Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement

The Parties to this Agreement,
Noting that effective enforcement of intellectual property rights is critical to sustaining
economic growth across all industries and globally;
Noting further that the proliferation of counterfeit and pirated goods, as well as of
services that distribute infringing material, undermines legitimate trade and sustainable
development of the world economy, causes significant financial losses for right holders
and for legitimate businesses, and, in some cases, provides a source of revenue for
organized crime and otherwise poses risks to the public;
Desiring to combat such proliferation through enhanced international cooperation and
more effective international enforcement;
Intending to provide effective and appropriate means, complementing the TRIPS
Agreement, for the enforcement of intellectual property rights, taking into account
differences in their respective legal systems and practices;
Desiring to ensure that measures and procedures to enforce intellectual property rights
do not themselves become barriers to legitimate trade;
Desiring to address the problem of infringement of intellectual property rights,
including infringement taking place in the digital environment, in particular with respect
to copyright or related rights, in a manner that balances the rights and interests of the
relevant right holders, service providers, and users;
Desiring to promote cooperation between service providers and right holders to address
relevant infringements in the digital environment;
Desiring that this Agreement operates in a manner mutually supportive of international
enforcement work and cooperation conducted within relevant international
organizations;
Recognizing the principles set forth in the Doha Declaration on the TRIPS Agreement
and Public Health, adopted on 14 November 2001, at the Fourth WTO Ministerial
Conference;
Hereby agree as follows:

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CHAPTER I
INITIAL PROVISIONS AND GENERAL DEFINITIONS
Section 1: Initial Provisions
ARTICLE 1: RELATION TO OTHER AGREEMENTS
Nothing in this Agreement shall derogate from any obligation of a Party with
respect to any other Party under existing agreements, including the TRIPS Agreement.
ARTICLE 2: NATURE AND SCOPE OF OBLIGATIONS
1.
Each Party shall give effect to the provisions of this Agreement. A Party may
implement in its law more extensive enforcement of intellectual property rights than is
required by this Agreement, provided that such enforcement does not contravene the
provisions of this Agreement. Each Party shall be free to determine the appropriate
method of implementing the provisions of this Agreement within its own legal system
and practice.
2.
Nothing in this Agreement creates any obligation with respect to the distribution
of resources as between enforcement of intellectual property rights and enforcement of
law in general.
3.
The objectives and principles set forth in Part I of the TRIPS Agreement, in
particular in Articles 7 and 8, shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to this Agreement.
ARTICLE 3: RELATION TO STANDARDS CONCERNING THE AVAILABILITY AND SCOPE OF
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
1.
This Agreement shall be without prejudice to provisions in a Party’s law
governing the availability, acquisition, scope, and maintenance of intellectual property
rights.
2.
This Agreement does not create any obligation on a Party to apply measures
where a right in intellectual property is not protected under its laws and regulations.
ARTICLE 4: PRIVACY AND DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
1.

Nothing in this Agreement shall require a Party to disclose:
(a)

information, the disclosure of which would be contrary to its law,
including laws protecting privacy rights, or international agreements to

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which it is party;
(b)

confidential information, the disclosure of which would impede law
enforcement or otherwise be contrary to the public interest; or

(c)

confidential information, the disclosure of which would prejudice the
legitimate commercial interests of particular enterprises, public or private.

2.
When a Party provides written information pursuant to the provisions of this
Agreement, the Party receiving the information shall, subject to its law and practice,
refrain from disclosing or using the information for a purpose other than that for which
the information was provided, except with the prior consent of the Party providing the
information.
Section 2: General Definitions
ARTICLE 5: GENERAL DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of this Agreement, unless otherwise specified:
(a)

ACTA means the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement;

(b)

Committee means the ACTA Committee established under Chapter V
(Institutional Arrangements);

(c)

competent authorities includes the appropriate judicial, administrative,
or law enforcement authorities under a Party’s law;

(d)

counterfeit trademark goods means any goods, including packaging,
bearing without authorization a trademark which is identical to the
trademark validly registered in respect of such goods, or which cannot be
distinguished in its essential aspects from such a trademark, and which
thereby infringes the rights of the owner of the trademark in question
under the law of the country in which the procedures set forth in Chapter
II (Legal Framework for Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights) are
invoked;

(e)

country is to be understood to have the same meaning as that set forth in
the Explanatory Notes to the WTO Agreement;

(f)

customs transit means the customs procedure under which goods are
transported under customs control from one customs office to another;

(g)

days means calendar days;

(h)

intellectual property refers to all categories of intellectual property that

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are the subject of Sections 1 through 7 of Part II of the TRIPS
Agreement;
(i)

in-transit goods means goods under customs transit or transhipment;

(j)

person means a natural person or a legal person;

(k)

pirated copyright goods means any goods which are copies made
without the consent of the right holder or person duly authorized by the
right holder in the country of production and which are made directly or
indirectly from an article where the making of that copy would have
constituted an infringement of a copyright or a related right under the law
of the country in which the procedures set forth in Chapter II (Legal
Framework for Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights) are invoked;

(l)

right holder includes a federation or an association having the legal
standing to assert rights in intellectual property;

(m)

territory, for the purposes of Section 3 (Border Measures) of Chapter II
(Legal Framework for Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights),
means the customs territory and all free zones1 of a Party;

(n)

transhipment means the customs procedure under which goods are
transferred under customs control from the importing means of transport
to the exporting means of transport within the area of one customs office
which is the office of both importation and exportation;

(o)

TRIPS Agreement means the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights, contained in Annex 1C to the WTO
Agreement;

(p)

WTO means the World Trade Organization; and

(q)

WTO Agreement means the Marrakesh Agreement Establishing the
World Trade Organization, done on 15 April 1994.

CHAPTER II
LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR ENFORCEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
Section 1: General Obligations

1

For greater certainty, the Parties acknowledge that free zone means a part of the territory of a Party
where any goods introduced are generally regarded, insofar as import duties and taxes are concerned, as
being outside the customs territory.

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ARTICLE 6: GENERAL OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO ENFORCEMENT
1.
Each Party shall ensure that enforcement procedures are available under its law
so as to permit effective action against any act of infringement of intellectual property
rights covered by this Agreement, including expeditious remedies to prevent
infringements and remedies which constitute a deterrent to further infringements. These
procedures shall be applied in such a manner as to avoid the creation of barriers to
legitimate trade and to provide for safeguards against their abuse.
2.
Procedures adopted, maintained, or applied to implement the provisions of this
Chapter shall be fair and equitable, and shall provide for the rights of all participants
subject to such procedures to be appropriately protected. These procedures shall not be
unnecessarily complicated or costly, or entail unreasonable time-limits or unwarranted
delays.
3.
In implementing the provisions of this Chapter, each Party shall take into
account the need for proportionality between the seriousness of the infringement, the
interests of third parties, and the applicable measures, remedies and penalties.
4.
No provision of this Chapter shall be construed to require a Party to make its
officials subject to liability for acts undertaken in the performance of their official duties.
Section 2: Civil Enforcement2
ARTICLE 7: AVAILABILITY OF CIVIL PROCEDURES
1.
Each Party shall make available to right holders civil judicial procedures
concerning the enforcement of any intellectual property right as specified in this Section.
2.
To the extent that any civil remedy can be ordered as a result of administrative
procedures on the merits of a case, each Party shall provide that such procedures shall
conform to principles equivalent in substance to those set forth in this Section.
ARTICLE 8: INJUNCTIONS
1.
Each Party shall provide that, in civil judicial proceedings concerning the
enforcement of intellectual property rights, its judicial authorities have the authority to
issue an order against a party to desist from an infringement, and inter alia, an order to
that party or, where appropriate, to a third party over whom the relevant judicial
authority exercises jurisdiction, to prevent goods that involve the infringement of an
intellectual property right from entering into the channels of commerce.
2

A Party may exclude patents and protection of undisclosed information from the scope of this Section.

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2.
Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section, a Party may limit the
remedies available against use by governments, or by third parties authorized by a
government, without the authorization of the right holder, to the payment of
remuneration, provided that the Party complies with the provisions of Part II of the
TRIPS Agreement specifically addressing such use. In other cases, the remedies under
this Section shall apply or, where these remedies are inconsistent with a Party’s law,
declaratory judgments and adequate compensation shall be available.
ARTICLE 9: DAMAGES
1.
Each Party shall provide that, in civil judicial proceedings concerning the
enforcement of intellectual property rights, its judicial authorities have the authority to
order the infringer who, knowingly or with reasonable grounds to know, engaged in
infringing activity to pay the right holder damages adequate to compensate for the
injury the right holder has suffered as a result of the infringement. In determining the
amount of damages for infringement of intellectual property rights, a Party’s judicial
authorities shall have the authority to consider, inter alia, any legitimate measure of
value the right holder submits, which may include lost profits, the value of the infringed
goods or services measured by the market price, or the suggested retail price.
2.
At least in cases of copyright or related rights infringement and trademark
counterfeiting, each Party shall provide that, in civil judicial proceedings, its judicial
authorities have the authority to order the infringer to pay the right holder the infringer’s
profits that are attributable to the infringement. A Party may presume those profits to
be the amount of damages referred to in paragraph 1.
3.
At least with respect to infringement of copyright or related rights protecting
works, phonograms, and performances, and in cases of trademark counterfeiting, each
Party shall also establish or maintain a system that provides for one or more of the
following:

4.

(a)

pre-established damages; or

(b)

presumptions 3 for determining the amount of damages sufficient to
compensate the right holder for the harm caused by the infringement; or

(c)

at least for copyright, additional damages.

Where a Party provides the remedy referred to in subparagraph 3(a) or the

3

The presumptions referred to in subparagraph 3(b) may include a presumption that the amount of
damages is: (i) the quantity of the goods infringing the right holder’s intellectual property right in
question and actually assigned to third persons, multiplied by the amount of profit per unit of goods
which would have been sold by the right holder if there had not been the act of infringement; or (ii) a
reasonable royalty; or (iii) a lump sum on the basis of elements such as at least the amount of royalties or
fees which would have been due if the infringer had requested authorization to use the intellectual
property right in question.

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presumptions referred to in subparagraph 3(b), it shall ensure that either its judicial
authorities or the right holder has the right to choose such a remedy or presumptions as
an alternative to the remedies referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2.
5.
Each Party shall provide that its judicial authorities, where appropriate, have the
authority to order, at the conclusion of civil judicial proceedings concerning
infringement of at least copyright or related rights, or trademarks, that the prevailing
party be awarded payment by the losing party of court costs or fees and appropriate
attorney’s fees, or any other expenses as provided for under that Party’s law.
ARTICLE 10: OTHER REMEDIES
1.
At least with respect to pirated copyright goods and counterfeit trademark goods,
each Party shall provide that, in civil judicial proceedings, at the right holder’s request,
its judicial authorities have the authority to order that such infringing goods be
destroyed, except in exceptional circumstances, without compensation of any sort.
2.
Each Party shall further provide that its judicial authorities have the authority to
order that materials and implements, the predominant use of which has been in the
manufacture or creation of such infringing goods, be, without undue delay and without
compensation of any sort, destroyed or disposed of outside the channels of commerce in
such a manner as to minimize the risks of further infringements.
3.
A Party may provide for the remedies described in this Article to be carried out
at the infringer’s expense.
ARTICLE 11: INFORMATION RELATED TO INFRINGEMENT
Without prejudice to its law governing privilege, the protection of
confidentiality of information sources, or the processing of personal data, each Party
shall provide that, in civil judicial proceedings concerning the enforcement of
intellectual property rights, its judicial authorities have the authority, upon a justified
request of the right holder, to order the infringer or, in the alternative, the alleged
infringer, to provide to the right holder or to the judicial authorities, at least for the
purpose of collecting evidence, relevant information as provided for in its applicable
laws and regulations that the infringer or alleged infringer possesses or controls. Such
information may include information regarding any person involved in any aspect of the
infringement or alleged infringement and regarding the means of production or the
channels of distribution of the infringing or allegedly infringing goods or services,
including the identification of third persons alleged to be involved in the production and
distribution of such goods or services and of their channels of distribution.
ARTICLE 12: PROVISIONAL MEASURES
1.

Each Party shall provide that its judicial authorities have the authority to order

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prompt and effective provisional measures:
(a)

against a party or, where appropriate, a third party over whom the
relevant judicial authority exercises jurisdiction, to prevent an
infringement of any intellectual property right from occurring, and in
particular, to prevent goods that involve the infringement of an
intellectual property right from entering into the channels of commerce;

(b)

to preserve relevant evidence in regard to the alleged infringement.

2.
Each Party shall provide that its judicial authorities have the authority to adopt
provisional measures inaudita altera parte where appropriate, in particular where any
delay is likely to cause irreparable harm to the right holder, or where there is a
demonstrable risk of evidence being destroyed. In proceedings conducted inaudita
altera parte, each Party shall provide its judicial authorities with the authority to act
expeditiously on requests for provisional measures and to make a decision without
undue delay.
3.
At least in cases of copyright or related rights infringement and trademark
counterfeiting, each Party shall provide that, in civil judicial proceedings, its judicial
authorities have the authority to order the seizure or other taking into custody of suspect
goods, and of materials and implements relevant to the act of infringement, and, at least
for trademark counterfeiting, documentary evidence, either originals or copies thereof,
relevant to the infringement.
4.
Each Party shall provide that its authorities have the authority to require the
applicant, with respect to provisional measures, to provide any reasonably available
evidence in order to satisfy themselves with a sufficient degree of certainty that the
applicant’s right is being infringed or that such infringement is imminent, and to order
the applicant to provide a security or equivalent assurance sufficient to protect the
defendant and to prevent abuse. Such security or equivalent assurance shall not
unreasonably deter recourse to procedures for such provisional measures.
5.
Where the provisional measures are revoked or where they lapse due to any act
or omission by the applicant, or where it is subsequently found that there has been no
infringement of an intellectual property right, the judicial authorities shall have the
authority to order the applicant, upon request of the defendant, to provide the defendant
appropriate compensation for any injury caused by these measures.
Section 3: Border Measures4, 5
4

Where a Party has dismantled substantially all controls over movement of goods across its border with
another Party with which it forms part of a customs union, it shall not be required to apply the provisions
of this Section at that border.
5

It is understood that there shall be no obligation to apply the procedures set forth in this Section to
goods put on the market in another country by or with the consent of the right holder.

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ARTICLE 13: SCOPE OF THE BORDER MEASURES6
In providing, as appropriate, and consistent with its domestic system of
intellectual property rights protection and without prejudice to the requirements of the
TRIPS Agreement, for effective border enforcement of intellectual property rights, a
Party should do so in a manner that does not discriminate unjustifiably between
intellectual property rights and that avoids the creation of barriers to legitimate trade.
ARTICLE 14: SMALL CONSIGNMENTS AND PERSONAL LUGGAGE
1.
Each Party shall include in the application of this Section goods of a commercial
nature sent in small consignments.
2.
A Party may exclude from the application of this Section small quantities of
goods of a non-commercial nature contained in travellers’ personal luggage.
ARTICLE 15: PROVISION OF INFORMATION FROM THE RIGHT HOLDER
Each Party shall permit its competent authorities to request a right holder to
supply relevant information to assist the competent authorities in taking the border
measures referred to in this Section. A Party may also allow a right holder to supply
relevant information to its competent authorities.
ARTICLE 16: BORDER MEASURES
1.
Each Party shall adopt or maintain procedures with respect to import and export
shipments under which:
(a)

its customs authorities may act upon their own initiative to suspend the
release of suspect goods; and

(b)

where appropriate, a right holder may request its competent authorities to
suspend the release of suspect goods.

2.
A Party may adopt or maintain procedures with respect to suspect in-transit
goods or in other situations where the goods are under customs control under which:
(a)

its customs authorities may act upon their own initiative to suspend the
release of, or to detain, suspect goods; and

6

The Parties agree that patents and protection of undisclosed information do not fall within the scope of
this Section.

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(b)

where appropriate, a right holder may request its competent authorities to
suspend the release of, or to detain, suspect goods.

Article 17: APPLICATION BY THE RIGHT HOLDER
1.
Each Party shall provide that its competent authorities require a right holder that
requests the procedures described in subparagraphs 1(b) and 2(b) of Article 16 (Border
Measures) to provide adequate evidence to satisfy the competent authorities that, under
the law of the Party providing the procedures, there is prima facie an infringement of
the right holder's intellectual property right, and to supply sufficient information that
may reasonably be expected to be within the right holder’s knowledge to make the
suspect goods reasonably recognizable by the competent authorities. The requirement
to provide sufficient information shall not unreasonably deter recourse to the procedures
described in subparagraphs 1(b) and 2(b) of Article 16 (Border Measures).
2.
Each Party shall provide for applications to suspend the release of, or to detain,
any suspect goods7 under customs control in its territory. A Party may provide for such
applications to apply to multiple shipments. A Party may provide that, at the request of
the right holder, the application to suspend the release of, or to detain, suspect goods
may apply to selected points of entry and exit under customs control.
3.
Each Party shall ensure that its competent authorities inform the applicant within
a reasonable period whether they have accepted the application. Where its competent
authorities have accepted the application, they shall also inform the applicant of the
period of validity of the application.
4.
A Party may provide that, where the applicant has abused the procedures
described in subparagraphs 1(b) and 2(b) of Article 16 (Border Measures), or where
there is due cause, its competent authorities have the authority to deny, suspend, or void
an application.
ARTICLE 18: SECURITY OR EQUIVALENT ASSURANCE
Each Party shall provide that its competent authorities have the authority to
require a right holder that requests the procedures described in subparagraphs 1(b) and
2(b) of Article 16 (Border Measures) to provide a reasonable security or equivalent
assurance sufficient to protect the defendant and the competent authorities and to
prevent abuse. Each Party shall provide that such security or equivalent assurance shall
not unreasonably deter recourse to these procedures. A Party may provide that such
security may be in the form of a bond conditioned to hold the defendant harmless from
any loss or damage resulting from any suspension of the release of, or detention of, the
7

The requirement to provide for such applications is subject to the obligations to provide procedures
referred to in subparagraphs 1(b) and 2(b) of Article 16 (Border Measures).

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goods in the event the competent authorities determine that the goods are not infringing.
A Party may, only in exceptional circumstances or pursuant to a judicial order, permit
the defendant to obtain possession of suspect goods by posting a bond or other security.
ARTICLE 19: DETERMINATION AS TO INFRINGEMENT
Each Party shall adopt or maintain procedures by which its competent
authorities may determine, within a reasonable period after the initiation of the
procedures described in Article 16 (Border Measures), whether the suspect goods
infringe an intellectual property right.
ARTICLE 20: REMEDIES
1.
Each Party shall provide that its competent authorities have the authority to
order the destruction of goods following a determination referred to in Article 19
(Determination as to Infringement) that the goods are infringing. In cases where such
goods are not destroyed, each Party shall ensure that, except in exceptional
circumstances, such goods are disposed of outside the channels of commerce in such a
manner as to avoid any harm to the right holder.
2.
In regard to counterfeit trademark goods, the simple removal of the trademark
unlawfully affixed shall not be sufficient, other than in exceptional cases, to permit
release of the goods into the channels of commerce.
3.
A Party may provide that its competent authorities have the authority to impose
administrative penalties following a determination referred to in Article 19
(Determination as to Infringement) that the goods are infringing.
ARTICLE 21: FEES
Each Party shall provide that any application fee, storage fee, or destruction fee
to be assessed by its competent authorities in connection with the procedures described
in this Section shall not be used to unreasonably deter recourse to these procedures.
ARTICLE 22: DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION
Without prejudice to a Party’s laws pertaining to the privacy or confidentiality
of information:
(a)

a Party may authorize its competent authorities to provide a right holder
with information about specific shipments of goods, including the
description and quantity of the goods, to assist in the detection of
infringing goods;

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(b)

a Party may authorize its competent authorities to provide a right holder
with information about goods, including, but not limited to, the
description and quantity of the goods, the name and address of the
consignor, importer, exporter, or consignee, and, if known, the country of
origin of the goods, and the name and address of the manufacturer of the
goods, to assist in the determination referred to in Article 19
(Determination as to Infringement);

(c)

unless a Party has provided its competent authorities with the authority
described in subparagraph (b), at least in cases of imported goods, where
its competent authorities have seized suspect goods or, in the alternative,
made a determination referred to in Article 19 (Determination as to
Infringement) that the goods are infringing, the Party shall authorize its
competent authorities to provide a right holder, within thirty days8 of the
seizure or determination, with information about such goods, including,
but not limited to, the description and quantity of the goods, the name
and address of the consignor, importer, exporter, or consignee, and, if
known, the country of origin of the goods, and the name and address of
the manufacturer of the goods.
Section 4: Criminal Enforcement

ARTICLE 23: CRIMINAL OFFENCES
1.
Each Party shall provide for criminal procedures and penalties to be applied at
least in cases of wilful trademark counterfeiting or copyright or related rights piracy on
a commercial scale.9 For the purposes of this Section, acts carried out on a commercial
scale include at least those carried out as commercial activities for direct or indirect
economic or commercial advantage.
2.
Each Party shall provide for criminal procedures and penalties to be applied in
cases of wilful importation 10 and domestic use, in the course of trade and on a
commercial scale, of labels or packaging:11

8

For the purposes of this Article, days means business days.

9

Each Party shall treat wilful importation or exportation of counterfeit trademark goods or pirated
copyright goods on a commercial scale as unlawful activities subject to criminal penalties under this
Article. A Party may comply with its obligation relating to importation and exportation of counterfeit
trademark goods or pirated copyright goods by providing for distribution, sale or offer for sale of such
goods on a commercial scale as unlawful activities subject to criminal penalties.
10

A Party may comply with its obligation relating to importation of labels or packaging through its
measures concerning distribution.
11

A Party may comply with its obligations under this paragraph by providing for criminal procedures
and penalties to be applied to attempts to commit a trademark offence.

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(a)

to which a mark has been applied without authorization which is identical
to, or cannot be distinguished from, a trademark registered in its territory;
and

(b)

which are intended to be used in the course of trade on goods or in
relation to services which are identical to goods or services for which
such trademark is registered.

3.
A Party may provide criminal procedures and penalties in appropriate cases for
the unauthorized copying of cinematographic works from a performance in a motion
picture exhibition facility generally open to the public.
4.
With respect to the offences specified in this Article for which a Party provides
criminal procedures and penalties, that Party shall ensure that criminal liability for
aiding and abetting is available under its law.
5.
Each Party shall adopt such measures as may be necessary, consistent with its
legal principles, to establish the liability, which may be criminal, of legal persons for the
offences specified in this Article for which the Party provides criminal procedures and
penalties. Such liability shall be without prejudice to the criminal liability of the natural
persons who have committed the criminal offences.
ARTICLE 24: PENALTIES
For offences specified in paragraphs 1, 2, and 4 of Article 23 (Criminal
Offences), each Party shall provide penalties that include imprisonment as well as
monetary fines12 sufficiently high to provide a deterrent to future acts of infringement,
consistently with the level of penalties applied for crimes of a corresponding gravity.
ARTICLE 25: SEIZURE, FORFEITURE, AND DESTRUCTION
1.
With respect to the offences specified in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Article 23
(Criminal Offences) for which a Party provides criminal procedures and penalties, that
Party shall provide that its competent authorities have the authority to order the seizure
of suspected counterfeit trademark goods or pirated copyright goods, any related
materials and implements used in the commission of the alleged offence, documentary
evidence relevant to the alleged offence, and the assets derived from, or obtained
directly or indirectly through, the alleged infringing activity.
2.
Where a Party requires the identification of items subject to seizure as a
prerequisite for issuing an order referred to in paragraph 1, that Party shall not require
the items to be described in greater detail than necessary to identify them for the
12

It is understood that there is no obligation for a Party to provide for the possibility of imprisonment
and monetary fines to be imposed in parallel.

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purpose of seizure.
3.
With respect to the offences specified in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Article 23
(Criminal Offences) for which a Party provides criminal procedures and penalties, that
Party shall provide that its competent authorities have the authority to order the
forfeiture or destruction of all counterfeit trademark goods or pirated copyright goods.
In cases where counterfeit trademark goods and pirated copyright goods are not
destroyed, the competent authorities shall ensure that, except in exceptional
circumstances, such goods shall be disposed of outside the channels of commerce in
such a manner as to avoid causing any harm to the right holder. Each Party shall ensure
that the forfeiture or destruction of such goods shall occur without compensation of any
sort to the infringer.
4.
With respect to the offences specified in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Article 23
(Criminal Offences) for which a Party provides criminal procedures and penalties, that
Party shall provide that its competent authorities have the authority to order the
forfeiture or destruction of materials and implements predominantly used in the creation
of counterfeit trademark goods or pirated copyright goods and, at least for serious
offences, of the assets derived from, or obtained directly or indirectly through, the
infringing activity. Each Party shall ensure that the forfeiture or destruction of such
materials, implements, or assets shall occur without compensation of any sort to the
infringer.
5.
With respect to the offences specified in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Article 23
(Criminal Offences) for which a Party provides criminal procedures and penalties, that
Party may provide that its judicial authorities have the authority to order:
(a)

the seizure of assets the value of which corresponds to that of the assets
derived from, or obtained directly or indirectly through, the allegedly
infringing activity; and

(b)

the forfeiture of assets the value of which corresponds to that of the
assets derived from, or obtained directly or indirectly through, the
infringing activity.

ARTICLE 26: EX OFFICIO CRIMINAL ENFORCEMENT
Each Party shall provide that, in appropriate cases, its competent authorities may
act upon their own initiative to initiate investigation or legal action with respect to the
criminal offences specified in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of Article 23 (Criminal
Offences) for which that Party provides criminal procedures and penalties.
Section 5: Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights in the Digital Environment
ARTICLE 27: ENFORCEMENT IN THE DIGITAL ENVIRONMENT

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1.
Each Party shall ensure that enforcement procedures, to the extent set forth in
Sections 2 (Civil Enforcement) and 4 (Criminal Enforcement), are available under its
law so as to permit effective action against an act of infringement of intellectual
property rights which takes place in the digital environment, including expeditious
remedies to prevent infringement and remedies which constitute a deterrent to further
infringements.
2.
Further to paragraph 1, each Party’s enforcement procedures shall apply to
infringement of copyright or related rights over digital networks, which may include the
unlawful use of means of widespread distribution for infringing purposes. These
procedures shall be implemented in a manner that avoids the creation of barriers to
legitimate activity, including electronic commerce, and, consistent with that Party’s law,
preserves fundamental principles such as freedom of expression, fair process, and
privacy.13
3.
Each Party shall endeavour to promote cooperative efforts within the business
community to effectively address trademark and copyright or related rights infringement
while preserving legitimate competition and, consistent with that Party’s law,
preserving fundamental principles such as freedom of expression, fair process, and
privacy.
4.
A Party may provide, in accordance with its laws and regulations, its competent
authorities with the authority to order an online service provider to disclose
expeditiously to a right holder information sufficient to identify a subscriber whose
account was allegedly used for infringement, where that right holder has filed a legally
sufficient claim of trademark or copyright or related rights infringement, and where
such information is being sought for the purpose of protecting or enforcing those rights.
These procedures shall be implemented in a manner that avoids the creation of barriers
to legitimate activity, including electronic commerce, and, consistent with that Party’s
law, preserves fundamental principles such as freedom of expression, fair process, and
privacy.
5.
Each Party shall provide adequate legal protection and effective legal remedies
against the circumvention of effective technological measures14 that are used by authors,
performers or producers of phonograms in connection with the exercise of their rights in,
13

For instance, without prejudice to a Party’s law, adopting or maintaining a regime providing for
limitations on the liability of, or on the remedies available against, online service providers while
preserving the legitimate interests of right holder.
14

For the purposes of this Article, technological measures means any technology, device, or component
that, in the normal course of its operation, is designed to prevent or restrict acts, in respect of works,
performances, or phonograms, which are not authorized by authors, performers or producers of
phonograms, as provided for by a Party’s law. Without prejudice to the scope of copyright or related
rights contained in a Party’s law, technological measures shall be deemed effective where the use of
protected works, performances, or phonograms is controlled by authors, performers or producers of
phonograms through the application of a relevant access control or protection process, such as encryption
or scrambling, or a copy control mechanism, which achieves the objective of protection.

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and that restrict acts in respect of, their works, performances, and phonograms, which
are not authorized by the authors, the performers or the producers of phonograms
concerned or permitted by law.
6.
In order to provide the adequate legal protection and effective legal remedies
referred to in paragraph 5, each Party shall provide protection at least against:
(a)

(b)

to the extent provided by its law:
(i)

the unauthorized circumvention of an effective technological
measure carried out knowingly or with reasonable grounds to
know; and

(ii)

the offering to the public by marketing of a device or product,
including computer programs, or a service, as a means of
circumventing an effective technological measure; and

the manufacture, importation, or distribution of a device or product,
including computer programs, or provision of a service that:
(i)

is primarily designed or produced for the purpose of
circumventing an effective technological measure; or

(ii)

has only a limited commercially significant purpose other than
circumventing an effective technological measure. 15

7.
To protect electronic rights management information,16 each Party shall provide
adequate legal protection and effective legal remedies against any person knowingly
performing without authority any of the following acts knowing, or with respect to civil
remedies, having reasonable grounds to know, that it will induce, enable, facilitate, or
conceal an infringement of any copyright or related rights:

15

In implementing paragraphs 5 and 6, no Party shall be obligated to require that the design of, or the
design and selection of parts and components for, a consumer electronics, telecommunications, or
computing product provide for a response to any particular technological measure, so long as the product
does not otherwise contravene its measures implementing these paragraphs.
16

For the purposes of this Article, rights management information means:
(a) information that identifies the work, the performance, or the phonogram; the author of the work,
the performer of the performance, or the producer of the phonogram; or the owner of any right in
the work, performance, or phonogram;
(b) information about the terms and conditions of use of the work, performance, or phonogram; or
(c) any numbers or codes that represent the information described in (a) and (b) above;

when any of these items of information is attached to a copy of a work, performance, or phonogram, or
appears in connection with the communication or making available of a work, performance, or
phonogram to the public.

E-16

(a)

to remove or alter any electronic rights management information;

(b)

to distribute, import for distribution, broadcast, communicate, or make
available to the public copies of works, performances, or phonograms,
knowing that electronic rights management information has been
removed or altered without authority.

8.
In providing adequate legal protection and effective legal remedies pursuant to
the provisions of paragraphs 5 and 7, a Party may adopt or maintain appropriate
limitations or exceptions to measures implementing the provisions of paragraphs 5, 6,
and 7. The obligations set forth in paragraphs 5, 6, and 7 are without prejudice to the
rights, limitations, exceptions, or defences to copyright or related rights infringement
under a Party’s law.
CHAPTER III
ENFORCEMENT PRACTICES
ARTICLE 28: ENFORCEMENT EXPERTISE, INFORMATION, AND DOMESTIC COORDINATION
1.
Each Party shall encourage the development of specialized expertise within its
competent authorities responsible for the enforcement of intellectual property rights.
2.
Each Party shall promote the collection and analysis of statistical data and other
relevant information concerning intellectual property rights infringements as well as the
collection of information on best practices to prevent and combat infringements.
3.
Each Party shall, as appropriate, promote internal coordination among, and
facilitate joint actions by, its competent authorities responsible for the enforcement of
intellectual property rights.
4.
Each Party shall endeavour to promote, where appropriate, the establishment
and maintenance of formal or informal mechanisms, such as advisory groups, whereby
its competent authorities may receive the views of right holders and other relevant
stakeholders.
ARTICLE 29: MANAGEMENT OF RISK AT BORDER
1.
In order to enhance the effectiveness of border enforcement of intellectual
property rights, the competent authorities of a Party may:
(a)

consult with the relevant stakeholders, and the competent authorities of
other Parties responsible for the enforcement of intellectual property
rights to identify and address significant risks, and promote actions to
mitigate those risks; and

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(b)

share information with the competent authorities of other Parties on
border enforcement of intellectual property rights, including relevant
information to better identify and target for inspection shipments
suspected of containing infringing goods.

2.
Where a Party seizes imported goods infringing an intellectual property right, its
competent authorities may provide the Party of export with information necessary for
identification of the parties and goods involved in the exportation of the seized goods.
The competent authorities of the Party of export may take action against those parties
and future shipments in accordance with that Party’s law.
ARTICLE 30: TRANSPARENCY
To promote transparency in the administration of its intellectual property rights
enforcement system, each Party shall take appropriate measures, pursuant to its law and
policies, to publish or otherwise make available to the public information on:
(a)

procedures available under its law for enforcing intellectual property
rights, its competent authorities responsible for such enforcement, and
contact points available for assistance;

(b)

relevant laws, regulations, final judicial decisions, and administrative
rulings of general application pertaining to the enforcement of
intellectual property rights; and

(c)

its efforts to ensure an effective system of enforcement and protection of
intellectual property rights.

ARTICLE 31: PUBLIC AWARENESS
Each Party shall, as appropriate, promote the adoption of measures to enhance
public awareness of the importance of respecting intellectual property rights and the
detrimental effects of intellectual property rights infringement.
ARTICLE 32: ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS IN DESTRUCTION OF INFRINGING
GOODS
The destruction of goods infringing intellectual property rights shall be done
consistently with the laws and regulations on environmental matters of the Party in
which the destruction takes place.
CHAPTER IV
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

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ARTICLE 33: INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
1.
Each Party recognizes that international cooperation is vital to realizing effective
protection of intellectual property rights and that it should be encouraged regardless of
the origin of the goods infringing intellectual property rights, or the location or
nationality of the right holder.
2.
In order to combat intellectual property rights infringement, in particular
trademark counterfeiting and copyright or related rights piracy, the Parties shall promote
cooperation, where appropriate, among their competent authorities responsible for the
enforcement of intellectual property rights. Such cooperation may include law
enforcement cooperation with respect to criminal enforcement and border measures
covered by this Agreement.
3.
Cooperation under this Chapter shall be conducted consistent with relevant
international agreements, and subject to the laws, policies, resource allocation, and law
enforcement priorities of each Party.
ARTICLE 34: INFORMATION SHARING
Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 29 (Management of Risk at
Border), each Party shall endeavour to exchange with other Parties:
(a)

information the Party collects under the provisions of Chapter III
(Enforcement Practices), including statistical data and information on
best practices;

(b)

information on its legislative and regulatory measures related to the
protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights; and

(c)

other information as appropriate and mutually agreed.

ARTICLE 35: CAPACITY BUILDING AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
1.
Each Party shall endeavour to provide, upon request and on mutually agreed
terms and conditions, assistance in capacity building and technical assistance in
improving the enforcement of intellectual property rights to other Parties to this
Agreement and, where appropriate, to prospective Parties. The capacity building and
technical assistance may cover such areas as:
(a)

enhancement of public awareness on intellectual property rights;

(b)

development and implementation of national legislation related to the
enforcement of intellectual property rights;

E-19

(c)

training of officials on the enforcement of intellectual property rights;
and

(d)

coordinated operations conducted at the regional and multilateral levels.

2.
Each Party shall endeavour to work closely with other Parties and, where
appropriate, non-Parties to this Agreement for the purpose of implementing the
provisions of paragraph 1.
3.
A Party may undertake the activities described in this Article in conjunction
with relevant private sector or international organizations. Each Party shall strive to
avoid unnecessary duplication between the activities described in this Article and other
international cooperation activities.
CHAPTER V
INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENTS
ARTICLE 36: THE ACTA COMMITTEE
The Parties hereby establish the ACTA Committee.
represented on the Committee.
1.

2.

3.

Each Party shall be

The Committee shall:
(a)

review the implementation and operation of this Agreement;

(b)

consider matters concerning the development of this Agreement;

(c)

consider any proposed amendments to this Agreement in accordance with
Article 42 (Amendments);

(d)

decide, in accordance with paragraph 2 of Article 43 (Accession), upon
the terms of accession to this Agreement of any Member of the WTO;
and

(e)

consider any other matter that may affect the implementation and
operation of this Agreement.

The Committee may decide to:
(a)

establish ad hoc committees or working groups to assist the Committee
in carrying out its responsibilities under paragraph 2, or to assist a
prospective Party upon its request in acceding to this Agreement in
accordance with Article 43 (Accession);

(b)

seek the advice of non-governmental persons or groups;

E-20

(c)

make recommendations regarding the implementation and operation of
this Agreement, including by endorsing best practice guidelines related
thereto;

(d)

share information and best practices with third parties on reducing
intellectual property rights infringements, including techniques for
identifying and monitoring piracy and counterfeiting; and

(e)

take other actions in the exercise of its functions.

4.
All decisions of the Committee shall be taken by consensus, except as the
Committee may otherwise decide by consensus. The Committee shall be deemed to
have acted by consensus on a matter submitted for its consideration, if no Party present
at the meeting when the decision is taken formally objects to the proposed decision.
English shall be the working language of the Committee and the documents supporting
its work shall be in the English language.
5.
The Committee shall adopt its rules and procedures within a reasonable period
after the entry into force of this Agreement, and shall invite those Signatories not Parties
to this Agreement to participate in the Committee’s deliberations on those rules and
procedures. The rules and procedures:

6.

(a)

shall address such matters as chairing and hosting meetings, and the
performance of organizational duties relevant to this Agreement and its
operation; and

(b)

may also address such matters as granting observer status, and any other
matter the Committee decides necessary for its proper operation.

The Committee may amend the rules and procedures.

7.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 4, during the first five years
following the entry into force of this Agreement, the Committee’s decisions to adopt or
amend the rules and procedures shall be taken by consensus of the Parties and those
Signatories not Parties to this Agreement.
8.
After the period specified in paragraph 7, the Committee may adopt or amend
the rules and procedures upon the consensus of the Parties to this Agreement.
9.
Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 8, the Committee may decide that
the adoption or amendment of a particular rule or procedure requires the consensus of
the Parties and those Signatories not Parties to this Agreement.
10.
The Committee shall convene at least once every year unless the Committee
decides otherwise. The first meeting of the Committee shall be held within a reasonable
period after the entry into force of this Agreement.

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11.
For greater certainty, the Committee shall not oversee or supervise domestic or
international enforcement or criminal investigations of specific intellectual property
cases.
12.
The Committee shall strive to avoid unnecessary duplication between its
activities and other international efforts regarding the enforcement of intellectual
property rights.
ARTICLE 37: CONTACT POINTS
1.
Each Party shall designate a contact point to facilitate communications between
the Parties on any matter covered by this Agreement.
On the request of another Party, a Party’s contact point shall identify an
appropriate office or official to whom the requesting Party’s inquiry may be addressed,
and assist, as necessary, in facilitating communications between the office or official
concerned and the requesting Party.
2.

ARTICLE 38: CONSULTATIONS
1.
A Party may request in writing consultations with another Party with respect to
any matter affecting the implementation of this Agreement. The requested Party shall
accord sympathetic consideration to such a request, provide a response, and afford
adequate opportunity to consult.
2.
The consultations, including particular positions taken by consulting Parties,
shall be kept confidential and be without prejudice to the rights or positions of either
Party in any other proceeding, including a proceeding under the auspices of the
Understanding on Rules and Procedures Governing the Settlement of Disputes
contained in Annex 2 to the WTO Agreement.
3.
The consulting Parties may, by mutual consent, notify the Committee of the
result of their consultations under this Article.
CHAPTER VI
FINAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE 39: SIGNATURE
This Agreement shall remain open for signature by participants in its

E-22

negotiation,17 and by any other WTO Members the participants may agree to by
consensus, from 1 May 2011 until 1 May 2013.
ARTICLE 40: ENTRY INTO FORCE
1.
This Agreement shall enter into force thirty days after the date of deposit of the
sixth instrument of ratification, acceptance, or approval as between those Signatories
that have deposited their respective instruments of ratification, acceptance, or approval.
2.
This Agreement shall enter into force for each Signatory that deposits its
instrument of ratification, acceptance, or approval after the deposit of the sixth
instrument of ratification, acceptance, or approval, thirty days after the date of deposit
by such Signatory of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, or approval.
ARTICLE 41: WITHDRAWAL
A Party may withdraw from this Agreement by means of a written notification
to the Depositary. The withdrawal shall take effect 180 days after the Depositary
receives the notification.
ARTICLE 42: AMENDMENTS
1.
A Party may propose amendments to this Agreement to the Committee. The
Committee shall decide whether to present a proposed amendment to the Parties for
ratification, acceptance, or approval.
2.
Any amendment shall enter into force ninety days after the date that all the
Parties have deposited their respective instruments of ratification, acceptance, or
approval with the Depositary.
ARTICLE 43: ACCESSION

17

Australia, the Republic of Austria, the Kingdom of Belgium, the Republic of Bulgaria, Canada, the
Republic of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, the Kingdom of Denmark, the Republic of Estonia, the
European Union, the Republic of Finland, the French Republic, the Federal Republic of Germany, the
Hellenic Republic, the Republic of Hungary, Ireland, the Italian Republic, Japan, the Republic of Korea,
the Republic of Latvia, the Republic of Lithuania, the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Republic of
Malta, the United Mexican States, the Kingdom of Morocco, the Kingdom of the Netherlands, New
Zealand, the Republic of Poland, the Portuguese Republic, Romania, the Republic of Singapore, the
Slovak Republic, the Republic of Slovenia, the Kingdom of Spain, the Kingdom of Sweden, the Swiss
Confederation, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of
America.

E-23

1.
After the expiration of the period provided in Article 39 (Signature), any
Member of the WTO may apply to accede to this Agreement.
2.

The Committee shall decide upon the terms of accession for each applicant.

3.
This Agreement shall enter into force for the applicant thirty days after the date
of deposit of its instrument of accession based upon the terms of accession referred to in
paragraph 2.
ARTICLE 44: TEXTS OF THE AGREEMENT
This Agreement shall be signed in a single original in the English, French, and
Spanish languages, each version being equally authentic.
ARTICLE 45: DEPOSITARY
The Government of Japan shall be the Depositary of this Agreement.

E-24