RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE IP/C/W/58
17April 1997
ORGANIZATION(97-1680)
Original: English Council forTrade-Related Aspects of
Intellectual Property Rights
REVIEW OFLEGISLATION INTHE FIELDS OFPATENTS, LAYOUT-DESIGNS
(TOPOGRAPHIES) OFINTEGRATED CIRCUITS, PROTECTION OF
UNDISCLOSED INFORMATION AND CONTROL OF
ANTI-COMPETITIVE PRACTICES IN
CONTRACTUAL LICENCES
Questions Posed byJapan
Bymeans ofacommunication fromthePermanent Mission ofJapan, dated 1April 1997, the
Secretariat hasreceived thefollowing questions thatJapan hadcommunicated toAustralia, Canada,
theCzech Republic, theEuropean Communities andtheir Member States, Hungary, Iceland,
Liechtenstein,Luxembourg,NewZealand,Norway,Poland,theSlovakRepublic,Slovenia,SouthAfrica,
Switzerland andtheUnited States.
_______________
Page
Questions toallMembers 2
Australia 3
Canada 3
European Communities andtheirMember States 4
NewZealand 7
Poland 8
South Africa 8
United States 8IP/C/W/58
Page2
QUESTIONS TOALL MEMBERS
Patents
1. Inyourcountry, arethefollowing subject matters protectable bypatent: (1)Plants andanimals,
and(2)Plant andanimal varieties?
2. Inyourcountry, istheactofoffering forsaleincluded intheexclusive rights ofpatent?
3. Inyourcountry, whatkinds ofactsarerecognized asexceptions totheexclusive rights conferred
byapatent right?
4. Inyourcountry, inwhich caseisusewithout theauthorization oftherightholder permitted,
including usebythegovernment orbythirdparties authorized bythegovernment?
5. Inyourcountry, howistheobligation under TRIPS Articles 34.1and34.2regarding theshift
oftheburden ofproof incivil proceedings forpatent infringement related toaprocess patent
implemented?IP/C/W/58
Page3
AUSTRALIA
Undisclosed information
1. Please explain howundisclosed information isprotected inyourcountry, asrequired byTRIPS
Article 39.2.
CANADA
Patents
1. Article 20(1) oftheCanadian Patent Lawstates thatanypublic officer who, acting within the
scope ofhisduties andemployment, invents anyinvention ininstruments ormunitions ofwarshall,
ifsorequired bytheMinister ofNational Defence, assign tothatMinister onbehalf ofHerMajesty
allthebenefits oftheinvention andofanypatent obtained ortobeobtained fortheinvention. Please
explain howTRIPS Article 31(b) and(h)issecured when theabove provision isapplied.
2. Doesaforeign applicant forpatent inCanada enjoy apriority rightbased onthepriorapplication
filedinaWTO Member country which doesnotsatisfy thedescription requirement asisprescribed
inArticle 34(1)(c) oftheCanadian Patent Law? Ifnot,please explain theconsistency withtheArticle 4
oftheParis Convention applied byTRIPS Article 2.1.
3. Please explain theconsistency between Article 4oftheParis Convention applied byTRIPS
Article 2.1andArticle 28(1) oftheCanadian Patent Law, which prescribes thatapriority right is
enjoyable inCanada provided thatthepriority claim isbased onanapplication filedinacountry which
affords apriority righttoCanadian citizens.
4. Aretheactsofoffering forsaleorimporting included intheexclusive rights mentioned in
Article 42oftheCanadian Patent Lawwhich prescribes thatpatent rights shall cover making,
constructing, using andselling? Furthermore, regarding theprovision ofthesaidArticle which sets
outthat"subject toadjudication inrespect thereof before anycourt ofcompetent jurisdiction", what
specific cases, ifanyexist? Ifthereareanyexceptions topatent rights regarding theabove-mentioned
points, please explain theconsistency withTRIPS Article 28.
5. Article 55.2(1) oftheCanadian Patent Lawprescribes thatitisnotaninfringement ofapatent
foranyperson tomake, construct, useorsellthepatented invention solely forusesrelated tothe
development andsubmission ofinformation provided under anylawofCanada, astatethereof ora
country otherthanCanada, andparagraph 2(2)ofthesaidArticle prescribes thatitisnotaninfringement
ofapatent foranyperson tomake, construct, useorsellapatented invention, during theapplicable
period provided forbytheregulations, forthepurpose ofmanufacturing andstoring articles intended
forsaleaftertheexpiration dateofthepatent. Please explain thespecific cases envisaged fortheabove
provisions andconsistency withTRIPS Articles 28and30.
6. Article 55.2(6) oftheCanadian Patent Lawprescribes thatanyuse,manufacture, construction
orsaleofthepatented invention solely forthepurpose ofexperiments thatrelate tothesubject matter
oftheinvention areexceptions totheexclusive right ofpatent. Please explain whether the
above-mentioned salefallsunder theexceptions tothepatent rightallowed byTRIPS Article 30.IP/C/W/58
Page4
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES AND THEIR MEMBER STATES
Patents
1. EUitselfisobliged toimplement theTRIPS Agreement asaWTO Contracting Party andhas
notified theCPCasitsimplementing legislation, which, however, hasnotyetcome intoeffect upto
now. Inthisrespect, please explain whether itcanbesaidthatEUitselfhasalready implemented the
TRIPS Agreement.
2. Inspite ofthefactthattheEPC asawhole isreferred toinArticle 1.2oftheTRIPS
implementing legislation (CPC), theEPCapplied byCPC Article 1(2)hasnotyetbeennotified to
theCouncil forTRIPS. Please explain whether theEPCapplied byCPCisalaworregulation which
implements theTRIPS Agreement. Ifso,please explain thereason theEPChasnotbeennotified.
3. InthecasethattheCPC isthelaworregulation which implements theTRIPS Agreement,
arethemember countries oftheCPCthesame asthose ofEU? Ifnot,please explain whytheCPC
canbetreated astheimplementing laworregulation oftheTRIPS Agreement ofEU.
4. Article 11(1) oftheParisConvention prescribes "Thecountries oftheUnion shall, inconformity
withtheirdomestic legislation, grant temporary protection ...,inrespect ofgoods exhibited atofficial
orofficially recognized international exhibitions heldintheterritory ofanyofthem.". Under TRIPS
Article 2.1,WTO Members shallcomply withtheParis Convention andtemporary protection shall
begranted forsuchexhibitions inWTO Member countries. Please explain theconsistency withEPC
Article 55applied byCPC Article 1(2)onthispoint.
5. EPCArticle 87(5) applied byCPC Article 1(2)prescribes thatapriority right based onan
application made inaState which isnotaContracting Party totheParis Convention, isenjoyable,
sofarasthestateaffords apriority rightbased onanapplication made intheEPOoritsContracting
State. Please explain thetreatment fortheabove non-Paris Contracting StateinaWTO Member country.
Inthecase where thepriority right isnotgranted, please explain theconsistency with the
most-favoured-nation clause ofTRIPS Article 4.
6. EPCArticle 106(1) applied byCPCArticle 1(2)prescribes thatrevocation bytheOpposition
Division shallbereviewed byanappeal board. Please explain thelegalbasis onwhich suchreview
byanappeal board isequivalent tojudicial review under TRIPS Article 32.
7. EPCArticle 167(2) applied byCPCArticle 1(2)prescribes EachContracting Statemayreserve
theright toprovide that"European patents, insofar astheyconfer protection on(a)chemical,
pharmaceutical orfoodproducts themselves, (b)agricultural orhorticultural processes other thanthose
towhich Article 53(b) applies, shallbeineffective orrevocable.". Isthere anyState whoreserves
theabove right? Isthere anypossibility thattheStates whoaretobecome Member countries inthe
future willbepermitted toreserve theright? Inthatcase, please explain theconsistency withTRIPS
Article 27.1.
8. EPCArticle 167(2) applied byCPCArticle 1(2)prescribes thateachContracting State may
reserve theright toprovide that"(c)European patents shallhaveatermshorter thantwenty years,
inaccordance withtheprovisions applicable tonational patents". Isthere anyState which reserves
sucharight? Isthere anypossibility thatStates which aretobemember countries inthefuture will
bepermitted toreserve theright? Inthatcase, please explain theconsistency withTRIPS Article 33.
9. CPCArticle 25(a)(c) doesnotseem toconfer anexclusive rightwithregard to"offering for
sale". Please explain theconsistency withTRIPS Article 28.1(a).IP/C/W/58
Page5
10. CPC Article 27(d) (e)prescribes thattherights conferred byaCommunity patent shallnot
extend totheuseofthepatented invention when vessels, aircraft orlandvehicles temporarily or
accidentally enter theterritory ofContracting States. Itseems thatthisArticle shallbeapplied only
tosuchvehicles oftheContracting States oftheParis Convention. Does thismean thatthisArticle
isnotapplicable toWTO Member countries which arenotParis Contracting States? Ifnot,please
explain theconsistency withthemost-favoured-nation clause ofTRIPS Article 4.
11. According toCPC Article 29(1), "The applicant shallfilewiththeEuropean Patent Office
within thetimelimitprescribed intheImplementing Regulations atranslation oftheclaims onwhich
thegrant oftheEuropean patent istobebased inoneoftheofficial languages ofeachoftheContracting
States which doesnothaveEnglish, French orGerman asanofficial language.". Howmany official
languagesexistnow?Pleaseexplainwhetherthenumberofofficiallanguagesis"reasonable"asprovided
inTRIPS Article 62,which requires thatMembers comply withreasonable procedures andformalities.
12. According toCPC Articles 46and77,"Acompulsory licence maynotbegranted fora
Community patent ontheground oflackorinsufficiency ofexploitation iftheproduct covered bythe
patent, which ifmanufactured inaContracting State, isputonthemarket intheterritory ofanyother
Contracting State, forwhich suchalicence hasbeenrequested, insufficient quantity tosatisfy needs
intheterritory ofthatother Contracting State.". Iftheproduct covered bythepatent, which is
manufactured outside theContracting State, isputonthemarket intheterritory ofaContracting State
inwhich acompulsory licence hasbeenrequested insufficient quantity tosatisfy needs intheterritory
oftheContracting State, isitpossible thatacompulsory licence maybegranted? Ifso,please explain
theconsistency withthemost-favoured-nation clause ofTRIPS Article 4.
13. Please explain whether CPC Article 55which provides fortheobligation ofsecurity forthe
costoftheproceedings when thenon-resident within theterritory ofoneoftheContracting States request
forrevocation, isconsistent withtheobligations ofnational treatment asrequired byTRIPS Article 3.
14. Itisunderstood thattheissue ofexhaustion ofintellectual property rights shallbesubject to
theNational Treatment clause ofTRIPS Article 3andmost-favoured-nation treatment clause ofTRIPS
Article 4.Arethereanydifferential treatments between ECMembers andnon-EC Members withrespect
totheissue oftheexhaustion ofpatent rights? Ifyes,please explain whysuchdifferential treatment
isjustifiable under theTRIPS Agreement.
Undisclosed information
1. Please explain howundisclosed information isprotected inyourcountry, asrequired byTRIPS
Article 39.2.
AUSTRIA
Undisclosed information
1. Please explain howundisclosed information isprotected inyourcountry, asrequired byTRIPS
Article 39.2.IP/C/W/58
Page6
BELGIUM
Undisclosed information
1. Please explain howundisclosed information isprotected inyourcountry, asrequired byTRIPS
Article 39.2.
DENMARK
Undisclosed information
1. Please explain howundisclosed information isprotected inyourcountry, asrequired byTRIPS
Article 39.2.
FRANCE
Patents
1. TheIntellectual Property Code L.611-12 prescribes thatapriority rightbased onanapplication
previously filedinthenon-Paris Convention Contracting country isenjoyable ifthesaidcountry treats
French citizens inthesameway. Doapplications fromalltheWTO Member countries enjoy apriority
rightunder thisprovision? Ifnot,please explain theconsistency withArticle 4oftheParisConvention
applied byTRIPS 2.1.
2. TheIntellectual Property Code L.611-17(a) prescribes thatanyinventions prohibited fromuse
bylawsandregulations areexcluded frompatentability. Please explain theconsistency withTRIPS
Article 27.2which prescribes thatexclusion frompatentability shallnotbemade merely because the
exploitation isprohibited bydomestic law.
3. TheIntellectual Property Code L.613-11(a) prescribes thatacompulsory licence maybeset
inthecasewhere theexploitation ofapatented invention hasnotcommenced orsincere andeffective
preparation hasnotbeenmade inaterritory ofEuropean Community. Given thatanexploitation of
aninvention isprimarily done inthecountry where theinvention wasmade, doesthisprovision
discriminate against inventions inother WTO Member countries infavour ofthose inECMember
countries? Please explain theconsistency withthemost-favoured-nation clause ofTRIPS Article 4.
GREECE
Undisclosed information
1. Please explain howundisclosed information isprotected inyourcountry, asrequired byTRIPS
Article 39.2.IP/C/W/58
Page7
UNITED KINGDOM
Patents
1. According toSection 5(5)(b) oftheBritish Patents Act,acitizen ofacountry specified byOrder
inCouncil canenjoy priority rights based onanapplication filedinthecountry thereof. Areallthe
WTO Member countries included incountries specified bytheOrder? Ifnot,please explain the
consistency withArticle 4oftheParis Convention applied byTRIPS Article 2.1.
2. Under Section 48oftheBritish Patents Act,thetwogrounds uponwhich acompulsory licence
maybegranted are:(i)theinvention isnotbeing commercially worked atallintheUnited Kingdom
orisnotbeing commercially worked intheUnited Kingdom tothefullest reasonably practicable extent,
and(ii)thedemand forthepatented product intheUnited Kingdom isnotbeing metonreasonable
terms orisbeing mettoasubstantial extent onlybyimportation. Please explain whether thecompulsory
licensing ofpatents based ontheabove grounds intheUnited Kingdom iscompatible withTRIPS
Article 31.
3. Isthecondition tomake efforts toobtain authorization from theright holder onreasonable
commercial terms andconditions prior totheusewithout authorization oftherightholder applicable
tosituations other thanthatofSection 48(3)(d) oftheBritish Patents Act? Ifnot,please explain the
consistency withTRIPS Article 31(d).
4. Section49(3)oftheBritishPatentsActprescribesthatwheretheComptrollerordersthegranting
oflicence under Section 48,hemaygivedirections soasto(a)deprive therightholder oftheright
towork theinvention concerned himself orgrant licences; (b)revoke allexisting licences granted.
Please explain theconsistency withTRIPS Article 31(d).
5. Please explain howtheconditions prescribed inTRIPS Article 31,especially paragraph (b),
(d),(e)and(i),areimplemented when applying Section 55oftheBritish Patents Act,concerning use
ofpatented inventions without authorization oftherightholder forservices oftheCrown.
6. Section 60(5)(d)(e) oftheBritish Patents Actprescribes thattheuseofrelevant ships, aircraft,
hovercraft orvehicles which havetemporarily oraccidentally entered theUnited Kingdom would not
constitute aninfringement ofapatent foraninvention. Isthisprovision applicable tothevessels, aircraft
orlandvehicles ofalltheWTO Member countries? Ifnot,please explain theconsistency withthe
most-favoured-nation clause ofTRIPS Article 4.
NEW ZEALAND
Patents
1. Please explain whether Articles 46,48,55,56(1), 57and58oftheNewZealand Patents Act
withrespect tothecompulsory licences anduseofpatented inventions forservices oftheCrown are
consistent witheachparagraph ofTRIPS Article 31.
2. Please explain howArticle 10oftheNewZealand Patents Actwithrespect tothecontents
ofspecification isconsistent withTRIPS Article 29which requires thattheinvention shallbedisclosed
inamanner sufficiently clearandcomplete fortheinvention tobecarried outbyaperson skilled in
theart.IP/C/W/58
Page8
Undisclosed information
1. Please explain howundisclosed information isprotected inyourcountry, asrequired byTRIPS
Article 39.2.
POLAND
Undisclosed information
1. Please explain howundisclosed information isprotected inyourcountry, asrequired byTRIPS
Article 39.2.
SOUTH AFRICA
Undisclosed information
1. Please explain howundisclosed information isprotected inyourcountry, asrequired byTRIPS
Article 39.2.
UNITED STATES
Patents
1. Isanapplicant forapatent, orapatentee, allowed toestablish adateofinvention under
35U.S.C. 104byreference toknowledge orusethereof, orother activity withrespect thereto, ina
WTO Member country availing itself ofatransitional period under TRIPS Article 65.2?
2. According to35U.S.C 104(a)(3), totheextent thatanyinformation inaWTO Member country
concerning knowledge, use,oranyother activity relevant toproving ordisproving adateofinvention
hasnotbeenmade available foruseinaPatent andTrademark Office proceeding, acourt, oranyother
competent authority tothesameextent assuchinformation could bemade available intheUnited States,
theCommissioner, court, orsuchotherauthority shalldrawappropriate inferences, ortakeotheraction
permitted tostatute, ruleorregulations, infavour oftheparty thatrequested theinformation inthe
proceedings.Thisprovisionmightleadtosituationswhereaforeignapplicantorpatenteeissubstantially
obliged tofollow theUSdiscovery procedures. Please explain whether under suchsituations, aforeign
applicantorpatenteemightbetreatedunfavourablycomparedtoUScitizens,giventhatwaysofrecording
inventions aredifferent andthatrighttorefusal oftestimony, etc.,which isseenaslegitimate inthe
foreigncountry,isdifficulttoexercise.PleaseexplaintherelationofTRIPSArticle27.1whichprohibits
discrimination against place ofinvention totheabove answer?
3. Canaforeign applicant enjoy apriority right based onaprior application filedinaWTO
Member country which doesnotsatisfy thebestmode requirement asisprescribed in35U.S.C.112?
Ifnot,please explain thelegalbasisandconsistency withtheArticle 4oftheParisConvention applied
byTRIPS Article 2.1.
4. According to35U.S.C. 102(e) or35U.S.C. 103,anapplication foraninvention shallbe
rejected if,atthetimeofinvention, itisidentical to,orobvious toaperson skilled intheart,an
invention byanother person described inapatent granted onanapplication made before theformer
invention. Insuchacase, ifanother person 'sapllication claims apriority right, doesthedefeatingIP/C/W/58
Page9
effect gobacktothepriority date? Ifthisisnotthecase(Hilmer I),please explain theconsistency
withArticle 4BoftheParis Convention applied inTRIPS Article 2.1establishing thatthefiling of
athirdparty between thepriority dateandtheactual datedoesnotgiverisetoanyrighttothesaid
thirdparty. Furthermore, ifthisisnotthecase,patented inventions which areobvious fromoneanother
mayco-exist andexertaninfluence ononeanother 'sexclusive rights inarestrictive way. Please explain
whether thissituation unreasonably prejudices theexclusive rightconferred under TRIPS Article 28?
5. Accordingto35U.S.C.102(g)or35U.S.C.103,anapplicationforaninventionshallberejected
if,atthetimeofinvention, itisidentical to,orobvious toaperson skilled intheart,aninvention
byanother person which wasmade before theformer invention andhadnotbeenabandoned. Insuch
case, ifanother person 'sapplication claims apriority right, doesthedefeating effect gobacktothe
priority date? Ifnot(Hilmer II),please explain theconsistency withArticle 4BoftheParisConvention
applied inTRIPS Article 2.1setting outthatthefiling ofathirdparty between thepriority dateand
theactual datedoesnotgiverisetoanyrighttothesaidthirdparty. Furthermore, ifthisisnotthe
case, itmayhappen thatpatented inventions, which areobvious from oneanother mayco-exist and
exert aninfluence ononeanother 'sexclusive rights inarestrictive way. Please explain whether this
situation unreasonably prejudices theexclusive rightconferred under TRIPS Article 28?
6. Whereas 35U.S.C.154(c)(3) allows thirdparties tocontinue theexploitation ofaninvention
which began, orforwhich significant investment wasmade, before thedatesixmonths following the
dateoftheenactment oftheUruguay Round Agreements Actsupon thepayment ofanequitable
remuneration tothepatentee, TRIPS Article 70.4allows aWTO Member tolimittheremedies available
forsuchactscommenced onlybefore thedateofacceptance oftheWTO Agreement bytheMember.
Please explain whether these twoprovisions arethesameornot.Ifnot,please explain theconsistency
between thetwoprovisions.
7. According to35U.S.C 271(e)(1), themanufacture, use,orsale,within theUnited States, of
apatented invention solely forusesreasonably related tothedevelopment andsubmission ofinformation
under aFederal lawwhich regulate themanufacture, use,orsaleofdrugs orveterinary biological
products isnotanactofinfringement. What cases areenvisaged, inparticular, fortheactofsale?
Furthermore, dosuchexceptions forsalefallunder theexceptions permitted asnotunreasonably
prejudicial fortherightholder inTRIPS Article 30?
8. PleaseexplaintheconsistencybetweenTRIPSArticle28(b)andthelatterpartof35U.S.C.271(g)
which provides that"Inanaction forinfringement ofaprocess patent, noremedy maybegranted for
infringement onaccount ofthenon-commercial useorretailsaleofaproduct unless thereisnoadequate
remedy under thistitleforinfringement onaccount oftheimportation orother use,offer tosell,or
saleofthatproduct.".
9. According to35U.S.C. 272,theexception ofinfringement ofanyuseofpatent inanyvessel,
aircraft orvehicle oftheUnited States, entering theUnited States temporarily oraccidentally, applies
tocountrieswhichaffordsimilarprivilegestovesselsoftheUnitedStates.Pleaseexplaintheconsistency
withthemost-favoured-nation clause ofTRIPS Article 4.
10. Please explain theseries ofprocedures foraninvoluntary licence provided in"TheDevelopment
andControl ofAtomic Energy Act" (42U.S.C. 2138) and"The AirPollution andControl Act"
(42U.S.C. 7608). Furthermore please explain theconsistency between eachofthese procedures and
eachparagraph ofTRIPS Article 31,inparticular, Article 31(b),(d),(e)and(i).
11. Please explain howarightholder isinformed promptly about government useofhispatent
under United States law,andhowtheUnited States lawisconsistent withTRIPS Article 31(b).IP/C/W/58
Page10
12. Please explain whether andhow35U.S.C. 202(a)(i) and204isconsistent withtheobligations
ofnational treatment asrequired byTRIPS Article 3.