WORLD TRADE WT/DS115/1
IP/D/12
12January 1998
ORGANIZATION(98-0068)
Original: English
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES -MEASURES AFFECTING THE
GRANT OFCOPYRIGHT AND NEIGHBOURING RIGHTS
Request forConsultations bytheUnited States
Thefollowing communication, dated 6January 1998, fromthePermanent Mission oftheUnited
States tothePermanent Delegation oftheEuropean Commission andtotheDispute Settlement Body,
iscirculated inaccordance withArticle 4.4oftheDSU.
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Myauthorities haveinstructed metorequest consultations withtheEuropean Communities
pursuanttoArticle4oftheUnderstandingonRulesandProceduresGoverningtheSettlementofDisputes
(DSU)andArticle64oftheAgreementonTrade-RelatedAspectsofIntellectualPropertyRights(TRIPs)
(totheextent itincorporates byreference Article XXIII oftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade
1994) regarding thegrant ofcopyright andneighbouring rights under Irishlaw.
Allmembers oftheWorld Trade Organization areobligated toprovide copyright and
neighbouring rights inaccordance withsection 1ofPartII,andtherelated provisions inArticle 70,
oftheTRIPs Agreement. InlightofIreland ’sstatus asadeveloped country, theTRIPs Agreement
applied toitonJanuary 1,1996.
Ireland appears nottogrant copyright andneighbouring rights inaccordance withsection 1
ofPartII,andArticle 70,oftheTRIPs Agreement, which appears tobeinconsistent withIreland ’s
obligations under Articles 9-14, 63,65and70ofthatAgreement.
Welookforward toreceiving your reply tothepresent request andtofixing amutually
convenient dateforconsultations.
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