WORLD TRADE IP/N/1/SWE/1
13May1996
ORGANIZATION(96-1737)
Original: English Council forTrade-Related Aspects
ofIntellectual Property Rights
NOTIFICATION OFLAWS AND REGULATIONS
UNDER ARTICLE 63.2OFTHE AGREEMENT
Sweden
Bymeans ofcommunications, dated 27December 1995, 30January 1996, 7March 1996,
and18April 1996, Sweden hasnotified under Article 63.2oftheTRIPS Agreement thelawsand
regulationsinforceinSwedenasof1January1996relatingtothesectorsofintellectualpropertycovered
bytheAgreement. Thelawsandregulations thatentered intoforceon1January 1996havebeenmarked
withanasterisk (*).
Annex Isetsoutthemain dedicated intellectual property lawsandregulations asnotified by
Sweden. Annex IIcontains thelisting of"other lawsandregulations" asnotified bySweden. Annex III
reproducesinformationprovidedbySwedenconcerningprovisionsinSwedishlawrelatingtoenforcement
ofintellectual property rights. TheSwedish delegation hasinformed theSecretariat thatSweden 's
answers tothechecklist ofissues onenforcement willbesubmitted induecourse.IP/N/1/SWE/1
Page2
ANNEX I
NOTIFICATION OFLAWS AND REGULATIONS
UNDER ARTICLE 63.2OFTHE AGREEMENT
Main Laws andRegulations
TheSwedish Patents Act(1967:837)1
- Act(1994:234) Amending thePatents Act(1967:837)1
- Act(1994:1511) Amending thePatents Act(1967:837)1
Act(1971:392) ontheProtection ofPlant Breeder 'sRights2
Act(1990:409) ontheProtection ofTrade Secrets3
Act(1960:729) onCopyright inLiterary andArtistic Works4
- Act(1995:447) Amending theAct(1960:729) onCopyright inLiterary andArtistic Works4
- Act(1995:1273) Amending theAct(1960:729) onCopyright inLiterary andArtistic Works4*
- Act(1995:1274) Amending theAct(1995:447) Amending theAct(1960:729) on
Copyright inLiterary andArtistic Works4*
Copyright Regulation (1993:1212)4
International Copyright Regulation (1994:193)5
- Regulation (1995:449) Amending theInternational Copyright Regulation (1994:193)5
- Regulation (1995:1275) Amending theInternational Copyright Regulation (1994:193)5*
Act(1980:612) onMediation inCertain Copyright Disputes6
1Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/P/1
2Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/P/2
3Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/U/1
4Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/C/1
5Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/C/2
6Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/C/3IP/N/1/SWE/1
Page3
TheTrademarks Act(1960:644)7
- Act(1995:1277) Amending theTrademarks Act(1960:644)7*
- Act(1995:1278) Amending theAct(1994:1510) Amending theTrademarks Act(1960:644)7*
TheCollective Marks Act(1960:645)8
Trademarks Regulation (1960:648)9
- Regulation (1995:1279) Amending theTrademark Regulation (1960:648)9*
Regulation (1970:495) onForeign Trademarks, Etc.10
- Regulation (1995:1299) Amending theRegulation (1970:495) onForeign Trademarks, Etc.10*
Design Protection Act(1970:485)11
Design Protection Regulation (1970:486)12
7Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/T/1
8Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/T/2
9Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/T/3
10Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/T/4
11Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/D/1
12Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/D/2IP/N/1/SWE/1
Page4
Act(1992:1685) ontheProtection ofTopographies forSemiconductor Products13
Regulation (1993:1434) ontheApplication inRelation toOther States oftheAct(1992:1685) onthe
Protection ofTopographies forSemiconductor Products14
- Regulation (1995:1166) Amending theRegulation (1993:1434) ontheApplication inRelation
toOther States oftheAct(1992:1685) ontheProtection ofTopographies forSemiconductor
Products14
TheMarketing Act(1995:450)15
Swedish Competition Act(1993:20)16
TheSecrecy Act(1980:100)17
TheSecrecy Regulation (1980:657)17
Act(1994:1552) onCustoms Control ofTrademark Infringements18
13Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/L/1
14Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/L/2
15Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/O/1
16Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/O/2
17Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/O/3
18Seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/E/1IP/N/1/SWE/1
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ANNEX II
NOTIFICATION OFLAWS AND REGULATIONS
UNDER ARTICLE 63.2OFTHE AGREEMENT
Other Laws andRegulations
TITLE
DATE OFADOPTION AND ENTRY
INTO FORCEBRIEF DESCRIPTION
Patents (Including Plant Variety
Protection)
Patents Decree (No.1967:838), of
1December 1967, which entered intoforce
on1January 1968, lastamended byAct
No.1994:1312 of2December 1993, which
entered intoforce on1January 1994.
ActontheRight inInventions Made by
Employees (No.1949:345), of18June1949,
which entered intoforce on1January 1950,
lastamended byActNo.1994:2078, which
entered intoforce on1July1995.
ActonInventions ofImportance forthe
Defence (No.1971:1078), of
17December 1971, which entered intoforce
on1January 1972, lastamended byAct
No.1993:1407, which entered intoforce on
1January 1994.TheDecree contains provisions onthe
application ofthePatents Act,inparticular
concerning (a)patent applications anddiary,
(b)priority, (c)claims relating toapatent,
(d)description ofaninvention, (f)summary,
(g)changes inapatent application,
(h)division ofanapplication, (i)themaking
available ofapatent application,
(j)examination ofapatent application,
(k)granting ofapatent, (l)thePatent
Register, (m)fees,(n)receiving authority for
international patent applications,
(o)proceedings relating tointernational
patent applications, (q)diary ofEuropean
patent applications, (r)translations of
European patent applications, (s)receipt of
European patent applications, (t)conversion
ofEuropean patent applications, and
(u)additional protection forpharmaceutical
products.
TheActcontains provisions ontherightin
patents forinventions made byemployees in
private orpublic service.
TheActcontains provisions on,interalia,
thesecrecy ofsuchapplications forpatents in
suchinventions.IP/N/1/SWE/1
Page6
TITLE
DATE OFADOPTION AND ENTRY
INTO FORCEBRIEF DESCRIPTION
Regulation ontheProtection ofPlant
Breeder 'sRights (No.1971:393, aslast
amended byActNo.1986:1239)
Procedures fortheAcquisition and
Maintenance ofIntellectual Property
Rights
ActontheCourt ofPatent Appeals
(No.1977:729), of24August 1977, which
entered intoforce on1January 1978, last
amended byActNo.1991:1564, which
entered intoforce on1January 1992.TheRegulation contains provisions ondetails
concerning theregistration ofplant varieties,
onfees,etc.
TheActcontains provisions onthe
competence, composition andprocedures of
theCourt ofPatent Appeals which is
competent tohearappeals incases relating to
theregistration ofpatents, trademarks, names
andindustrial designs.IP/N/1/SWE/1
Page7
ANNEX III
GENERAL OBSERVATIONS ONENFORCEMENT PROVISIONS ININTELLECTUAL
PROPERTY LAW.
1. Thebasicprovisions onenforcement ofintellectual property lawareincluded intherespective
Actsthemselves, thatis,
Article 53andfollowing oftheCopyright Act,
Article 37andfollowing oftheTrademarks Act,
Article 35andfollowing oftheDesign Protection Act,
Article 57andfollowing ofthePatents Act,
Article 9andfollowing oftheSemiconductor Act,
Article 36andfollowing inthePlant Breeders 'Protection Act,
Article 3andfollowing intheTrade Secrets Act.
2. Typically, theprovisions consist ofprovisions on
- penal sanctions (typically, finesorimprisonment fornotmore thantwoyears);
- injunctions (typically, prohibition, under thepenalty ofafine, toundertake orto
continue aninfringing act;suchaCourt order canbeissued alsoonaninterlocutory
basis without hearing theother party);
- compensation fordamages;
- destruction/disposal ofinfringing material, etc.
3. Following acomplete revision oftheenforcement provisions intheintellectual property laws
in1994, those provisions arealmost identical anddiffer onlyinminor respects. Fordetails, reference
ismade totherespective Acts, which havebeennotified inanEnglish translation. Asanexample is
below, under therespective headings, quoted theprovisions oftheCopyright Act,ontheunderstanding
thatthesubstance isbasically thesame intheother acts.
4. Those provisions onenforcement inthevarious intellectual property actsdealwithboththe
substance andwithcertain procedural aspects. They are,naturally, complemented byprovisions of
amore general nature inother Acts, forinstance thePenal Code andtheCode onJudicial Procedure.
Asvirtually every provision inthelatter Code andseveral oftheprovisions ofthePenal Code may
become relevant, itisnotpossible toprovide information, inanotification, onallaspects which may
become important inthiscontext. Therefore, onlyafewoftheprovisions which maybeessential,
arequoted here. Adetailed explanation willbegiven inthecontext oftheChecklist onEnforcement.
CIVIL AND JUDICIAL PROCEDURES AND REMEDIES
5. Those provisions concern essentially theprovisions oninjunctions, compensation fordamages
anddestruction/disposal ofinfringing material. Those provisions intheCopyright Actread:
Article 53a. Attherequest oftheauthor orhissuccessor intitleorofaperson who, onthe
basisofalicense, hastherighttousethework, theCourt mayissueaninjunction prohibiting,
under penalty ofafine,aperson whocommits anactimplying aninfringement of,oraviolation
referred to,inArticle 53tocontinue thatact.IP/N/1/SWE/1
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Iftheplaintiff shows aprobable cause thatanactimplying aninfringement oraviolation as
referred toinArticle 53takes place andifitcanreasonably beexpected thatthedefendant,
through thecontinuation oftheact,diminishes thevalue thatthecopyright confers, theCourt
mayissue aninjunction forthetimeuntilthecasehasbeenfinally adjudicated orotherwise
isdecided. Noinjunction maybeissued before thedefendant hasbeengiven anopportunity
torespond, unless adelay would entail ariskfordamage.
Aninjunction asmentioned inthesecond paragraph maybeissued onlyiftheplaintiff deposits
asecurity withtheCourt forthedamage which maybecaused tothedefendant. Iftheplaintiff
isnotcapable ofdepositing suchasecurity, theCourt mayliberate himfrom making such
adeposit. Asregards thetypeofsecurity, theprovisions ofChapter 2,Article 25,ofthe
Enforcement Code shallapply. Thesecurity shallbeexamined bytheCourt unless thedefendant
hasaccepted it.
When thecaseisadjudicated, theCourt shalldecide whether aprohibition issued under the
second paragraph shallcontinue toapply.
Theprovisions onappeal against decisions inChapter 15oftheCode ofJudicial Procedure
shallapply asregards appeals against decisions under thesecond andthird paragraphs and
asregards theproceedings inhigher Courts.
Arequest fortheimposition ofafinemaybemade bytheperson whohasrequested the
injunction. Inconnection withsuchanimposition, arequest maybemade foranewinjunction
tobeissued under penalty ofafine.
Asregards thecontents ofwireless broadcasts andbroadcasts bywire, theprovisions ofthe
Radio Act(1966:755) apply.
Article 54.Anyone whoexploits awork inviolation ofthisActorofdirections given under
Article 41,second paragraph, shallpaysuchacompensation totheauthor orcopyright owner
aswillconstitute areasonable remuneration fortheexploitation.
Inthecaseofanexploitation carried outwilfully orwithgross negligence, acompensation
shallbepaidalsoforlosses other thanlostremuneration aswellasformental suffering and
forother injury.
Anyone whootherwise wilfully ornegligently commits anactinvolving aninfringement or
aviolation according toArticle 53,shall paytotheauthor orhissuccessor intitlea
compensation forlosses, mental suffering orother injury caused bytheact.
Article 55.Anyone whocommits anactinvolving aninfringement oraviolation under
Article 53shall, ifsoisconsidered reasonable, surrender totheauthor orhissuccessor intitle,
foracompensation, theproperty involved intheinfringement ortheviolation. Thesameshall
apply totypematter, printing blocks, moulds orother similar devices which canbeusedonly
fortheproduction ofproperty ofthekindnowmentioned.
Instead ofissuing anorder forsurrender asprescribed inthefirstparagraph, theCourt may,
attherequest oftheauthor orhissuccessor intitle,inaccordance withwhat isconsidered
reasonable, order thatsuchproperty shallbedestroyed oraltered inspecific waysorthatother
measures shallbetaken toprevent unauthorized use.Such arequest maybemade alsobya
public prosecutor, ifsoisconsidered desirable fromthepointofviewofpublic interest. Orders
asmentioned inthisparagraph shallnotbeissued ifsurrender ormeasures forthepreventionIP/N/1/SWE/1
Page9
ofunauthorized usearetobedecided under theCriminal Code.
Theprovisions ofthefirstandthethirdparagraphs shallnotapply inrespect ofpersons who
haveingoodfaithacquired theproperty orarightinit,norincases involving theconstruction
ofawork ofarchitecture.
Ifpropertyotherthansuchmentionedinthefirstparagraphhasbeenusedforsuchmanufacturing
ofcopies ofworks which isacriminal violation under thisAct,theproperty oritsvalue may
beordered tobesurrendered ifsuchameasure isconsidered necessary toprevent criminal
violations orthere areotherwise special reasons forsuchanorder. Thisshallapply alsoin
relation toproperty which hasbeenusedinconnection withattempts tocommit violations as
mentioned hereorwhich form partoftheplanning ofsuchviolations.
Article 56.Notwithstanding theprovisions ofArticle 55,theCourt may, ifitsoconsiders
reasonable inview oftheartistic oreconomic value ofthecopies ofawork orofother
circumstances, upon arequest tothateffect, decide thatthecopies, against thepayment of
aspecific remuneration totheauthor orhissuccessor intitle,bemade available tothepublic
orotherwise usedfortheirintended purpose.
Article 57.Theprovisions ofArticles 53to56shallapply alsototherights which areprotected
under provisions inChapter 5.
Article 57a.Anyone who, incases other thanthose referred toinArticle 53,sells, leases or
offers forsaleorpossesses forsale,leaseorothercommercial purposes adevice intended solely
forfacilitating unauthorized removal orcircumvention ofadevice placed inorder toprotect
acomputer program against unauthorized reproduction, shall bepunished byfines or
imprisonment fornotmore thansixmonths.
Article 58.TheDistrict Court ofStockholm shallhavejurisdiction incases involving sound
radio ortelevision broadcasts inviolation ofthisAct.Thesame shallapply incases involving
claims forremuneration under Articles 18,26a,firstparagraph, 26i,thirdparagraph, or47,
andincases where acorresponding remuneration isclaimed onthebasis ofareference in
Articles 45,46,48,49or49a,andincases concerning remuneration forretransmissions under
Article 26f.
6. Thecorresponding provisions intheother intellectual property acts,having, asjustsaid,the
same substantive content, arecontained in
Article 37aandfollowing intheTrademarks Act
Article 35aandfollowing oftheDesign Protection Act
Article 57aandfollowing ofthePatents Act
Article 9aandfollowing oftheSemiconductor Act,
Article 36andfollowing ofthePlant Breeders Protection Act,
Article 5to14oftheTrade Secrets Act.
7. Asregards compensation fordamages, animportant provision istheoneintheCode ofJudicial
Procedure which deals withtheamount ofthecompensation fordamages. Itdeals withthecasewhen
itisdifficult toprove theextent ofthedamage caused. Theprovision, inChapter 35,Article 5,of
theCode ofJudicial Procedure, reads: "With respect totheextent ofdamages, iffullevidence can
notbepresented atalloronlywithdifficulty, theCourt shallaward areasonable amount. Thesame
mayapply incasethepresentation ofevidence presumably would incur costsordifficulties which are
notreasonable incomparison withtheamount ofthedamage andthecompensation claimed isaminorIP/N/1/SWE/1
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amount."
PROVISIONAL JUDICIAL MEASURES
8. Provisions onprovisional judicial measures relating to,inparticular, interlocutory injunctions,
arecontained intheprovisions referred toinitem4above (Articles 37aoftheTrademarks Act,35a
oftheDesign Protection Act,57aofthePatents Act,9aoftheSemiconductor Act,Article 36aofthe
Plant Breeders 'Protection Actand13oftheTrade Secrets Act).
9. Detailed provisions onthepossibilities forCourts todecide onprovisional attachment, on
injunctions against dissipation ofgoods, onother security measures andonother interlocutory orders
arecontained inChapter 15oftheCode onJudicial Procedures. Thiswillbeexplained indetail in
thereplies tothechecklist onenforcement.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS RELATED TOBORDER MEASURES
10. Theessential provisions inthisrespect arecontained intheAct(1994:1552) onCustoms Control
ofTrademark Infringement, ofwhich atranslation intoEnglish isattached.19
CRIMINAL PROCEDURES
11. Criminal remedies areavailable forinfringement ofintellectual property rights. Generally,
thesanctions include finesorimprisonment fornotmore thantwoyears forinfringements committed
wilfully orwithgross negligence. Asanexample areshown theprovisions inthisrespect inthe
Copyright Act.
Article 53.Anyone who,inrelation toaliterary orartistic work, commits anactwhich infringes
thecopyright enjoyed inthework under theprovisions ofChapters 1and2orwhich violates
directions given under Article 41,second paragraph, orArticle 50,shallbepunished byfines
orimprisonment fornotmore thantwoyears, iftheactiscommitted wilfully orwithgross
negligence.
Anyone whoforhisprivate usereproduces acomputer program which ispublished orofwhich
acopyhasbeentransferred withtheauthorization oftheauthor shallnotbeliable forcriminal
sanctions, ifthemaster copyisnotusedincommercial orpublic activities andhedoesnot
usethecopies produced ofthecomputer program foruseother thanhisprivate one.
Theprovisions ofthefirstparagraph apply alsoifaperson imports intoSweden copies ofa
work fordistribution tothepublic, ifsuchcopies havebeen produced abroad under such
circumstances thatasimilar production herewould havebeenpunishable under thatparagraph.
Anyone whohasviolated aninjunction issued under penalty ofafineunder Article 53a,may
notbeadjudicated tocriminal liability fortheinfringement covered bytheinjunction.
Attempts tocommit actsmentioned inthefirstorthirdparagraphs aswellastheplanning of
suchactsshallbepunishable according theprovisions ofChapter 23oftheCriminal Code.
19TheSwedish delegation hasinformed theSecretariat thatthisActisnotified asamain intellectual property law(see
Annex Iabove).IP/N/1/SWE/1
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Article 59.Acriminal action forviolation ofthisActmaybeinstituted byapublic prosecutor
onlyifthereisacomplaint fromtheinjured party orifsuchanaction iscalled forinthepublic
interest.
Anaction relating toaviolation oftheprovisions inArticle 3orofdirections given under
Article 41,second paragraph, maybeinstituted bythesurviving spouse oftheauthor, byhis
heirs intheascending ordescending lineorbyhisbrothers orsisters.
Iftherearereasons tobelieve thatacriminal violation under thisActhasoccurred, theproperty
mentioned inArticle 55maybetaken intocustody; thegeneral rules governing custody in
criminal cases shallapply.
12. With some nuances, thesame provisions arecontained in
Article 37oftheTrademarks Act
Article 35oftheDesign Protection Act
Article 57ofthePatents Act
Article 9oftheSemiconductor Protection Act
Articles 36ofthePlant Breeders 'Protection Act.
13. Thecorresponding provisions oftheTrade Secrets Actdiffer slightly from those mentioned
andread:
Article 3.Anyone whowilfully andwithout authorization accesses atrade secret shall be
sentenced fortradeespionage tofinesorimprisonment fornotmore thantwoyears or,where
theoffence isgrave, toimprisonment fornotmore thansixyears. Intheevaluation ofwhether
theoffence isgrave, particular attention shall begiven towhether theacthasbeen ofa
particularlydangerouskind,concernedaconsiderablemonetaryvalueorresultedinaparticularly
serious damage.
Apenalty asmentioned inthefirstparagraph shallnotbeadjudicated where amore serious
penalty would follow under thePenal Code.
Attempts andplanning oftrade espionage shallbepunishable according toChapter 23ofthe
Penal Code.
Article 4.Anyone whoobtains atrade secret knowing thattheperson whomakes available
thesecret, oranyone before him,hasaccessed itthrough anactoftrade espionage shallbe
punished forunauthorized tampering withatradesecret tofinesorimprisonment fornotmore
thantwoyears, or,where theoffence isgrave, toimprisonment fornotmore thanfouryears.
Apenalty asmentioned inthefirstparagraph shallnotbeadjudicated where amore serious
penalty would follow under thePenal Code.
14. Asregards thepenal sanctions, theintellectual property lawsgenerally provide forcriminal
liability notonlyforthemain perpetrator oftheoffence butalsoforthose whohavecontributed to
theactorwhohavemade attempts tocommit suchactsandparticipated intheplanning oftheact.
Thedifferent intellectual property actsreferinthisrespect generally totherelevant provisions inthe
Penal Code, which arethose contained inChapter 23,ofwhich themostimportant provisions arethose
inArticles 1and2.
15. Chapter 23,Article 1,deals withattempts andprovides: "Ifsomeone hasbegun tocommitIP/N/1/SWE/1
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acrime without bringing ittocompletion, heshall, incases where specific provisions therefore exist
(such asinthecaseofintellectual property laws) besentenced forattempt tocommit thecrime, ifthere
hadbeenadanger thattheactwould leadtothecompletion ofthecrime orsuchdanger hadbeen
precluded onlybecause ofaccidental circumstances. Punishment forattempts shallbeatmost that
applyingtoacompletedcrimeandnotlessthanimprisonmentifthemildestpunishmentforthecompleted
crime isimprisonment fortwoyears ormore."
16. Chapter 23,Article 2,deals withpreparations tocommit acrime oranoffence. Itreads: "A
person who, withtheintention ofcommitting orpromoting acrime, presents orreceives money or
something elseasprepayment orpayment forthecrime orwhoprocures, constructs, gives, receives,
keeps, conveys orengages inanyother suchactivity withpoison, explosives, weapons, picklock,
falsification toolorother auxiliary means shall, incases where specific provisions inthisrespect exist
(such asinthecaseofintellectual property laws) besentenced forpreparation ofthecrime unless he
ispunishable forcompleted crime orattempt....The punishment imposed forpreparation...shall be
below thehighest andmaybebelow thelowest limitapplicable toacompleted crime......If there was
onlyaslight danger ofthecrime being completed, nopunishment shallbeimposed."
17. Asmentioned above, alsocontributory actstoinfringements tointellectual property lawsare
punishable, inwhich casetheprovisions ofthePenal Code shallapply. Chapter 23,Article 4prescribes
inthisrespect: "Punishment provided inthisCode foranactshallbeimposed notonlyontheperson
whocommitted theactbutalsoonanyone whofurthered itbyadvice ordeed. Aperson whoisnot
regarded astheactorshall, ifheinduced another person tocommit theact,bepunished forinstigation
ofthecrime orelseforbeing anaccessory tothecrime. Each accomplice shallbejudged according
totheintent orthenegligence attributable tohim....."