Review of TRIPS Implementing Legislation - Search

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Article 63.2 of the TRIPS Agreement requires Members to notify the laws and regulations made effective by that Member pertaining to the subject matter of the Agreement to the Council for TRIPS in order to assist the Council in its review of the operation of the Agreement.

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Page 4 of 677   |   Number of documents : 13533

Document symbol Notifying Member Member raising question Question Answer Date of document distribution  
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji European Union 56. Please indicate whether or not procedures are available to suspend the exporting of counterfeit goods.
At present, there are no legal provisions to suspend the export of counterfeit goods.
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji European Union 57. Please quote what provisions of your legislation authorize the competent authorities to order the destruction or disposal of infringing goods.
Section 125 of the Copyright Act allows the court to make orders for the disposal of infringing goods. Section 125 stipulates that: "125.-(1) An application may be made to the court for an order that an infringing copy or other object delivered up pursuant to an order under section 111 or 123 or seized pursuant to section 112 or 122 be- (a) forfeited to the copyright owner; or (b) destroyed or otherwise dealt with as the court thinks fit. (2) In considering what order (if any) should be made under subsection (1), the court must have regard to- (a)whether other remedies available in proceedings for infringement of copyright would be adequate to compensate the copyright owner and to protect the interests of the copyright owner; and (b) the need to ensure that no infringing copy is disposed of in a manner that would adversely affect the copyright owner. (3) Before making an order under subsection (1), a court must issue directions as to the service of notice on persons who have an interest in the copy or other object. (4) A person who has an interest in a copy or other object which is the subject of an application under subsection (1) is entitled- (a) to appear in proceedings for an order under this section, whether or not the person is served with notice; and (b) to appeal against any order made, whether or not the person appears in the proceedings. (5) An order made under subsection (1) does not take effect until the end of the period within which notice of an appeal may be given or, if before the end of that period notice of appeal is duly given, until the final determination or abandonment of the proceedings on the appeal. (6) If there is more than one person interested in a copy or other object, a court may direct that the object be sold, or otherwise dealt with, and the proceeds divided, and make any other order it thinks just. (7) If a court decides that no order should be made under this section, the person in whose possession, custody, or control the copy or other object was before being delivered up is entitled to its return."
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji European Union 58. Please indicate whether or not your legislation provides for a de minimis imports exception.
At present, the legislation does not provide for a de minimis imports exception.
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji European Union 59. Please explain how your legislation implements Article 61 of the TRIPS Agreement.
Division 5 of the Copyright Act which governs Offences addresses criminal liability for making or dealing with infringing objects. Sections 121 (1) – (3) set out the criminal acts and states: 121.-(1) A person who, other than pursuant to a copyright licence- (a) makes for sale or hire; (b) imports into the Fiji Islands otherwise than for that person's private and domestic use; (c) possesses in the course of a business with a view to committing any act infringing the copyright; (d) in the course of a business- (i) offers or exposes for sale or hire; (ii) exhibits in public; or (iii) distributes; (e) in the course of a business or otherwise, sells or lets for hire; or (f) distributes otherwise than in the course of a business to such an extent as to affect prejudicially the copyright owner, an object that is, and that the person knows or our ought reasonably to know is, an infringing copy of a copyright work, commits an offence. (2) A person who- (a) makes an object specifically designed or adapted for making copies of a particular copyright work; or (b) has such an object in the person's possession, when the person knows or ought reasonably to know that the object is to be used to make infringing copies for sale or hire or for use in the course of a business, commits an offence. (3) Subject to subsection (4), a person who- (a) causes a literary, dramatic, or musical work to be performed, if the performance infringes copyright in the work; or (b) causes a sound recording or film to be played in public or shown in public, if the playing or showing infringes copyright in the sound recording or film, and who knows or ought reasonably to know that copyright in the work or in the sound recording or visual image, as the case may be, would be infringed by the performance, playing or showing respectively, commits an offence. (4) Nothing in subsection (3) applies in respect of infringement of copyright by the reception of a broadcast or cable programme. Penalties for the above offences are prescribed under section 121(5) as follows: (5) A person who commits an offence under this section is liable on conviction- (a) in the case of an offence against subsection (1), to a fine of $5,000 for every infringing copy to which the offence relates, but not exceeding $50,000 in respect of the same transaction, and to imprisonment for 12 months; (b) in the case of an offence against subsection (2) or (3) to a fine of $50,000 and to imprisonment for 12 months, (c) in the case of a second or subsequent offence against subsection (2) or (3), to a fine of $100,000 and to imprisonment for 2 years.
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji Japan 1. Please explain exceptions or exemptions of the National Treatment and Most-Favoured-Nation Treatment under the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Law, if any, as permitted in Articles 3 and 4 of the TRIPS Agreement.
At present there are no exceptions or exemptions in place of the National Treatment and the Most Favored Nation Treatment under Fiji's Copyright and Neighbouring Right Law, although the power to do so is vested in the responsible Minister by way of regulations which he has not exercised as yet. Performers' Rights (Part X) Division 8 which governs the Extraterritorial Application of Part X of the Copyright Act 1999 (which deals with Performer's Rights), contains the relevant regulation making power. "201-(1) The Minister may by regulations apply in relation to any country or place outside the Fiji Islands, any provision of this Part specified in the regulations. (2) Regulations made under this section may - (a) apply any provision of this Part subject to specified exceptions and modifications; and (b) direct that any provision of this Part applies either generally or in relation to a specified class of performances (3) The Minister must not make regulations under this section in relation to a country or place unless satisfied (a) in the case of a country that it is a Convention country, or (b) in either case - that reciprocal provision has been or will be made under the law of the country or place in respect of the class of performances to which the regulations relate." Copyright (Part XIII - Division 3) No exemptions or exceptions to the national treatment or most favoured nation treatment have been formulated as yet since the passage of the Copyright Act 1999, although the powers are vested on the Minister under it to do so by way of regulations, pursuant to section 227 (3) which stipulates: "(3) Regulations made under this section may – (a) apply any provision of this Act subject to specified exceptions and modifications; and (b) direct that any provision of this Act applies either generally or in relation to a specified class of works, or other class of cases. Section 227(4) of the Act stipulates: (4) The Minister must not make any regulations under this section in relation to a country or place unless satisfied - (a) in the case of a country that it is a Convention country; or (b) in either case that provision has been or will be made under the law of the country or place, in respect of the class of works to which the regulation relates, giving adequate protection to copyright owners under this Act."
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji Switzerland 1. Please explain in detail how your legislation provides protection for geographical indications.
Fiji's current legislative framework does not prescribe protections for geographical indications.
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji Switzerland 2. Does your legislation grant patent protection to all categories of products or are there any exceptions? If so, please explain in detail what kind of exceptions exist and how they comply with Article 27 of the TRIPS Agreement.
At present, there are no exceptions, although pursuant to section 23 of the Patents Act allows the Attorney-General to make regulations for regulating procedure under this Act.
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji Switzerland 3. Does your legislation, in accordance with Article 27.1 in combination with Article 31 of the TRIPS Agreement, consider importation as "working" a patent (and therefore preclude compulsory licensing, if a product is being imported)?
At present, the legislation does not address importation of patents.
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji Switzerland 4. Does your legislation make the granting of a compulsory license subject to all the conditions enumerated in Article 31 of the TRIPS Agreement? Please cite the relevant provisions of law.
At present, the legislation does not address granting of a compulsory licence.
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji Switzerland 5. Does your legislation provide for the principle of the reversal of burden of proof in a process patent litigation? Please cite the relevant provisions of law.
At present the legislation does not make express provisions for the reversal of burden of proof.
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji Switzerland 6. Please explain in detail if your legislation ensures that undisclosed test or other data submitted by an applicant to the responsible State agency in the procedure for market authorisation of a pharmaceutical or of an agricultural chemical product is protected against disclosure and against unfair commercial use by a competitor, for example by prohibiting a second applicant from relying on, or from referring to the original data of the first applicant, when applying subsequently for market authorisation for his own product. Does your legislation provide for exceptions to this? If yes, under what conditions would such exceptions apply? Does your legislation set a specific term of protection for undisclosed test or other data of the first applicant?
At present, there is no provision in the legislation for protection of undisclosed information.
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji Switzerland 7. Please indicate remedies provided by your legislation, which constitute effective deterrents to infringements of intellectual property rights.
Please see Fiji's responses to the Checklist of Issues on Enforcement (document IP/N/6/FJI/1).
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji Switzerland Follow-up question 7 With regard to the issue of remedies in case of infringements of intellectual property rights, you refer to the responses you gave to the checklist of issues on enforcement (document IP/N/6/FJI/1). These answers, however, seem to deal only with copyright. Please give complementary information on remedies provided by your legislation in the other fields of intellectual property, which constitute effective deterrents to infringements of these rights.
Pursuant to sections 44 and 60 of the Trademarks Act, a person may bring a claim in the Fijian Court for alleged infringement of a trademark. Under section 28 of the Patents Act, a person may bring a claim in the Fijian Court for being prejudicially affected by the issue of a certificate of registration.
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji Switzerland 8. Please describe any new initiatives that are planned to improve enforcement of intellectual property rights in your country, particularly initiatives related to criminal enforcement.
Please see Fiji's responses to the Checklist of Issues on Enforcement (document IP/N/6/FJI/1).
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji Switzerland Follow-up question 8 With regard to the issue of new initiatives that are planned to improve enforcement of intellectual property rights in your country, you refer to the responses you gave to the Checklist of Issues on Enforcement (document IP/N/6/FJI/1). These answers, however, seem to deal only with copyright. Please give complementary information on new initiatives that are planned in your country to improve enforcement of rights in the other fields of intellectual property, and particularly initiatives relating to criminal enforcement.
At present, there have been no new initiatives to improve enforcement of patents and trademarks, however we are currently in the process of reviewing our laws on patents and trademarks.
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji United States of America 1. Please describe, in relation to each form of intellectual property covered by the TRIPS Agreement, including plant variety protection, the manner in which nation treatment and most favoured nation treatment are provided to nationals of other WTO Members and cite to the relevant provisions of law.
Pursuant to s227(2), regulations may be made by the Minister (in this instance the Attorney-General), applying a specified provision of the Act in relation to: (a) persons who are citizens or subjects of a country or who ore domiciled or resident in a place - as it applies in relation to persons who are Fiji Island citizens or are domiciled or resident in the Fiji Islands. (b) in relation to bodies incorporated under the law of a country or place as it applies in relation to bodies incorporated under the law of the Fiji Islands or in the case of an audio-visual work, as it applies to a body which has its headquarters in a prescribed foreign country. (prescribed by regulations under this Act - s2) (c) in relation to works first published in a country or place - as it applies in relation to works first published in the Fiji Islands. (d) in relation to broadcasts made from, or cable programmes sent from, a country or place - as it applies in relation to broadcasts made from or cable programmes sent from, the Fiji Islands." Generally these regulations would apply to Convention countries and maybe subject to specified exceptions and modifications or maybe applied generally or to a specified class of works. These Regulations are not in place as yet.
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji United States of America 2. Please explain how the copyright law of Fiji protects computer programs as literary works and complications of data as required by Article 10 of the TRIPS Agreement and cite to the relevant provisions of law.
Computer programs are protected as any other work, with the issue of the author covered by section 5(2) (a) of the Act which stipulates: "(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), the person who creates a work is - (a) in the case of literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work that is computer-generated-the person by whom the arrangements necessary for the creation of the work are undertaken."
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji United States of America 3. Article 11 of the TRIPS Agreement requires that rental rights for computer programs and cinematographic works be available. Please cite to the corresponding provision of the copyright law of Fiji.
Section 229(o) of the Act stipulates that: "229. The Minister may make regulations for all or any of the following purposes – (o) authorising, subject to specified conditions, the rental to the public of copies of - (i) any specified class or classes of computer program; (ii) any specified class or classes of sound recording, or (iii) any audio visual work or specified class or classes of audio visual work, without the consent of the owner of the copyright in the work." Pursuant to s73 of the Act, copyright in a work (being a computer program, sound recording, or audio visual work) is not infringed by the rental of that work to any person by an educational establishment or a prescribed library if they do not rent out the work for profit or if the work has previously been put into circulation with the licence of the copyright owner
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji United States of America 4. Please state the length and terms of protection the copyright law of Fiji provides for a work other than a photographic work or a work of applied art and cite to the relevant provision of law.
Section 22 Copyright in a literary, dramatic, musical or artistic work expires at the end of 50 years after the end of the calendar year in which the author dies. Section 22(3) If the work is computer generated copyright expires at the end of 50 years after the end of the calendar year of a authorized publication of the work or if there is no authorized publication within 50 years after the making of the work, at the end of 50 years after the end of the calendar year of its making. Section 22(4) If the work is of unknown authorship copyright expires at the end of 50 years after the end of the calendar year of authorized publication of the work. Section 23(3) Copyright in a sound recording or audio visual works expires at the end of the period of 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the work is made or is first made available to the public, or is first published, whichever is the latest. Section 24 Copyright in a broadcast or a cable programme expires at the end of the period of 50 years from the end of the calendar year in which the broadcast is made or the cable programme is communicated to the public. Section 25 Copyright in a typographical arrangement of a published edition expires at the end of the period of 25 years from the end of the calendar year in which the edition is first published.
20/05/2016
IP/Q3/FJI/1, IP/Q/FJI/1, IP/Q2/FJI/1, IP/Q4/FJI/1 Fiji United States of America 5. Please describe the protection the copyright law of Fiji provides for performers, and the term of the protection.
Part X of the Copyright Act 1999 (Fiji), covers Performers' Rights, sections 166, 167 168 and 169 of which cover infringements by a person or persons, who without a performer's consent for a commercial purpose makes a recording of the whole or substantial part of a performance, by means of an illicit recording or copies of a recording knowing or having reason to believe that it was made without the performer's consent. A performer's rights are infringed by a person who without the performer's consent imports into Fiji other than for his private and domestic use or in the course of business possesses, sells or lets for hire c recording that the person knows or ought to have known is on illicit recording.
20/05/2016

Page 4 of 677   |   Number of documents : 13533

 
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