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Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS)
PART-III: ENFORCEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
SECTION-4: SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS RELATED TO BORDER MEASURES
ARTICLE 51: Suspension of Release by Customs Authorities
ARTICLE 51: Suspension of Release by Customs Authorities
Members shall, in conformity with the provisions set out below, adopt procedures(13) to enable a right holder, who has valid grounds for suspecting that the importation of counterfeit trademark or pirated copyright goods(14) may take place, to lodge an application in writing with competent authorities, administrative or judicial, for the suspension by the customs authorities of the release into free circulation of such goods. Members may enable such an application to be made in respect of goods which involve other infringements of intellectual property rights, provided that the requirements of this Section are met. Members may also provide for corresponding procedures concerning the suspension by the customs authorities of the release of infringing goods destined for exportation from their territories.
Footnotes:
(13)
It is understood that there shall be no obligation to apply such procedures to imports of goods put on the market in another country by or with the consent of the right holder, or to goods in transit.
(14)
For the purposes of this Agreement:
(a) "counterfeit trademark goods" shall mean any goods, including packaging, bearing without authorization a trademark which is identical to the trademark validly registered in respect of such goods, or which cannot be distinguished in its essential aspects from such a trademark, and which thereby infringes the rights of the owner of the trademark in question under the law of the country of importation;
(b) "pirated copyright goods" shall mean any goods which are copies made without the consent of the right holder or person duly authorized by the right holder in the country of production and which are made directly or indirectly from an article where the making of that copy would have constituted an infringement of a copyright or a related right under the law of the country of importation.
Referred by:
ARTICLE 52
ARTICLE 54: Notice of Suspension