WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION
ORGANISATION MONDIALE DUCOMMERCEIP/N/1/SWE/P/2
29April 1996
ORGANIZACI ÓNMUNDIAL DEL COMERCIO(96-1636)
Council forTrade-Related Aspects Original: English/
ofIntellectual Property Rights anglais/
inglés
MAIN DEDICATED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY LAWS AND REGULATIONS
NOTIFIED UNDER ARTICLE 63.2 OFTHE AGREEMENT
Sweden
Thepresent document reproduces1thetextoftheAct(1971:392) ontheProtection ofPlant Breeder 's
Rights, asnotified bySweden under Article 63.2 oftheAgreement (seedocument IP/N/1/SWE/1).
Conseil desaspects desdroits depropriété
intellectuelle quitouchent aucommerce
PRINCIPALES LOIS ETREGLEMENTATIONS CONSACREES ALA
PROPRIETE INTELLECTUELLE NOTIFIEES AUTITRE
DEL'ARTICLE 63:2 DEL'ACCORD
Suède
Leprésent document contient letexte1delaLoi(1971:392) surlaprotection desdroits desobtenteurs
devariétésvégétales,notifiéeparlaSuèdeautitredel'article63:2del'Accord(voirledocumentIP/N/1/SWE/1).
Consejo delosAspectos delosDerechos dePropiedad
Intelectual relacionados conelComercio
PRINCIPALES LEYES YREGLAMENTOS DEDICADOS ALA
PROPIEDAD INTELECTUAL NOTIFICADOS ENVIRTUD
DEL PÁRRAFO 2DEL ARTÍCULO 63DEL ACUERDO
Suecia
Enelpresente documento sereproduce1eltexto delaLey(1971:392) deProtección delosDerechos
delosObtentores, notificada porSuecia deconformidad conelpárrafo 2delartículo 63delAcuerdo (véase
eldocumento IP/N/1/SWE/1).
1English only/anglais seulement/inglés solamente.IP/N/1/SWE/P/2
Page 2
THE MINISTRY OFJUSTICE
Stockholm
ACT ONTHE PROTECTION OFPLANT BREEDER 'SRIGHTS
(Act1971:392, asamended andinforce onJanuary 1,1996)
General Provisions
Article 1.ThisActisapplicable tothose plantvarieties which belong tosuchbotanical genus orspecies
which areindicated intheAnnex tothisAct.
TheActisapplicable alsotosuchspecies which arehybrids between those genus orspecies which
areindicated intheAnnex.
Article 2.Aplantbreeder whohas,inthiscountry, produced aplantvariety, orhissuccessor intitle,
mayobtain, through registration, anexclusive right tocommercially exploit thatvariety according
totheprovisions ofthisAct(plant breeder 'sright).
Aplant breeder whoisaSwedish national, orhashisdomicile inSweden, orthesuccessor intitle
ofsuchaplantbreeder, mayobtain aplantbreeder 'srightalsoinrespect ofavariety produced abroad.
Aplant breeder 'srightmaybeobtained also
1.byaplant breeder whohasproduced aplant variety inaforeign State party totheConvention of
December 2,1961, ontheProtection ofPlant Varieties, orbythesuccessor intitleofsuchaplant
breeder,
2.byaplant breeder whoisanational of,orhashisdomicile in,suchaState andwhohas,incases
other thanthose referred toinitem1.produced aplant variety, orbythesuccessor intitleofsuch
aplant breeder.
Aplant breeder 'srightmaybeobtained alsoinother cases where theGovernment considers thisto
beofspecific importance forthesupply oftheSwedish market orforSwedish plantbreeding activities.
Article 3.Aplant variety mayberegistered onlyifit
1.inrespect ofatleastoneimportant feature differs distinctly fromanyother variety which isknown
before thedateofthefiling oftheapplication forregistration,
2.itissufficiently homogenous withrespect tothedistinctive features thataredetermined byitssexual
orvegetative reproduction,
3.afterareproduction carried outinaccordance withtheplantbreeder 'sinstructions isstable asregards
itsessential features.
Aplant variety istobeconsidered asknown, ifmaterial thereof hasbeen, onacommercial basis,
offered forsaleorotherwise made available, orifitshasbeenincluded in,orapplied forinclusion
into,anofficial sortlist,orappears inapublicly available reference collection orhasbeendescribed
indetail inapublicly available document orhasotherwise become known bythepublic.
Registration maynotbeeffected, ifplant material ofthevariety hasbeencommercially brought on
themarket bythebreeder orhissuccessor intitle,
1.inthiscountry before thedateofthefiling oftheapplication forregistration,
2.inaforeign country earlier thansixyears before thedateoftheapplication, where thisrelates to
avine, afruittree,aforest theeoranornamental tree,oritsrootstocks,IP/N/1/SWE/P/2
Page 3
3.inaforeign country earlier thanfouryears before thedateoftheapplication, where thisconcerns
aplant other thanonereferred tounder 2.
Article 4.Aplantbreeder 'srightimplies, withtheexceptions indicated below, thatnobody may,without
theauthorization oftheowner oftheplant breeder 'sright(thevariety owner) commercially exploit
thevariety through
1.producing, orimporting intoSweden, plantmaterial ofthevariety withtheintention thatthematerial
shallbeoffered forsaleforreproduction purposes ormade available inanyother manner forsuch
purposes,
2.offering forsaleorinanyothermanner making available plantmaterial ofthevariety forreproduction
purposes,
3.incases where arepeated utilization ofplantmaterial ofthevariety isnecessary fortheproduction
ofplant material ofanother sort,using plant material ofthevariety forsuchproduction andwiththe
intention thatthematerial produced shallbeoffered forsaleforreproduction purposes orinanymanner
bemade available forsuchpurposes.
Asregards ornamental plants theplantbreeders rightincludes, inaddition, thatnobody may, without
theauthorization ofthevariety owner, useplants orparts ofplants asreproduction material for
commercial production ofcutflowers orofother material forornamental purposes.
Theplant breeder 'srightdoesnotinclude exploitation ofsuchmaterial ofaplant variety which has
brought onthemarket within theEuropean Economic Areabytheplant breeder orwithhisconsent.
Article 5.Where aplant variety hasbeenincluded inanapplication forprotection inaState party
totheConvention ofDecember 2,1961, ontheProtection ofPlant Varieties andwhere registration
issought inthiscountry within twelve months fromthedaywhen theapplication wasfiledintheforeign
State(thepriority period), theapplication filedhereshall, forthepurposes oftheapplication ofArticle
3,firstparagraph, item1.andthirdparagraph, beconsidered ashaving beenfiledatthesame time
astheapplication intheforeign State, iftheapplicant claims suchpriority. Suchpriority maybeenjoyed
alsoonthebasis ofanapplication forprotection which relates toanother foreign State, where a
correspondingpriorityfromaSwedishapplicationfortheprotectionofaplantvariety,wouldbeadmitted
intheState where theearlier application wasfiledandwhere thelegislation inforce inthatcountry
corresponds initsmainfeatures totheConvention. Where anapplication forprotection hasbeenfiled
inseveral foreign States, thetwelve month period iscalculated fromthedaywhen thefirstapplication
forprotection wasfiled.
TheGovernment, oraPublic Authority asdecided bytheGovernment, issues provisions ontheway
inwhich aclaim forpriority shallbemade andwhich documents shallbefiledinsupport oftheclaim.
Where suchprovisions arenotfollowed, priority shallnotbeenjoyed.
Application forRegistration anditsProcessing
Article 6.Registration inaccordance withthisActiseffected inthePlant Variety Register, which
iskeptbytheNational Plant Variety Board.
Inconnection withtheregistration ofaplantvariety, alsothedenomination given tothevariety shall
beregistered.
Article 7.Anapplication forregistration ofaplant variety shallbemade inwriting totheNational
Plant Variety Board.IP/N/1/SWE/P/2
Page 4
Theapplication shall contain aclear description ofthevariety withaspecial indication ofthe
characteristic feature orfeatures which distinguishes ordistinguish thevariety from other varieties
andaproposal foradenomination ofthevariety. Theplant breeder 'sname shallbeindicated inthe
application. Ifregistration issought foraperson other thantheplantbreeder, theapplicant shallprove
hisrightinthevariety.
Totheapplication document shallbeattached adeclaration, signed bytheapplicant himself, tothe
effect thatthevariety, tothebestknowledge oftheapplicant, hasnot,before thedateonwhich the
application wasfiledor,according toArticle 5,shallbeconsidered ashaving beenfiled, beenmade
known insuchawaywhich according toArticle 3,thirdparagraph, would prevent theregistration.
Theapplicant shall, inconnection withtheapplication, make available plantmaterial sufficient toallow
testing ofthevariety.
Theapplicant shallpaytheprescribed application fee.
Article 8.Thevariety denomination shallmake itpossible todistinguish theplantvariety fromother
varieties.
Avariety denomination shallnotbeaccepted, where it
1.consists solely ofnumerals, ifitisnotestablished practice todenominate thevariety concerned in
thisway,
2.obviously islikely todeceive thepublic,
3.iscontrary tolawsorregulations ortopublic order orislikely tocause offence tothepublic,
4.maybeconfused withavariety denomination which has,forthesame orasimilar plant species,
beenrecorded, orproposed toberecorded, inthePlant Variety Register oranother official variety
species list,andwhich isusedforreproduction material ofsuchaspecies,
5.maybeconfused withatrademark, name, trade name oranother denomination forwhich aperson
other thantheapplicant enjoys protection andwhich would havebeenanobstacle totheregistration
ofthevariety denomination asatrademark, formaterial ofaplant species orforgoods ofasimilar
kind,
6.maybeconfused withsuchatrademark formaterial ofaplant species orforgoods ofasimilar
kind, forwhich theapplicant enjoys protection.
TheGovernment may, onthecondition ofreciprocity, prescribe thatavariety denomination which
hasbeenrecorded, orforwhich anapplication forregistration hasbeenfiled, inaforeign Stateshall,
notwithstanding theprovisions inthefirstandsecond paragraphs, beregistered inSweden, where there
arenotextraordinary reasons against it.
Article 9.Arequest forregistration oftwoormore plant varieties maynotbeincluded inthesame
application.
Article 10.Anapplicant whodoesnothavehisdomicile inSweden shallhavearepresentative resident
herewhoisempowered torepresent himinallmatters relating theapplication.
Article 11.Where theapplicant hasnotfulfilled therequirements relating totheapplication orwhere
there areother obstacles totheapproval oftheapplication, theapplicant shallbeinvited tosubmit,
within adetermined period oftime, either astatement oracorrection.
Where theapplicant doesnot,within theprescribed period oftime, submit astatement ortakemeasures
toremedy thedeficiency indicated, theapplication shallberemoved from thefiles. Thispossibility
shallbeindicated intheinvitation.IP/N/1/SWE/P/2
Page 5
Article 12.Ifthereisanobstacle totheapproval oftheapplication evenaftertheapplicant hassubmitted
astatement andiftheapplicant hasbeengiven anopportunity tofileastatement concerning theobstacle,
theapplication shallberejected, unless there isareason forissuing anewinvitation totheapplicant.
Article 13.Ifanyone claims, before theNational Plant Variety Board, thathehasabetter titletothe
plant variety thantheapplicant andthematter isdoubtful, theBoard mayinvite himtofileanaction
inCourt within acertain time, failing which hisclaim maybedisregarded inthecourse ofthecontinues
examination oftheapplication.
Where adispute concerning abetter titletotheplant variety isunder consideration byaCourt, the
application forregistration maybedeclared suspended pending afinaldecision ofthecase.
Article 14.Ifanyone proves before theNational Plant Variety Board thathehasabetter titletothe
plant variety thantheapplicant, theBoard shalltransfer theapplication tohim,ifhesorequests. The
person towhom anapplication istransferred shallpayanewapplication fee.
Ifatransfer isrequested, theapplication maynotbealtered, removed fromthefiles,rejected oraccepted
untiltheclaim hasbeenfinally considered.
Article 15.Iftheapplication documents arecomplete andthere isnoobstacle totheregistration, the
National Plant Variety Board shallpublish anotice oftheapplication inorder togivethepublic an
opportunity tofileanopposition against theapplication.
Anyopposition shallbefiledinwriting totheNational PlantVariety Board within theperiod determined
bytheBoard.
Article 16.TheNational Plant Variety Board shallarrange foratestofmaterial oftheplant variety,
unless thisis,forspecial reasons, considered asunnecessary. Forsuchatestaspecial feeshallbe
paid.
Article 17.Where theperiod forsubmitting anopposition against theapplication hasexpired andthe
testsofmaterial from theplant variety havebeenfinalized, theexamination oftheapplication shall
continue. Asregards thisexamination, Articles 11to14shallapply.
Theapplicant shall begiven anopportunity tofileobservations concerning oppositions filedand
concerning testscarried out.
Article 18.Afinaldecision bytheNational Plant Variety Board inamatter concerning theregistration
ofaplantvariety maybeappealed bytheapplicant ifthedecision goesagainst him.Adecision under
which anapplication hasbeen accepted notwithstanding anopposition filedaccording towhat is
prescribed inthisrespect, maybeappealed bytheperson whohasfiledtheopposition. Even ifthe
opponent withdraws hisappeal, thecasemaystillbebrought toadecision where special reasons for
thisexist.
Adecision according towhich arequest fortransfer asprescribed inArticle 14hasbeenaccepted,
maybeappealed bytheapplicant. Anyperson whohasfiledarequest foratransfer mayappeal a
decision according towhich therequest hasbeenrejected.
Article 19.Decisions bytheNational Plant Variety Board according toArticle 18maybeappealed
totheNational Board ofAgriculture within twomonths from thedateofthedecision.IP/N/1/SWE/P/2
Page 6
Decisions bytheNational Board ofAgriculture maybeappealed bytheapplicant ifthedecision has
goneagainst him.Decisions bythatBoard maybeappealed totheSupreme Administrative Court within
twomonths from thedateofthedecision.
Article 20.Iftheapplication fortheregistration ofaplant variety isapproved andthedecision has
taken legal force, thevariety shall beentered intothePlant Variety Register andanotice ofthe
registration bepublished.
Decisions toremove anapplication fromthefilesortoreject anapplication which hasbeenpublished
according toArticle 15,shallbepublished, when thedecision hastaken legalforce.
TheTerm ofValidity ofaPlant Variety Registration
Article 21.Theright inaplant variety subsists from thedatewhen theapplication forregistration
wasapproved andmaybemaintained for20years fromthecommencement oftheyearafterthatwhen
thedecision ontheregistration obtained legalforce.
TheUseofaVariety Denomination
Article 22.Anyperson whocommercially offers forsaleorotherwise makes available reproduction
material ofaplant variety forwhich registration hasbeeneffected, shallusethedenomination which
hasbeenregistered forthevariety evenafterthetermofprotection forthevariety hasexpired orthe
plant variety righthasotherwise expired.
Annual Fees
Article 23.Aprescribed annual feeshall, unless otherwise prescribed onthebasis ofArticle 49,be
paidforaplant breeders rightforeachcalender yearcalculated from, andincluding, theyearafter
theonewhen theapplication forregistration wasapproved.
Theannual feeshallbepayable onthefirstdayofthecalendar yeartowhich itrelates. Anannual
feeforayearwhich commenced before theplantvariety wasregistered orwithin twomonths thereafter,
shall, however, bepayable onlytwomonths afterthedateoftheregistration. Theannual feemaynot
bepaidbefore theregistration hasbeeneffected orearlier thansixmonths before thecalendar year
towhich thefeerelates.
Theannual feemay, withtheprescribed increase, bepaidwithin sixmonths afterthedateonwhich
itispayable.
Subsequent Control
Article 24.TheNational Plant Variety Board mayrequest theowner ofaplant variety tosubmit to
theBoard reproduction material ofthevariety, aswellasdocuments andinformation necessary, for
thepurpose ofcontrolling thestability oftheregistered plant variety.
Licenses, Assignments, etc.
Article 25.Iftheowner oftheplantvariety hasgranted someone elsearighttocommercially exploit
theregistered plant variety (license), thelicensee maytransfer hisright further onlyifthere isan
agreement tothiseffect.IP/N/1/SWE/P/2
Page 7
Where thelicense forms partofabusiness activity, itmay, however, betransferred together withthe
activity orpartthereof, unless thereisanagreement tothecontrary. Insuchacasethetransferor remains
liable forthefulfilment ofthelicense agreement.
Article 26.Where aplantbreeder 'srighthasbeentransferred toanother person, oralicense hasbeen
granted ortransferred, anentry ofthisfactshall, uponrequest andagainst thepayment oftheprescribed
fee,bemade inthePlant Variety Register. Where itisshown thatalicense recorded intheRegister
hasexpired, theentry shallberemoved.
Theprovisions ofthefirstparagraph apply correspondingly tocompulsory licenses.
Astheplant variety owner shall, forthepurpose oflawsuits orother legalcases relating totheplant
variety, beconsidered theperson whohaslastbeenentered intotheRegister inthiscapacity.
Article 27.Where there isnotasupply ofreproduction material onthemarket onreasonable terms
andtotheextent necessary forthenational economy orotherwise from thepoint ofview ofpublic
interest, acompulsory license maybegranted toanyperson whowants toexploit theplant variety
inthiscountry, where there isnoacceptable reason forthelackofsupply. Thecompulsory license
alsoincludesarighttoobtainreproductionmaterialfromtheplantvarietyownertotheextentreasonable.
Article 28.Compulsory licenses maynotbegranted topersons other thanthose whocanbepresumed
tobeabletoexploit theplant variety inanacceptable manner andinconformity withtheterms of
thelicense.
Acompulsory license doesnotprevent theplantvariety owner fromexploiting theplantvariety himself
orfromgranting alicense inthisrespect. Acompulsory license maybetransferred onlytogether with
thebusiness activity inwhich itisexploited orintended tobeexploited.
Article 29.Acompulsory license maybegranted byaCourt which alsodecides theextent towhich
aplantvariety maybeexploited anddecides about theremuneration andotherconditions forthelicense.
TheTermination ofthePlant Breeder 'sRight, Etc.
Article 30.Where theannual feeaccording toArticle 23,isnotpaid, theplant variety rightshallbe
voidasfrom thecommencement oftheyearforwhich thefeehasnotbeenpaid.
Article 31.Where aplant variety hasbeenregistered contrary totheprovisions ofArticles 1or2or
toArticle 3,firstparagraph, item1,orthirdparagraph, andtheground forrefusing theregistration
stillexists, theCourt shall, upon thefiling ofanaction inthisrespect, invalidate theregistration. A
registration may, however, notbeinvalidated ontheground thattheperson whohasobtained the
registration isentitled onlytoapartoftheplant breeder 'sright.
Anaction based onthefactthataregistration hasbeeneffected foraperson other thantheonewho
isentitled toitunder Article 2maybebrought onlybytheperson whoclaims tobetheholder ofthe
rightintheplantvariety. Theaction shallbebrought within oneyearfromthedateonwhich theplaintiff
became aware oftheregistration andoftheother circumstances onwhich theaction isbased. Ifthe
plant variety owner wasingood faithwhen theplant variety wasregistered orwhen therightinthe
plant variety wastransferred tohim,theaction maynotbebrought laterthanthree years from the
registration.
Inother cases anaction maybebrought byanyone whosuffers aninjury from theregistration, and,
where thisiscalled forinthepublic interest, byaPublic Authority asdecided bytheGovernment.IP/N/1/SWE/P/2
Page 8
Article 32.Ifaplant variety hasbeenregistered foraperson other thantheoneentitled toitunder
Article 2,theCourt shall, following anaction inthisrespect bytheperson entitled toit,transfer the
registration tohim.
Anyaction inthisrespect shallbebrought within theperiod prescribed inArticle 31,second paragraph.
Article 33.Where theplantvariety owner hasnotcomplied witharequest bytheNational PlantVariety
Board andwhere thisnon-compliance isanobstacle toarealiable subsequent control oftheplantvariety,
theBoard shallremove thevariety from theRegister.
Where itisfound thataregistered plant variety hasnotkeptthesignificant feature orfeatures which,
atthetimeoftheregistration, distinguished thevariety fromother varieties, theNational Plant Variety
Board shallremove thevariety from theRegister.
Article 34.Iftheplant variety owner renounces, inwriting totheNational Plant Variety Board, his
rightintheplant variety, theBoard shallremove theplant variety from theRegister.
Iftherightinaplantvariety issequestered fordebt, seized orkeptforsecuring thepayment ofadebt,
orifadispute ispending concerning thetransfer ofaregistration, theplant variety maynot,atthe
request oftheplant variety owner, beremoved fromtheRegister aslongasthesequestering, seizure
orthekeeping forthepayment ofadebtisstillvalid orthedispute hasnotbeenfinally decided.
Article 35.Where avariety denomination hasbeenregistered contrary tothisActandtheobstacle
fortheregistration stillexists, theNational Plant Variety Board shallregister anewdenomination for
theplant variety. Thesame applies where aregistered variety denomination obviously hasbecome
liable ofdeceiving thepublic orcontrary topublic order orliable tocause offence.
Incases referred tointhefirstparagraph, thevariety owner shallbegiven thepossibility topropose
anewdenomination.
Aregistered variety denomination forwhich thetermofprotection hasexpired ortheplant variety
righthasotherwise lapsed, may,attherequest ofthevariety owner orwhere thereisotherwise areason
inthisrespect, following aconsideration bytheNational Plant Variety Board, beremoved fromthe
Plant Variety Register, where thedenomination isnolonger used.
Sanctions andDamages, Etc.
Article 36.Where aperson commits aninfringement ofaplant breeder 'srightandtheinfringement
iscommitted wilfully orwithgross negligence, heshallbepunished byfinesorimprisonment fornot
more thantwoyears. Aperson whohasviolated aprohibition under thepenalty ofafineunder Article
36a.amaynotbeadjudicated tocriminal liability fortheinfringement covered bytheprohibition.
Attempts tocommit aninfringement under thefirstparagraph aswellasthepreparation ofsuchacts
shallbepunishable according totheprovisions ofChapter 23oftheCriminal Code.
Apublic prosecutor isentitled tobring anaction foraviolation asmentioned inthefirstandsecond
paragraphs onlyifthere isacomplaint from theinjured party andsuchanaction iscalled forinthe
public interest.
Article 36a.Attherequest oftheowner oftheplantbreeder 'srightorofaperson who, onthebasis
ofalicense, hastheright toexploit aplant variety, theCourt mayissue aninjunction prohibiting,
under penalty ofafine,aperson whocommits anactconstituting aninfringement oftheplantvariety
righttocontinue thatact.IP/N/1/SWE/P/2
Page 9
Iftheplaintiff shows aprobable casethatanactconstituting aninfringement takes place anditcan
reasonably beassumed thatthedefendant, through thecontinuation oftheact,diminishes thevalue
oftheexclusive rightintheplantvariety, theCourt mayissueaninjunction forthetimeuntilthecase
hasbeenfinally adjudicated orotherwise isdecided. Noinjunction maybeissued before thedefendant
hasbeengiven anopportunity torespond, unless adelay would entail ariskforinjury.
Aninjunction asmentioned inthesecond paragraph maybeissued onlyiftheplaintiff deposits asecurity
withtheCourt fortheinjury which maybecaused tothedefendant. Iftheplaintiff isnotcapable of
depositing suchasecurity, theCourt mayliberate himfrom making adeposit. Asregards thetype
ofsecurity, theprovisions ofChapter 2,Article 25,oftheEnforcement Code shallapply. Thesecurity
shallbeexamined bytheCourt unless thedefendant hasaccepted it.
When thecaseisadjudicated, theCourt shalldecide whether aprohibition under thesecond paragraph
shallcontinue toapply.
Theprovisions onappeal against decisions prescribed inChapter 15oftheCode onJudicial Procedure
shallapply asregards appeals against decisions under thesecond andthirdparagraphs andasregards
proceedings inhigher Courts.
Arequest fortheimposition ofafinemaybemade bytheperson whohasrequested theinjunction.
Inconnection withsuchanimposition, arequest maybemade foranewinjunction totheissued under
penalty ofafine.
Asregards thecontents ofwireless broadcasts andbroadcasts bywire, theprovisions oftheRadio
Act(1966:755) shallapply.
Article 37.Anyone whowilfully orwithnegligence commits aninfringement ofaplantbreeder 'sright
shallpayanequitable compensation fortheexploitation oftheplantvariety andcompensation forthe
further injury caused bytheinfringement. Inthedetermination oftheamount ofthecompensation
alsotheinterest oftheowner ofthevariety thataninfringement notbecommitted andtoother
circumstances ofother thanpurely economic importance shallbetaken intoaccount.
Anyone whowithout intention ornegligence commits aninfringement ofaplant breeder 'srightshall
payacompensation fortheexploitation ofthevariety, ifandtotheextent thatthisisconsidered
reasonable.
Theright tocompensation foraninfringement inaplant breeder 'sright islostwhere theaction is
notbrought within fiveyears from thedateoftheinjury.
Article 38.Attherequest ofaperson whohassuffered aninfringement ofaplant breeder 'sright,
theCourt may, totheextent considered reasonable inorder toprevent thecontinuation ofthe
infringement, decide thattheplant material inrespect ofwhich aninfringement occurs,
oranobject theuseofwhich would constitute aninfringement, shall besurrendered, against
compensation, totheinjured party orbealtered inaspecified manner, orbedestroyed. Thisdoesnot
apply inrelation toaperson whohasingood faithacquired theproperty oraspecific rightinitand
whohasnothimself committed aninfringement oftheplant variety right.
Property asreferred tointhefirstparagraph maybeseized, where itcanreasonably beassumed that
aviolation under Article 36hasbeencommitted. Asregards suchseizure, theprovisions onseizure
incriminal cases ingeneral shallapply.IP/N/1/SWE/P/2
Page 10
Notwithstanding theprovisions ofthefirstparagraph theCourt may, decide, upon request, thatthe
owner ofaproperty referred tointhefirstparagraph mayhavetherighttoexploit theproperty against
anequitable compensation andsubject toother reasonable conditions.
Theprovisions ofthefirsttothirdparagraphs apply alsoinrelation toactsofattempts orofplanning
referred toinArticle 36,second paragraph.
Article 39.Where anyone commercially exploits aplant variety covered byanapplication for
registration, theprovisions oninfringement ofaplant breeder 'srightshallapply accordingly tothe
extent thattheapplication results inaregistration. Acriminal penalty may,however, notbeadjudicated,
andacompensation forinjury onthebasis ofanexploitation which hastaken place before anotice
oftheregistrationwaspublishedaccordingtoArticle15,maybedecidedonlyaccordingtotheprovisions
inArticle 37,second paragraph.
TheprovisionofArticle37,thirdparagraph,doesnotapplywheretheactionforcompensationisbrought
nolaterthanoneyearfrom theregistration oftheplant variety right.
Article 40.Where theregistration ofaplantvariety hasbeeninvalidated through ajudgement having
legalforce, nocriminal penalty, compensation orsecurity measure asprovided forinArticles 36to
39maybeadjudicated.
Where anaction isbrought foraninfringement ofaplantbreeder 'srightandtheperson against whom
theaction isbrought claims thattheregistration beinvalidated, theCourt shall, uponhisrequest, order
theproceedings tobesuspended untilthequestion oftheinvalidation oftheregistration hasbeenfinally
decided. Where theaction inthisrespect hasnotbeenbrought, theCourt shall, inconnection with
theorder forsuspension, prescribe acertain timeforhimwithin which suchanaction shallbebrought.
Article 41.Afineshallbeimposed onanyperson whowilfully orwithnegligence violates theprovisions
ofArticle 22.Heshall alsopayacompensation foranyinjury caused. Incasethenegligence is
insignificant nocriminal liability maybeadjudicated. Insuchacase,thecompensation maybeadjusted.
Provisions onProceedings
Article 42.Aplant variety owner oraperson whohas,onthebasis ofalicense, therighttoexploit
theplantvariety, maybring anaction toresolve thequestion onwhether ornotheenjoys, onthebasis
oftheregistration, protection inrelation toanother person, where anuncertainty exists inthisrespect
andtheuncertainty causes injury totheplaintiff.
Under thesame conditions, aperson whoisengaged in,orintends toengage in,abusiness activity
maybring anaction against theplantvariety owner toresolve thequestion whether anobstacle against
theactivity would existonthebasis ofacertain plant variety registration.
Theprovisions ofArticle 40,second paragraph, apply correspondingly where itisclaimed, inacase
referred tointhefirstparagraph, thattheregistration beinvalidated.
Article 43.Anyone whowishes tobring anaction concerning theinvalidation ofaregistration ofa
plantvariety, concerning thetransfer ofaregistration orconcerning thegranting ofacompulsory license
shallnotify thisfacttotheNational Plant Variety Board andinform anyperson who, according to
thePlant Variety Register, holds alicense fortheexploitation ofthatvariety. Alicensee whowishes
tobring anaction forinfringement ofaplantbreeders rightorfortheresolution ofaquestion referred
toinArticle 42,firstparagraph, shallinform theowner oftheplant variety about thisfact.IP/N/1/SWE/P/2
Page 11
Theobligation tofurnish information referred tointhefirstparagraph shallbeconsidered tohavebeen
metwhen anotice hasbeensentinregistered, pre-paid mailtotheaddress recorded inthePlant Variety
Register.
Where itisnotshown, atthetimewhen theaction isbrought, thatanotification hasbeenmade or
information furnished under theprovisions inthefirstparagraph, theplaintiff shallbegiven sufficient
timeforthispurpose. Ifhefailsinthisrespect, hisaction shallnotbetaken upforconsideration.
Article 44.Where there isnot,under theCode ofJudicial Procedure, aCourt competent toconsider
anaction concerning abetter titletoaplant variety, concerning theinvalidation ofaregistration of
avariety, concerning thetransfer ofsucharegistration, concerning thegranting ofacompulsory license
orconcerning theresolution ofaquestion referred toinArticle 42,theaction shallbebrought atthe
District Court inStockholm.
Article 45.Copies ofjudgements orfinaldecisions incases referred toinArticles 13,29,31,32,
36to39or42shallbetransmitted totheNational Plant Variety Board.
Special Provisions
Article 46.Anowner ofaplant variety whodoesnothavehisdomicile inSweden shall havean
representative resident herewhoisempowered toreceive notice ofwrits, summons andotherdocuments
relatingtocourtcasesandothermattersconcerningtheplantbreedersright,withtheexception,however,
asregards writs incriminal cases andasregards invitations foraparty toappear personally inthe
Court. Therepresentative shallbenotified tothePlant Variety Register andrecorded there.
Where aplantvariety owner hasnotnotified arepresentative according tothefirstparagraph, asummon
mayinstead beserved through thetransmission ofthedocument inapre-paid letter totheaddress
recorded inthePlant Variety Register. Where acomplete address isnotrecorded intheRegister, the
summon may, instead, beeffected through themaking available ofthedocument attheNational Plant
Variety Board andthrough theentry ofanotice about thisfactandabout theessential contents ofthe
document inapublication asdecided bytheGovernment. Asummon shallbeconsidered aseffected
when theactions nowmentioned havebeencarried out.
Article 47.TheGovernment may, oncondition ofreciprocity, prescribe thattheprovisions ofArticle
10orArticle 46shallnotapply inrelation tosuchanapplicant oraplantvariety owner whoisdomiciled
inaspecific foreign Stateorwhohasarepresentative resident therewhohasbeennotified totheNational
Plant Variety Board andwhoisempowered asprescribed inthose Articles.
Article 48.Decisions bytheNational Plant Variety Board other thanthose referred toinArticle 21
maybeappealed through thelodging ofanappeal totheNational Board ofAgriculture within two
months from thedateofthedecision.
Afinaldecision bytheNational Board ofAgriculture maybeappealed totheSupreme Administrative
Court (Regeringsrätten) within twomonths from thedateofthedecision.
Article 49.Thefeesprescribed inthisActaredecided bytheGovernment or,asregards feesfortests
referred toinArticle 16,byaPublic Authority asdecided bytheGovernment. Inthedetermination
oftheannual fees,theGovernment mayprescribe thatoneormore ofthefirstyears shallbefreefrom
fees.IP/N/1/SWE/P/2
Page 12
Article 50.TheGovernment mayprescribe thatthetesting ofaplant variety forwhich registration
issought maybecarried outinanother Stateorataninternational institution andthattheperson applying
fortheregistration ofavariety shallbeobliged toprovide information about whattheAuthority in
thatState hasnotified himconcerning theexamination oftheconditions forregistration.
(Annex, notincluded inthetranslation)
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ThisActenters intoforce onJuly1,1971.