WORLD TRADE IP/N/6/GRC/1/Add.2
12November 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-4954)
Original: English Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
CHECKLIST OFISSUES ONENFORCEMENT
Responses from Greece
Addendum
Civil andAdministrative Procedures andRemedies
(a) Civil judicial procedures andremedies
1. Specify thecourts which have jurisdiction overIPRinfringement cases.
Incaseofinfringement ofatrademark, civilcourts havejurisdiction tohearrelevant claims.
Theaction maybebrought before thecourt offirstinstance, thedecision ofwhich canbeappealed
before theCourt ofAppeals. TheCivil Division oftheSupreme Court isthecourt oflastresort for
thereversal ofanyjudgement.
Injunctions areissued bytheonemember court offirstinstance inmost cases.
Therulesofcivilprocedure (Article 22etseq.oftheCode ofCivil Procedure) determine the
venue. Inmost cases, thecompetent court istheonewhere thedefendant hasitsdomicile.
2. Which persons havestanding toassert IPRs? How maytheyberepresented? Arethere
requirements formandatory personal appearances before thecourt bytheright holder?
According toArticle 26ofLawNo2239/94, theowner ofatrademark oranyrightholder has
standing tobring anaction forinfringement.
Allparties must berepresented incourt proceedings byalawyer acting astheir counsel
(Article 94paragraph 1oftheCode ofCivil Procedure) admitted topractice before thespecific court.
Theonlyexception provided where aparty canrepresent himself, isinthecaseofprovisional measures
orofanimminent danger. However, itiswithin thediscretion ofthejudge toorder aparty tobe
represented byalawyer.
Noparty isrequired toappear inperson. Upon petition ofaninterested party, thejudge has
theauthority toorder aparty toappear before acourt, should heconsider itnecessary forclarification
purposes ofthefactsofacase(Article 245paragraph 1(a)oftheCode ofCivil Procedure).IP/N/6/GRC/1/Add.2
Page2
3. What authority dothejudicial authorities have toorder, attherequest ofanopposing
party, aparty toaproceeding toproduce evidence which lieswithin itscontrol?
Following apetition ofaninterested partyorexofficio, acourtmayorder alitigant inpossession
ofadocument assumed tohaveevidentiary value, toproduce suchdocument onthedatesetforthe
trial(Article 232paragraph 1(c)oftheCode ofCivil Procedure). Should thelitigant failtocomply
withthecourt order, thecourt maytakethisfactintoaccount intheassessment ofthecaseandimpose
afineaswellasthetrialexpenses.
Incaseofnon-compliance, Article 451paragraph 1oftheCode ofCivil Procedure further
provides toanyinterested party, thepossibility tofileapetition during thecourse ofatrialtohave
specific documents produced. Unless there arespecific grounds forexemption, thedocuments have
tobedelivered totheinterested party. Thecourt'sdecision canbeenforced according toArticles 452
paragraphs 1,941and946oftheCode ofCivil Procedure.
4. What means exist toidentify andprotect confidential information brought forward as
evidence?
Pursuant toArticle 402paragraph 2oftheCode ofCivil Procedure, awitness candenyto
testify regarding anyinformation related toatrade orartistic secret.
Anyperson oranyparty isexempted fromtheobligation toprovide tothecourt anydocument
having anevidentiary value, ifthisdocument contains information related toatrade orartistic secret
(Article 450paragraph 2oftheCode ofCivil Procedure).
5. Describetheremediesthatmaybeorderedbythejudicialauthoritiesandcriteria,legislative
orjurisprudential, fortheir use:
- injunctions;
- damages, including recovery ofprofits, andexpenses, including attorney 'sfees;
- destruction orother disposal ofinfringing goods andmaterials/implements for
their production;
- anyother remedies.
Pursuant toArticle 25paragraphs 1and2ofLawNo2239/94, thelawsuit maybebrought
against anyone using orimitating atrademark which belongs tosome bodyelseforomission ordamage
orboth. Thesame applies toanyone using atrademark which isidentical orsimilar toanother but
notusedinconnection withsimilar goods orservices tothose forwhich thetrademark hasbeen
registered, provided thelatter hasacquired reputation inGreece andthatuseofsuchasignwould,
without duecause, takeunfair advantage of,orbedetrimental to,distinctive character ortorepute
oftheearlier trademark.
Thelawsuit isbrought before thecompetent court offirstinstance, regardless oftheamount
claimed andisjudged according totheusual procedure. Thestatute ofthelimitation forthelawsuit
fordamages isthreeyears starting fromtheendoftheyearduring which, thefirstillegal use,alternation
orimitation hastaken place. Upon interruption ofthestatute oflimitation period, anewonecommences
from theendoftheyearduring which theinterruption iscompleted.IP/N/6/GRC/1/Add.2
Page3
Theprocedure tobefollowed istheoneprovided inArticle 682etseq.oftheCode ofCivil
Procedure.
Pursuant toArticle 27ofLawNo2239/94, anyone having therighttobring alawsuit against
omission which iscontrary tothepresent Law, canseekprovisional measures.
Where theclaim isbrought against athirdparty, theowner oftheundertaking theproducts
orservices orwhich beartheinfringed trademark must besummoned, ifitisestablished from the
aforementioned products orservices thatheistheowner.
Theapplication forregistration ofthetrademark filedbytheperson against whom thepetition
forinterlocutory injunctions hasbeenmade, doesnotaffect theabove petition.
Thecourt offirstinstance ofthedistrict where theproducts ortherendering ofservices takes
place, aswellasthedistrict where theundertaking hasitsregistered office theproducts orservices
ofwhich bearthetrademark, iscompetent forgranting theprovisional measures. Since theinjunctions
areprovisional, measures cannot beappealed.
Award ofcourt expenses tothewinning party isastandard practice oftheGreek courts.
Attorney 'sfeesorexpert 'sfeesmaybeawarded (Article 189oftheCode ofCivil Procedure).
Pursuant toArticle 31ofLawNo2239/94, thecivilorcriminal court orders inthecaseof
alteration, thedestruction oftheproducts orgoods which bearthealtered trademark; inthecaseof
imitation, theremoval andestruction ofthetrademark orthedestruction oftheproduct.
Theremoval ordestruction ofthetrademark canbeordered bythecourt eveninthecaseof
acquittal oftheaccused, ifittakes theviewthatthere exists alikelihood ofconfusion.
6. Inwhat circumstances, ifany,dojudicial authorities have theauthority toorder the
infringer toinform theright holder oftheidentity ofthird persons involved intheproduction
anddistribution ofthegoods orservices found tobeinfringing andoftheirchannels ofdistribution?
There arenospecific provision inthetrademark lawgranting suchanauthority.
7. Describe provisions relating totheindemnification ofdefendants wrongfully enjoined.
Towhat extent arepublic authorities and/or officials liable insuchasituation andwhat "remedial
measures" areapplicable tothem?
Please seetheresponse toquestion 7intheChecklist ofIssues onEnforcement.1
8. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost.
Please seetheresponse toquestion 8intheChecklist ofIssues onEnforcement.1
1IP/N/6/GRC/1/Add.1.IP/N/6/GRC/1/Add.2
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(b) Administrative procedures andremedies
9. Reply totheabove questions inrelation toanyadministrative procedures onthemerits
andremedies thatmayresult from these procedures.
Infringement ofatrademark isamatter tobedecided onlybyjudicial authorities.
Provisional Measures
(a) Judicial measures
10. Describe thetypes ofprovisional measures thatjudicial authorities mayorder, andthe
legal basis forsuchauthority.
According toArticle 27ofLaw2239/94, anyone having therighttobring alawsuit against
omissionwhichiscontrarytothepresentLaw,canseekaprovisionalmeasurewheretheclaimisbrought
against athirdparty, theowner oftheundertaking theproducts orservices ofwhich beartheinfringed
trademark mustbesummoned, ifitisestablished from theaforementioned products orservices that
heistheowner. Theapplication forregistration ofthetrademark filedbytheperson against whom
thepetition forinterlocutory injunctions hasbeenmade, doesnotaffect theabove petition. Thecourt
offirstinstance ofthedistrict where theproducts ortherendering ofservices takes place, aswellas
thedistrict where theundertaking hasitsregistered office theproducts orservices ofwhich bearthe
trademark, iscompetent forgranting theprovisional measures. Theprocedure tobefollowed isthe
oneprovided inArticle 682etseq.oftheCode ofCivil Procedure .
11. Inwhat circumstances maysuchmeasures beordered inaudita altera parte?
Please seetheresponse toquestion 11oftheChecklist ofIssues onEnforcement.2
12. Describe themain procedures fortheinitiation, ordering andmaintenance inforce of
provisional measures, inparticular relevant time-limits andsafeguards toprotect thelegitimate
interests ofthedefendant.
Please seetheresponse toquestion 12intheChecklist ofIssues onEnforcement.2
13. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost.
Please seetheresponse toquestion 13intheChecklist ofIssues onEnforcement.2
(b) Administrative measures
14. Reply totheabove questions inrelation toanyadministrative provisional measures.
Provisional measures canonlybeissued bythecourts.
2IP/N/6/GRC/1/Add.1 .IP/N/6/GRC/1/Add.2
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Special Requirements Related toBorder Measures
15. Indicate forwhich goods itispossible toapply forthesuspension bythecustoms authorities
oftherelease intofreecirculation, inparticular whether these procedures areavailable alsoin
respect ofgoods which involve infringements ofintellectual property rights other thancounterfeit
trademark orpirated copyright goods asdefined intheTRIPS Agreement (footnote toArticle 51).
Specify, together with relevant criteria, anyimports excluded from theapplication ofsuch
procedures (such asgoods from another member ofacustoms union, goods intransit ordeminimis
imports). Dotheprocedures apply toimports ofgoods putonthemarket inanother country
byorwiththeconsent oftheright holder andtogoods destined forexportation?
Please seetheresponse toquestion 15intheChecklist ofIssues onEnforcement.3
16. Provide adescription ofthemain elements oftheprocedures relating tothesuspension
oftherelease ofgoods bycustoms authorities, inparticular thecompetent authorities (Article 51),
therequirements foranapplication (Article 52)andvarious requirements related totheduration
ofsuspension (Article 55). How have Articles 53(security orequivalent assurance), 56
(indemnification oftheimporter andoftheowner ofthegoods) and57(right ofinspection and
information) been implemented?
Please seetheresponse toquestion 16intheChecklist ofIssues onEnforcement.3
17. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost. How longisthevalidity of
decisions bythecompetent authorities forthesuspension oftherelease ofgoods intofree
circulation?
Please seetheresponse toquestion 17intheChecklist ofIssues onEnforcement.3
18. Arecompetent authorities required toactupon their owninitiative and, ifso,inwhat
circumstances? Arethere anyspecial provisions applicable toexofficio action?
Please seetheresponse toquestion 18intheChecklist ofIssues onEnforcement.3
19. Describe theremedies thatthecompetent authorities havetheauthority toorder andany
criteria regulating their use.
Please seereply toquestion 15above.
Criminal Procedures
20. Specify thecourts which have jurisdiction overcriminal actsofinfringement ofIPRs.
Please seetheresponse toquestion 20intheChecklist ofIssues onEnforcement.4
3IP/N/6/GRC/1/Add.1.
4IP/N/6/GRC/1/Add.1.IP/N/6/GRC/1/Add.2
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21. Inrespect ofwhich infringements ofwhich intellectual property rights arecriminal
procedures andpenalties available?
According toArticle 28ofLawNo2239/94; withatleastthree (3)months inprison anda
penalty amounting toDr200,000 orwithoneofthese ispunished:
(a) anyone altering atrademark orknowingly using analtered trademark;
(b) anyone knowingly affixing toproducts oftheundertaking ortoobjects ofthelatter's
trade, atrademark notowned byhim;
(c) anyone imitating atrade mark, wholly orinpart,without altering itwithaview to
mislead buyers orknowingly touseamark;
(d) anyone knowingly selling orexposing forsaleordistribution products orgoods bearing
thetrademark which constitutes analteration orimitation ofanother trademark;
(e) anyone using asatrademark inviolation oftheprovisions inArticle 19;
(f) anyone using asatrademark, theemblems andsymbols oftheGreek Stateandofevery
authority aswellasthereligious symbols.
Theprovisions ofparagraph 1ofthepresent Article alsoapply toservice marks .
22. Which public authorities areresponsible forinitiating criminal proceedings? Arethey
required todothisontheir owninitiative and/or inresponse tocomplaints?
AccordingtoArticle29ofLawNo2239/94,asregardslawsprovidedinArticle28paragraph(1)
(a)(b)(c)(d)and(e)andlawscommitted afterregistration oftheprosecutor 'strademark, prosecution
commences withthefiling ofthecomplaint; asregards paragraph 1(f)prosecution ismade exofficio.
23. Doprivate persons have standing toinitiate criminal proceedings and,ifso,who?
No.Aperson mayonlyreport acrime orfileacomplaint withapolice officer orapublic
prosecutor.
24. Specify, bycategory ofIPRandtypeofinfringement where necessary, thepenalties and
other remedies thatmaybeimposed:
- imprisonment;
- monetary fines;
- seizure,forfeitureanddestructionofinfringinggoodsandmaterialsandimplements
fortheir production;
- other.
Please seereply toquestion 21above.IP/N/6/GRC/1/Add.2
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25. Describeprovisionsgoverningthelengthandanycostofproceedings.Provideanyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheir cost, ifany.
Please seetheresponse toquestion 25intheChecklist ofIssues onEnforcement.5
5IP/N/6/GRC/1Add.1.