RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE IP/C/5
30November 1995
ORGANIZATION(95-3870)
Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
CHECKLIST OFISSUES ONENFORCEMENT
Decision oftheCouncil forTRIPS of21November 1995
Inproviding information onnational enforcement lawandpractices inresponse tothechecklist
ofissues below, assoonaspossible afterthetimethataMember isobliged tostartapplying the
provisionsoftheTRIPSAgreementonenforcement,eachMembershouldidentifytherelevantprovisions
ofnational lawsandregulations. Where aresponse differs according totheintellectual property right
(IPR) inquestion, theresponse should begiven onanIPR-by-IPR basis. Thechecklist follows the
structure ofPartIIIoftheTRIPS Agreement; when considering whatinformation would berelevant
inresponse totheissues listed, Members maywishtoconsult thecorresponding provision ofPartIII
oftheTRIPS Agreement ontheEnforcement ofIntellectual Property Rights.
Thechecklist willbereviewed bytheCouncil, inthelightofexperience attheendof1997,
interaliatoidentify anyelements which haveproven unduly burdensome inrelation totheusefulness
oftheinformation provided.
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Civil andAdministrative Procedures andRemedies
(a) Civiljudicial procedures andremedies
1. Specify thecourts which havejurisdiction overIPRinfringement cases.
2. Which persons have standing toassert IPRs? How maytheyberepresented? Arethere
requirements formandatory personal appearances before thecourt bytherightholder?
3. What authority dothejudicial authorities havetoorder, attherequest ofanopposing party,
aparty toaproceeding toproduce evidence which lieswithin itscontrol?
4. What means existtoidentify andprotect confidential information brought forward asevidence?
5. Describe theremedies thatmaybeordered bythejudicial authorities andcriteria, legislative
orjurisprudential, fortheiruse:
- injunctions;
- damages, including recovery ofprofits, andexpenses, including attorney 'sfees;IP/C/5
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- destruction orother disposal ofinfringing goods andmaterials/implements fortheir
production;
- anyother remedies.
6. Inwhatcircumstances, ifany,dojudicial authorities havetheauthority toorder theinfringer
toinform theright holder oftheidentity ofthird persons involved intheproduction and
distribution ofthegoods orservices found tobeinfringing andoftheirchannels ofdistribution?
7. Describe provisions relating totheindemnification ofdefendants wrongfully enjoined. To
whatextent arepublic authorities and/or officials liable insuchasituation andwhat"remedial
measures" areapplicable tothem?
8. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable data
ontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheircost.
(b) Administrative procedures andremedies
9. Reply totheabove questions inrelation toanyadministrative procedures onthemerits and
remedies thatmayresult from these procedures.
Provisional Measures
(a) Judicial measures
10. Describe thetypes ofprovisional measures thatjudicial authorities mayorder, andthelegal
basis forsuchauthority.
11. Inwhatcircumstances maysuchmeasures beordered inaudita altera parte?
12. Describe themainprocedures fortheinitiation, ordering andmaintenance inforceofprovisional
measures, inparticular relevant time-limits andsafeguards toprotect thelegitimate interests
ofthedefendant.
13. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable data
ontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheircost.
(b) Administrative measures
14. Reply totheabove questions inrelation toanyadministrative provisional measures.
Special Requirements Related toBorder Measures
15. Indicate forwhich goods itispossible toapply forthesuspension bythecustoms authorities
oftherelease intofreecirculation, inparticular whether these procedures areavailable also
inrespect ofgoods which involve infringements ofintellectual property rights other than
counterfeit trademark orpirated copyright goods asdefined intheTRIPS Agreement (footnote
toArticle51).Specify,togetherwithrelevantcriteria,anyimportsexcludedfromtheapplication
ofsuchprocedures (such asgoods fromanother member ofacustoms union, goods intransitIP/C/5
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ordeminimis imports). Dotheprocedures apply toimports ofgoods putonthemarket in
another country byorwiththeconsent oftherightholder andtogoods destined forexportation?
16. Provide adescription ofthemainelements oftheprocedures relating tothesuspension ofthe
release 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
andinformation) beenimplemented?
17. Describe provisions governing thelength andcostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable data
ontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheircost. How longisthevalidity ofdecisions
bythecompetent authorities forthesuspension oftherelease ofgoods intofreecirculation?
18. Arecompetent authorities required toactupon their owninitiative and,ifso,inwhat
circumstances? Arethere anyspecial provisions applicable toexofficio action?
19. Describe theremedies thatthecompetent authorities havetheauthority toorder andanycriteria
regulating theiruse.
Criminal Procedures
20. Specify thecourts which havejurisdiction overcriminal actsofinfringement ofIPRs.
21. Inrespect ofwhich infringements ofwhich intellectual property rights arecriminal procedures
andpenalties available?
22. Which public authorities areresponsible forinitiating criminal proceedings? Aretheyrequired
todothisontheirowninitiative and/or inresponse tocomplaints?
23. Doprivate persons havestanding toinitiate criminal proceedings and,ifso,who?
24. Specify, bycategory ofIPRandtypeofinfringement where necessary, thepenalties andother
remedies thatmaybeimposed:
- imprisonment;
- monetary fines;
- seizure, forfeiture anddestruction ofinfringing goods andmaterials andimplements
fortheirproduction;
- other.
25. Describe provisions governing thelength andanycostofproceedings. Provide anyavailable
dataontheactual duration ofproceedings andtheircost,ifany.