IP/C/W/311/Add.1  
22 de febrero de 2016  
(16-1057)  Página: 1/48  
Consejo de los Aspectos de los Derechos de Propiedad 
Intelectual relacionados con el Comercio  Original: inglés  
 
 
 
  EXAMEN DE LA LEGISLACIÓN 
RESPUESTAS DE FIJI A LAS PREGUNTAS PENDIENTES FORMULADAS 
POR SUIZA, LOS ESTADOS UNIDOS Y LA UNIÓN EUROPEA 
Addendum 
Mediante una comunicación de la Misión Permanen te de Fiji, de fecha 16 de febrero de 2016, la 
Secretaría ha recibido las siguientes respuestas a las preguntas pendientes formuladas por 
Suiza, los Estados Unidos y la Unión Europea, distribuidas en los documentos IP/C/W/263, 
IP/C/W/263/Add.4, IP/C/W/268 e IP/C/W/274, respectivamente. 
_______________ 
SUIZA1 
A. INDICACIONES GEOGRÁFICAS 1. Sírvanse indicar detalladamente cómo protege su legislación las indicaciones 
geográficas. 
El marco legislativo actual de Fiji no prescribe la protección de las indicaciones geográficas. B. PATENTES 2. ¿Otorga su legislación protección medi ante patente a todas las categorías de 
productos o hay excepciones? De ser así, sírvanse exponer detalladamente cuáles son 
esas excepciones y cómo se ajustan a lo dispuesto en el artículo 27 del Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC. 
Actualmente no hay excepciones, aunque el artícu lo 23 de la Ley de Patentes autoriza al Fiscal 
General para formular reglamentos destinados a regular el procedimiento en virtud de esta Ley. 
3. ¿Considera su legislación, de conformidad con el párrafo 1 del artículo 27 en el 
contexto del artículo 31 del Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC, que la importación es una forma 
de "explotación de una patente" (y excluye por tanto el otorgamiento de una licencia 
obligatoria, si se importa un producto)?  
Actualmente la legislación no aborda la importación de patentes. 
4. ¿Están las licencias obligatorias suje tas en su legislación a las condiciones 
enumeradas en el artículo 31 del Acuerd o sobre los ADPIC? Sírvanse indicar las 
disposiciones correspondientes de la Ley. 
Actualmente la legislación no aborda la concesión de una licencia obligatoria. 
                                               
1 Preguntas pendientes que figuran en los documentos IP/C/W/263 y IP/C/W/263/Add.4. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 5. ¿Prevé su legislación el principio de la inversión de la carga de la prueba en los 
litigios relativos a patentes de procedimie ntos? Sírvanse indicar las disposiciones 
correspondientes de la Ley. 
Actualmente la legislación no contiene disposiciones que se refieran expresamente a la inversión 
de la carga de la prueba. 
C. PROTECCIÓN DE LA INFORMACIÓN NO DIVULGADA 
6. Sírvanse indicar de forma detallada si su legislación garantiza que los datos de 
pruebas u otros no divulgados presentados por un solicitante al organismo oficial 
competente en el marco del procedimiento pr escrito para autorizar la comercialización 
de un producto farmacéutico o de un producto químico para la agricultura quedan protegidos contra toda divulgación y cont ra todo uso comercial desleal por un 
competidor, por ejemplo mediante la prohib ición impuesta a un segundo solicitante de 
fundarse en los datos originales del primer  solicitante o de remitirse a ellos en el 
marco de su posterior solicitud de autori zación de comercialización de su propio 
producto. ¿Establece su legislación excepc iones a tal respecto? De ser así, ¿con 
sujeción a qué condiciones resultarían estas aplicables? ¿Establece su legislación un 
plazo concreto de protección de los datos de pruebas u otros no divulgados del primer 
solicitante? 
Actualmente no hay ninguna disposición relativa a la protección de la información no divulgada 
en la legislación. 
D. OBSERVANCIA 7. En relación con los recursos en caso de  infracción de los derechos de propiedad 
intelectual, se remiten a las respuestas que facilitaron a la Lista de cuestiones sobre 
la observancia (documento IP/N/6/FJI/1). Sin embargo, parece que dichas respuestas se refieren únicamente al derecho de autor. Sírvanse aportar información 
suplementaria sobre los recursos de su legislación en las demás esferas de la 
propiedad intelectual que constituyen medios ef icaces de disuasión de las infracciones 
de estos derechos. 
Con arreglo a los artículos 44 y 60 de la Ley de Marcas de Fábrica o de Comercio, cualquier 
persona podrá interponer una demanda ante los tr ibunales fiyianos por una supuesta infracción 
de una marca de fábrica o de comercio. 
De conformidad con el artículo 28 de la Ley de Patentes, cualquier persona podrá interponer 
una demanda ante los tribunales fiyianos cuando resulte perjudicada por la concesión de un 
certificado de registro. 
8. En relación con las nuevas iniciativas previstas para mejorar la observancia de 
los derechos de propiedad intelectual en su  país, ustedes se remiten a las respuestas 
que facilitaron a la Lista de cu estiones sobre la observancia 
(documento IP/N/6/FJI/1). Sin embargo, pa rece que estas respuestas se refieren 
únicamente al derecho de autor. Sírvanse aportar información suplementaria sobre las 
nuevas iniciativas previstas en su país para  mejorar la observancia de los derechos en 
las demás esferas de la propiedad intele ctual, y en particular las iniciativas 
relacionadas con las disposiciones penales. 
No ha habido nuevas iniciativas para mejorar la observancia de las patentes y de las marcas de 
fábrica o de comercio; sin embargo, actualmente estamos examinando nuestras leyes en materia de patentes y marcas de fábrica o de comercio. 
 IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 ESTADOS UNIDOS2 
C.  MARCAS DE FÁBRICA O DE COMERCIO 
7. Sírvanse describir lo que puede constitu ir materia objeto de marcas de fábrica o 
de comercio en virtud de la legislación de Fiji. 
En virtud del artículo 2 de la Ley de Marcas de Fábrica o de Comercio, una marca de fábrica o 
de comercio comprende un diseño, una marc a, un membrete, una etiqueta, un rótulo, un 
nombre, una firma, una palabra, una letra, un número o cualquier combinación de los mismos. 
8. Sírvanse describir el procedimiento que se  ha de seguir en Fiji para registrar una 
marca de fábrica o de comercio, citar las disp osiciones pertinentes de la ley y describir 
los derechos que puede ejercer el titular de una marca de fábrica o de comercio 
registrada. 
El procedimiento de registro de una marca de fábrica o de comercio se establece en el 
artículo 11 1) de la Ley de Marcas de Fábrica o de Comercio y la forma prescrita figura en el 
segundo anexo de la Ley. 
 El artículo 11 1) de la Ley dispone lo siguiente: 
 "11.-1) Toda persona que reivindique la titularidad de una marca de fábrica o de comercio 
y desee registrarla presentará al Registrador la correspondiente solicitud por escrito, en la forma prescrita. 
 2) Con sujeción a las disposiciones de la presente Ley, el Registrador puede denegar la 
petición, o admitirla de forma plena o sometida a condiciones, enmiendas o modificaciones, o a limitaciones, de haberlas, relativas al modo o el lugar de utilización o a otros aspectos, que estime oportuno aplicar. 
 3) En caso de denegación o de una aceptación condicional, el Registrador motivará el 
escrito de la resolución con los antecedentes y los fundamentos de derecho, si así lo exige 
el solicitante, y se podrá recurrir contra dicha resolución ante los tribunales. 
 4) El recurso previsto en el presente artículo se interpondrá en la forma prescrita y en el 
marco de ese recurso, el tribunal oirá, en caso necesario, al solicitante y al Registrador, y emitirá una orden en la que determinará si se ha de aceptar la solicitud y a reserva de 
qué condiciones, enmiendas o modificaciones, si procede, o de qué limitaciones, en su 
caso, relativas al modo o el lugar de utilización o a otros aspectos. 
 5) Los recursos previstos en el presente artículo se examinarán sobre la base de los 
elementos en los que el Registrador diga haber fundamentado su resolución y este no 
podrá invocar ningún otro motivo para oponerse a la aceptación de la solicitud, salvo con 
la venia del tribunal que conozca del recurso. En los casos en que se invoquen otros motivos, el solicitante tendrá derecho a retirar su solicitud sin pagar las costas siempre 
que lo notifique en la forma prescrita. 
 6) El Registrador o el tribunal, según el caso, podrá en todo momento, antes o después 
de la aceptación, corregir cualquier error detectado en la solicitud, o en relación con ella, 
o permitir que el solicitante modifique su solicitud en las condiciones que consideren 
apropiadas." 
Como se ha indicado en el artículo 11 3) supra , si después de examinar la solicitud de registro 
de una marca de fábrica o de comercio, el Registrador rechaza la solicitud o la acepta con 
condiciones, el solicitante tiene derecho a pedirle que motive el escrito de la resolución con los 
antecedentes y los fundamentos de derecho, y se podrá recurrir contra dicha resolución ante los 
tribunales. 
                                               
2 Preguntas pendientes que figuran en el documento IP/C/W/268. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 9. Sírvanse indicar la duración y las cond iciones de protección que la legislación 
sobre marcas de fábrica o de comercio de Fiji prevé para una ma rca de fábrica o de 
comercio. 
Las marcas de fábrica o de comercio registradas se protegen durante 14 años contados a partir 
de la fecha de registro, de conformidad con el artículo 27 de la Ley. El registro de una marca de 
fábrica o de comercio puede renovarse dentro de l período prescrito por otro período de 14 años. 
 El artículo 27 dispone que:  "27. El registro de una marca de fábrica o de comercio es válido durante 14 años, pero 
puede renovarse periódicamente, según lo dispuesto en la presente Ley." 
10. Sírvanse explicar si las marcas de servicios notoriamente conocidas gozan en 
virtud de la legislación de Fiji del mismo ni vel de protección que las marcas de fábrica 
o de comercio notoriamente cono cidas en virtud del artículo 6 bis del Convenio de 
París, como requiere el párrafo 2 del ar tículo 16 del Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC. 
Actualmente la Ley de Marcas de Fábrica o de Comercio solo aborda las marcas de fábrica o de 
comercio en relación con las mercancías. 
11. Sírvanse explicar si las autoridades co mpetentes de Fiji, al  d e t e r m i n a r  s i  u n a  
marca de fábrica o de comercio es noto riamente conocida, toman en cuenta la 
notoriedad de esta marca en el sector pert inente del público, inclusive la notoriedad 
obtenida como consecuencia de la promoción de dicha marca. 
Cuando recibe la solicitud de marcas de fábrica o de comercio, la Oficina de Propiedad 
Intelectual de Fiji examina las marcas de fábrica o de comercio notoriamente conocidas en el sector pertinente del público, inclusive la notoriedad obtenida como consecuencia de la 
promoción de dicha marca; sin embargo, no hay un procedimiento prescrito para este proceso. 
Además, el período de oposición permite te ner en cuenta todas las objeciones, con 
independencia de que hayan sido formuladas por el titular de una marca de fábrica o de 
comercio notoriamente conocida o no. 
12. Sírvanse explicar, en detalle, la forma en  que Fiji protege las marcas de fábrica o 
de comercio notoriamente conocidas y cita r las disposiciones legales pertinentes. 
Actualmente no hay ninguna disposición relativa a las marcas de fábrica o de comercio 
notoriamente conocidas. 
D. INDICACIONES GEOGRÁFICAS 13.  Sírvanse describir, en detalle, có mo regula la legislación de Fiji el 
reconocimiento y la protección de las in dicaciones geográficas previstas en el 
párrafo 2 del artículo 22 del Acuerdo sob re los ADPIC, citar las disposiciones 
pertinentes de las leyes y los reglamentos y dar ejemplos de indicaciones geográficas 
así protegidas. 
Actualmente no hay disposiciones relativas al reconocimiento y la protección de las indicaciones 
geográficas. 
14. Sírvanse describir, en detalle, la form a en que se aplica el nivel superior de 
protección requerido para vinos y bebidas espi rituosas en virtud de lo dispuesto en el 
párrafo 1 del artículo 23 del Acuerdo sob re los ADPIC, citar las disposiciones 
pertinentes de las leyes y los reglamentos y dar ejemplos de indicaciones geográficas 
para dichos productos.  
Actualmente no hay disposiciones relativas a la protección de vinos y bebidas espirituosas. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 E. DIBUJOS Y MODELOS INDUSTRIALES 
15. Sírvanse describir el procedimiento que se ha de seguir para obtener la 
protección de los dibujos y modelos indu striales, citar las disposiciones de la 
legislación de Fiji y describir la na turaleza de la protección acordada. 
Actualmente no hay disposiciones relativas a la protección de los dibujos y modelos industriales; 
sin embargo, estamos elaborando una ley de dibujos y modelos industriales. 
16. Sírvanse describir el procedimiento que se ha de seguir para obtener la 
protección de los dibujos y modelos textiles,  y citar las disposiciones pertinentes de 
las leyes o reglamentos. 
Actualmente no hay disposiciones relativas a la protección de los dibujos y modelos textiles. F. PATENTES 17. Sírvanse describir, en detalle, la forma en que la legislación de patentes de Fiji 
aplica el artículo 27 del Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC, indicar cualesquiera excepciones a 
la patentabilidad previstas e incluir detalles sobre la protección de los 
microorganismos y los procedimientos no  biológicos y microbiológicos y las 
obtenciones vegetales. Sírvanse citar la s disposiciones pertinentes de la ley.  
En virtud del artículo 5 de la Ley de Patentes, las excepciones son las siguientes:  a) si la invención no es de utilidad; 
 b)  si en el momento de presentar la solicitud la invención no era nueva; 
 c)  si el solicitante no es el verdadero y primer inventor; o  d)  si la solicitud o alguna especificación contiene una declaración deliberadamente 
falsa. 
Los productos farmacéuticos son la única otra excepción, como dispone el artículo 3A de la Ley 
de Patentes (modificación) de 2002. 
18. Sírvanse describir, en detalle, los dere chos conferidos a los titulares de patentes 
con arreglo a la legislación de patentes de Fiji y citar las disposi ciones pertinentes de 
la ley. 
El titular de la patente goza de derechos exclusivos sobre su invención, salvo si esta sirve para 
fabricar, construir, utilizar o vender una invención patentada con respecto a una sustancia o un 
producto farmacéutico, según lo previsto en el artículo 3A. 
19. Sírvanse describir, en detalle, las disp osiciones de la legislación de Fiji que 
permitan el uso no autorizado de una patent e, citar las disposiciones pertinentes de la 
ley, y describir, en detalle, las condiciones en que ese uso pueda ocurrir. 
Como se ha indicado anteriormente, el uso no autorizado de una patente solo se contempla con 
respecto a los productos o sustancias farmacéuticos. 
20. ¿Qué plazo de protección para las pate ntes prevé la legislac ión de patentes de 
Fiji? Sírvanse describir las disposiciones contempladas para pr orrogar el plazo de 
protección y citar las normas pertinentes de la ley. 
Con arreglo al artículo 3 de la Ley de Patentes, el inventor tiene el derecho exclusivo sobre su 
invención. Este derecho se establece también en el artículo 4, que confiere al inventor el derecho exclusivo de usar, vender o fabricar su invención durante un período de 14 años contados a partir de la fecha de la concesión de la carta-patente. 
En el caso de todas las patentes otorgadas en el Reino Unido, el inventor podrá solicitar al 
Procurador General, dentro de un plazo de tres  años contado desde la fecha de concesión de IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 una patente en dicho país, el registro de esa patente en Fiji. Una vez otorgada, la patente 
seguirá siendo válida en Fiji mientras siga en vigor en el Reino Unido. 
La Ley de Patentes no contiene ninguna disposic ión específica relativa a la prórroga de la 
patente una vez que expira su período de vigencia; sin embargo, toda persona que requiera una prórroga solicitará normalmente la concesión de una nueva carta-patente. 
G.  ESQUEMAS DE TRAZADO (TOPOGRAFÍAS) DE LOS CIRCUITOS INTEGRADOS 
21. Sírvanse describir, en detalle, la prot ección de los esquemas de trazado de los 
circuitos integrados prevista en la legislación de Fiji, incluido el plazo de protección, y 
citar las disposiciones pertinentes de la ley.  
Actualmente no hay disposiciones que se refieran expresamente a la protección de los 
esquemas de trazado de los circuitos integr ados prevista en la legislación de Fiji. 
H. PROTECCIÓN DE LA INFORMACIÓN NO DIVULGADA 
22. Sírvanse describir, en detalle, cómo regula  la legislación de Fiji la protección de 
la información no divulgada como requiere  el párrafo 2 del artículo 39 del Acuerdo 
sobre los ADPIC y citar las disposi ciones pertinentes de la ley.  
En lo que respecta a las leyes relativas a la propiedad intelectual, ninguna disposición de las 
leyes pertinentes se refiere expresamente a la protección de la información no divulgada. 
23. Sírvanse describir, en detalle, cómo pr otege la legislación de Fiji los datos de 
prueba relativos a productos farmacéuti cos y químicos agrícolas presentados al 
Gobierno a fin de aprobar la comercializac ión de esos productos en Fiji y citar las 
disposiciones pertinentes de la ley. 
24. ¿Están los solicitantes posteriores que tr a t e n  d e  o b t e n e r  l a  a p r o b a c i ó n  d e  l a  
comercialización de sus propias versiones de productos farmacéuticos y químicos 
agrícolas aprobados con anterioridad facultados para apoyarse en datos presentados por el solicitante anterior? En caso afirmativo , ¿qué plazo de exclusividad se otorga al 
solicitante anterior antes de permitir a terceros que se apoyen en sus datos?  
(Respuesta a las preguntas 23 y 24) No hay disposiciones sobre los datos de prueba relativos a 
los productos farmacéuticos y agrícolas presentados al Gobierno a fin de aprobar su 
comercialización en Fiji. No obstante, sírvanse tomar nota de que en virtud del artículo 3A de la 
Ley de Patentes, no constituye infracción que una persona fabrique, construya, use o venda la invención patentada relativa a una sustancia o un producto farmacéutico, con fines exclusivamente relacionados con la elaboración y presentación de informaciones exigidas en 
virtud de una ley de Fiji o de cualquier otro país. 
UNIÓN EUROPEA
3 
A.  DISPOSICIONES  GENERALES 
1.  Se ruega explicar si su legislación in cluye medidas necesarias  para proteger la 
salud pública y la nutrición de la població n, y para promover el interés público en 
sectores de importancia vital para su de sarrollo socioeconómico y tecnológico, de 
conformidad con el artículo 8 del Acuerdo so bre los ADPIC. En caso positivo, se ruega 
explicar si esas medidas se acomodan  a las disposiciones del Acuerdo sobre 
los ADPIC. 
Como se ha indicado anteriormente, la Ley de Patentes [capítulo 239] establece en su 
artículo 3A una excepción a la protección de los derechos de patente que permite que una 
persona fabrique, construya, use o venda la inve nción patentada relativa a una sustancia o un 
                                               
3 Preguntas pendientes que figuran en el documento IP/C/W/274. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 producto farmacéutico, con fines exclusivamente relacionados con la elaboración y presentación 
de informaciones exigidas en virtud de una  ley de Fiji o de cualquier otro país. 
La Ley de Marcas de Fábrica o de Comercio [capítulo 240] no contiene tales disposiciones. 
En lo que respecta a la Ley del Derecho de Autor de 1999, su artículo 58 1) b) permite usar la 
obra protegida por el derecho de autor para el servicio del Estado en aras de la seguridad o la 
salud del público o de cualquier miembro del público. 
B.  DERECHO  DE AUTOR  Y DERECHOS  CONEXOS 
2. Se ruega indicar cómo su legislación estipula la protección de los derechos 
exclusivos de los autores en relación con sus obras literarias y artísticas, en el sentido 
del artículo 9 del Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC que exige a los Miembros que observen los 
artículos 1 a 21 del Convenio de Bern a y el Apéndice del mismo (1971). 
En virtud del artículo 14 de la Ley del Derecho de Autor de 1999, las obras literarias, 
dramáticas, musicales o artísticas pueden ser protegidas por el derecho de autor; sin embargo, 
los derechos sobre estas obras solo existen cuando han sido registradas, por escrito o de otro modo. El propietario de la obra tiene el derecho exclusivo de copia, distribución, interpretación o 
ejecución, radiodifusión, comunicación al público y adaptación de su obra. Las partes IV y IX de 
la Ley establecen algunas exenciones, sobre todo relativas al interés público. El derecho de autor existe hasta el final del período de 50 años después de terminado el año civil en que 
fallece el autor. 
3.  Sírvanse describir la protección concedida a los autores de programas de 
ordenador, bases de datos o compilaciones de datos. 
Las obras literarias comprenden los programas de  ordenador y las compilaciones (que incluyan 
datos - véase la definición de compilación) definidos en el artículo 1 de la Ley del Derecho de 
Autor de 1999. Aunque la parte IV prevé exenciones relativas a las obras protegidas por el derecho de autor, la exención relativa al uso de la obra con fines de investigación o de estudio 
privado no se aplica a una obra literaria que sea un programa de ordenador. Esto significa que, 
en relación con los programas informáticos, los titulares de una obra literaria tienen derechos exclusivos sobre su obra. 
4. Se ruega especificar si su legislación es tipula el derecho de arrendamiento y, en 
caso afirmativo, las obras abarcadas por este.  
Sí, en virtud del artículo 73 de la Ley del Derecho de Autor de 1999, se pueden otorgar 
determinados derechos de arrendamiento de obras, que incluyen los programas de ordenador, 
las grabaciones sonoras o las obras audiovisuales, a cualquier persona que sea miembro de un 
establecimiento de enseñanza o de una biblioteca prescrita. No obstante, este derecho solo es aplicable a aquellos establecimientos de enseñanza o bibliotecas prescritas que no alquilen la 
obra con ánimo de lucro y si la obra en cuestión ha sido puesta anteriormente en circulación con 
la autorización del titular del derecho de autor. 
5. Se ruega describir los derechos co ncedidos a los artistas intérpretes o 
ejecutantes, productores de fonogramas (grabaciones de sonido) y organismos de 
radiodifusión en virtud de su legislación. 
La parte X de la Ley del Derecho de Autor de 1999 establece los derechos de los artistas 
intérpretes o ejecutantes. Con arreglo al artículo 164 de la Ley, por interpretación o ejecución 
se entiende la interpretación o ejecución de una obra dramática o musical, la lectura o la 
recitación de una obra literaria o la interpretaci ón o ejecución de un espectáculo de variedades o 
cualquier presentación similar. Hay algunas excepciones, a saber, la interpretación o ejecución 
realizada en el marco de actividades de establecimientos de enseñanza, la lectura o la 
presentación de cualquier noticia e información, la realización de una actividad deportiva o la participación en una interpretación o ejecución como miembro de una audiencia. En 
consecuencia, un artista intérprete o ejecutante tiene un derecho exclusivo sobre su IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 interpretación o ejecución. Esta será realizada, radiodifundida en directo o comunicada al 
público, total o parcialmente, con el consentimiento del artista intérprete o ejecutante. Además, 
la Ley califica de infracción del derecho del artista intérprete o ejecutante la utilización de la 
interpretación o ejecución sin un consentimiento específico para tal utilización. Ello está sujeto a determinadas excepciones, incluida la utilización de la interpretación o ejecución con fines de 
crítica, examen e información de actualidad. Asimismo, los derechos concedidos a los artistas 
intérpretes o ejecutantes están sujetos a la excepción relativa a la copia de la interpretación o ejecución para cursos de formación, establecimientos de enseñanza, procedimientos 
parlamentarios y judiciales y cualesquiera actos realizados en ejercicio de las facultades que 
confiere la ley. 
6. Sírvanse especificar si su legislación estipula alg una limitación o excepción en 
relación con cada uno de los derechos desc ritos anteriormente de conformidad con las 
disposiciones pertinentes del Convenio de Be rna y la Convención de Roma y a la luz 
del artículo 13 y del párrafo 6 del artí culo 14 del Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC. 
Sí, todas las obras que disfrutan de los derechos conferidos por la Ley del Derecho de Autor 
de 1999 están sujetas a determinadas excepciones en virtud de la parte IV de la Ley del 
Derecho de Autor que se adjunta como anexo 1 a esta respuesta. 
7. Les rogamos indiquen la duración de la  protección en lo concerniente a cada 
derecho descrito anteriormente y la obra  o materia a las que este se aplica. 
Véase la parte X de la Ley del Derecho de Autor de 1999 que se adjunta como anexo 2 a esta 
respuesta. 
8.  Se ruega describir en qué forma la le gislación de su país otorga protección 
retroactiva de conformidad con el artículo  18 del Convenio de Berna (obligación que 
tiene su origen en el artículo 9 del Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC) y el párrafo 6 del artículo 14 del mencionado Acuerdo.  
Actualmente la Ley del Derecho de Autor no contiene ninguna disposición específica sobre la 
concesión de la protección retroactiva contemplada en el artículo 18 del Convenio de Berna y en el párrafo 6 del artículo 14 del Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC. 
C. MARCAS
 DE FÁBRICA  O DE COMERCIO 
9.  Se ruega proporcionar la definición de un signo de conformidad con su 
legislación nacional y explicar en qué condiciones es objeto de protección. 
La Ley de Marcas de Fábrica o de Comercio no contiene una definición de signo, pero por 
"marca" se entiende un diseño, una marca, un membrete, una etiqueta, un rótulo, un nombre, 
una firma, una palabra, una letra, un número o cualquier combinación de los mismos. 
10. Se ruega confirmar si los servicios cons tituyen una materia objeto de protección 
en la legislación sobre marcas de su país . Agradeceríamos que confirmasen también si 
puede otorgarse protección a signos tales como los nombres comerciales. Se ruega 
indicar si puede otorgarse protección a elementos tales como sonidos, perfumes y 
envases. 
Los servicios y elementos tales como sonidos, perfumes y envases no están expresamente 
protegidos por la Ley de Marcas de Fábrica o de Comercio. La expresión marca de fábrica o de comercio se refiere a una marca utilizada o destinada a utilizarse en mercancías. 
11. Les rogamos expliquen si existen prescr ipciones de utilización como condición 
para el registro de una marca de fábrica o de comercio. Agradeceríamos que nos facilitasen la definición de utilización y las condiciones de mantenimiento de un 
registro a ese respecto.  IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 Las marcas de fábrica o de comercio se utilizan para las mercancías o en relación con ellas y 
tienen por objeto indicar que las mercancías en cuestión son del propietario a efectos de su 
fabricación, selección, certificación, comercialización u oferta para la venta. La actual Ley de 
Marcas de Fábrica o de Comercio no contiene disposiciones que se refieran expresamente a la utilización y a las condiciones de mantenimiento de las marcas de fábrica o de comercio. 
12. Sírvanse confirmar si la legislación de su país permite o no que el registro de 
marcas de fábrica o de comercio  sea renovable indefinidamente.  
No, una vez registrada, la marca de fábrica o de comercio será válida durante 14 años, pero 
puede renovarse periódicamente, según lo dispuesto en la Ley de Marcas de Fábrica o de 
Comercio. 
13. Describan, en caso afirmativo, las pres cripciones especiales existentes en la 
legislación de su país en lo concernien te al uso de una marca de fábrica o de 
comercio.  
No hay prescripciones especiales en lo concerniente al uso de una marca de fábrica o de 
comercio. 
D. INDICACIONES
 GEOGRÁFICAS 
14. Se ruega indicar si el organismo encarg ado del registro de marcas de su país 
rechaza o no una solicitud de marcas en caso de que esta contenga una indicación 
geográfica.  
El artículo 14A del Decreto sobre marcas de fábrica o de comercio (modificación) (Decreto Nº 2) 
de 2012 prohíbe el registro de una marca de fábrica o de comercio que contenga la palabra o marca "Fiji" o cualquier palabra que mencione o insinúe el origen geográfico, o palabras o 
signos que mencionen o insinúen que el Estado autoriza al titular a eludir su responsabilidad por 
el uso de la totalidad o una parte de dicha materia separadamente o junto con otra palabra, a menos que el Ministro apruebe la utilización de la palabra o la marca o el uso de una cláusula de 
descargo de responsabilidad sobre la palabra o la marca. 
15. Les rogamos que proporcionen la definici ón de indicación geográfica a tenor de 
la legislación de su país. 
Actualmente este término no está definido en la Ley de Marcas de Fábrica o de Comercio. 
16. Sírvanse describir y exp licar las disposiciones de su legislación por las que se 
establece un vínculo, en caso existente, en tre las características de una indicación y 
su origen geográfico. 
La única referencia a las indicaciones geográficas figura en el artículo 14A de la Ley de Marcas 
de Fábrica o de Comercio (véase la respuesta a la pregunta Nº 14 supra ). 
17. Se ruega explicar cómo se otorga prot ección adicional en la legislación de su 
país para los vinos y bebidas espirituosa s. Sírvanse mencionar otros tipos de 
productos, en caso de que existan, ab arcados por esa protección adicional.  
La Ley de Marcas de Fábrica o de Comercio no otorga protección adicional a la interpretación o 
ejecución en relación con los vinos y las bebidas espirituosas. 
18. Les rogamos expliquen de qué forma la s excepciones del artículo 24 del Acuerdo 
sobre los ADPIC son utilizadas en su jurisd icción. Sírvanse proporcionar ejemplos del 
uso de las excepciones por tribunales o lis tas de nombres considerados genéricos en 
su jurisdicción. 
La Ley de Marcas de Fábrica o de Comercio no contiene disposiciones relativas al artículo 24 del 
Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 E. DIBUJOS  Y MODELOS  INDUSTRIALES 
19.  Sírvanse explicar si su legislación ab arca la protección de los dibujos y modelos 
dictados enteramente por consideraciones técn icas o funcionales. Se ruega explicar 
de qué modo se protegen los dibujos y modelos textiles. 
Actualmente el marco de la propiedad intelectual no abarca la protección de los dibujos y 
modelos dictados por consideraciones técnicas o funcionales. Tampoco existen disposiciones 
relativas a la protección de los dibujos y modelos textiles. 
20. Sírvanse explicar cómo protege su le gislación a los titulares de derechos de un 
dibujo o modelo frente a la importació n de artículos con un dibujo o diseño 
incorporado o copiado. 
Actualmente no se protege a los titulares de derechos frente a la importación de artículos con 
un dibujo o diseño incorporado o copiado. 
21. Se ruega indicar si la legislación de  su país proporciona o no el derecho a 
otorgar una licencia obligatoria en lo que re specta a los dibujos y diseños industriales. 
La legislación actual no prevé el derecho a otorgar licencias obligatorias en lo que respecta a los 
dibujos y diseños industriales. 
22. Se ruega indicar durante qué período de tiempo la legislación de su país otorga 
protección a los dibujos y modelos industriales. 
Actualmente no se otorga protección a los dibujos y modelos industriales. 
F. PATENTES 23. Se ruega explicar cómo define la le gislación de su país los conceptos de: 
novedad, invención y aplicación industrial.  
Actualmente la legislación no define ninguno de estos términos. 
24. Sírvanse especificar si en la legislación de su país las patentes o los derechos de 
patente se otorgan sin ningún tipo de exclus ión. En caso de que existan exclusiones, 
descríbase detalladamente la forma en qu e estas se aplican en términos legales y 
prácticos.  
El artículo 3 de la Ley de Patentes dispone que cada inventor posee el derecho único y exclusivo 
sobre su invención. Esta Ley no prescribe exclusiones al disfrute de los derechos de patente. 
25. Sírvanse explicar si su legislación es tipula la exclusión de invenciones de la 
patentabilidad basándose en el orden público  o la moralidad. En ese caso, les rogamos 
expliquen el artículo pertinente de su  legislación así como su formulación. 
Desearíamos también saber si este se ha aplicado en la práctica. 
La Ley de Patentes no estipula la exclusión de la patentabilidad basándose en el orden público o 
la moralidad. Sin embargo, tengan a bien observar que la Ley de Marcas de Fábrica o de 
Comercio en su artículo 10 restringe el registro como "… marca de fábrica o de comercio, o 
parte de una marca, de cualquier elemento cuyo uso, por haber sido concebido con intención de 
inducir a error o por otras razones, no obtendría derecho a protección por decisión de un 
tribunal de justicia o sería contrario a la ley o la moral, o cualquier dibujo o modelo 
escandaloso". 
26. Les rogamos expliquen si los métodos de  diagnóstico, terapéuticos y quirúrgicos 
están excluidos de la patentabilidad en su legi slación. Si es así, sírvanse explicar la 
sección pertinente de su legisl ación así como su formulación. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 Actualmente los métodos de diagnóstico, terapéuticos y quirúrgicos no están excluidos de la 
patentabilidad en la legislación de Fiji. 
27. Sírvanse explicar si las plantas, l os animales y esencialmente los procesos 
biológicos están o no excluidos de la patentabilidad en su legislación. En caso afirmativo, les rogamos aclaren el artículo pertinente de su legislación así como su 
formulación. 
Actualmente las plantas, los animales y esencialmente los procesos biológicos no están 
excluidos de la patentabilidad en la legislación de Fiji. 
28. Les rogamos que describan de qué form a y en virtud de qué disposiciones los 
microorganismos, los procesos no esen cialmente biológicos, los procesos 
microbiológicos y las obtenciones vegetale s están protegidos en su legislación. 
Sírvanse explicar a este respecto los artículos pertinentes de su legislación.  
Los microorganismos, los procesos no esencialmente biológicos, los procesos microbiológicos y 
las obtenciones vegetales no están protegidos en la legislación actual. 
29. Les rogamos que expliquen de qué forma su legislación protege a los titulares de 
derechos de patentes frente a la importación y frente al ofrecimiento para la venta de 
una invención patentada.  
Actualmente no hay disposiciones relativas a la protección de los titulares de derechos frente a 
la importación y frente al ofrecimiento para la venta de una invención patentada. 
30. Les rogamos indiquen si la legislación de  su país estipula la protección mediante 
patente de productos químicos farmacéuti cos y agrícolas. Si su respuesta es 
afirmativa, sírvanse indicar la referencia jurídica. 
Actualmente la Ley de Patentes no otorga protección a los productos químicos farmacéuticos y 
agrícolas. De hecho, el artículo 3A dispone que las sustancias y los productos farmacéuticos son excepciones a la infracción de los derechos de patente. 
31. Les rogamos aclaren si la protección de patentes de un proceso, según está 
estipulado en su legislación, abarca el pr oducto obtenido direct amente mediante ese 
proceso. 
La legislación no abarca la protección de patentes de un proceso o el producto obtenido 
directamente mediante ese proceso. 
32. Les rogamos que expliquen las condiciones adicionales, si las hay, existentes en 
su legislación además de la divulgación su ficiente de la invención contenida en el 
artículo 29 del Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC (a sa ber, presentación de justificación en lo 
que respecta al acceso a material genético o consentimiento previo a su utilización). 
Si esas condiciones adicionales existen,  indíquese la legislación pertinente y 
descríbanse las condiciones adicionales detalladamente. 
No hay condiciones adicionales además de la divulgación suficiente que se exige en la 
elaboración de las solicitudes de cartas-patente. 
33.  Se ruega describir si su  legislación estipula excepciones limitadas a los derechos 
exclusivos concedidos por una patente. Si su respuesta es afirmativa, se ruega 
mencionar la legislación pertinente. 
Como se ha indicado anteriormente, el artículo 3A dispone que "no constituye infracción de una 
patente de productos farmacéuticos que una persona fabrique, construya, use o venda la 
invención patentada relativa a una sustancia o un producto farmacéutico, con fines exclusivamente relacionados de modo razonable con la elaboración y presentación de IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 12 - 
 
 
 
 informaciones exigidas en virtud de una ley de las Islas Fiji o de cualquier otro país que regule 
su fabricación, construcción, uso o venta." 
34. Se ruega explicar si la legislación de su  país tiene o no previsto el otorgamiento 
de licencias obligatorias. En caso afirmati vo, se ruega explicar exhaustivamente las 
condiciones en las cuales puede concederse  una licencia obligatoria. Especialmente, 
sírvanse indicar de qué forma su legi slación nacional considera los méritos 
individuales en la autorización de esa utilización. 
Actualmente la Ley de Patentes no tiene previsto el otorgamiento de licencias obligatorias. 
35. Se ruega explicar de qué forma su le gislación asegura explícitamente que un 
usuario propuesto ha realizado esfuerzos pa ra obtener autorización del titular del 
derecho en términos y condiciones comerciales razonables y que esos esfuerzos no han logrado los resultados previstos en un período de tiempo razonable. En ese 
contexto, ¿cómo definen ustedes "período de tiempo razonable"? Sírvanse también 
explicar de qué forma su legislación garant iza que el uso de una licencia obligatoria 
será autorizado principalmente en lo que respecta al suministro del mercado interno 
del Miembro que autoriza ese uso. 
Actualmente la Ley de Patentes no prevé que un usuario propuesto obtenga autorización del 
titular de un derecho. 
36. Se ruega indicar si su legislación otor ga protección adicional a las innovaciones 
una vez transcurrido el período de  20 años otorgado por la patente. 
Actualmente el artículo 4 de la Ley de Patentes confiere protección mediante patente durante un 
período de solo 14 años y no se otorga protecci ón adicional una vez transcurrido este período. 
37.  Sírvanse explicar de qué forma su le gislación estipula el incremento de la 
protección mediante patente o solicitudes de patente en trámite al 1º de enero 
de 1995. 
La Ley de Patentes no estipula el incremento de la protección mediante patente o solicitudes de 
patente en trámite al 1º de enero de 1995. 
38. Sírvanse explicar de qué forma su legisl ación prevé la revocación de la carga de 
la prueba en lo que respecta a las patentes de procesos. 
La Ley de Patentes no prevé la revocación de la carga de la prueba. G. ESQUEMAS
 DE TRAZADO  (TOPOGRAFÍAS)  DE LOS  CIRCUITOS  INTEGRADOS 
39. Se ruega describir cómo protege la le gislación de su país las topografías. 
40. Sírvanse explicar qué protección otorga la legislación de su país a los titulares 
de derechos frente a la im portación ilícita, la venta o la distribución para fines 
comerciales de topografías comprendidos l os circuitos integrados o un artículo que 
incorpore un circuito integrado en el se ntido del artículo 36 del Acuerdo sobre 
los ADPIC. 
41. Se ruega explicar cómo prevé su legi slación la derogación del artículo 36 del 
Acuerdo sobre los ADPIC como se especifica en el artículo 37 de dicho Acuerdo cuando 
la persona que realice esos actos no supier a o no tuviera motivos razonables para 
saber, al adquirir el circuito integrado o el artículo que incorpora tal circuito integrado, que incorporaba un esquema de trazado reproducido ilícitamente. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 13 - 
 
 
 
 42. Se ruega indicar la duración de la pr otección otorgada por su legislación a las 
topografías. 
(Respuesta a las preguntas 39 a 42). Actualmente la legislación no prevé las topografías. 
H. PROTECCIÓN  DE LA INFORMACIÓN  NO DIVULGADA 
43. Sírvanse explicar si su legislación ot orga o no un período de tiempo definido 
para la protección de la información no  divulgada. En caso afirmativo, se ruega 
especificar la duración. 
44. Sírvanse explicar cómo define su legislación la información no divulgada. 
(Respuesta a las preguntas 43 y 44). Actualmente la legislación no aborda la protección de la 
información no divulgada. 
45. Se ruega explicar cómo define su legi slación los datos presentados a gobiernos u 
organismos gubernamentales. 
Si bien los artículos 58 a 61 de la Ley del Derecho de Autor se refiere al uso por el Estado de 
material protegido por el derecho de autor, los derechos de terceros con respecto al uso por el Estado, los procedimientos contra el Estado y los actos realizados en ejercicio de las facultades 
que confiere la ley, actualmente la legislación no define los datos presentados a gobiernos u 
organismos gubernamentales. 
I. OBSERVANCIA 
46. Sírvanse exponer cómo contempla su le gislación la actuación eficaz contra la 
infracción de los derechos de propiedad intelectual. 
Con arreglo al artículo 109 de la Ley de Marcas de Fábrica o de Comercio, la infracción de un 
derecho de autor es recurrible por el titular del derecho de autor. El demandante puede recibir 
el mismo tipo de reparación mediante resarcimiento de daños y perjuicios, mandamientos 
judiciales, rendición de cuentas u otros recursos, que en el caso de infracción de cualquier otro derecho de propiedad. Además, el artículo 111 prescribe la reintegración en un procedimiento 
civil, si una persona tiene en su posesión, custodia o control un objeto diseñado específicamente 
o adaptado para hacer copias de una obra sujeta a derecho de autor y si ese objeto se ha utilizado o se utilizará para hacer copias infractoras. 
Asimismo, el artículo 112 autoriza al titular del derecho de autor o a una persona facultada por 
el titular a incautar o retener las copias infractoras de una obra que se hallen expuestas o que puedan obtenerse de forma inmediata al estar en venta o alquiler. El artículo 113 confiere al titular de una licencia exclusiva el mismo derecho y los mismos recursos previstos en los 
artículos 109, 110, 111 y 112, después de la concesión de una licencia, que si la licencia fuera 
una cesión. 
Sírvanse tomar nota de que en virtud de la Ley de Patentes, las demandas por infracción solo se 
pueden presentar ante el Tribunal Superior en el caso de las patentes del Reino Unido. 
47. Sírvanse explicar si su legislación contempla o no un mecanismo para recurrir 
contra decisiones administrativas finales ante órganos judiciales.  
El artículo 11 de la Ley de Marcas de Fábrica o de Comercio dispone que la decisión del 
Procurador General de rechazar el registro de una marca de fábrica o de comercio o de aceptarlo condicionalmente podrá ser objeto de recurso ante el Tribunal Superior. Además, el artículo 13 5) de la Ley dispone que la decisión que adopte el Procurador General después de oír 
a las partes en relación con la oposición al registro podrá ser recurrida ante el Tribunal Superior. 
Asimismo, el artículo 32 establece que en los casos en que una persona posea por cesión, transmisión u otra aplicación de la ley un derecho sobre una marca de fábrica o de comercio 
registrada, solicitará al Procurador General que registre su título. Toda decisión que el IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 14 - 
 
 
 
 Procurador General adopte con arreglo a este artículo puede también ser recurrida ante el 
Tribunal. 
El artículo 13 de la Ley de Patentes dispone qu e la decisión del Fiscal General de rechazar un 
certificado provisional puede ser recurrida ante el Tribunal. Además, de conformidad con el artículo 15, si una persona se opone a la solicitud de una carta-patente y si la decisión del Fiscal 
General es desfavorable al titular del certificado provisional, esa persona podrá recurrir dicha 
decisión ante el Tribunal. 
48. Sírvanse describir cómo autoriza su legislación a que los jueces ordenen la 
presentación de pruebas por la parte contra ria. Se ruega faciliten información precisa 
acerca de las medidas que se adoptan para ga rantizar la protección de la información 
confidencial. 
El artículo 213 de la Ley del Derecho de Autor auto riza al Tribunal a dictar una citación judicial 
por la que ordene a una persona que comparezca ante el Tribunal para prestar declaración. La 
incomparecencia se castiga con una multa de 2.000,00 dólares. 
Actualmente, ni la Ley de Patentes ni la Ley de Marcas de Fábrica o de Comercio contienen 
disposiciones que autoricen a los jueces a ordenar la presentación de elementos de prueba. La 
Ley de Patentes no contiene ninguna disposición relativa a la protección de la información confidencial. 
49. Sírvanse citar las disposiciones de su  legislación que autorizan a los jueces a 
ordenar a un demandado que desista de una infracción.  
En virtud de la Ley del Derecho de Autor, el Tribunal puede ordenar mandamientos judiciales 
con arreglo a los artículos 109 2), 110 3), 115 3) y 191 a). 
50. Sírvanse citar qué disposiciones de su legislación autorizan a los jueces a 
ordenar el pago al titular del derecho de l resarcimiento adecuado de daños para 
compensarle por el perjuicio sufrido. 
En virtud de la Ley del Derecho de Autor, se  puede conceder una indemnización por daños y 
perjuicios con arreglo a los artículos 80 2) c), 101 2), 109 2), 110 2), 114 4) a), 115 2), 169 2), y 191 3) b) y 191 4). 
51. Sírvanse citar qué disposiciones de su legislación autorizan a los jueces a 
ordenar el pago de los gastos al titu lar del derecho por parte del infractor.  
Actualmente no hay disposiciones específicas que autoricen al Tribunal a ordenar el pago de los 
gastos al titular del derecho por parte del infractor. No obstante, como se ha indicado en la 
pregunta nº 50 supra , en virtud de la Ley del Derecho de Autor, el resarcimiento de los daños 
es una medida correctiva que se aplica en caso de infracción y cubre las pérdidas sufridas por el titular del derecho. 
52. Sírvanse explicar si los jueces tienen , y de qué modo, la competencia de ordenar 
que las mercancías infractoras se aparte n de los circuitos comerciales o sean 
destruidas. 
La división 6 de la Ley del Derecho de Autor prescribe el procedimiento relativo a la eliminación 
de una copia u otros objetos infractores. Con arreglo al artículo 125 a) y b) de la división 6 de la Ley del Derecho de Autor, el Tribunal está facultado para ordenar que las mercancías infractoras sean confiscadas en beneficio del titular del derecho de autor, sean destruidas o sean objeto de 
otro trato a criterio del Tribunal. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 53. Sírvanse citar qué disposiciones de su legislación autorizan a los jueces a 
indemnizar a un demandado en caso de abuso por parte del demandante. 
Actualmente la legislación no contiene disposiciones que autoricen a los jueces a indemnizar a 
un demandado en caso de abuso por parte del demandante. 
54. Sírvanse explicar cómo se aplica en su legislación el artículo 50 del Acuerdo 
sobre los ADPIC. 
Actualmente no hay disposiciones que pongan en aplicación el artículo 50 del Acuerdo sobre 
los ADPIC. 
55. Sírvanse exponer las autoridades compet entes en su jurisdicción que reciben de 
los titulares de derechos peticiones de solic itud de que se suspenda el despacho por 
las autoridades aduaneras de mercancías falsificadas. 
El artículo 35 de la Ley del Derecho de Autor prohíbe la importación de copias infractoras. No 
obstante, actualmente no hay ninguna autorida d competente facultada para suspender el 
despacho de mercancías falsificadas. 
56. Sírvanse indicar si existen o no proc edimientos para suspender la exportación 
de mercancías falsificadas. 
Actualmente no hay disposiciones jurídicas que permitan suspender la exportación de 
mercancías falsificadas. 
57. Sírvanse indicar qué disposiciones de su legislación autorizan a las autoridades 
competentes a ordenar la destrucción o eliminación de mercancías infractoras.  
El artículo 125 de la Ley del Derecho de Autor permite al Tribunal emitir órdenes para la 
eliminación de las mercancías infractoras. 
El artículo 125 dispone que: 
"125 .-1) Se podrá solicitar al Tribunal que ordene que una copia u otro objeto infractor, 
que haya sido entregado con arreglo a una orden en virtud del artículo 111 o 123 o 
confiscado de conformidad con el artículo 112 o 122 sea 
a) confiscado a favor del titular del derecho de autor; o 
b) destruido o sometido a otro trato a criterio del tribunal. 
2) Al considerar qué orden (si procede) debería dictarse con arreglo al párrafo 1), el 
Tribunal debe tener en cuenta 
a) si otros recursos aplicables en una acción incoada por una infracción del derecho de 
autor serían suficientes para resarcir al titular del derecho de autor y proteger sus 
intereses; y 
b) la necesidad de garantizar que no se elimine ninguna copia infractora de una manera 
que perjudique al titular del derecho de autor. 
3) Antes de dictar una orden en virtud del pá rrafo 1), el Tribunal deberá dar instrucciones 
relativas a la notificación de las personas que tengan un interés en la copia o el otro objeto de que se trate. 
4) Toda persona que tenga un interés en una copia u otro objeto al que se refiera una 
solicitud presentada en virtud del párrafo 1) tendrá derecho a 
a) comparecer en un procedimiento derivado de una orden dictada con arreglo al 
presente artículo, que se le haya enviado notificación o no; y 
b) recurrir cualquier orden dictada, haya o no comparecido en el procedimiento. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 16 - 
 
 
 
 5) Toda orden emitida con arreglo al párrafo 1) únicamente surtirá efecto una vez 
finalizado el plazo previsto para la notificación de apelaciones o, de notificarse 
debidamente dentro del plazo una apelación, una vez que se adopte una decisión 
definitiva o el abandono del procedimiento de apelación. 
6) Cuando haya más de una persona interesada en una copia u otro objeto, el Tribunal 
podrá ordenar que el objeto sea vendido, o se disponga de él de otra forma, y que los 
beneficios sean divididos, y podrá dictar cualquier otra orden que estime apropiada. 
7) Si el Tribunal decide que no hay que emitir ninguna orden conforme al presente 
artículo, la persona en cuya posesión o custodia o bajo cuyo control se hallaba la copia u 
otro objeto antes de que fuera entregado, tendrá derecho a su devolución." 
58. Sírvanse indicar si su legislación contempla o no una excepción para las 
importaciones de minimis . 
Actualmente la legislación no contempla ninguna excepción para las importaciones de minimis . 
59. Sírvanse explicar cómo se aplica en su legislación el artículo 61 del Acuerdo 
sobre los ADPIC.  
La división 5 de la Ley del Derecho de Autor, que rige los delitos, aborda la responsabilidad 
penal por la fabricación o comercialización de objetos infractores. Los párrafos 1) a 3) del artículo 121 definen los actos delictivos y disponen lo siguiente: 
121.-1) Comete un delito toda persona que, sin poseer una licencia de derecho de autor  
a) produzca para la venta o arrendamiento; b) importe en las Islas Fiji para un uso distinto del uso privado y doméstico; c) posea, en su actividad comercial, con miras a cometer cualquier acto vulnerando el 
derecho de autor; 
d) en su actividad comercial  i) ofrezca o exponga para la venta o alquiler; 
ii) exhiba en público; o 
iii) distribuya; e) en su actividad comercial o de otra índole, venda o dé en alquiler; o 
f) distribuya al margen de su actividad comercial en una medida que acarree perjuicios al 
titular del derecho de autor, un objeto respecto del cual la persona sabe, o deba razonablemente saber, que es una copia infractora de una obra objeto de derecho de autor. 
2) Comete un delito toda persona que 
a) fabrique un objeto diseñado específicamente o adaptado para hacer copias de una determinada obra sujeta a derecho de autor; o 
b) tenga dicho objeto en su posesión, 
cuando la persona sepa o deba razonablemente saber que el objeto se utiliza para realizar copias infractoras destinadas a la venta, al alquiler o a la utilización en la actividad 
comercial. 
3) Con arreglo al párrafo 4), comete un delito toda persona que 
a) sea causante de la interpretación o ejecución de una obra literaria, dramática o musical, si la interpretación o ejecución infringe el derecho de autor sobre la obra; o 
b) ponga los medios para la reproducción en público de una grabación sonora o la 
exhibición en público de una película, si la reproducción o exhibición infringe el derecho 
de autor sobre la grabación sonora o la película, 
y que sepa o deba razonablemente saber que la interpretación o ejecución, la 
reproducción o la exhibición, respectivamente, infringirá el derecho de autor sobre la obra o sobre la grabación sonora o la imagen visual, según el caso. 
4) Nada de lo dispuesto en el párrafo 3) se aplica en relación con la infracción del derecho 
de autor por la recepción de una radiodifusión o programa por cable. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 17 - 
 
 
 
 Las sanciones aplicables a los citados delitos se establecen en el artículo 121 5), que dispone lo 
siguiente: 
5) La persona que cometa uno de los delitos contemplados en el presente artículo será 
condenada a las penas siguientes: a) una multa de 5.000 dólares por cada copia infractora relacionada con el delito, pero 
con un máximo de 50.000 dólares respecto de la misma transacción, y a una pena de 
prisión de 12 meses, en el caso de un delito previsto en el párrafo 1); b) una multa de 50.000 dólares y una pena de prisión de 12 meses en el caso de los 
delitos previstos en los párrafos 2) o 3), 
c) una multa de 100.000 dólares y una pena de prisión de dos años, en el caso de un delito reincidente previsto en los párrafos 2) o 3). 
_______________ 
ANNEX 1
1 
 
Copyright Act 1999  
ACTS PERMITTED IN RELATI ON TO COPYRIGHT WORKS  
Division 1-General  
Incidental copying of copyright work  
40.-(1) Copyright in a work is not infringed by- 
(a) the incidental copying of the work in an artistic work, a sound recording, an audio visual work, 
a broadcast, or a cable programme; 
(b) the issue to the public of copies of an arti stic work, the playing of a sound recording, the 
showing of an audio visual work, the making of a broadcast or the inclusion of a cable programme 
in a cable programme service, in which a copyright work has been incidentally copied; or 
the issue to the public of copies of a sound re cording, audio visual work, broadcast, or cable 
programme to which paragraph ( a) or ( b) applies. 
(2) For the purposes of this subsection, a musical work, words spoken or sung with music, or so 
much of a sound recording, broadcast, or cable programme as includes a musical work or such 
words, is not to be regarded as incidentally copied in another work if the musical work or, as the case requires, such words of that sound recording,  broadcast, or cable programme is deliberately 
copied. 
Criticism, review and news reporting  
41.-(1) Copying a work for the purpose of criticism or review of that or another work, or of a 
performance of a work, does not infringe copyrigh t in the work if the copy is accompanied by a 
sufficient acknowledgement. 
(2) Copying a work for the purpose of reporting current events by means of a sound recording, 
audio visual work, broadcast or cable programme  does not infringe copyright in the work. 
                                               
1 En inglés únicamente. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 18 - 
 
 
 
 (3) Copying a work (other than a photograph) for the purpose of reporting current events by any 
means other than those referred to in subsection (2) does not infringe copyright in the work if the 
copy is accompanied by a sufficient acknowledgement. 
Research or private study  
42.-(1) Copying a work for the purposes of research  or private study by an individual does not 
infringe copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, unless there is a collective 
licence available of which the individual is or should be aware under which the copying can be 
done. 
(2) For the avoidance of doubt, it is declared that copying a published edition for the purposes of 
research or private study by an individual does not infringe copyright in either the typographical 
arrangement of the edition or in any literary, dramatic, or musical work or part of a work in the edition. 
(3) In relation to- (a) a literary, dramatic, or musical work that is contained in a book by one author; or 
(b) a published edition that is a book by one author, 
copying for the purposes of research or private study by an individual is limited to the making of 
one copy of the same work, or the same part of a work, on any one occasion. 
(4) In relation to- (a) a literary, dramatic, or musical work that is contained in an article in a periodical; 
(b) a published edition that is an article in a periodical, 
copying for the purposes of research or private st udy by an individual does not include copying for 
the purposes of research or private study the whole or part of the work or edition if another article dealing with a different subject matter is copied, on the same occasion, from the same issue of the 
periodical; but in any other case, includes copying for the purposes of research or private study by 
an individual the whole or part of the work or edit ion and any artistic work included in the whole or 
part. 
(5) In relation to a literary, dramatic, or musical work or a published edition, other than a work or 
edition to which subsection (3) or subsection (4) applies, copying for the purposes of research or 
private study by an individual includes copying fo r the purposes of research or private study not 
more than 10% of the work or edition and any artistic work included in that 10%. 
(6) Except as provided in subsections (3) to (5),  copying a work for the purposes of research or 
private study by an individual may include copyin g for the purposes of research or private study 
the whole or part of the work. 
(7) In determining, for the purposes of subsection (6), whether copying is for the purposes of 
research or private study by an individual, a court must have regard to- 
(a) the purpose of the copying; 
(b) the nature of the item copied; 
(c) whether the item could have been obtained within a reasonable time at an ordinary commercial 
price; IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 19 - 
 
 
 
 (d) the effect of the copying on the potentia l market for, or value of, the work; and 
(e) where part of an item is copied - the amount  and substantiality of the part copied taken in 
relation to the whole item. 
(8). This section does not apply to a lite rary work that is a computer program. 
Division 2-Education  
Exemption from copyright infringement  
43.-(1) Copying by a school referred to in subsection (2) for the purposes of research or private 
study by an individual does not infringe copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, 
unless there is a collective licence available of wh ich the school is or should be aware under which 
the copying can be done. 
2) A school referred to in subsection (1) includes- 
(a) a kindergarten; 
(b) a primary school; 
(c) an intermediate school; 
(d) a secondary school; 
(e) a special school. 
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1) copying fo r purposes of research or private study means- 
(a) the whole or part of a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work is copied for supply to any 
student or staff member of the school; 
(b) the school supplies no more than one copy of the copied material to any student or staff 
member of that school: and 
(c) if any student or staff member is required to pay for a copy, the payment required is no higher 
than the cost of production of the copy together  with a reasonable contribution to the general 
expenses of the school. 
(4) Subsection (1) does not apply to a literary work that is a computer program. 
Partial exemption from copyright infringement  
44.-(1) Copying by an educational establishment for the purposes of research or private study by 
an individual does not infringe copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, unless 
there is a collective licence available of which th e educational establishment is or should be aware 
under which the copying can be done. 
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), copying for the purposes of research or private study by an 
individual means copying not more than- 
(a) one chapter of the literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work; or 
(b) 10% of the literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work, for supply to any student or staff 
member of the educational establishment, IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 20 - 
 
 
 
 whichever is the less. 
(3). An educational establishment may apply to the Minister for a certificate of exemption entitling 
the establishment to exemption similar to those provided pursuant to section 43 for a school. 
(4) In determining, for the purposes of subsecti on (2), whether copying is for the purpose of 
research or private study, a court must have regard to- 
(a) the purpose of the copying; 
(b) the nature of the item copied; 
(c) whether the item could have been obtained within a reasonable time at an ordinary commercial 
price; 
(d) the effect of copying on the potential market for, or value of, the work; and 
(e) where part of an item is copied - the amount  and substantiality of the part copied taken in 
relation to the whole item. 
(5) Copyright in a dramatic, musical or artistic work is not infringed by its being copied in the 
course of instruction or of preparation for instruction, provided the copying- 
(a) is done by a person giving or receiving instruction; and 
(b) is not by means of a reprographic process. 
(6) Copyright in a sound recording, audio visual work or audio visual soundtrack, broadcast or 
cable programme is not infringed by its being copi e d  b y maki ng  an aud io vis ua l work or aud io 
visual soundtrack in the course of instruction, or of preparation for instruction, in the making of an 
audio visual work or audio visual soundtrack, prov ided the copying is done by a person giving or 
receiving instruction. 
(7) Subsection (1) does not apply to a literary work that is a computer program. 
Performing, playing, or showing work in  course of activities of educational 
establishment  
45.-(1) The performance of a literary, dramatic, or musical work before an audience consisting of 
persons who are students or staff members at a school or educational establishment or are directly 
connected with the activities of the school or establishment- 
(a) by a student or staff member in the course of the activities of the school or establishment; or 
(b) at the school or establishment by any person for the purposes of instruction, 
is not a performance in public for the purposes of section 32(1). 
(2) The playing or showing, for the purposes of instruction, of a sound recording, audio visual 
work, broadcast, or cable programme before an audience as described in subsection (1) at a 
school or educational establishment is not a playing or showing of the work in public for the 
purposes of section 32(2). 
(3) A parent or guardian of a student at a school or educational establishment is not, for the 
purposes of this section, to be treated as a person directly connected with the activities of the school or educational establishment. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 21 - 
 
 
 
 Recording by educational establishments of broadcasts and cable programmes  
46. A recording of a broadcast or cable programme, or a copy of such a recording may be made 
by or on behalf of a school or educational establishment for the educational purposes of that school or establishment without infringing copyri ght in the broadcast or cable programme, or in 
any work included in it, unless there is a collective licence available of which the school or 
educational establishment is or should or be aware under which copying can be done. 
Things done for purposes of examination  
47. Copyright is not infringed by anything done fo r the purposes of an examination, whether by 
way of setting the questions, communicating the questions to the candidates or answering the 
questions. 
Division 3-Libraries and Archives  
Prescribed libraries and archives  
48. In sections 49 to 53, unless the context otherwise requires- 
(a) "archive" means- 
(i) the National Archives of the Fiji Islands; (ii) any library, museum or other body approved by  the Minister of Information to be a repository 
of archival material under section 3 of the Libraries (Deposit of Books) Act (Cap 109) 
(http://www.paclii.org/fj/legis/consol_act/loba262/ ); 
(iii) any collection of documents (within the meaning of section 7 of the Public Records Act 
(Cap 108)) http://www.paclii.org/fj/le gis/consol_act/pra153/  of historical significance or public 
interest that is in the custody of and maintained by a person or body, whether incorporated or 
unincorporated, that does not keep and maintain th e collection for the purpose of deriving a profit; 
(b) "prescribed library'' means- 
(i) the Parliamentary Library; (ii) a library maintained by an educational establishment, government department, or local 
authority; 
(iii) any other library or class of library prescribed by regulations made under section 229, not 
being a library conducted for profit; 
(c) a reference to the librarian of a prescribed library or the archivist of an archive includes a 
person acting on behalf of the librarian or archivist. 
Copying by librarians of parts of published works  
49.-(1) The librarian of a prescribed library may, if the conditions contained in subsection (2) are 
complied with make from a published edition, for supply to another person- 
(a) in relation to a literary, dramatic, or musical work contained in a book by one author, not more 
than one copy of a short excerpt from the work; 
(b) in relation to a literary, dramatic, or musical work other than- IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 22 - 
 
 
 
 (i) a work contained in a book by one author; or 
(ii) an article in a periodical, 
not more than one copy of a short excerpt of each author's work and any artistic work included in 
that work, without infringing copyright in the literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work or the 
typographical arrangement of the published edition. 
(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1) are- 
(a) that a copy is supplied only to a person who satisfies the librarian that the person requires it 
for the purposes of research or private study; 
(b) that a copy must be supplied only to a person who satisfies the librarian that the requirement 
is not related to any similar requirement of another person; 
(c) that no person is supplied on the same occasion with more than one copy of the same 
material; 
(d) if a person to whom a copy is supplied is required to pay for it, the payment required is no 
higher than the cost of production of the copy together with a reasonable contribution to the 
general expenses of the library; and 
(e) that there is no collective licence available of  which the librarian is or should be aware under 
which the copying can be done. 
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to a literary work that is a computer program. 
Copying by librarians of articles in periodicals  
50.-(1) The librarian of a prescribed library may, if the conditions contained in subsection (2) are 
complied with, make for supply to any person a copy of- 
(a) a literary, dramatic, or musical work, and any artistic work included in that work, contained in 
an article in a periodical; or 
(b) a published edition that is an article in a periodical, 
without infringing copyright in the literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic work or the typographical 
arrangement of the published edition. 
(2) The conditions referred to subsection (1) are- (a) that no person is supplied on the same occasion with more than one copy of the same article; 
(b) that no person is supplied on the same occasion with copies of more than one article contained 
in the same issue of a periodical unless the copies supplied all relate to the same subject matter; 
(c) if a person to whom a copy is supplied is required to pay for it, the payment required is no 
higher than the cost of production of the copy together with a reasonable contribution to the 
general expenses of the library; and 
(d) that there is no collective licence available of which the librarian is or should be aware under 
which the copying can be done. 
Copying by librarians for supply to other libraries  IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 23 - 
 
 
 
 51.-(1) The librarian of a prescribed library may make from a published edition, for supply to 
another prescribed library- 
(a) in the case of a literary, dramatic or musical work contained in a book by one author - not 
more than one copy of the work; 
(b) in the case of a literary, dramatic or musical wo rk contained in an article in a periodical - the 
whole article and any artistic work included in that work; 
(c) in the case of a literary, dramatic or musical work other than a work to which paragraph ( a) or 
(b) applies - not more than one copy of the work or edition and any artistic work included in that 
work, 
without infringing copyright in the literary, dramatic, musical., or artistic work or the typographical 
arrangement of the published edition. 
(2) The librarian of a prescribed library may, if the conditions contained in subsection (3) are 
complied with, make a copy of a literary, dramatic or musical work, and any artistic work included 
in the work, if the copy is- 
(a) from a published edition that is a book; and 
(b) for supply to the librarian of another prescribed library; 
without infringing copyright in the literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic work or the typographical 
arrangement of the published edition. 
(3) The conditions referred to in subsection (2) are that the librarian to whom the copy of the work 
is supplied- 
(a) has been unable to obtain the work at a commercial price within the 6 months preceding the 
supply; 
(b) makes and keeps a record sufficient to identify the work copied; 
(c) permits the inspection of the record by the copyright owner during normal office hours; and 
(d) pays, on demand, equitable remuneration to the copyright owner for the work copied. 
(4) In subsection (3)( d), the term "equitable remuneration" means a sum agreed the librarian and 
the copyright owner. 
(5) Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to a literary work that is a computer program. 
Copying by librarians or archivis ts to replace copies of works  
52-(1) The librarian of a prescribed library or the archivist of an archive may make a copy of any 
item in the permanent collection of the library or archive for the purpose of- 
(a) preserving or replacing that item by placing th e copy in the permanent collection of the library 
or archive in addition to or in place of the item; or 
(b) replacing in the permanent collection of another prescribed library or archive an item that has 
been lost, destroyed, or damaged, IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 24 - 
 
 
 
 without infringing copyright in any literary, dramatic or musical work, in any artistic work included 
in the work or in the typographical arrangement of a published edition. 
(2) Subsection (1) applies only where it is not reasonably practicable to purchase a copy of the 
item in question to fulfil the purpose in question. 
Copying by librarians or archivis ts of certain unpublished works  
53.-(1) The librarian of a prescribed library or the archivist of an archive may, if the conditions 
contained in subsection (3) are complied with, copy for supply to any person a copy of an 
unpublished work in the library or archive, without infringing copyright in that work. 
(2) This section does not apply if the copyright owner has prohibited copying of the work and at 
the time the copy is made the librarian or archivist making it is, or ought to be aware of that fact. 
(3) The conditions referred to in subsection (1) are- 
(a) that no person is supplied on the same occasion with more than one copy of the same work; 
(b)  t h a t  i f  a  p e r s o n  t o  w h o m  a  c o p y  i s  s u p p l i e d is required to pay for the copy, the payment 
r e q u i r e d  i s  n o  h i g h e r  t h a n  t h e  c o s t  o f  p r o d u c tion of the copy together with a reasonable 
contribution to the general expenses of the library or archive; and 
(c) that there is no collective licence available of which the library or archive is or should be aware 
under which the copying can be done. 
Division 4-Public Administration  
Parliamentary and judicial proceedings  
54. Copyright is not infringed by anything done for the purposes of- 
(a) parliamentary judicial proceedings; 
(b) reporting such proceedings. 
Commissions of inquiry and statutory inquiries  
55. Copyright is not infringed by anything done for the purposes of- 
(a) the proceedings of a commission of inquiry, a ministerial inquiry or a statutory inquiry; 
(b) reporting any such proceedings that are held in public. 
(2) Subsection (1)( b) does not authorise the copying of a work that is itself a published report of 
the proceedings of a committee of inquiry, ministerial inquiry or statutory inquiry. 
(3) Copyright in a work is not infringed by the i ssue to the public of copies of the report of a 
commission of inquiry, ministerial inquiry or statutory inquiry containing the work or material from 
it. 
Material open to public inspection or on official register  
56.-(1) If material is open to public inspection or public reference pursuant to a statutory 
requirement, or is on a statutory register, copyrigh t in the material is not infringed by the copying IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 25 - 
 
 
 
 of the material, by or with the authority of the appropriate person, for a purpose that does not 
involve the issuing of copies to the public. 
(2) If material is open to public inspection or public reference pursuant to a statutory requirement, 
copyright is not infringed by the copying or issuing to the public or copies of the material, by or 
with the authority of the appropriate person, for the purpose of enabling the material to be 
inspected at a more convenient time or place or otherwise facilitating the exercise of any right for the purpose of which the requirement is imposed. 
( 3 )  I f  m a t e r i a l  t h a t  i s  o p e n  t o  p u b l i c  i n s p e c t i o n  o r  p u b l i c  r e f e r e n c e  p u r s u a n t  t o  a  s t a t u t o r y  
requirement, or that is on a statutory register, contains information about matters of general 
scientific, technical, commercial, or economic interest, copyright is not infringed by the copying or 
issuing to the public of copies of the material, by or with the authority of the appropriate person, for the purpose of disseminating that information. 
The Minister may by regulations provide that all or any of subsections (1) to (3), in such cases as 
may be specified in the regulations, apply only to copies marked in a specified manner. 
(5) The Minister may by regulations provide that al l or any of subsections (1) to (3) apply, to the 
extent and with any modifications specified in the regulations, in relation to- 
(a) material made open to public inspection or public reference by- 
(i) an international organisation specified in the regulations; or 
(ii) a person specified in the regulation who has functions in the Fiji Islands under an international 
agreement to which the State is a party; or 
(b) a register maintained by an international organisation specified in the regulations, 
as those provisions apply in relation to material open to public inspection or public reference 
pursuant to a statutory requirement or by virtue of being on a statutory register. 
(6) In this section- 
"appropriate person" means a person required to make material in a register open to public 
inspection or public reference on payment of any fee prescribed by or under a written law or, as 
the case may be, the person maintaining the register: 
"statutory register" means a register maintained pursuant to a statutory requirement; 
"statutory requirement" means a requirement of a written law. 
Material communicated to the State in the course of public business  
57.-(1) This section applies where- 
(a) a literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic work has, in the course of public business, been 
communicated to the State for any purpose, by or  with the licence of the copyright owner; and 
(b) a document (within the meaning of section 12 of the Official Secrets Act 1911 (UK)) recording 
or embodying the work is owned by, or is in the custody or control of, the State. 
(2) The State may, for- 
(a) the purpose for which the work was communicated to the State; or IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 26 - 
 
 
 
 (b) any related purpose that could reasonably have been anticipated by the copyright owner, 
copy the work, and issue copies of the work to th e public, without infringing copyright in the work. 
(3) The State may not copy a work, or issue copies of a work to the public, under this section if 
the work has previously been published otherwise than under this section. 
(4) In subsection (1) "public business" includ es any activity carried on by the State. 
(5) This section has effect subject to any agreement to the contrary between the State and the 
copyright owner. 
Use of copyright material for service of the State  
58.-(1) Copyright in a work is not infringed by anyt hing done in relation to the work, by or on 
behalf of the State or by any person authorised in writing by a government department- 
(a) for the purpose of national security or during a period of emergency; or 
(b) in the interests of the safety or health of the public or any member of the public. 
(2) If an act is done under subsection (1), the State must pay reasonable remuneration to the 
copyright owner upon terms agreed betw een the State and the copyright owner. 
(3) An act to which subsection (1) applies does not- 
(a) constitute publication of a work; or 
(b) affect the term of copyright in a work. 
Rights of third parties in respect of State use  
59.-(1) No provision of any assignment or licence in force between the copyright owner and a 
person other than a government department is effe ctive to prevent any act being done in relation 
to a copyright work, if the act is done under section 58. 
(2) If- 
(a) an act is done under section 58; and 
(b) an exclusive licence is in force in respect of the work in relation to which the act is done, 
the State must pay reasonable remuneration to the licensee upon terms agreed between the State 
and the licensee. 
(3) If- 
(a) a person has a right in relation to a work by any licence other than an exclusive licence; and 
(b) a payment is made, in respect of that work, under section 58 to the copyright owner or under 
subsection (2) of this section to the exclusive licensee, 
the person is entitled to recover from the owner or exclusive licensee, as the case may be, such 
part of any payment as is agreed between that person and the copyright owner or the exclusive 
licensee, as the case may be. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 27 - 
 
 
 
 Proceedings against the State  
60.-(1) If an employee or agent of the State infrin ges copyright in a work, and the infringement is 
committed with the authority of the State, civil proceedings in respect of the infringement lie against the State under the State Proceedings Act (Cap 24), but subject to this Act. 
(2) Nothing in subsection (1) affects the rights of the State, or any person authorised by a 
government department, under section 58. 
Acts done under statutory authority  
61.-(1) If the doing of a particular act is specifically authorised by a written law, the doing of that 
act does not infringe copyright unless the written law provides otherwise. 
(2) Nothing in this section excludes any defence of statutory authority otherwise available under or 
pursuant to an enactment. 
Division 5-Literary, Dramatic, Musical, And Artistic Works 
Acts permitted on assumptions as to expiry of  copyright or death of author in relation to  
anonymous or pseudonymous works  
62.-(1) Copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical, or artistic work is not infringed by any act done 
at a time when, or in pursuance of arrangements made at a time when- 
(a) it is not possible for a person who wishes to do so to ascertain the identity of the author by 
reasonable inquiry; and 
(b) it is reasonable to assume- 
(i) that copyright has expired; or (ii) that the author died 50 years or more before the beginning of the calendar year in which the 
act is done or the arrangements are made. 
(2) Subsection (1)( b)(ii) does not apply in relation to- 
(a) a work in which State copyright exists under section 26; 
(b) a work- 
(i) in which copyright originally vested in an international organisation under section 28; and 
(ii) in respect of which an order made under that section specifies a copyright period longer than 
50 years. 
(3) In relation to a work of joint authorship- (a) the reference in subsection (1)( a) to its being not possible to ascertain the identity of the 
author is a reference to the identity of any of the authors; and 
(b) the reference in subsection (1)( b)(ii) to the author having died is a reference to all the authors 
having died. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 28 - 
 
 
 
 Use of recording of spoken words in certain cases  
63.-(1) If a recording of spoken words is made, in writing or otherwise, for the purpose of- 
(a) reporting current events; or 
(b) broadcasting or including in a cable programme service the whole or part of the work, 
it is not an infringement of copyright in the words as a literary work to use the recording or 
material taken from it (or to copy the recording, or any such material, and use the copy) for that purpose, if the conditions in subsection (2) are complied with. 
(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1) are that- (a) the recording is a direct record of the spoken words and is not taken from a previous recording 
or from a broadcast or cable programme; 
(b) the making of the recording was not prohibited by the speaker and, if copyright already existed 
in the work, did not infringe copyright; 
(c) the use made of the recording or material taken from it is not of a kind prohibited by or on 
behalf of the speaker or copyright owner before the recording was made; and 
(d) the use is by or with the authority of a person  who is lawfully in possession of the recording. 
Public reading or recitation  
64.-(1) The reading in public or recitation in public by one person of a reasonable extract from a 
published literary or dramatic work is not to be treated as a performance in public for the purposes 
of section 32(1), if that reading or recitation is accompanied by a sufficient acknowledgement. 
(2) Copyright in a work is not infringed by the maki ng of a sound recording, or the broadcasting or 
inclusion in a cable programme, of a reading or recitation that pursuant to subsection (1) is not treated as a performance in public, if the recording, broadcast. or cable programme consists 
mainly of material in relation to which it is not necessary to rely on that subsection. 
Abstracts of scientific or technical articles  
65. If an article on a scientific or technical subject is published in a periodical accompanied by an 
abstract indicating the contents of that article, it is not an infringement of copyright in the 
abstract, or in the article, to copy the abstract or to issue copies of the abstract to the public, 
unless there is a collective licence available of wh ich the copier is or should be aware under which 
the copying can be done. 
Recordings of folk-songs  
66.-(1) A sound recording of a performance of a so ng may be made for the purpose of including 
the song in an archive maintained by a body prescribed by regulations under section 229 without infringing copyright in the words as a literary work or in the accompanying musical work, if the conditions in subsection (2) are complied with. 
(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1) are that- (a) the words are unpublished and of unknown authorship at the time the recording is made; 
(b) the making of the recording does not infringe any other copyright; and IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 29 - 
 
 
 
 (c) the making of the recording is not prohibited by any performer. 
(3) Copies of a sound recording made in reliance on subsection (1) and included in an archive 
maintained by a body prescribed by regulations made under this Act may, if the condition contained in subsection (4) is complied with, be made and supplied by the archivist without 
infringing copyright in the recording or the works included in it. 
(4) The condition referred to in subsection (3) is that no person is furnished with more than one 
copy of the same recording. 
Representation of certain artist ic works on published display  
67.-(1) This section applies to- 
(a) buildings; and 
(b) works (being sculptures, models for buildings, or works of artistic craftsmanship) that are 
permanently situated in a public place or in premises open to the public. 
(2) Copyright in a work to which this section applies is not infringed by- (a) copying the work by making a graphic work representing it; 
(b) copying the work by making a photog raph or audiovisual work of it; or 
(c) broadcasting, or including in a cable programme, a visual image of the work. 
(3) Copyright is not infringed by the issue to the public of copies, or the broadcasting or 
communication to the public or inclusion in a cable programme, of anything the making of which was, under this section, not an infringement of copyright. 
Special exception from protection  of literary or artistic works  
68.-(1) The making of any object in 3 dimensions (i ncluding, subject to subsection (2), a copy in 2 
dimensions reasonably required for the making of the object) does not infringe copyright in a literary or artistic work, if the work or a copy of i - 
(a) forms part of- 
(i) a patent specification that is open to public inspection in the Office of the Administrator-General 
in respect of a Fiji Islands patent that has ceased to exist; or 
(ii) a representation or specimen of a design that is open to public inspection in the Office of the 
Administrator-General in respect of a design for which registered protection in the Fiji Islands has 
ceased; and 
(b) is used for the purpose of making the object. 
(2) Subsection (1) does not authorise- 
(a) the making of a copy in 2 dimensions of an artistic work- 
(i) to which subsection (1) applies; and 
(ii) that is in 2 dimensions, IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 if the copy is made directly from that artistic work; or 
(b) the making of a copy of a literary work to which subsection (1) applies, if the copy is made 
directly from that literary work. 
Special exception from protection of artist ic work that has been applied industrially  
69.-(1) -The making of- 
(a) any object in 3 dimensions; or 
(b) a copy in 2-dimensions reasonably required for the making of the object, 
does not infringe copyright in an artistic work, if, when the object or copy is made, the artistic 
work has been applied industrially, in the Fiji Islands or in any other country, by or with the licence 
of the copyright owner- 
(i) in the case of a work of artistic craftsmanship - more than 25 years before the object or copy is 
made; 
(ii) in the case of a sculpture that is a cast or pattern for an object that has a primarily utilitarian 
function -more than 25 years before the object or copy is made; 
(iii) subject to subsection (2), in the case of an y other artistic work -more than 25 years before the 
object or copy is made. 
(2) Subsection (1) does not apply to- 
(a) a sculpture that is not a cast or pattern for an object that has a primarily utilitarian function; or 
(b) a work of architecture, being a building or a model for a building. 
(3) Subsection (1) does not authorise the making of a copy in 2 dimensions of an artistic work that 
is in 2 dimensions, if the copy is made directly from that artistic work. 
(4) For the purposes of subsection (1), an artistic work is applied industrially if- 
(a) more than 50 copies in 3 dimensions are made of the work, for the purposes of sale or hire; 
(b) the work is copied in 3 dimensions in one or more objects manufactured in lengths, for the 
purposes of sale or hire; or  
(c) the work is copied as a plate that has been used to produce -  
(i) more than 50 copies of an object in 3 di mensions for the purpose of sale or hire; or 
(ii) one or more objects in 3 dimensions manufactured in lengths for the purposes of sale or hire. 
(5) For the purposes of subsection (4), 2 or more copies in 3 dimensions that are of the same 
general character and intended for use together are a single copy. 
Special exception from protection of literar y and artistic works relating to medicines  
70. The copying, adaptation or publication of a literary work or an artistic work does not infringe 
copyright in that work if the work- IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 (a) relates to a medicine that has been imported by the State pursuant to sections 2 and 2A of the 
Pharmacy and Poisons Act (Cap 115); and 
(b) has been made, copied, published, adapted, or distributed in an overseas country by or with 
the licence of the owner of the copyright in the work in that country. 
Making of subsequent works by same artist  
71. If the author of an artistic work is not th e copyright owner, the author does not infringe 
copyright in that work by copying the work in maki ng another artistic work, if the main design of 
the earlier work is not repeated or imitated 
Reconstruction of buildings  
72. Anything done for the purposes of reconstructing a building does not infringe copyright- 
(a) in the building; or 
(b) in any drawings or plans in accordance with wh ich the building was, by or with the licence of 
the copyright owner, constructed. 
Division 6-Computer Programs, Sound Recordings, and Audio Visual Works  
Rental by educational establishments and libraries  
73. Copyright in a work (being a computer program, sound recording, or audio visual work) is not 
infringed by the rental of that work to any person by an educational establishment or a prescribed 
library within the meaning of section 49 if - 
(a) the educational establishment or prescribed library does not effect the rental of the work for 
the purposes of making a profit; and 
(b) the work that is the subject of the rental ha s previously been put into circulation with the 
licence of the copyright owner. 
Back-up copy of computer program  
74.-(1) Subject to subsection (3), copyright in a computer program is not infringed by the making 
of a copy of the computer program if- 
(a) the copy is made by or on behalf of the lawful user of the copy of the program (in this section 
referred to as the "original copy") from which the first-mentioned copy is made; 
(b) the copy is made solely for the purpose of being used by or on behalf of the lawful user of the 
original copy instead of the original copy if the original copy is lost, destroyed, or rendered unusable; and 
(c) there is no collective licence available of which the lawful user is or should be aware under 
which the copy can be made. 
(2) If an original copy is lost, destroyed or rend ered unusable, a copy made pursuant to subsection 
(1) is to be deemed for the purposes of  this section to be the original copy. 
(3) Subsection (1) does not apply to the making of a copy of a computer program 
(a) from an infringing copy of the computer program; or IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 (b) contrary to an express direction by or on beha lf of the owner of the copyright in the computer 
program given to the lawful user of the original copy not later than the time when the lawful user 
of the original copy acquired that original copy. 
(4) For the purposes of this section- 
(a) a reference to a copy of a computer program is  a reference to any object in which the program 
is reproduced in a material form; and 
(b) a reference to an express direction, in relation to a copy of a computer program, includes a 
reference to a clearly legible direction printed on the copy or on a package in which the copy is 
supplied. 
Playing of sound recordings for purposes of club, society, etc.  
75.-(1) It is not an infringement of copyright in a sound recording to play the recording as part of 
the activities of, or for the benefit of, a club, society, or other organisation, if the conditions contained in subsection (2) are complied with. 
(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1) are- (a) that the club, society or organisation is not established or conducted for profit; 
(b) that the main objects of the club, society, or organisation are charitable or are otherwise 
concerned with the advancement of religion, education, or social welfare; and 
(c) that the proceeds of any charge for admission to the place where the recording is to be heard 
are applied solely for the purposes of the club, society or organisation. 
Division 7-Broadcasts  and Cable Programmes  
Recording for purposes of time shifting  
76.-(1) The making for private and domestic use of a recording of a broadcast or cable 
programme solely for the purpose of enabling the recording to be viewed or listened to at a more 
convenient time does not infringe copyright in the broadcast or cable programme or in any work included in the broadcast or cable programme. 
(2) A recording that is- (a) made under subsection (1); and 
(b) retained for any longer than is reasonably nece ssary to enable the recording to be viewed or 
listened to at a more convenient time, 
infringes copyright in the broadcast or cable programme recorded and in any work included in the 
recording, and is to be treated as an infringing copy. 
Incidental recording for purposes of broadcast or cable programme  
77.-(1) This section applies where, under an assignment or licence, a person is authorised to 
broadcast or include in a cable programme service- 
(a) a literary, dramatic, or musical work, or an adaptation of such a work; 
(b) an artistic work; or IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 (c) a sound recording or audio visual work. 
(2) Where this section applies, the person so authorised may, if the conditions contained in 
subsection (3) are complied with, do or author ise the doing of any of the following for the 
purposes of the broadcast or cable programme- 
(a) in the case of a literary, dramatic, or musical work, or an adaptation of such a work - copy the 
work or adaptation by making a sound recording or  audio visual work of the work or adaptation; 
(b) in the case of an artistic work - copy the work by taking a photograph or making an audio 
visual work of the work; 
(c) in the case of a sound recording or an audio visual work - make a copy of the recording or 
audio visual work. 
(3) The conditions referred to in subsection (2) are- 
(a) that the recording, audio visual work, photograph, or copy is not used for any other purpose; 
and 
(b) that the recording, audio visual work, photogra ph, or copy is destroyed within 6 months of 
being first used for broadcasting the work or, as  the case may be, including the work in a cable 
programme, unless the Minister has authorised the preservation of any recording, audio visual 
work; photograph or copy in the records of a government department or in the national archives 
because of its documentary character or exceptional importance. 
(4) A recording, audio visual work, photograph, or copy made in accordance with this section is to 
be treated as an infringing copy- 
(a) for the purposes of any use in breach of the condition contained in subsection (3) ( a); and 
(b) for all purposes after either of the conditions contained in subsection (3) is broken. 
Photographs of television br oadcasts or cable programmes  
78. Copyright in- 
(a) a television broadcast or cable programme; or 
(b) any audio visual work included in that broadcast or programme, 
is not infringed by the copying for private and domestic use of the whole or any part of an image 
forming part of the television broadcast or cable programme by- 
(i) the taking of a photograph of the image; or (ii) the making of a copy of such a photograph. 
Free public playing or showing of broadcast or cable programme  
79.-(1) The playing in public or showing in pub lic of a broadcast or cable programme to an 
audience which has not paid for admission to the place where the broadcast or cable programme is to be heard or seen does not infringe any copyright in- 
(a) the broadcast or cable programme; or IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 34 - 
 
 
 
 (b) any sound recording or audio visual work included in the broadcast or programme. 
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) an audience is to be treated as havi ng paid for admission on 
to a place if- 
(a) members of the audience have paid for admissi on to a place of which that place forms part; 
(b) goods or services are supplied at that place, or at a place of which that place forms part at 
prices- 
(i) that are substantially attributable to the facilities afforded for hearing or seeing the broadcast 
or cable programme; or 
(ii) that exceed those usually charged there and that are partly attributable to those facilities; or 
(c) if the place is a hotel, motel, camping ground or similar place and the audience consists of 
persons residing at the hotel, mo tel, camping ground or place. 
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1) the following are not to be treated as having paid for 
admission to a place- 
(a) persons admitted as residents or inmates of a place (other than a hotel, motel, or camping 
ground); 
(b) persons admitted as members of a club or society where the payment is only for membership 
of the club or society and the provision of facilities for hearing or seeing broadcasts or cable programmes is only incidental to the main purposes of the club or society. 
(4) If the making of the broadcast or inclusion of the programme in a cable programme service 
was an infringement of the copyright in a sound recording or audio visual work, the fact that the 
broadcast or programme was heard or seen in publ ic by the reception of the broadcast or cable 
programme must be taken into account in assessing the damages for that infringement. 
Reception and re-transmission of br oadcast in cable programme service  
80.-(1) This section applies where a broadcast made from a place in the Fiji Islands is, by 
reception and immediate re-transmission, included in a cable programme service. 
(2) Where this section applies- (a) copyright in the broadcast is not infringed if and to the extent that the broadcast- 
(i) is made for reception in the area in which the cable programme service is provided; and 
(ii) is not a satellite transmission or an encrypted transmission; (b) copyright in any work included in the broadcast is not infringed if and to the extent that the 
broadcast is made for reception in the area in which the cable programme service is provided; 
(c) where the making of the broadcast was an infrin gement of the copyright in any work included 
in the broadcast, the fact that the broadcast was retransmitted as a programme in a cable 
programme service is to be taken into account in assessing the damages for that infringement. 
(3) This section does not apply if or to the extent that a licence authorising the reception and 
immediate re-transmission of a broadcast is available under a licensing scheme to the person IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 35 - 
 
 
 
 providing the cable programme service and the person providing the cable programme service 
knew or ought to have known that fact. 
Provision of subtitled copies of broadcast or cable programme  
81.-(1) A body prescribed by regulations made und er this Act may, for the purpose of providing 
people who are deaf or hard of hearing, or physic ally or mentally disabled in any other way, with 
copies that are subtitled or otherwise modified fo r their special needs, make copies of television 
broadcasts or cable programmes and issue copies to  the public, without infringing any copyright in 
the broadcasts or programmes or works included in those broadcasts or programme. 
(2) A body must not be prescribed for the purposes of subsection (1) if it is established or 
conducted for profit. 
Recording for archival purposes  
82.-(1) A recording of a broadcast or cable progra mme of a class prescribed by regulations made 
under this Act, or a copy of such a recording, maybe made for the purpose of being placed in an 
archive maintained by a body prescribed by regulations made under section 229 without infringing 
copyright in the broadcast or programme or in any work included in the broadcast or programme. 
(2) A body must not be prescribed for the purposes of subsection (1) if it is established or 
conducted for profit. 
Division 8-Adaptations  
Adaptations  
83. An act that under this Act may be done without infringing copyright in a literary, dramatic, or 
musical work does not, if that work is an adaptation, infringe any copyright in the work from which the adaptation was made. 
Division 9-Subsequent Dealings  
Subsequent dealings with copies made under this Part  
84.-(1) If a copy that would otherwise be an infringing copy is made in accordance with any of the 
provisions of this Act referred to in subsection (2) but is subsequently dealt with, it must be 
treated as an infringing copy for the purposes of that dealing and,. if that dealing infringes copyright, for all subsequent purposes. 
(2) The provisions referred to in subsection (1) are- (a) section 43 (which relates to copying by educational establishments for the purposes of 
research or private study); 
(b) section 44 (which relates to copying in the course of instruction); 
(c) section 46 (which relates to recording by educational establishments of broadcasts and cable 
programmes); 
(d) section 47 (which relates to things done for the purposes of an examination); 
(e) section 49 (which relates to copying by librarians of parts of published works); 
(f) section 50 (which relates to copying by librarians of articles in periodicals); IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 36 - 
 
 
 
 (g) section 51 (which relates to copying by librarians for supply to other libraries); 
(h) section 52 (which relates to copying by librarians or archivists to replace copies of works); 
(i) section 53 (which relates to copying by librarians or archivists of certain unpublished works); 
(j) section 58 (which relates to use of copyright material for the service of the State); 
(k) section 74 (which relates to back-up copy of computer programs); 
(l) section 76 (which relates to recording for the purposes of time shifting). 
(3) In subsection (1), the term "dealt with" mean- (a) sold or let for hire in the course of a business or otherwise; or 
(b) offered or exposed for sale or hire in the course of a business. 
_______________IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 37 - 
 
 
 
 ANNEX 21  
Copyright Act 1999 
Part X  
PERFORMERS' RIGHTS  
Division 1-General  
Definitions  
164. In this Part of this Act, unless the context otherwise requires- 
"copy", in relation to a recording, 
(a) means a copy of a recording made directly from that recording; and 
(b) includes a copy of a recording made indirectly from that recording; 
"illicit recording" - 
(a) means a recording of the whole or any substantial part of a performance made without the 
performer's consent and otherwise than for private and domestic use; and 
(b) includes a copy, made without the performer' s consent and otherwise than for private and 
domestic use, of a recording where- 
(i) the recording was made with the performer's consent, but the copy is made for purposes 
different from those for which the performer gave his or her consent to the recording; or 
(ii) the recording was made in accordance with one or more of the exemptions in sections 170 to 
174 or sections 179 to 181 but the copy is made for different purposes; 
"performance" - (a) means- 
(i) a dramatic performance, including a dance, a mime, and a performance given with the use of 
puppets; 
(ii) a musical performance; (iii) a reading or recitation of a literary work; or 
(iv) a performance of a variety act or any similar presentation, 
being in any such case either- (A) a live performance given in any country by a Fiji Islands citizen or a person domiciled or 
re s id e nt in the  F iji I s lan d s , or b y a c iti ze n or subject of or a person domiciled or resident in a 
Convention country; 
                                               
1 En inglés únicamente. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 38 - 
 
 
 
 (B) a live performance given in the Fiji Islands or in a Convention country; 
(C) a performance to which this Part applies pursuant to section 165(2) or 200 or to regulations 
made under section 201; but 
(b) does not include- 
(i) a performance referred to in section 45(1), 
(ii) a reading, recital, or delivery of any item of news and information: (iii) a performance of a sporting activity; or 
(iv) participation in a performance as a member of an audience; 
"recording" in relation to a performance, includes a recording or audio visual work (a) made directly from the performance; or 
(b) made from a broadcast or communication to the public, or a cable programme, that includes 
the performance. 
Application  
165.-(1) This Part applies to any act done on or after the commencement of this Act in relation to 
a performance given on or after such commencement. 
(2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), if a performance was given 
(a) in the Fiji Islands; 
(b) in a Convention country in respect of which section 200 applies; 
(c) in a country or other place in respect of which a regulation under section 201 is in force; 
(d) in any place by a Fiji Islands citizen or a person domiciled or resident in the Fiji Islands, or by a 
citizen or subject of or a person domiciled or resident in a Convention country, 
this Part of this Act also applies in relation to a performance given before the commencement of 
this Act if- 
(i) not more than 50 years has elapsed from the end of the calendar year in which the 
performance was given; or 
(ii) in the case of a performance given in a Convention country, or in another country by a citizen 
or subject of or a person domiciled or resident in a Convention country, any period of protection 
given to that performance in the Convention country has not expired. 
(3) Notwithstanding that, by virtue of subsection (2), this Part applies to a performance given 
before the commencement of this Act, nothing in this Part applies to- 
(a) any act done, in relation to that performance, before the commencement of this Act or in 
pursuance of arrangements made before the commencement of this Act; or IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 39 - 
 
 
 
 (b) the sale, letting for hire, or offer or exposure for sale or hire, after the commencement of this 
Act, of any recording or copy of a recording in existence in the Fiji Islands immediately before the 
commencement of this Act. 
(4) The rights conferred by this Part are independent of- 
(a) any copyright in, or moral rights relating to, any work performed or any sound recording or 
audio visual work of, or a broadcast, communication to the public or cable programme that 
includes, the performance; and 
(b) any other right or obligation arising otherwise than under this Part. 
(5) The rights conferred by this Part on a performe r are conferred only in relation to performances 
by that performer, whether alone or with others. 
Division 2-Performers' Rights  
Consent required for recording or live transmission of performance  
166.-(1) A performer's rights are infringed by a pe rson who, without the performer's consent- 
(a) makes, otherwise than for the person's private and domestic use, a recording of the whole or 
any substantial part of a performance; or 
(b) broadcasts live, or communicates to the public, the whole or any substantial part of a 
performance. 
(2) In proceedings for infringement of a performer' s rights brought under this section, a defendant 
who shows that at the time of the infringement the defendant believed on reasonable grounds that the performer's consent had been given is not liable to pay damages. 
Infringement by use of illicit recording  
167. A performer's rights are infringed by a pe rson who, without the performer's consent- 
(a) presents for public performance the whole or any substantial part of a performance; or 
(b) broadcasts, communicates to the public or includes in a cable programme the whole or any 
substantial part of a performance, 
by means of a recording that is, and that the person knows or has reason to believe is, an illicit 
recording. 
Copying of recordings  
168.-(1) A performer's rights are infringed by a person who, without the performer's consent and 
otherwise than for that person's private and domest ic use, copies a recording if the person knows 
or has reason to believe that the recording was made without the performer's consent. 
(2) In proceedings for infringement of a performer' s rights brought under this section, a defendant 
who shows that at the time of the infringement the defendant believed on reasonable grounds that 
the performer's consent to the recording had been given is not liable to pay damages. 
(3) A performer's rights are infringed by a pe rson who, without the performer's consent and 
otherwise than for the person's private and domestic use, copies a recording- IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 40 - 
 
 
 
 (a) if the copy is made for purposes different from those for which the performer gave consent to 
the recording; or 
(b) if the recording was made in accordance with one or more of the exemptions contained in 
sections 170 to 174 or sections 176 to 181, but the copy is made for different purposes. 
(4) In proceedings for infringement of a performer' s rights brought under this section, a defendant 
who shows that at the time of the infringement the defendant believed on reasonable grounds that 
the performer's consent to the copying of the re cording had been given is not liable to pay 
damages. 
Infringement by importing, possessing , or dealing with illicit recording  
169.-(1) A performer's rights are infringed by a person who, without the performer's consent- 
(a) imports into the Fiji Islands otherwise than for the person's private and domestic use; or 
(b) in the course of a business, possesses, sells, lets for hire, offers or exposes for sale or hire, or 
distributes, 
a recording that is, and that the person knows or has reason to believe is, an illicit recording. 
(2) If, in proceedings for infringement of a pe rformer's rights brought under this section, a 
defendant shows that the recording was innocently acquired by the defendant or a predecessor in 
title of the defendant, the only remedy ava ilable against the defendant in respect of the 
infringement is damages not exceeding a reasonable payment in respect of the act complained of. 
(3) in subsection (2), "innocently acquired" means that the person acquiring the recording did not 
know, and had no reason to believe, that it was an illicit recording. 
Division 3-Acts Permitted in relation to Performances  
Incidental copying of performance or recording  
170.-(1) The rights conferred by this Part are not infringed by- 
(a) the incidental copying of a performance or recording in a sound recording, audio visual work, 
broadcast, or cable programme; 
(b) the public performance of a sound recording or audio visual work, the making of a broadcast or 
the communication of a cable programme to the pu blic, if the performance or recording has been 
incidentally copied in that sound recording, audio visual work, broadcast, or programme; or 
(c) the issue to the public of copies of such a sound recording audio visual work, broadcast, or 
cable programme. 
(2) For the purposes of this section, a performance or recording, so far as it consists of- 
(a) music; or 
(b) words spoken or sung with music, 
is not incidentally copied in another work if th e performance or recording is deliberately copied. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
- 41 - 
 
 
 
 Permitted Acts in relation to performances , criticism, reviews, and news reporting  
171. Copying of a performance or recording- 
(a) fate purposes of criticism or review, of that or another performance, or of a work., 
(b) for the purposes of reporting current events, 
does not infringe any of the ri ghts conferred by this Part. 
Things done for Purposes of instruction or examination  
172.-(1) The rights conferred by this Part are no t infringed by the copying of a recording of a 
performance if- 
(a) the copying is done- 
(i) in preparing a course of instruction; 
(ii) for use during a course of instruction; 
(iii) during a course of instruction; or 
(iv) after a course of instruction, 
if the instruction is on how to make audio visual works or audio visual sound-tracks or relates to 
the learning of a language or is conducted by correspondence; 
(b) the copying is done by or on behalf of a pers on who is to give, is giving, or has given the 
lesson, or by or on behalf of a person who is to receive, is receiving, or has received the lesson; 
and 
(c) no charge is made for the supply of a copy to any student or other person who is to receive, is 
receiving, or has received the lesson. 
(2) The rights conferred by this Part are not infringed- 
(a) by the copying of a recording of a performanc e for the purposes of setting or answering the 
questions in an examination; or 
(b) by anything done for the purposes of an examination by way of communicating the questions 
to the candidates. 
Playing or showing sound recording, audio visual work, broadcast or cable programme 
at educational establishment.  
173.-(1) The public performance of a sound recording, audio visual work, broadcast or cable 
programme at an educational establishment for the purposes of instruction, before an audience consisting of persons who are students or staff members at the establishment or persons directly 
connected with the activities of the establishment, does not infringe any of the rights conferred by 
this Part. 
(2) For the purposes of this section, a person is not a person directly connected with the activities 
of an educational establishment by reason only that the person is a parent or guardian of a 
student at that educational establishment. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 Recording of broadcasts and cable prog rammes by educational establishment  
174. A recording of a broadcast or cable programme, or a copy of such a recording, may be made 
by or on behalf of an educational establishment for the educational purposes of the establishment 
without infringing any of the rights conferred by this Part in relation to any performance or 
recording included in the recording or copy. 
Subsequent dealings  
175.-(1) If a recording, or a copy of a recording, that would otherwise be an illicit recording- 
(a) is made in accordance with section 172 or 174; and 
(b) is subsequently dealt with, in terms of subsection (2) of this section,  
it is an illicit recording-  (i) for the purposes of the dealing referred to in paragraph ( b) unless the dealing is authorised by 
the performer; and 
(ii) for the purposes of any dealing that is subsequent to the dealing referred to in paragraph ( b), 
unless the first-mentioned dealing is authorised by the performer. 
(2) In subsection (1) the term "dealt with" means sold or let for hire, or offered or exposed for 
sale or hire, in the course of a business. 
Parliamentary and judicial proceedings  
176. The rights conferred by this Part are not infringed by anything done for purposes of- 
(a) parliamentary or judicial proceedings; or 
(b) reporting such proceedings. 
Commissions of inquiry and statutory inquiries  
177. The rights conferred by this Part are not infringed by anything done for purposes of- 
(a) the proceedings of a commission of inquiry a ministerial inquiry or a statutory inquiry; 
(b) reporting any such proceedings that are held in public. 
Acts done under statutory authority  
178.-(1) If the doing of a particular act is specifically authorised by a written law, the doing of the 
act does not infringe the rights conferred by this Part unless the law provides otherwise. 
(2) Nothing in this section excludes any defence of statutory authority otherwise available under or 
pursuant to any written law. 
Use of recordings of spoken words in certain cases  
179.-(1) If a recording of the reading or recitation of a literary work is made- 
(a) for the purpose of reporting current events; or IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 (b) for, the purpose of broadcasting, or communicating to the public, the whole or part of the 
reading or recitation, 
it is not an infringement of the rights conferred by this Part to use the recording (or to copy the 
recording and use the copy) for that purpose, if the conditions contained in subsection (2) are 
complied with.. 
(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1) are that- 
(a) the recording is a direct recording of the reading or recitation and is not taken from a previous 
recording or from a broadcast or cable programme; 
(b) the making of the recording was not prohibited by  or on behalf of the person giving the reading 
or recitation; 
(c) the use made of the recording is not of a kind prohibited by or on behalf of that person before 
the recording was made; and 
(d) the use is by or with the authority of a person  who is lawfully in possession of the recording. 
Recordings of folk-songs  
180.-(1) A recording of a performance of a song may be made for the purpose of including the 
song in an archive maintained by a prescribed bo dy without infringing any of the rights conferred 
by this Part, if the conditions in subsection (2) are complied with. 
(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1) are that- 
(a) the words are unpublished and of unknown authorship at the time the recording is made; 
(b) the making of the recording does not infringe any copyright; and 
(c) the making of the recording is not prohibited by any performer. 
(3) Copies of a recording made in reliance on subsection (1) and included in an archive maintained 
by a prescribed body may, if the condition in subsection (4) is complied with, be made and 
supplied by the archivist without infringing any of the rights conferred by this Part. 
(5) The condition referred to in subsection (3) is that no person is furnished with more than one 
copy of the same recording. 
Playing of sound recording for pu rposes of club, society, etc.  
181.-(1) It is not an infringement of any right conferred by this Part to play a sound recording as 
part of the activities of, or for the benefit of, a club, society, or other organisation, if the conditions in subsection (2) are complied with. 
(2) The conditions referred to in subsection (1) are- 
(a) that the club, society, or organisation is not established or conducted for profit; 
(b) that the main objects of the club, society, or organisation are charitable or are otherwise 
concerned with the advancement of religion, education, or social welfare; and 
(c) that the proceeds of. any charge for admission to the place where the recording is to be heard 
are applied solely for the purposes of the club, society, or organisation. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 Incidental recording for purposes of broadcast or cable programme  
182.-(1) A person who proposes to- 
(a) broadcast a recording of a performance; or 
(b) communicate to the public a recording of a performance, 
in circumstances not infringing the rights conferred by this Part is to be treated as having obtained 
consent for the purposes of this Part to the making of a recording for the purposes of the broadcast or cable programme. 
(2) The consent referred to in subsection (1) is subject to the conditions that the recording- (a) must not be used for any other purpose; and 
(b) must be destroyed within 6 months of being first used for broadcasting the performance or, as 
the case may be, communication to the public of the performance, 
unless the Minister has authorised the preservation of the recording in the records of a 
government department or in the National Archives because of its documentary character or 
exceptional importance, in which case it may be kept and used for archival purposes. 
(3) A recording made in accordance with  this section is an illicit recording- 
(a) for the purposes of any use in breach of the condition in subsection (2)( a); and 
(b) for all purposes if either of the conditions in subsection (2) is broken. 
Free public performance of br oadcast or cable programme  
183.-(1) The public performance of a broadcast (other than a broadcast to which subsections (5) 
to (7) apply), the communication of a cable programme to an audience, or any other 
communication to an audience which has not paid for admission to the place where the broadcast, 
cable programme or communication is to be heard or seen, does not infringe any right conferred by this Part in relation to a performance or recording included in- 
(a) the broadcast, cable programme or communication; or 
(b) any sound recording or audio visual work that is  played or shown in public by reception of the 
broadcast, cable programme or other communication. 
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) an audience is to be treated as having paid for admission to 
a place if- 
(a) members of the audience have paid for admissi on to a place of which that place forms part; 
(b) goods or services are supplied at that place, or at a place of which that place forms part, at 
prices- 
(i) that are substantially attributable to the facilities afforded for hearing or seeing the broadcast, 
cable programme or other communication to the public; or 
(ii) that exceed those usually charged there and that are partly attributable to those facilities; or IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 (c) the place is a hotel, motel, camping ground or similar place and the audience consists of 
persons residing at the hotel, mo tel, camping ground or place. 
(3) For the purposes of subsection (1) the following are not to be treated as having paid for 
admission to a place 
(a) persons admitted as residents or inmates of a place (other than a hotel, motel, camping 
ground, or other place to which subsection (2)( c) applies); 
(b) persons admitted as members of a club or society where the payment is only for membership 
of the club or society and the provision of facilities for hearing or seeing broadcasts or cable 
programmes is only incidental to the main purposes of the club or society. 
(4) Subsections (5) to (7) apply in respect of the public performance of a broadcast- 
(a) that is made for reception in the area in which it is played or shown; 
(b) that is not a satellite transmission or an encrypted transmission; and 
(c) that is shown or played simultaneously upon reception of the transmission of the broadcast. 
(5) The public performance of a broadcast to which subsection (4) applies to an audience which 
has not paid for admission to the place where the broadcast is to be heard or seen does not infringe any right conferred by this Part in relation to a performance or recording included in- 
(a) the broadcast; or 
(b) any sound recording or audio visual work included in the broadcast. 
(6) For the purposes of subsection (5) an audience is to be treated as having paid for admission to 
a place if- 
(a) members of the audience have paid for admission  to a place of which that place forms part; or 
(b) goods or services are supplied at that place, or a place of which that place forms part- 
(i) at prices that are substantially attributable to the facilities afforded for bearing or seeing the 
broadcast; or 
(ii) at prices exceeding those usually charged th ere and that are partly attributable to those 
facilities. 
(7) For the purposes of subsection (5) the following are not to be treated as having paid for 
admission to a place- 
(a) persons admitted as residents or inmates of a place (including, without limitation, persons 
residing in a hotel, motel, camping ground, or similar place; 
(b) persons admitted as members of a club or society where the payment is only for membership 
of the club or society and the provision of facilities for hearing or seeing broadcasts or cable 
programmes is only incidental to the main purposes of the club or society. 
(8) If the making of a broadcast or communication to the public was an infringement of the rights 
conferred by this Part in relation to a performance or recording, the fact that the broadcast or 
communication was heard or seen in public by the reception of a broadcast or cable programme must be taken into account in assessing the damages for that infringement. IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 Reception and retransmission of br oadcast in cable programme service  
184.-(1) This section applies where a broadcast made from a place in the Fiji Islands is, by 
reception and immediate retransmission, communicated to the public. 
(2) Where this section applies- 
(a) the rights conferred by this Part in relation to a performance or recording included in the 
broadcast are not infringed if and to the extent that the broadcast is made for reception in the 
area in which the cable programme service is provided; and 
(b) if the making of the broadcast was an infringement of any right conferred by this Part, the fact 
that the broadcast was retransmitted as a programme in a cable programme service must be taken into account in assessing the damages for the infringement. 
Provision of subtitled copies of broadcast or cable programme  
185.-(1) A prescribed body may, for the purpose of providing people who are deaf or hard of 
hearing or physically or mentally handicapped in any other way, with copies that are subtitled or 
otherwise modified for their special needs, make recordings of television broadcasts or cable programmes without infringing any right conferred by this Part in relation to a performance or 
recording included in the broadcast or cable programme. 
(2) A body must not be prescribed for the purposes of subsection (1) if it is established or 
conducted for-profit 
Recording of broadcast or cable programme for archival purposes  
186.-(1) A recording of a broadcast or cable programme  of a prescribed class, or a copy of such a 
recording, may be made for the purpose of being pl aced in an archive maintained by a prescribed 
body without infringing any right conferred by this Part in relation to a performance or recording 
included in the broadcast or cable programme. 
(2) A body must not be prescribed for the purposes of subsection( 1) if it is established or 
conducted for profit 
Division 4-Duration and Transmission of Rights  
Duration of rights  
187. The rights conferred by this Part exist in re lation to a performance until the end of 50 years 
after the end of the calendar year in which the performance takes place. 
Transmission of rights  
188.-(1) The rights conferred by this Part are not assignable, and are transmissible only in 
accordance with this section. 
(2) On the death of a person entitled to performers' rights- (a) if the deceased person by testamentary disposit ion specifically directed that the rights should 
pass to any person or persons, the rights so pass. 
(b) if or to the extent that there is no such dire ction, the rights are exercisable by the personal 
representatives of the deceased person, IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 and references in this Part to the performer, in the context of the person having performers' 
rights, are to be construed as references to the person for the time being entitled to exercise those 
rights. 
(3) If under subsection (2)( a) a right becomes exercisable by more than one person, it is 
exercisable by each of them independently of the other or others. 
(4) Any damages recovered by personal representatives under this section in respect of an 
infringement after a person's death devolve as part of the estate of that person as if the right of 
action had existed and been vested in the person immediately before death. 
Division 5-Consent  
Consent  
189.-(1) Consent for the purposes of this Part may be given in relation to a specific performance, 
a specified description of performances, or performances generally, and may relate to past or future performances. 
(2) If a right conferred by this Part passes to another person, any consent binding on the person 
previously entitled binds the person to whom the right passes in the same way as if the consent 
had been given by that person. 
Power of Tribunal to give cons ent on behalf of performer  
190-(1) If a person wishes to make a copy of a recording but- 
(a) the consent of a performer to the making of such a copy is required; and  
(b) either 
(i) the identity or whereabouts of the performer cannot be ascertained by reasonable inquiry; or 
(ii) the performer unreasonably withholds his or her consent, 
the person may apply to the Tribunal for consent to make the copy. (2) The Tribunal may, subject to this section, ma ke an order giving consen t to the making of the 
copy and may attach any conditions to the order it thinks fit. 
(3) The consent given by the Tribunal under subsection (2) has effect as the consent of the 
performer for the purposes of the provisions of this Part relating to performers' rights. 
(4) The Tribunal must not give consent under subsection (2) unless satisfied that any directions as 
to the service or publication of notices the Tribunal gives have been complied with. 
(5) The Tribunal must not give consent under subsection (2) unless satisfied that the performer's 
reasons for withholding consent do not include the protection of any legitimate interests of the performer; but it is for the performer to show what the reasons are for withholding consent, and in default of evidence as to the reasons the Trib unal may draw any inferences it thinks fit. 
(6) In any case before it the Tribunal must  take into account the following factors 
(a) whether the recording of which the applicant seeks to make a copy was made with the 
performer's consent and as lawfully in the possessi on or control of the person proposing to make 
the copy: IP/C/W/311/Add.1 
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 (b) whether the making of the copy is consistent with the obligations of the parties to the 
arrangements under which the recording was made, or is otherwise consistent with the purposes 
for which the recording was made. 
(7) If the Tribunal gives consent under this section, it must, in default of agreement between the 
applicant and the performer, make any order as it thinks fit as to the payment to be made to the 
performer in consideration of consent being given.  
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