RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE IP/C/W/31
6August 1996
ORGANIZATION(96-3136)
Original: English Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
PROPOSAL BYTHE UNITED STATES FOR THE NOTIFICATION OF
COMPLIANCE WITH ARTICLES 3,4AND 5OFTHE TRIPS AGREEMENT
TheUnited States delegation hasrequested thatthefollowing proposal, made atthemeeting
oftheCouncil forTRIPS thattookplace from 22to25July1996, becirculated.
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Article63.2oftheTRIPSAgreementrequiresallWTOMemberstonotifytotheTRIPSCouncil
alllawsandregulations pertaining totheobligations setoutintheAgreement. Thenational treatment
andmost-favored-nation treatment required byArticle 3,4and5oftheTRIPS Agreement arisefor
developed anddeveloping countries oneyearaftertheentry intoforce oftheWTO Agreement, or
on1January1996.Asaresult,developedanddevelopingcountryMembersmustnotifytheircompliance
withthese provisions totheTRIPS Council.
Thisnotification cantaketheform ofacomplete notification ofalllawsandregulations
concerning intellectual property, which notifications arealready obligated tobemade bydeveloped
countries. Wenote, however, thatthisformofnotification mayprove burdensome tothose members
whohaveelected totakeadvantage ofatransitional period prior toamending theirnational lawsto
conform totheotherprovisions oftheTRIPS Agreement, aswellastotheWTO Secretariat incollecting,
copying anddistributing these lawsatthistime. Wealsonotethatnotifying thespecific provisions
oflawsandregulations thatimplement theobligations setoutinArticles 3,4and5mayprove difficult
since theydonoteasily lendthemselves tospecific legislative notification.
Accordingly, theUnited States suggests thatincomplying withthisnotification obligation,
developing countries havethechoice of:
(1) notifying allthelawsandregulations intheirintellectual property protection regime;
or
(2) completing aform consisting ofageneral statement thattheMember 'slawsand
regulations provide tonationals ofother WTO Members atleastthelevelofintellectual
property protection thatitprovides toitsown nationals, andthatitextends
unconditionally tonationals ofeachWTO Member every advantage, favor, privilege
orimmunity thatisgranted tothenationals ofanyother country. Inthisoption, any
exceptions tothisgeneral statement would bespecifically notified, whether established
through aprovision ofnational laworaninternational agreement. Additionally, to
theextent possible, therelevant national andmost-favored-nation treatment provisions
oftherelevant lawsandregulations would benotified.