WORLD TRADE WT/DS124/1
IP/D/13
7May1998
ORGANIZATION(98-1824)
Original: English
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES -ENFORCEMENT OFINTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
FOR MOTION PICTURES ANDTELEVISION PROGRAMS
Request forConsultations bytheUnited States
Thefollowing communication, dated 30April 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 theenforcement ofintellectual property rights inGreece.
TheTRIPS Agreement applied todeveloped Members oftheWTO, suchastheEuropean
Communities, asof1January 1996. Such Members areobligated tocomply withtheprovisions of
PartIIIoftheTRIPS Agreement regarding theenforcement ofintellectual property rights, among other
obligations.
Asignificant number oftelevision stations inGreece regularly broadcast copyrighted motion
pictures andtelevision programs without theauthorization ofcopyright owners. Effective remedies
against copyright infringement donotappear tobeprovided orenforced inGreece withrespect tothese
unauthorized broadcasts. Copyrights owned byUSnationals have been infringed inthismanner
repeatedly, andcontinue tobeinfringed, despite efforts byUSrightholders toprevent suchinfringement
andtopursue theirrights inGreece. Thissituation appears tobeinconsistent withtheobligations of
Members under Articles 41and61oftheTRIPS Agreement.
Welookforward toreceiving your reply tothepresent request andtofixing amutually
convenient dateforconsultations.
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