent Lawof1993 permit theassignment ofacompulsory licence with
partoftheenterprise orgoodwill which enjoys suchuseinaccordance withArticle 31(e) ofTRIPS?
10. Does theBulgarian Patent Lawof1993 restrict, incompulsory licensing situations, theuse
ofthesubject matter ofthelicensed patent tousewhich ispredominantly forthesupply ofBulgaria 's
domestic market inaccordance withArticle 31(f) ofTRIPS?
11. Does theBulgarian Patent Lawof1993 permit thetermination inallcases ofacompulsory
licence ontheground thatthecircumstances which ledtothecompulsory licence haveceased toexist
andareunlikely torecur inaccordance withArticle 31(g) ofTRIPS?
12. Does theBulgarian Patent Lawof1993 require theadequate remuneration ofarightholder
incircumstances where thesubject matter oftherightholder 'spatent isthesubject ofacompulsory
licence inaccordance withArticle 31(h) ofTRIPS?IP/C/W/56
Page5
13. What entity isresponsible foradjudicating requests forthegrantandtermination ofcompulsory
licences under theBulgarian Patent Lawof1993 andaredecisions made inrespect ofsuchrequests
subject toreview byadistinct higher authority inaccordance withArticle 31(i)ofTRIPS?
14. With respect toacompulsory licence granted inorder topermit exploitation ofthesubject
matter ofapatent (the"second patent") which cannot beexploited without infringing another patent
(the"first patent"), doestheBulgarian Patent Lawof1993, inaccordance withArticle 31(l)ofTRIPS:
(a) require thatthesecond patent involve animportant technical advance ofconsiderable
economic significance inrelation totheinvention claimed inthefirstpatent?
(b) provide totheowner ofthefirstpatent therighttoacross-licence onreasonable terms
tousethesecond patent? and/or
(c) prohibit theassignment oftherighttousethefirstpatent except withtheassignment
ofthesecond patent?
15. Does Bulgarian lawmake provision, inthecontext ofcivilproceedings forinfringement in
respect ofapatented process forobtaining anewproduct andinaccordance withArticle 34.3ofTRIPS,
forconsideration ofthelegitimate interests ofadefendant inprotecting itsmanufacturing andbusiness
secrets incircumstances where thedefendant isrequired toprove thattheprocess usedtoobtain an
identical product isdifferent from thepatented process?
Layout-designs (topographies) ofintegrated circuits
Does Bulgarian lawprovide fortheprotection oflayout-designs (topographies) ofintegrated
circuits inaccordance withArticles 35to37ofTRIPS?
Protection ofundisclosed information
1. DoesBulgarian lawprovide natural andlegalpersons withthemeans ofpreventing information
lawfullywithintheircontrolfrombeingdisclosedto,acquiredby,orusedbyotherswithouttheirconsent
inaccordance withArticle 39.2ofTRIPS?
2. Does thephrase "inamanner inconsistent withhonest trade practice" insection 14ofthe
Bulgarian LawontheProtection ofCompetition of1991include (i)breach ofcontract; (ii)inducement
tobreach; and/or (iii)theacquisition ofundisclosed information bythirdparties whoknew, orwere
grossly negligent infailing toknow, thatpractices contrary tohonest commercial practice wereinvolved
intheacquisition inaccordance withArticle 39.2ofTRIPS?
3. DoestheBulgarianLawontheProtectionofCompetitionof1991restrictthetypeofundisclosed
information which maybeprotected from disclosure, acquisition oruseevenifsuchundisclosed
information meets thecriteria setforth inArticle 39.2ofTRIPS?
4. Does Bulgarian lawrequire, asacondition oftheprotection ofundisclosed information, that
theinformation sought tobeprotected have been subject toreasonable steps tokeep itsecret in
accordance withparagraph (c)ofArticle 39.2ofTRIPS?
5. Does Bulgarian lawprovide fortheprotection ofundisclosed testorother data, filedasa
conditionoftheapprovalofthemarketingofpharmaceuticalorofagriculturalchemicalproducts,against
unfair commercial useinaccordance withArticle 39.3ofTRIPS?IP/C/W/56
Page6
6. Does Bulgarian lawprovide fortheprotection ofundisclosed testorother data, filedasa
conditionoftheapprovalofthemarketingofpharmaceuticalorofagriculturalchemicalproducts,against
disclosure inaccordance withArticle 39.3ofTRIPS?
Control ofanti-competitive practices incontractual licences
Does theBulgarian LawontheProtection ofCompetition of1991 permit theprevention or
control ofintellectual property contractual licensing practices other thanthose which mayconstitute
an"abuse ofintellectual property rights having anadverse effect oncompetition intherelevant market"
within themeaning ofArticle 40.2ofTRIPS?IP/C/W/56
Page7
ICELAND
Patents
1. Could theGovernment ofIceland clarify itssystem ofpatent protection? Isitthecasethat
nopatent protection isavailable forfilings between 1January 1996, thedateoftheapplication ofthe
TRIPS Agreement byIceland and1June1996? Furthermore, regarding inventions made inthesector
ofpharmaceutical andagricultural chemical products, doesthelegislation ofIceland provide fora
"mailbox andmarketing system" pursuant toArticle 70.8and70.9oftheTRIPS Agreement tocover
theperiod between 1January 1995 and1June1996? Please explain.
2. Howdoesthelegislation ofIceland implement Article 70.7oftheTRIPS Agreement which
provides thatinthecaseofintellectual property rights forwhich protection isconditional upon
registration, applications forprotection which arepending onthedateofapplication oftheTRIPS
AgreementfortheMemberinquestionshallbepermittedtobeamendedtoclaimanyenhancedprotection
provided under thisAgreement, except where anewmatter isconcerned? Please explain.IP/C/W/56
Page8
JAPAN
Patents
1. Isathirdparty product brought ontothemarket inJapan between priority dateasprovided
byArticle 4oftheParisConvention (1967) anddateoffiling ofthepatent application inJapan exempt
from infringement pursuant toSection 69,§2(ii) oftheJapanese Patent Law? (Article 2.1TRIPS)
2. Would theperson referred toinSection 79ofthePatent Law, byvirtue ofprioruse,beentitled
toanon-exclusive licence onthepatent rightunder thepatent application therereferred toifthatperson
hadbeencommercially working theinvention, ormaking preparations therefor, atthetimeofaprior
filingofthatpatentapplicationinanotherWTOcountry?(Article2.1TRIPS,Article4ParisConvention
(1967))
3. Inrespectofpatentsandlayout-designs(topographies),doesJapaneselawallowfortheimposition
ofcompulsory licences toremedy theabuse ofsuchrights bytheright holder orpractices which
unreasonably restrain trade oradversely affect theinternational transfer oftechnology? Ifso,what
limitations, ifany,would beimposed upon thegrant ofsuchlicences andonwhatlegalbasis? Are
allconditions provided forinArticle 31respected? (Article 8.2TRIPS, Article 31TRIPS)
4. Does Japanese lawapply theprinciple ofinternational exhaustion ofpatent rights?
5. Onwhatlegalbasis dopatent owners havetherightunder Japanese lawtoassign, ortransfer
bysuccession, thepatent andtoconclude licensing contracts? (Article 28.2TRIPS)
6. Would itbesufficient, pursuant toArticle 80ofthePatent Law, foraninventor tofileapatent
application ingoodfaithandstartworking thepatent inorder tobeentitled toanon-exclusive licence
inrespect ofapatent application filedpreviously forthesame invention? Ifso,onwhatbasis does
theGovernment ofJapan consider thatthisdoesnotunreasonably conflict withthenormal exploitation
ofthatsecond patent? (Article 30TRIPS)
7. Towhatextent andonwhich legalbasis doesJapan ensure compliance withtheobligations
imposed byArticle 31(c) firsthalfsentence, (f),(g),(h)and(l)(i)TRIPS?
8. How andtowhatextent doesJapanese lawimplement Article 34TRIPS?
Layout-designs (topographies) ofintegrated circuits
1. Does thedefinition ofsemiconductor integrated circuit assetoutinArticle 2(1)oftheAct
Concerning theLayout ofaSemiconductor Integrated Circuit ("the Circuit Layout Act") include
integrated circuits inintermediate form? Ifnot,onwhatbasisdoesJapanese lawprotect circuit layouts
utilized forthemanufacture ofintegrated circuits inintermediate form? Does thedefinition ofcircuit
layout inArticle 2(2)ofthesameActinclude circuit layouts prepared foranintegrated circuit intended
formanufacture? Ifnot,onwhat basis doesJapanese lawprotect suchcircuit layouts? (Article 35
TRIPS, Article 2IPICTreaty)
2. Does Japanese lawprotect theholder ofacircuit layout rightagainst reproduction other than
byincorporation inasemiconductor integrated circuit? Ifso,onwhatbasisdoesitgrantsuchprotection?
(Article 35TRIPS, Article 6(1)(a)(i) IPICTreaty)IP/C/W/56
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3. DoesJapanese lawprotect theholder ofacircuit layout rightagainst theactofimporting, selling
orotherwise distributing forcommercial purposes aregistered circuit layout, irrespective ofwhether
itisincorporated inasemiconductor integrated circuit? Ifso,onwhat basis doesitgrant such
protection? (Article 35TRIPS, Article 6(1)(a)(ii) IPICTreaty)
4. DoesJapaneselawallowtheimporting,sellingorotherwisedistributingforcommercialpurposes
ofanintegrated circuit oranyarticle incorporating suchanintegrated circuit byaperson acting in
good faithafterthatperson hasreceived sufficient notice thatthelayout-design incorporated insuch
integrated circuit wasunlawfully reproduced andinreturn forareasonable royalty, irrespective of
whether suchintegrated circuits werepartofthestock onhandorhadbeenordered before thetime
thatnotice hadbeengiven? (Article 37.1TRIPS)
Protection ofundisclosed information
Inwhatmanner andonwhatlegalbasis doesJapan protect thesubmission ofundisclosed test
orother dataasacondition ofapproving themarketing ofpharmaceutical orofagricultural chemical
products which utilize newchemical entities against unfair commercial useandagainst disclosure?
(Article 39.3TRIPS)IP/C/W/56
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NEW ZEALAND
Patents
1. Would acompulsory licence pursuant toSection 46(1) ofthePatents Act1953 (asamended)
begranted under NewZealand patents lawwhere thepatentee justifies hisfailure towork thepatent
bylegitimate reasons? Ifso,whatreasons would beregarded asbeing legitimate? (Article 2.1TRIPS
inconjunction withArticle 5(A)(4) oftheParis Convention)
2. Does NewZealand lawallow foraperiod ofgrace forthepayment offeesprescribed forthe
maintenance ofpatent rights which isnotshorter thansixmonths, having regard toSection 30(5) of
thePatents Act1953 (asamended)? (Article 2.1TRIPS inconjunction withArticle 5bisoftheParis
Convention)
3. Istheauthorization oftheuseofpatented inventions fortheservices oftheCrown pursuant
toSections 55(2) and55(3) ofthePatents Act1953 (asamended) considered onitsownindividual
merits? (Article 31TRIPS)
4. Does NewZealand lawprovide foranobligation toinform promptly thepatent owner where
apatent isusedfortheservices oftheCrown, andthegovernment orcontractor, without making a
patent search, knows orhasdemonstrable grounds toknow thatitwilluseavalidpatent? (Article 31
TRIPS)
Layout-designs (topographies) ofintegrated circuits
Could theGovernment ofNewZealand clarify whether anauthorization tousealayout-design
byoronbehalf oftheCrown isliable tobeterminated ifandwhen thecircumstances which ledto
itcease toexistandareunlikely torecur? Isthecontinued existence ofthese circumstances subject
toreview bythecompetent authority? Please explain. (Article 37TRIPS)
Protection ofundisclosed information
1. Onwhatbasisandunder whatconditions doesNewZealand grant theprotection toundisclosed
information provided forunder Article 39.2TRIPS?
2. HowdoesNewZealandprotectconfidentialinformationdisclosedtoaNewZealandGovernment
Department orStatutory Body under Section 35C(1)(b) oftheAnimal Remedies Amendment Act1994,
Section 35C(1)(b) ofthePesticides Amendment Act1994, andSection 23C(1)(b) oftheMedicines
Amendment Act1994 against unfair commercial use? Arethere anylimitations totheconditions in
which suchinformation maybedisclosed? (Article 39.3TRIPS)
3. How doesNewZealand protect confidential information disclosed tothepersons orbodies
asprovided under Section 35C(1) oftheAnimal Remedies Amendment Act1994, Section 35C(1) of
thePesticides Amendment Act1994, andSection 23B(1) oftheMedicines Amendment Act1994?
Arethereanylimitations astotheconditions inwhich suchinformation maybedisclosed? (Article 39.3
TRIPS)IP/C/W/56
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NORWAY
Patents
1. AccordingtotheNorwegianPatentsActSection1subsection4no.2,patentsshallnotbegranted
for"essentially biological processes fortheproduction ofplants oranimals". Thisprovision hasbeen
interpreted bytheNorwegian patent authorities tocover allprocesses fortheproduction ofplants or
animals. Could theNorwegian Government explain howthese provisions andthepractice oftheAct
comply withArticle 27.3(b) oftheTRIPS Agreement? Inparticular, aremicrobiological processes
andtheproducts thereof patentable?
2. Theamendments tothePatent ActSections 46and49,adopted byActof20December 1996
no.104,donotinclude anyprovision corresponding totheTRIPS Agreement Article 31(f)("anysuch
useshallbeauthorized predominantly forthesupply ofthedomestic market ").According toOdelstings
Proposition no.73(1995-96) pp.5-6,theMinistry ofJustice isoftheopinion thatitisnotnecessary
tolegislate Article 31(f) asthecourt willtakeintoconsideration thesupply ofthedomestic market
when prescribing thescope ofthelicence. Could theNorwegian Government clarify whether andto
whatextent theprovision laiddown inArticle 31(f) willbebinding inthecourts inlightofthefact
thatthisprovision isonlymentioned inthepreparatory works oftheActandnotintheActitself?
3. According totheActof12March 1993relating toPlant Breeders 'Rights (IP/N/1/NOR/P/3)
Section 1,plant breeders 'rights mayonlybegranted tovariety owners that(a)areresidents orhave
theirregistered office inthisrealm, or(b)arenationals oforareresident orhavetheirresident office
inaStatewhich isamember oftheInternational Union fortheProtection ofNewVarieties ofPlants.
According tothelastparagraph ofSection 1,theKingmayprescribe thatplant breeders 'rights may
begrantedinothercases.AccordingtoRegulationsconcerningPlantBreeders'Rights(IP/N/1/NOR/P/4)
Section 2,plant breeders 'rights maybegranted toapplicants fromcountries which arenotmembers
oftheUnion ifitisofparticular significance toNorwegian plant production, orwhen warranted by
other considerations. Thisdoesnotseem tofullyimplement thenational treatment obligation under
Article 3oftheTRIPS Agreement. Please explain.
Layout-designs (topographies) ofintegrated circuits
According toSection 7,paragraphs 2and3ofActof15June1990 no.27relating tothe
Protection ofLayout-design forIntegrated Circuits (IP/N/1/NOR/L/1), acourt may, under special
circumstances, decide thataperson whoingood faithhasacquired acopyofalayout-design, shall
havetherighttoimport, commercially exploit orreproduce itonreasonable conditions aslaiddown
bythecourt. Under quite special circumstances, acourt maydecide thatanegligent acquirer shall
havethesame rights. Thisdoesnotseem toimplement theentire scope ofArticle 37.1oftheTRIPS
Agreement. Please explain.
Protection ofundisclosed information
CouldtheNorwegianGovernmentexplainwhetherandhowArticle39.3oftheTRIPSAgreement
isimplemented inNorwegian law?