Study on Specialized Intellectual Property Courts

1 Study on Specialized Intellectual Property Courts Assoc. Prof. Rohazar Wati Zuallcobley Lead Consultant, International Intellectual Property Institute Hon. Jorge Amigo Casta eda Ahmed J. Davis Owen Dean Hon. Michael Fysh QC, SC Hon. Louis Harms Prof. Dionysia Kallinikou Hon. Ryoichi Mimura Hon. Nicholas Ombija Shinjiro Ono Dr. Ana Mar a Pac n Kiat Poonsombudldert Consultants, International Intellectual Property Institute 25 January 2012 Abstract In this report, we Study the effect of Specialized Intellectual Property rights (IPR) Courts on the adjudication of Intellectual Property (IP) -related disputes.

2 We catalog the number and type of Specialized IPR Courts throughout the world, and assess the effectiveness of these Courts in a series of ten case studies. The case studies were chosen to represent the various types of Specialized IPR Courts and to ensure geographic and economic diversity. These case studies analyze the impact of Specialized IPR Courts on producing consistent case outcomes in similar factual situations, the level of IPR expertise in the judiciary, and the conduct of commerce in IPR-dependent sectors. The results of these case studies suggest a positive correlation between Specialized IPR Courts and the efficient and effective resolution of IP cases.

3 The case studies also reveal that factors internal and external to the court play a role in its success and that countries should consider these factors and their own limitations when establishing a Specialized IPR court . We summarize the characteristics of the most successful regimes and provide effective practices recommendations for establishing or improving Specialized IPR Courts . About the Report This is a joint project between the International Intellectual Property Institute (IIPI) and the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The INTERNATIONAL Intellectual Property INSTITUTE (IIPI) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation organized under the laws of the United States located in Washington, DC.

4 As an international development organization and think tank, IIPI is dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of the use of Intellectual Property as a tool for economic growth, particularly in developing countries. For more information about IIPI, visit The UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO) is the Federal agency for granting patents and registering trademarks. The USPTO advises the President of the United States, the Secretary of Commerce, and Government agencies on Intellectual Property (IP) policy, protection, and enforcement; and promotes the stronger and more effective IP protection around the world.

5 For more information about USPTO, visit Acknowledgments The authors wish to express their deep appreciation to all those who contributed to this Study and participated in the subsequent seminar. We wish to thank specifically Ben Picozzi who formatted and finalized the Study , Rachel Wallace who contributed significantly to all aspects of the Study and seminar, Salvador Behar who helped with the content of the Study and arranged for participants in the seminar, Dr. Chryssoula Pentheroudakis who provided essential information on the Courts of Europe, Cesar Parga who donated the expertise and facilities of the Organization of American States, and Shinjiro Ono who identified consultants and speakers.

6 We wish also to thank Lester Hyman, a consultant to IIPI who was integral in the planning of the seminar, as well as IIPI interns and fellows who assisted with reference and research tasks, including Joanna Holguin, a graduate of the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Law School who continued to participate on this Study while working at the Mexican Embassy to the United States, Eric Robbins, a graduate of the Georgetown University Law School who along with Joanna researched and authored many of the brief country descriptions, and Chelsea Masters, a second-year at American University Law School who provided assistance with citations and editing.

7 I TABLE OF CONTENTS Table of Acronyms .. ii I. Introduction .. 1 A. Background and Purpose .. 1 B. Methodology .. 1 C. Categories .. 2 D. Key 4 E. Effective Practices .. 8 F. Conclusion .. 10 II. Summaries by Country .. 11 A. Worldwide .. 11 B. Regional .. 13 1. Asia and Oceania .. 13 2. Europe .. 19 3. Middle East and North Africa .. 31 4. North America and South America and Caribbean .. 34 5. Sub-Saharan 42 III. Case Studies .. 46 A. Andean Community .. 46 B. Greece .. 55 C. Japan .. 60 D. Kenya .. 66 E. Malaysia .. 83 F. Mexico .. 95 G. South Africa .. 104 H. Thailand.

8 114 I. United Kingdom .. 121 J. United States .. 127 IV. Contributors .. 136 ii TABLE OF ACRONYMS AC Andean Community ACTJ Andean Community Tribunal of Justice AIS Andean Integration System ARIPO African Regional Intellectual Property Organization CAN Community of Andean Nations CIP Regional Specialized court on Intellectual Property Matters (Mexico) Diario Oficial (Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador) DOF Diario Oficial de la Federaci n (Mexico) ECSC Eastern Caribbean Supreme court ECJ European court of Justice EU European Union FCCN Funda o Para a Computa o Cient fica Nacional (Portugal)

9 FCTAA Federal court for Tax and Administrative Affairs (Mexico) FSR Fleet Street Reports FTT Federal Tax Tribunal GATT General Agreement on Trade and Tariffs IEPI Instituto Ecuatoriano de la Propriedad Intelectual IMPI Instituto Mexicano de la Propriedad Industrial INAPI Instituto Nacional de Propiedad Industrial (Chile) Indautor Instituto Nacional del Derecho de Autor (Mexico) INDECOPI Instituto Nacional de Defensa de la Competencia y de la Protecci n de la Propiedad Intelectual (Peru) INPI Instituto Nacional da Propriedade Industrial (Portugal) IP Intellectual Property IPA Industrial Property Act (Kenya) IPIT court Central Intellectual Property and International Trade court (Thailand) IPJ Industrial Property Journal (Kenya) IPO Intellectual Property Office of Trinidad and Tabago IPR Intellectual Property Rights IPT Industrial Property Tribunal (Kenya) JPO Japanese Patent Office JSC Judicial Services Commission (South Africa)

10 KECOBO Kenya Copyright Board KEPHIS Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Services KIPI Kenya Industrial Property Institute KLCC Kuala Lumpur Convention Center KPI key performance indicator LAFTA Latin American Free Trade Association NAFTA North American Free Trade Agreement OGCA Official Gazette of the Catagena Agreement PCT Patent Cooperation Treaty RNPC Instituto dos Registos e Notariado (Portugal) Registro Oficial (Peru) Reports on Patent Cases SCA Supreme court of Appeal SENAPI Servicio Nacional de Propriedad Intelectual (Colombia) SIC Superintendencia de Industria y Comercio (Colombia) STAK Seed and Trade Association of Kenya SPVA Seeds and Plant Varieties Act (Kenya) TMA Trademark Act (Kenya) TRIPS Agreement on the Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights UNESCO United Nations United States USPTO United States Patent and Trademark Office WIPO World Intellectual Property Organization WTO World Trade Organization 1 I.