TRIPs and its Impact on Canadian Intellectual Property Legislation



TRIPsANDITSIMPACTONCANADIANINTELLECTUALPROPERTYLEGISLATION

By
Louis-PierreGravelle
*
LEGERROBICRICHARD,Lawyers,
ROBIC,Patent&TrademarkAgents
CentreCDPCapital
1001Square-Victoria-BlocE–8
thFloor
Montreal,Quebec,CanadaH2Z2B7
Tel.(514)9876242-Fax(514)8457874
www.robic.ca-info@robic.com

BriefHistoryofTRIPs
GATTisageneralinternationalframeworkforestablishingtariffsinorderto
fostertradebetweencountriesandreducetheeffectofnationallegislation
whichmayconstituteanobstacletofreeandfairtrade.Italsoprovidesfor
disputemechanismsandcontainsrules,forexample,withrespectto
dumping.OneoftheunderlyingprinciplesofGATTisthe“mostfavoured
nation”principle,which,brieflystated,providesthattradingadvantages
accordedtoonenationmustbeextendedtoallothermembernations.The
purposeofthisistoeliminatetradebarriersandto“leveltoplayingfield”,so
thatcountriesmaytradewitheachotherknowingthattherewillnotbeany
discrepanciesintherulesfromonecountrytotheother.
GATTitselfdoesnotcontainanyprovisionswithrespecttointellectual
property.However,inthe1978RoundoftalksaimedatimprovingGATTthere
wasanincreasingawarenessofthephenomenonofcounterfeitgoods,and
aproposalwasmadetoGATTtoallowtheseizure,attheborder,of
counterfeitproducts.Thisproposaldidnotsucceed,butbythetimethe
UruguayRoundopenedin1985,thisideahadexpandedintoaseriesof
measuresdealingnotonlywithcounterfeiting,butwiththeprotectionof
intellectualpropertyasawhole.



















































©LEGERROBICRICHARD,1996.
*Engineer,lawyerandpatentagent,Louis-PierreGravelleisaseniorpartnerinthelawfirm
LEGERROBICRICHARD,g.pandinthepatentandtrademarkagencyfirmROBIC,g.p.The
authorwishestothankDianeLeduc-CampbellaswellashispartnerFrançoisPainchaudof
thesamefirmsfortheirinput.Thisdocumentwaspreparedforthepurposeofalecturegiven
on1996.09.21inthecontextofaseminarorganizedbytheInternationalLawStudent’s
AssociationoftheUniversityofOttawaonthetheme”Approaching2000:EmergingIssuesin
InternationalLaw”.Publication204.



Thus,inDecember1993,theUruguayRoundofnegotiationsontheGeneral
AgreementonTariffsandTrade(GATT)reachedanagreementcalled
AgreementEstablishingtheWorldTradeOrganisation(WTO).Thisagreement
includesabodyofprovisionsonintellectualpropertycalledAgreementon
Trade-RelatedAspectsofIntellectualPropertyRights,IncludingTradein
CounterfeitGoods(TRIPs).AsofSeptember1996,123countrieswere
membersoftheWTO,andanother31hadrequestedtojoin[TheWTO
publishesanupdatedlistofMembercountriesattheirWWWsite:
http://www.unicc.org/wto/memtab2_wpf.html].
TRIPsitselfbuildsontheexistingmultilateraltreatiesfortheprotectionof
intellectualproperty.AmongthemaretheParisConventionforthe
ProtectionofIndustrialProperty(1883),theBerneConventionforthe
ProtectionofLiteraryandArtisticWorks(1886),andtheTreatyonIntellectual
PropertyinRespectofIntegratedCircuits(Washington,1989).Thesetreaties
werethe“toiledefond”fortheinternationalprotectionofintellectual
propertyrightspriortothecomingintoforceoftheTRIPsagreement.For
patents,notealsotheexistenceofthePatentCooperationTreaty(PCT),
whichprovidesasystemforaninternationalpatentapplication,allowingthe
possibilityofdesignatingapproximately80countries.
OvertwentyCanadianfederalstatuteswillbeamendedasaresultofthe
WorldTradeOrganizationAgreementImplementationAct(S.C.1994,c.47)
sanctionedlastDecember12,1994.Theseincludechangestointellectual
propertylaws,whichcameintoeffectonJanuary1,1996.
GENERALPRINCIPLESOFTRIPs
TheAgreementisdividedintosevenparts:

PartIGeneralProvisionsandBasicPrinciples
PartIIStandardsConcerningtheAvailability,ScopeandUseof
IntellectualPropertyRights
PartIIIEnforcementofIntellectualPropertyRights
PartIVAcquisitionandMaintenanceofIntellectualPropertyRights
andRelatedInter-PartesProcedures
PartVDisputePreventionandSettlement
PartVITransitionalArrangements
PartVIIInstitutionalArrangements;FinalProvisions
TheAgreementsetsoutminimumstandardsthatmustbeimplementedinthe
Membercountries,butdoesnotprohibitMembersfromestablishinghigher
standards.



TheAgreementrecognizesthatvaryingstandardsinprotectionand
enforcementofintellectualpropertyrightsandthelackofmultilateral
mechanismsdealingwithinternationaltradeincounterfeitgoodsarean
irritantandabarriertolegitimatetradebetweenMembercountries.
Inordertoaddresstheseissues,theAgreementrecognizestheneedforrules
anddisciplinesrecognizingtheapplicabilityofthebasicprinciplesofGATT
1994andthoseofrelevantinternationalintellectualpropertyagreements;the
provisionofadequatestandardsandprinciplesconcerningtheavailability,
scopeanduseoftrade-relatedintellectualpropertyrights;theprovisionof
effectiveandappropriatemeansfortheenforcementoftrade-related
intellectualpropertyrights;andtheprovisionofeffectiveandexpeditious
proceduresforthemultilateralpreventionandsettlementofdisputes
betweengovernments.TheAgreementalsoincludestransitionalprovisions.
Article7oftheAgreementsumsuptheobjectives:

“Theprotectionandenforcementofintellectualpropertyrights
shouldcontributetothepromotionoftechnologicalinnovation
andtothetransferanddisseminationoftechnology,tothe
mutualadvantageofproducersandusersoftechnological
knowledgeandinamannerconducivetosocialandeconomic
welfare,andtoabalanceofrightsandobligations.”
AnimportantaspectoftheAgreementisthenationaltreatmentclause,
wherebynationalsofanothercountrymustbegiventreatmentnoless
favourablethanthataccordedtoamember’sownnationalswithrespectto
theprotectionofintellectualproperty.TheAgreementalsocontainsamost-
favourednationclauseunderwhichanyadvantageamembergivestothe
nationalsofonecountrymustbeextendedtothenationalsofallother
members,evenifsuchtreatmentismorefavourablethanthenationalsofthe
homecountryreceive.
SUBSTANTIVEPROVISIONS
Howaretheseobjectivesachieved?PartII“StandardsConcerningthe
Availability,ScopeandUseofIntellectualPropertyRights”oftheAgreementis
whatIwouldconsiderthe“meat”oftheAgreement.Thisiswherethe
minimumrequirementsaresetoutforvariousaspectsofintellectualproperty,
ensuringthatadequatestandardsofintellectualpropertyprotectionexistin
allmembercountries.



Copyright
Section1ofPartIIofTRIPsdealswithcopyrightandreestablishesthecardinal
ruleofcopyright,thatisthatitextendstotheexpressionofathing,nottoits
idea,procedure,methodofoperationormathematicalconcept.
InCanada,copyrightprotectionisextendedtocitizensorordinaryresidents
ofcountriesmemberoftheWorldTradeOrganization(WTO),inadditionto
thoseoftheBerneConvention(1886,oranyofitsrevisions)andtheUniversal
CopyrightConvention(1952or1971versions)[seesection2andparagraph
5(1)oftheCopyrightAct,R.S.C.1985,ch.C-42].Thesewillbeknownastreaty
countries.WhereacountryjoinstheBerneConventionortheWTOafterthe
dateofmakingorofpublicationofawork,suchmembershipisdeemed
retroactivetothatdateofmakingorpublication,providedthatcopyright
protectionoftheworkhasnotalreadyexpiredattheactualdateofjoining
BerneorWTO[ss.5(1.01),ss.5(1.02)oftheCopyrightAct].
Termofprotectionforacopyrightedwork,otherthanaphotographicworkor
aworkofappliedart,ifitiscalculatedonabasisotherthanthelifeofthe
naturalperson,willbenolessthanfiftyyearsfromtheendofthecalendar
yearoftheauthorizedpublicationorwithinfiftyyearsfromtheendofthe
calendaryearofmakingiftherehasbeennoauthorizedpublicationwithin
fiftyyearsofmaking[Article12oftheAgreement].
AnimportantrequirementofTRIPsisthatcopyrightasaliteraryworkextends
tocomputerprograms,whetherinsourceorobjectcode[Article10ofthe
Agreement].TheAgreementalsoaddressestheissueofprotectionof
databases:adatabaseshallbeprotectedassuch;copyrightwillnotextend
tothedataassuch,butrathertothewholearrangement,andwithout
prejudicetoanycopyrightsubsistinginthedataormaterialitself[Article10of
theAgreement].
AnotherimportantadditiontoexistingCanadianrulesistheprovisionon
rentalrights[Article11oftheAgreement].Authorsofcomputerprogrammes
andproducersofcinematographicworksnowhavetherighttoauthorizeor
prohibitthecommercialrentaloforiginalsorcopiesoftheircopyrighted
works.Inrespectoffilms,memberscanbeexceptedfromthisobligation
unlesstherentalhasledtowidespreadcopyingoftheworkswhichis
materiallyimpairingtheexclusiverightofreproductionconferredinthat
Memberonauthorsandtheirsuccessorsintitle.Producersofsound
recordingshavetherighttoauthorizeorprohibitthecommercialrentalof
theirworkstothepublic[Article14oftheAgreement].



Liveperformancesofpre-existingartistic,dramatic,musicalorliteraryworks,
andliveimprovisationsofsuchtypesofworksbecomesubjecttoperformers’
rights[Article14oftheAgreement].Theperformerhasthesolerighttofix(by
meansofarecordorothersoundreproducingcontrivance)sucha
performanceoranysubstantialpartthereof,toreproducethefixationandto
communicateitoranyreproductionthereofinwholeorinsubstantialpart,to
thepublicbytelecommunication,andtoauthorizeanysuchacts(s.14.01of
theCopyrightAct).Performers(referringnowtowhatisknownasperformer’s
rights),areprotectedfromunauthorizedrecording,reproductionand
broadcast(bootlegging)ofliveperformancesfornolessthan50years
followingtheendofthecalendaryearinwhichtheperformancetakesplace
(s.14.01(5)).SuchaperformancemusttakeplaceinaWTOcountryonor
afterJanuary1,1996andthedayonwhichthatcountryjoinstheWTO.Pre-
WTOperformancesaregivenprotectionwithrespecttoreproductionsof
fixedperformances.
Thisrecognitionofperformers’rightsisaccompaniedbynewprovisionson
theirinfringement,withexceptionssuchasfairdealingforthepurposesof
privatestudyorreview,etc.,themakingofatemporaryfixationofthe
performanceforpurposesofnewspaperreportingofapubliclecture,the
reproductionofafixationfornationalarchivesandthelike(s.28.02).In
additiontocivilrecourses,criminalliabilityisincurredfortheinfringementof
performers’rights(s.43.1).Relatedamendmentsprovidefortheprotectionof
rightsandthepossibilityofcompensationwhereapersonhas,beforea
countrybecomesatreatycountry,incurredexpendituresorliabilitiesin
connectionwithanactwhichwillconstituteinfringementoncethecountry
acquiresthestatusoftreatycountry(s.28.03,s.29).TheCanadianCopyright
Boardwillhavepowertodeterminetheamountofcompensationfor
restorationofcopyrightorofperformers’rightsundersuchcircumstances
(s.70.8)
Toroundoutthenewschemeofprotectionforperformances,unlawful
fixationsorreproductionsabouttobeimportedintoCanadaareincludedin
theworksforwhichinterimgovernmentcustodymaybeobtained.Thus,ifa
copyrightownerisawarethatashipmentofcounterfeitworkswillbeentering
thecountry,theownermayaskCustomstoseizeanddetainthecounterfeit
workspendingadeterminationbyaCourtofinfringement.
Trademarks
Section2oftheAgreementdealswithtrademarksandimpactoftheTrade
MarksAct,R.S.C.1985,c.T-13.



TheAgreementdefineswhatcanbeprotectableasatrademarkandwhat
theminimumrightsconferredmustbe.Membersmayrequire,asacondition
ofregistration,thatsignsbevisuallyperceptible.Thismaystopapplications
suchastheonefiledbyHarley-Davidson,Inc.intheUnitedStatesforsound
trademark,i.e.thesoundoftheHarley-Davidsonmotorcycle(applicationno.
74-
485223filedFebruary1,1994)Membersmusthavearegistrationsystem,
publicationofthemark,andmeansforopposingtheregistrationofamark.
Marksthathavebecomewell-knowninaparticularcountryenjoyadditional
protectionwiththe1967RevisionoftheParisConvention.
WTOmembersarenowextendedthebenefits(priority,righttoregistrationon
thebasisofhomeregistrationanduse,protectionofflagsoremblems)
previouslygivenapplicantsfromcountriesoftheUnionfortheProtectionof
IndustrialPropertyconstitutedundertheParisConvention.
InkeepingwithTRIPS,amendmentstotheTrade-marksActprovidea
comprehensivecodeforprotectinggeographicalindicationsinCanada.
Thesearedefinedinsection2oftheActasindicationsforwinesandspirits
whichidentifytheseproductsasoriginatingintheterritoryorregionorlocality
ofaWTOmember,whereaquality,reputationorothercharacteristicofthe
wineorspiritisessentiallyattributabletoitsorigin,andwhereitisprotectedby
thelawsapplicabletothatWTOmember.
TheRegistrarofTrade-markswillkeepthelistofgeographicalindications.
ThesewillhavebeenpublishedintheCanadaGazette(notintheTrade
MarksJournal),withrelevantinformation(s.11.12).Itwillbepossibletofilea
statementofobjectiontoentryoftheindicationontheRegistrar’slist,within
threemonthsofpublication.However,theonlypossiblegroundforobjection
isthattheindicationisnotageographicalindication,presumablyin
accordancewiththedefinitionofsection2(s.11.13).Subsequentstepsinthe
objectionproceedingsfollowgrossomodothoseprovidedintrade-mark
oppositions.
Theadoptionanduseofaprotectedgeographicalindicationforwinesand
spirits,orofatranslationthereofinanylanguage,areprohibited(s.11.14,
s.11.15).Exceptionsareprovidedinthecaseofpersonalnames,comparative
advertising,priorusebyaCanadianwithrespecttowaresorservicesina
continuousmanneringoodfaithsinceApril15,1994orforatleast10years
beforethatdate(s.11.16,s.11.17).Otherexceptionsarethefallingintodisuse
oftheindicationorthecessationofprotectionundertheWTOcountry’slaws,
aswellasanidentitybetweentheindicationandacustomarytermusedin
Canada,orthecustomarynameofagrapevariety(s.11.18).Afurtherand
importantexceptiontotheprohibitionoftheadoptionanduseofa



protectedgeographicalindicationrelatestothegenericnamesforwines
(e.g.champagne,port,chablis,claret)andspirits(e.g.ouzo,sambuca,
schnapps,bitters)listedinsection11.18;thislistmayfromtimetotimebe
amendedbytheGovernorinCouncil.
Patents
Articles27to34dealwithsetoutthebasicrequirementsforpatentprotection
inthemembercountries,andwillimpactonthePatentAct,R.S.C.1985,c.P-
4.
Themostimportantinternationaltreatyrelatingtopatentsandotherindustrial
property,priortoTRIPs,wastheParisConvention.Amongtheprovisionsofthis
treatyisArticle4whichstatesthatthepatentapplicantinacountryofthe
ParisUnionisentitled,forthepurposesoffilingsubsequentapplicationsin
othercountriesoftheConventionwithinoneyear,toclaimthepriorityofthe
firstapplication(sees.ofthePatentAct).
However,someaspectsofpatentlawhadnotbeenaddressed,suchasthe
mandatoryfirst-to-fileprincipleandtheintroductionofaoneyeargrace
periodfortheapplicantwithregardtohisownpublicationoftheinvention.
Thefirst-to-fileprinciplestatesthatiftwoapplicationsarefiledforthesame
invention,thepersonwhofiledfirstwillgetthepatent.Thisisinmarked
contrastwiththesituationintheUnitedStates,wherethepersonwho
inventedfirstwillgetthepatent.Canadamovefromafirsttoinventsystem
toafirsttofilesystemin1989.Also,inCanadaandintheUnitedStates,
applicantsforapatentbenefitfromaoneyeargraceperiodfollowingthe
publicdisclosureoftheirinventionbeforehavingtofileapatentapplication.
Allothercountriesoperateontheprincipleofabsolutenovelty,whereany
publicdisclosureoftheinventionpriortothefilingofapatentapplicationwill
beabartoobtainingavalidpatent.
Manycountriesandorganisationsdesirefar-reachingharmonisationof
patentlaws,asworldbusinessisimpededbysignificantdifferencesbetween
nationalpatentlaws.Forthisreason,TRIPsisimportantasitprovidesminimum
standards,butitisnotadraftmodellaw.Higherstandardsareallowedand
theterms“shall”and“may”arecarefullyused.
Patentprotectionshouldbeavailableforanyinvention,productsor
processes,inallfields,aslongasthebasicstandardsforpatentabilityaremet:
novelty,non-obviousnessandindustrialapplicability(usefulness).Patents
mustbeavailableandenforceablewithoutdiscriminationastotheplacethe
inventionwasmade,thetechnicalfieldandwhetherproductsareimported

orproducedlocally.Aswell,thedisclosuremustbesufficientlyclearand
completeforapersonskilledinthearttocarryouttheinvention,andthe
“best-moderequirement”ofUSlawisnotmandatory.
SinceTRIPsforbidsdiscriminationagainstforeigners,USlawchangedJanuary
1,1996sothatits“firsttoinvent”requirementwillnolongerrestrictconception
andreductiontopracticeofaninventiontothoseoccurringonUSterritory.
AninterestingstatementinTRIPsisthatmembercountriesmayexcludefrom
patentablesubjectmatterinventionstoprotect“ordrepublic”andmorality,
suchastheprotectionofhuman,animalorplantlifeorhealthandthe
environment[Article27].Membersmayalsoexcludefrompatentability
diagnostic,therapeuticandsurgicalmethodsforthetreatmentofhumansor
animals,plantandanimalsotherthanmicroorganismsandessentially
biologicalprocessesfortheproductionofplantoranimalsotherthan
microbiologicalprocesses[Article27].InCanada,methodsforthetreatment
ofthehumanbodyarenotpatentable;however,thelawisunclearwith
respecttomethodsthatarepurelycosmeticinnature.IntheUnitedStates,
thePatentOfficeisfarmoreliberalwithrespecttothetreatmentofhumans
andanimals.
Patenttermistwentyyearsfromthefilingdate[Article33].
Membercountriesmayrequirecompliancewithreasonableproceduresand
formalities,butpatentsmustbegrantedwithinareasonableperiodsoasto
minimizetheunwarrantedshorteningofthepatentterm.
Inviewofthefactthatdevelopingcountriesaswellasleastdeveloped
countrieswillenjoyafivetotenyeartransitionalperiodbeforeapplyingthe
TRIPsprovisions,thereareimportantprovisionsforthepharmaceuticaland
agrochemicalindustry.Notwithstandingthetransitionalperiod,member
countriesshouldprovideasfromthedateofentryintoforceoftheWTO
Agreement(January1,1995),ameansbywhichpatentapplicationsclaiming
pharmaceuticalandagrochemicalproductscanbefiled.Thenormal
criteriaforpatentabilityistobeappliedtotheseapplicationsandpatent
protectionshouldbeprovidedasfromthegrantofthepatent(afterthe
transitionalperiodexpires)andfortheremainderofthepatentterm(noless
thantwentyyearsfromdateoffiling).Thesepatentsarereferredtoas“black
box”or“mailbox”patentapplicationsastheybecomeknownandeffective
onlylater.
Ifaproductisthesubjectofa“blackbox”or“mailbox”patentapplication,
exclusivemarketingrightsshallbegrantedforaperiodoffiveyearsafter
obtainingmarketapprovalinthatmembercountry,oruntilthecorresponding

patent,basedonthatapplication,isgrantedorrejected,whicheverperiodis
shorter[Article70].Thisissubjecttotheprovisothatapatenthasbeen
granted(filedafterJanuary1,1995)inanothermembercountryand
marketingapprovalobtainedthere.
Thepatentownerhastheexclusiverights,inthecaseofaproductpatent,to
preventthirdpartiesfrommaking,using,offeringforsale,sellingorimporting
thatproduct,andinthecaseofaprocesspatent,topreventthirdparties
fromusing,offeringforsale,sellingorimportingtheproductdirectlyobtained
bythepatentedprocess[Article28].Ifindeedthesubjectmatterofapatent
isaprocessforobtainingaproduct,theauthoritiesofthatmemberhavethe
authoritytoorderthedefendanttoprovethattheprocesstoobtainthe
identicalproductisdifferentfromthepatentedprocess[Article34].Thus,in
thecaseofanidenticalproductandintheabsenceofprooftothecontrary,
theproductwillbedeemedtohavebeenobtainedbythepatentedprocess
iftheproductobtainedbythepatentedprocessisneworifthereis
substantiallikelihoodthattheidenticalproductwasmadebytheprocess
andtheownerofthepatenthasbeenunable,throughreasonableefforts,to
determinetheprocessactuallyused.However,whenlookingatprooftothe
contrary,thelegitimateinterestsofthedefendantinprotecting
manufacturingandbusinesssecretsaretobetakenintoaccount.
Thepatentowneralsohastherighttoassign,ortransferbysuccession,the
patentandtoconcludelicencingagreement[Article28].
Theserights,whichessentiallycorrespondtotherightsgrantedinmost
countrieswherethereisanestablishedpatentsystem,aresubjectto
exceptionsandcompulsorylicences.
TheexceptioncontainedinArticle30ofTRIPsreadsasfollows:“Membersmay
providelimitedexceptionstotheexclusiverightsconferredbyapatent,
providedthatsuchexceptionsdonotunreasonablyconflictwithanormal
exploitationofthepatentanddonotunreasonablyprejudicethelegitimate
interestsofthirdparties”.
Withrespecttocompulsorylicences,theconditionsforgrantingandthe
scopeofsuchalicencearedetailedinArticle31:
(A)eachcaseshouldbeconsideredonitsindividualmerits

(B)compulsorylicencesmaybepermittedonly,exceptincaseofa
nationalemergencyorotherextremeurgencyornon-commercial
publicusewherethepatentownershouldbepromptlyinformed,ifthe
compulsorylicenseehasmadeeffortstoobtainauthorisationfromthe



patenteeonreasonablecommercialtermsandifsucheffortshavenot
beensuccessfulwithinareasonableperiodoftime;
(C)thescopeanddurationshallbelimitedtothepurposeforwhich
itwasauthorized,andinthecaseofsemi-conductortechnology,shall
onlybeforpublicnon-
commercialuseortoremedyapracticedeterminedafterjudicialor
administrativeprocesstobeanti-competitive;
(D)shallbenon-exclusive
(E)shallbenon-assignable,exceptwiththatpartoftheenterpriseor
goodwillwhichenjoyssuchuse;
(F)suchusewillbeauthorizedpredominantlyforthesupplyofthe
domesticmarket
(G)authorisationisliable,subjecttoadequateprotectionofthe
legitimateinterestsofthepersonssoauthorized,tobeterminatedifand
whenthecircumstanceswhichleadtoitceasetoexistorexistandare
unlikelytorecur
(H)therightholderwillbeadequatelyremunerated
(I)anydecisionrelatingtotheauthorisationshallbesubjectto
judicialreview
(J)anydecisionrelatingtoremunerationshallbesubjecttojudicial
review
(K)ifacompulsorylicenceisgrantedinordertoremedyananti-
competitivepractice,thememberisnotobligedtoapplyconditions
(B)and(F)
Nationallawsofsomecountriesdiscriminateagainstforeignersbyenablinga
competitortoobtainacompulsorylicencebecausethepatenteeisnot
manufacturingtheproductwithinthecountry,butisworkingbyimportingthe
product.Suchaprovisionwillnolongerbeallowed,asimportationwillsatisfy
localworkingrequirementforcompulsorylicencingpurposes.
InCanada,theseprovisionsdonotaffectthePatentActdeeply.Adefinition
oftheterm”country”isaddedtosection2oftheAct,providingthattheterm
includesaMemberoftheWorldTradeOrganization.Thisamendmentwidens
thescopeof”country”withrespecttothepriorityfilingdateforinstance.



Sections19and19.1ofthePatentActpresentlyprovideamechanismforthe
CommissionerofPatentstoauthorizethegovernmentofCanadaorthe
governmentofaCanadianprovincetouseapatentedinventionunder
certainconditions.Anewsubsection19.1(4)statesthattheCommissioner
maynot,however,authorizeanyuseofsemi-conductortechnologyother
thanapublicnon-
commercialuse.
WhileadhesiontotheWTOwillcause,intheUnitedStates,anextensionofthe
termofpatentprotectionfromseventeenyearsfromdateofgranttotwenty
yearsfromtheearliestU.S.filingdateforfilingsmadeafterJune7,1995,the
CanadianPatentActalreadyprovidesforsuchatwenty-yearterm(s.44).
IndustrialDesigns
Anewsubsection29(2)intheIndustrialDesignAct(R.S.C.1985,c.I-9)gives
thefollowingdefinitionfortheexpression”foreigncountry”:acountrythatby
treaty,conventionorlawaffordsapriorityprivilegetocitizensofCanadawith
respecttotheeffectivedateofanapplicationforregistrationofanindustrial
design,andincludesaWTOMember.Aswell,anamendmenttosubsection
29(1)effectivelyenlargesthebasisofapriorityclaimtoapplicationsfilednot
onlyinaforeigncountry,butalsoforaforeigncountry,therebyincluding
applicationsmadethroughtheinternationalregistrationsystemoftheHague
Convention(1925),arevisionoftheParisConventiondealingwithIndustrial
Designs.
IntegratedCircuitTopographies
TRIPsprovidesforaminimumoftenyearsprotection[Article38],and
incorporatesagooddealoftheTreatyonIntellectualPropertyinrespectof
IntegratedCircuits(IPIC)(Washington).
Therightholdershallhavetheexclusiverightto:import,sellorotherwise
distributeforcommercialpurposesaprotectedlayout-design,anintegrated
circuitinwhichaprotectedlayout-designisincorporatedoranarticle
incorporatingsuchanintegratedcircuitonlyinsofarasitcontinuestocontain
anunlawfullyreproducedlayoutdesign.Anexceptionexistsforaperson
performingororderingsuchactsdidnotknoworhadnoreasonableground
toknow,whenacquiringtheintegratedcircuitorthearticleincorporatingit,
thatitincorporatedanunlawfullyreproducedlayoutdesign[Article36].



Anewsection2.1oftheActsubjectstheCanadianfederalandprovincial
governmentstotheIntegratedCircuitTopographyAct(R.S.C.1985,c.I-14.6).
Inaddition,protectionisgrantedtonationalsofWTOMemberswithout
necessityofaparticularagreementorofpublicationofanoticeof
reciprocityintheCanadaGazette[subsection4(1)(c)(iv)].
Theamendmentsalsoprovideacodeforgovernmentaluseoftopographies.
Inaccordancewithsubsection7.1(1),theCommissionerofPatents(rather
thantheRegistrarofTopographies)may,uponapplicationbythe
governmentofCanadaorthegovernmentofaprovince,authorizethe
publicnon-commercialuseofaregisteredtopographybythatgovernment.
TheCommissionermustsettheperiodandothertermsofsuchusein
accordancewiththefollowingprinciples:
(a)thescopeanddurationofusewillbelimitedtothepurposefor
whichtheuseisauthorized;
(b)theauthorizedusewillbenon-exclusive;and
(c)anyusewillbeauthorizedpredominantlytosupplythedomestic
market[ss.7.1(2)].
Inaccordancewithsubsection7.1(3),theCommissionermustnotifythe
topographyownerofanysuchpermitteduseandtheownerwillbepaid
adequateremunerationsetbytheCommissioner.Theauthorizedusemaybe
terminateduponapplicationbytheownerandafterallpartieshavehadthe
opportunityofbeingheard,iftheCommissionerissatisfiedthatthe
circumstancesthatledtothegrantingoftheauthorizationhaveceasedto
existandareunlikelytorecur.TheCommissionermaysetconditionsforthe
protectionoftheauthorizeduser’slegitimateinterests[ss.7.1(5)].Anydecision
madebytheCommissionerundersections7.1and7.2issubjecttoappealto
theFederalCourtunderthePatentAct.
Protectionoftradesecrets
TheAgreementrecognizesthatoneaspectoftheprotectionofindustrial
propertyistradesecretsbelongingtoanaturalorlegalperson.Therefore,the
membersmustprovidefortheprotectionoftradesecrets.
TheAgreementstatesthatnaturalorlegalpersonsshallhavethepossibilityof
preventinginformationlawfullywithintheircontrolfrombeingdisclosedto,
acquiredby,orusedbyotherswithouttheirconsentinamannercontraryto
honestcommercialpractices(including,butnotlimitedtobreachof
contract,breachofconfidenceandinducementtobreach,andincludesthe
acquisitionofundisclosedinformationbythirdpartieswhoknew,orwere



grosslynegligentinfailingtoknow,thatsuchpracticeswereinvolvedinthe
acquisition),aslongastheinformation[Article39]:
(a)issecretinthesensethatitisnot,asabodyorintheprecise
configurationandassemblyofitscomponents,generallyknown
amongoraccessibletopersonswithinthecirclesthatnormally
dealwiththekindofinformationinquestion;

(b)hascommercialvaluebecauseitissecret;and
(c)hasbeensubjecttoreasonablestepsunderthecircumstances,
bythepersonlawfullyincontroloftheinformationtokeepit
secret.
Inthecaseofpharmaceuticaloragriculturalproductsrequiringapprovalof
theirmarketing,thesubmissionofundisclosedtestorotherdatawillbe
protectedbyMembersagainstunfaircommercialuse.Membersshallprotect
thisdataagainstdisclosure,exceptwherenecessarytoprotectthepublicor
unlessstepsaretakentoensurethatthedataareprotectedagainstunfair
commercialuse.



Licensing/Anticompetitivepractices
Withregardtolicensingpracticesandcontractualprovisionswhichmay
adverselyaffecttrade,transferoftechnologyandcompetition,member
countriesareallowedtospecifyintheirnationallawspracticesandprovisions
thatmayconstituteanabuseofintellectualpropertyrights.
Althoughthemeasuresadoptedbygovernmentsinthiscontextmustbe
consistentwithotherTRIPsprovisions,thereisadangerthattheythemselves
maybeabusedbydiscriminatingagainstpatentsofforeignpatentees.
Consultationsbetweenmembercountriesconcernedhavethereforebeen
establishedinordertoensurefairtreatmentofforeignrightowners.
EnforcementofIntellectualPropertyRights
Enforcementproceduresshouldbeavailabletopermiteffectiveaction
againstinfringement,includingremediestopreventinfringement.
Enforcementproceduresshouldbefairandequitable,notunreasonably
lengthynorunnecessarilycomplicatedorcostly.Decisionsshouldbebased
onlyonevidenceonwhichthepartieshavebeenheard.Eachpartyshall
havetheopportunityforreviewbyajudicialauthorityoffinaladministrative
decisionsand,subjecttojurisdictionalprovisionsinnationallawsconcerning
theimportanceofacase,atleastthelegalaspectsofinitialjudicialdecision
onthemeritsofthecase.However,thereshallbenoobligationtoprovide
anopportunityforreviewofacquittalsincriminalcases.
Thejudicialauthoritiesshouldhavethepowertoimposeinjunctionsofthe
accusedinfringer.Theyshouldalsohavetheauthoritytoorderaninfringer
whokneworhadreasonablegroundstoknowthathewasinfringing,topay
damagesadequatetocompensatetheinjurysufferedandtheinfringees
expenseswhichmayincludeattorney’sfees.Inappropriatecases,member
countriesmayauthorisethejudicialauthoritiestoorderrecoveryofprofitsor
damagesevenwhentheinfringerhasnoknowledgeorreasonablegrounds
toknowthatthereisinfringement.
Judicialauthoritiesshouldalsohavethepowertoorderthedestructionor
disposalofinfringinggoodswithnocompensationtotheinfringer.
Intheeventofabuseofenforcementprocedures,judicialauthoritiesmay
provideadequatecompensationfortheinjurysufferedbythedefendant,
includingreimbursementofattorney’sfees.



Membersmustprovideforcriminalproceduresandpenaltiesatleastinthe
casesofwilfultrademarkcounterfeitingorcopyrightpiracyonacommercial
scale.Remediesmustincludeimprisonmentorfinessufficienttoactasa
deterrent[Article61].
BorderMeasures
Membersmustprovideamechanismwherebyrightsholderscanobtain
assistanceofcustomsauthoritiestopreventtheimportation(orexportation)
ofcounterfeitandpiratedgoods,particularlyinthecaseoftrademarksand
copyright,butinotherareasaswellaslongastherequirementsaremet.
Arightholdermustbeabletoshowprimafaciethat,underthelawsofits
country,thereisinfringementoftheintellectualpropertyandsupplya
sufficientlydetaileddescriptionofthegoodstomakethemreadily
recognizablebythecustomsauthorities.
Therightholdermayberequiredtofurnishsecurity.
Disputepreventionandsettlement
TheCouncilforTrade-RelatedAspectsofIntellectualPropertyRightsmonitors
theoperationoftheagreementandgovernment’scompliancewithit
[Article68].
IMPACT
TRIPsitselfdidnothavemuchofanimpactinCanadianlegislationunderthe
WTOastheTRIPsagreementwasincorporatedalmostverbatimintoNAFTA.
Thereisoneexception:patentprotectionforpharmaceuticalproductswas
extendedfrom17yearsto20years,notwithstandingtheintensepolitical
lobbyingfromtheCanadiangenericdrugmarket.
TheAgreementiswidelyexpectedtopromoteworldbusinessinvariousways.
ForCanadians,thismeansthatarules-basedprotectionofintellectual
propertyprovidesmorecertaintyfortheexportofCanadianhigh-technology
productsandartisticworks,andcreatesabetterinvestmentclimatein
Canadaforresearchanddevelopment(R&D).
Forpatents,areliablesystemthroughouttheworldforobtainingand
enforcingvalidpatentswillpromoteR&D,especiallyintechnicalfieldswhere



itisexpensiveandtime-consuming.Pharmaceuticalandagrochemical
productsrequiremarketapprovalofnationalauthorities:theimmensecost
canberecoveredonlyifthereisalimitedbutreasonableperiodofpatent
protection.Manycountrieshaveinsufficientpatentlawswithnoprotection
fornewproducts,withtheconsequencethatlocalcompaniesmakeuseof
themostsuccessfulinventionsmadeinothercountriesbycounterfeitingand
withoutinvestinginR&D.TRIPswillimprovethissituation,albeitafterthe
transitionalperiods.Manyofthosecountrieswillbecomeattractivefor
nationalandinternationalinvestmentintheareaofresearchand
manufacture.
Furthermore,harmonisationofnationallawsisdesired.TRIPsisnotperfect
andcomplete,butitisabasisforfurtherdevelopmentinharmonizinglaws,
legaldecisionsandregulations,withlessandlessdiscriminationagainst
foreigners.
Inafinalnote,onDecember22,1995,WIPOandtheWTOenteredintoan
agreementwhichprovidesformutualsupportandcooperationbetween
theseorganisations,notablythroughWIPOmakingitsextensivecollectionof
legaltextsavailabletotheWTO,andtheprovisionbyWIPOoftechnicaland
legalassistancetodevelopingcountriesthataremembersoftheWTO,with
respecttoTRIPs.
********



SELECTEDBIBLIOGRAPHY
“CanadianPatentLawUnderGATT-What’sComingNext”,PhilipC.Mendes
daCosta,11C.I.P.R.62.
“Lapropriétéintellectuelleàl’heuredel’import/export”,FrançoisPainchaud,
LégerRobicRichard
“ImplementationofTRIPsinCanada”,DianeLeduc-Campbell,(1995)9WIPR
no.4
“WTOImplementation:AmendmentofPatent,IndustrialDesignand
IntegratedCircuitTopographyStatutes”,DianeLeduc-Campbell,(1995)9
WIPRno.
“TheFutureoftheTraditionalIntellectualPropertyConventionsintheBrave
NewWorldofTrade-
RelatedIntellectualPropertyRights”,SamRicketson,(1995)26IIC872.
“TRIPs-DevelopmentandTransferofTechnology”,S.K.Verma,(1996)27IIC
331.
AcopyoftheTRIPsAgreementhasbeenpublishedat(1994)25IIC209.



ROBIC,ungrouped’avocatsetd’agentsdebrevetsetdemarquesdecommercevoué
depuis1892àlaprotectionetàlavalorisationdelapropriétéintellectuelledanstousles
domaines:brevets,dessinsindustrielsetmodèlesutilitaires;marquesdecommerce,marques
decertificationetappellationsd’origine;droitsd’auteur,propriétélittéraireetartistique,droits
voisinsetdel’artisteinterprète;informatique,logicielsetcircuitsintégrés;biotechnologies,
pharmaceutiquesetobtentionsvégétales;secretsdecommerce,know-howet
concurrence;licences,franchisesettransfertsdetechnologies;commerceélectronique,
distributionetdroitdesaffaires;marquage,publicitéetétiquetage;poursuite,litigeet
arbitrage;vérificationdiligenteetaudit;etce,tantauCanadaqu’ailleursdanslemonde.La
maîtrisedesintangibles.
ROBIC,agroupoflawyersandofpatentandtrademarkagentsdedicatedsince1892tothe
protectionandthevalorizationofallfieldsofintellectualproperty:patents,industrialdesigns
andutilitypatents;trademarks,certificationmarksandindicationsoforigin;copyrightand
entertainmentlaw,artistsandperformers,neighbouringrights;computer,softwareand
integratedcircuits;biotechnologies,pharmaceuticalsandplantbreeders;tradesecrets,
know-how,competitionandanti-trust;licensing,franchisingandtechnologytransfers;e-
commerce,distributionandbusinesslaw;marketing,publicityandlabelling;prosecution
litigationandarbitration;duediligence;inCanadaandthroughouttheworld.Ideaslive
here.
COPYRIGHTER
IDEASLIVEHERE
ILATOUTDEMÊMEFALLUL’INVENTER!
LAMAÎTRISEDESINTANGIBLES
LEGERROBICRICHARD
NOSFENÊTRESGRANDESOUVERTESSURLEMONDEDESAFFAIRES
PATENTER
R
ROBIC
ROBIC+DROIT+AFFAIRES+SCIENCES+ARTS
ROBIC++++
ROBIC+LAW+BUSINESS+SCIENCE+ART
THETRADEMARKERGROUP
TRADEMARKER
VOSIDÉESÀLAPORTÉEDUMONDE,DESAFFAIRESÀLAGRANDEURDELAPLANÈTE
YOURBUSINESSISTHEWORLDOFIDEAS;OURBUSINESSBRINGSYOURIDEASTOTHEWORLD