WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONIP/C/W/77/Add.1
18 September 1997
(97-3780)
Council for Trade-Related Aspects
of Intellectual Property RightsOriginal:  English
TECHNICAL COOPERATION ACTIVITIES:  INFORMATION FROM
DEVELOPED COUNTRY MEMBERS
Addendum
European Communities and their Member States
The present document reproduces the updated information on technical and financial
cooperation activities relevant to the implementation of the TRIPS Agreement of the EuropeanCommunities and of Austria, Finland, Germany and Sweden.
Information on technical cooperation activities of other Member States of the European
Communities will be distributed as supplements to this document.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
Page 2
EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
CHINA
EU - CHINA Intellectual Property Rights Cooperation Programme
1. Duration
The first phase of the programme ran form 1992 to 1994 and covered patents and trademarks.
The second phase of the programme was signed in  May 1996, widening the cooperation to include
copyright, enforcement, education and awareness issues.  It is envisaged to last for three years.
2. General objectives of the programme
The main objective of the new programme is to support the efforts of the Chinese
Government to develop a modern, effective system of IPR protection to international standards by:
- assisting China in the adoption of legislation and implementing regulations in all IPR
fields;  and
- creating an effective public administration of IPRs and mechanisms for their effective
protection, notably with regard to the procedures for the granting of IPRs as well as 
to the enforcement of these rights.
3. Description of the programme
The programme envisages actions in 3 areas:
3.1. Support to IPR institutions
Building on the experiences and goodwill generated in the pilot projects, technical assistance
and training would be provided to:
- Chinese Patent Office - to complement cooperation with the EPO;
- Chinese Trademark Office - to improve transparency of procedures;
- National Copyright Administration of China - to support institutional growth;  and- geographical indications - to establish a structure in this important field.
3.2. Support to the enforcement organs
Administrative as well as judicial routes  exist for resolving IPR disputes in China.
- Training for judges and lawyers in these specialist areas would be offered;
- administrative agencies, IP and economic tribunals would be supported via
workshops and the establishment of a nationwide information network;  and
- customs authorities would also benefit, assisting enforcement at borders.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
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3.3. Horizontal measures
- Training opportunities would also be offered to IPR agents and attorneys;
- specific actions would encourage and improve IPR teaching in universities;
- analysis of changes required to impl ement TRIPS would be a priority;  and
- actions aimed at increasing public aw areness of IPR issues are foreseen.
PHARE
Countries concerned
The programme for the modernization of the intellectual and industrial property in the Central
and Eastern European countries (known as the PHARE countries) is drawn up as a regional
programme.  It covers all PHARE countries (which are currently:  Albania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania, Hungary, Poland, the Czech Republic, Romania, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Bosnia-
Herzegovina and Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia).  The programme consists of two
technical assistance programmes on IPRs:  the regional industrial property programme and theregional programme on copyright protection.
A. Regional Industrial Property Programme
1. Duration
The first phase of the programme started in 1992 and has subsequently been extended twice.
The third phase of the programme will expire on 31 December 1998.
2. General objectives of the programme
- Improve patent and trademark protection;- raise the quality of industrial property protection to a level similar to that in the
European Union;
- facilitate the accession of the Central and Eastern European countries to the main
international conventions on industrial property including the European Patent
Convention;
- improve existing national institutions responsible for industrial property systems and
help create relevant institutions in countries where no appropriate framework yet
exists;  and
- promote regional cooperation between the partner countries in the field of industrial
property.
3. Description of the programme
The specific objectives of the programme can be summed up in three major points:IP/C/W/77/Add.1
Page 4
3.1 Training
Training courses and seminars for staff of national authorities and patent professionals
(judges, attorneys and other specialists).
3.2 Information technology
Development of software to administ er patent and trademark procedures.
3.3 Documentation, patent information, inter-office cooperation, technical assistance
- Modernization of documentation centres so as to permit novelty searches at minimum
cost in particular by supplementing paper systems with CD-ROMs and on-line access
to commercial data-bases;
- promotion of awareness of industrial property in the region through international
symposia and the publication of patent specifications  and trademarks on CD-ROM;
- development of regional cooperation through an exchange programme involving the
offices in the region;  and
- technical assistance on project specification, tendering, implementation, legal and
institutional advice, work programme and evaluation of results.
B. Regional Programme on Copyright Protection
1. Duration
The programme started on 1 September 1994 and was originally planned to last for two years
but has been extended until 31 December 1996.
2. General objectives of the programme
- Facilitation of the implementation in Central and Eastern Europe of a level of
protection for intellectual property (copyright, performing rights and protection
against piracy) similar to that in the European Union and to facilitate the accession of
the Central and Eastern European countries to international conventions on theses
issues;
- help to create and develop the cultural industry so as to encourage national and
foreign investment in this sector;  and
- facilitation and guarantee of the free movement of cultural works and performances
between Central and Eastern Europe and the European Union.
3. Description of the programme
The specific objectives of the programme can be summarized in three major points:
3.1 Technical assistance for the reform of the institutional and legislative framework
In the aim at introducing an effective system of legal protection and an adequate institutional
framework, assistance will be provided to facilitate the process of reorganizing andIP/C/W/77/Add.1
Page 5
modernizing existing institutions such as performing rights societies, cultural bodies and
creative artist societies, cultural industries and bodies combating piracy.  Legal experts will
help the relevant authorities in drafting and/or reforming relevant laws and regulations, taking
into account the legislation of the EU and their member states and the legal assistance will
also facilitate accession to international conventions in this field.  Furthermore, emphasis will
be put on the development of know-how of those responsible for protecting copyright andperforming rights as well as the promotion of the awareness amongst the media on the
intellectual property issues (press, TV, radio).
3.2 Training and awareness
The training will be aimed at the institutional staff (ministries, magistrates, lawyers, customs,
universities) and the staff of the collecting societies.  The training will concentrate on
language, computer and office automation.
3.3 Documentation and software
The programme will fund the provision of relevant documentation and software, including
texts of EU legislation (directives, regulations, proposals and judgments) texts of relevant
national legislation of EU member states, te xts of articles of association and rules of
performing rights societies, materials relating to seminars organized under the programme
and books on intellectual property rights.
C. Regional Programme on Intellectual Property Protection II
1. Duration
The programme has been approved by the Commission at the end of 1995 and it will have to
be implemented by 31 December 1998.  The Intellectual Property Programme II will be implemented
with the help of several right holders' organizations.
2. General objectives for the programme
- Enhanced legal assistance to underline the importance of the protection of
neighbouring rights, as well as the enforcement procedures;
- creation of mechanisms for the effective protection of neighbouring rights, including
the formation and training of collecting societies;  and
- fight against piracy.
3. Description of the programme
The specific objectives of the programme can be summarized in three major points:
3.1 Legal assistance
In countries, where local governments have designated a special copyright office to
coordinate activities in the field of copyright (Poland, Bulgaria and Romania), these offices
will be assisted in collecting all necessary national and international documentation, training
of staff members in the area of neighbouring rights protection and establishing
communication channels between such offices and relevant enforcement bodies.  GeneralIP/C/W/77/Add.1
Page 6
assistance in the PHARE region in conducting the necessary analyses of the local legislation
and achieving the necessary compatibility with international instruments.
3.2 Neighbouring rights protection infrastructure
In order to establish the necessary mechanisms for furthering the right of producers of sound
recordings, assistance will be given to the legal companies in the PHARE region in creatingtheir own industry groups and establishing collecting societies.  These industry groups will
serve as centres of legal and professional information, as well as points of contact and
exchange with the more experienced European market.  The local industry groups are also
coordination centres for anti-piracy activities.
3.3. Fight against piracy
The establishment of effective enforcement mechanisms will be based on intensive training of
the police, prosecutors and judges and the installation of piracy preventive programmes.  The
main principles of the enforcement mechanism is well informed and well trained police
officers, specially designated to deal with the copyright piracy issues as well as close
cooperation between police and prosecutors.  The piracy preventive programme contains theinstallation of source-identifying devices (SID-code), inception of hologram sticker
programmes for legitimate production and implementation of manufacturing verification
systems, where appropriate.
D. Horizontal Programme on Intellectual Property III
1. Duration
The programme has started on 17 March 1997 and will last until 31 December 1999.
2. General objectives of the programme
The programme is a continuation of the 1994 programme on Copyright Protection and it will
complement the 1995 programme on Intellectual Property II.  Its main objective is to achieve a levelof protection of intellectual property similar to that which exists in the European Union.  The
programme will basically focus on the promotion of authors' rights and the enforcement thereof.
3. Description of the programme
The Programme has the following components:
3.1 Legal assistance and training
The legal assistance and training will set out to continue the procedure of improving the
legislation in the field of intellectual property, e.g. on authors' rights, and to favour the
implementation of structures permitting their application.  This component will include
actions, such as
Missions by EU experts to the CEECs, taking into account the guidelines set out in
Chapter 19 of the Annex to the 1995 White Pa per on the Preparation of the Associated
Countries of Central and Eastern Europe for Integration into the Internal Market of the Union.Priority will be given to the countries where the level of harmonization is not yet sufficient.
Missions will also be conducted to countries where the level of harmonization has beenIP/C/W/77/Add.1
Page 7
judged as satisfactory, albeit only to inform the legislator in these countries about the
problems of intellectual property protection, which will soon be posed by the new
technologies of the Information Society related to digitization of carriers.
Training of officials on intellectual property, either directly or via Train-the-Trainers
methods. Training of academics and judges.  With regard to the training of academics, the
programme will explore the possibilities of scholarships in institutes in the European Unionspecialized in authors' rights, such as the Max Planck Institute.
3.2 Support to collecting societies
This component will include actions, such as:
- Training of the management and staff of the different authors' societies will continue
to be the main form assistance to authors' societies;
- legal assistance to enforce the application of laws;  and
- material support to administration societies of authors' rights, which may include
basic equipment, hardware and software to facilitate the distribution of collected
royalties.
ASEAN
EC - ASEAN Patents and Trademark Programme
Countries concerned
The programme on technical assistance for the ASEAN countries consists of a regional as
well as national components and covers the following countries:  Brunei, Indonesia, Malaysia, the
Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
1. Duration
The programme was officially launched on 13 September 1993 and was originally expected to
last three years but has been extended until June 1997.
2. General objectives of the programme
- To improve the technical skills and the legal framework in the field of patents and
trademarks in the ASEAN region.  The main focus consists in the upgrading of skills
(institutional strengthening) in the industrial property offices of the region by meansof exchanging experts, arranging seminars and workshops;
- to focus on informing local industries and other local users of the benefits they may
derive from an improved patent and trad emark environment.  The European industry
is closely involved in this part of the programme;  and
- to target decision makers in the region.  It will address the European experience in
this area and will serve to maintain the political interest in improving the whole
industrial property environment.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
Page 8
3. Description of the programme
The programme aims at effective results through sharing of information and experience and
by starting a process of regional cooperation in the field of industrial property rights.  The regional
aspects will contribute to the uniform development of the patent and trademark systems in the targeted
countries and limit the amount of "double work" in this highly specialized field.  Cost-sharing is
feasible through cooperation in the field of documentation, the organization of the granting procedure,publication, etc. which also facilitates the ease with which the European industry can operate in
ASEAN.
The more specific activities include:
- Preparation of modernization plans for national offices;
- building a common intellectual property database;
- production of certain common publications and documents;
- finalizing intellectual property rights le gislation, including accompanying rules and
regulations;
- computerization of administration of patent-granting procedures and services;  and
- preparation of common procedures guidelines.
MACAU
EU - MACAU Industrial Property Programme
1. Duration
The programme started in late 1995 and lasted 24 months.
2. General objectives of the programme
- To introduce reforms in the industrial property systems of Macau;- to prepare and update legislation and accompanying implementation rules and
regulations;
- to assist in the setting up and upgrading of the administrative institutions and
structures in charge of implementing the new industrial property legislation;
- to upgrade the professional skills of the staff of the local administrative structures;
- to assist in training legal practitioners and enforcement officials;  and- to promote the awareness and teaching of industrial property.
3. Description of the programme
The specific objectives can be summarized in three major points:IP/C/W/77/Add.1
Page 9
3.1 Legislation
The legal assistance will consist of legal advise in drafting legislation especially for patents,
utility models, and industrial designs pr otection with emphasis on harmonization and
conformity with GATT/TRIPS.  Furthermore, a comparative study will be carried out of the
draft legislation of Macau and the international standards and EU regulations.
3.2 Administration
An analysis of the current administrative structures will help to prepare a modernization plan
defining the need resulting from the new legislative situation in Macau.  This plan will
include training for management, training for examination and administrative staff, training
for lawyers and staff dealing with legal issues, training for technical staff - EDP and
automation and finally the establishment of provisions of IP literature and documentation.
3.3. Enforcement
The target group includes all existing organizations and structures dealing with the
enforcement of IP laws and in particular:  judges, staff from customs authorities and
piracy/counterfeit repression units.  Specific training seminars, workshops and colloquia will
take place in order to promote the exchange  of information and know-how between the
relevant structures.
VIETNAM
EU - VIETNAM industrial property programme
1. Duration
The programme started in July 1996 and is expected to last for three years.
2. General objectives of the programme
The main objective of the programme is to strengthen Vietnam's industrial property system
by:
- assisting in the improvement of the legal and regulatory framework;
- enhancing the patent and trademark granting administration, as well as upgrading the
skills of patent agents;
- improving industrial property public aw areness and strengthening enforcement
systems;  and
- cooperation in ASEAN regional activities in the field of industrial property rights.
In addition to the above-mentioned objectives, the programme is constructed with an element
of flexibility in order to allow for particular situations, for example under the public awareness and
enforcement components, by covering other related areas of intellectual property rights.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
Page 10
3. Description of the programme
The specific objectives of the programme can be summarized in two major points:
3.1. Legal framework and enforcement
The programme will aim at bringing the Vietnamese legislation and enforcement measures in
line with the TRIPS Agreement, reduce the level of piracy, introduce proper injunction
measures to stop counterfeiting, piracy or import/export of such products and ease the accessfor local and foreign right holders to bring their cases to the courts.
3.2. Administration of industrial property and information services
The current good record of delivering patents, trademarks and designs should be maintained
in spite of the substantial increase of application expected.  Applicants should be able to file
applications in two different places by the end of the programme and generally the National
Intellectual Property Office should be prepared to handle the increased number of inquiries
and use of the facilities offered.
TACIS
Countries concerned
The technical assistance programmes on intellectual property rights (known as TACIS)
applies to all the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS):   Armenia, Azerbaijan,
Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Moldovia, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan,Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
In the field of copyrights, the programme applies mainly to the Russian Federation but also to
some extent to Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan.  Action might spread to other independent states of
the former USSR on the basis of the experience acq uired in the Russian Federation.  However, all the
CIS countries are involved in the technical assistance on industrial property.
I. PROJECT FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION ON
COPYRIGHT
1. Duration
The contract started in November 1995 and was concluded within a period of two years.
2. General objectives of the programme
- Establish an appropriate legislative environment in the field of intellectual property
protection reflecting Russia's intention of having, within five years, a level of
protection similar to that in the EU;
- establish an appropriate administrative environment in the field of intellectual
property protection, i.e. similar to that in the EU;  and
- establish appropriate enforcement mechanisms in the field of intellectual property
protection, i.e. similar to that in the EU.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
Page 11
3. Description of the programme
The major activities to be undertaken within the scope of the programme are the following:
- EU expertise to conduct a review of the current system of intellectual property rights
existing in the four countries concerned and to prepare a strategic plan for the future
legislative, administrative and enforcement structure (six working months);
- EU expertise to provide ongoing assistance to the Ministry of Justice in elaborating
appropriate legislation in the field of intellectual property rights that will reflect the
Russian Federation's intention to harmonize with the level of protection existing in
the EU (12 working months);
- EU expertise to provide ongoing assistance to RAO, the Confederation of Film
Makers' Unions, and professional guilds in establishing effective collecting societies
(12 working months) including the development of authors' awareness;  and
- EU expertise to develop appropriate databases and CD-ROM systems for information
services in the field of intellectual property protection (nine working months);
- EU expertise to develop a public awareness campaign concerning the issue of
intellectual property protection (six working months);
- EU expertise for conducting training programmes, in selected regional centres, for
enforcement officers, i.e. magistrates, police officers, customs officers, etc. (nineworking months);
- EU support for study tours for Russian officials to relevant EU based organizations
active in the field of intellectual property protection;  and
- support for hardware and software.
II. PROJECTS FOR TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ON INDUSTRIAL PROPERTYA. Support to patent and trademark protection in the Ukraine
1. Duration
The contract was signed in November 1994 and concluded within a period of 24 months.
2. General objectives of the programme
- Ensure a high level of industrial property protection in Ukraine thus creating the
necessary ground for market economy;  and
- general strengthening of the administration responsible for the intellectual property
system (State Patent Office of Ukraine (SPOU)), patent examination centre, technical
library.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
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3. Description of the programme
The major activities to be undertaken within the scope of the programme are the following:
- Preparation and implementation of a development plan for the SPOU;
- training of the SPOU's staff in questions related to patent and trademark legislation,
patent procedure and substantive examination;
- computerization of administration of patents and trademarks registration procedures;
and
- establishment of a minimum documentation fund.
B. Support to industrial property protection in Uzbekistan
1. Duration
The contract was signed in February 1995 and concluded within a period of 18 months and
was extended to April 1997.
2. General objectives of the programme
The programme is designed to ensure a high level of industrial property protection in
Uzbekistan:
- strengthening of the administrations responsible for the intellectual property system
(primarily the Uzbek Patent Office (UPO));  and
- keeping "a minimum" the administrative and technical activities performed by the
UPO and preparing for the advent of the Eurasian Patent Office.
3. Description of the programme
The major activities to be undertaken within the scope of the programme are the following:- Preparation of law and regulations;
- advice and assistance in streamlining the patent office structure;- training programme for patent office staff and patent attorneys;
- automation of the patent and trademark procedure;
- documentation and patent information dissemination;  and
- industrial property awareness programme.
C. First Part of a Strengthening Programme of Industrial Property Protection in the CIS countries
1. Duration
The contract was signed in December 1996 and concluded for a period of 18 months.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
Page 13
2. General objectives of the programme
- Ensure a high and common level of industrial property protection in the CIS
countries, in particular by the setting up of the Eurasian Patent Office;
- assistance to adjustment of regional and national legislation relating to the Eurasian
Patent Convention;
- assistance to adjustment of other national legislation relating to industrial property;
and
- setting up and development of systems protecting industrial property at a regional
level for patents (Eurasian Patent Office) and at national level for other industrial
property rights.
3. Description of the programme
EPO propose to divide the programme into two parts:- advice and assistance for the setting up of the Eurasian Patent Office including
technical assistance, training, documentation, drafting of legislation, publication of
the patents on CD-ROM, administration of the procedure based on the common
software developed under the PHARE regional industrial property protection
programme;
- development of national facilities on industrial property including technical
assistance, regional and local training, computerization of the administrative and
financial management of the proceedings;  and
- promote and develop the means for disseminating patent information using modern
technology, and promote the use of the industrial property system to potential users in
industry, commerce and academic institutions.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
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AUSTRIA
Technical cooperation activities in the field of industrial property conducted by the Austrian
Patent Office in 1996 and the fist half of 1997 are summarized below:
1. In cooperation with WIPO
(a) WIPO - Austria - seminarsAs  in the previous years the Austrian Patent Office hosted in 1996 a three-week training
course with priority on patent examination and patent documentation for participants from
Egypt, Indonesia, Mexico, Nigeria, the Philippines and Thailand.  A similar seminar is
scheduled for September 1997.
(b) State-of-the-art search reports for developing countries
Continuing a tradition since 1975 and basing  on a new agreement with WIPO out of 1986
patent search reports have been carried out for developing countries.  In 1996, 49 reports were
prepared for Argentina, Chile, Cuba and Vietnam.  In 1997, ten requests have been receivedso far.
(c) ICSEI - search reports
In 1996, five search reports were prepared for Morocco participating in WIPO's ICSEI
(International Cooperation in the Search and Examination of Inventions) programme.
For the time being 11 applications from Morocco, Zimbabwe and ARIPO have been dealt
with in the current year.
(d) Activities as PCT - International Search ing and International Preliminary Examining
Authority
In 1996, the Austrian Patent Office received and handled 291 search requests form Brasilia,
the Republic of Korea, Romania, Singapore and Turkey.  Out of that number, 121 files havebeen preliminary examined.
(e) Expert missions
Participating in WIPO's UND-Programme expert missions of staff members of the Austrian
Patent Office to Albania (trademarks) and Moldova (technical aid) took place.  In 1997, an
EDP expert was sent on mission to Belarus.
2. In cooperation with the European Patent Office
(a) WIPO/EPO/APO - seminarAs in 1995 and the years before, a one-week training course for 20 participants from
developing countries with priority on patent examination and information was organized and
partly conducted by the Austrian Patent Office in cooperation with the European PatentOffice.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
Page 15
(b) Expert missions
In the framework of the TACIS programme of the EU, two missions dealing with trademark
administration to the Patent Office of Uzbekistan were performed.
3. Bilateral
Continuing its long-lasting cooperation with China, the Austrian Patent Office hosted
seminars for Chinese officials and provided patent data.
Experts performed two seminars on patent examination and the use of EDP in patent
administration in Peking based on provisions agreed by the sixth Conference of the Mixed
Chinese-Austrian Working Group on Questions of Industrial Property Protection.
On the basis of bilateral agreements, training courses on different matters related to industrial
property protection for officials from other patent of fices are held.  In 1996 and during the first half of
1997, 15 training groups from the offices of Slovenia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey,
Uzbekistan, Ukraine and Latvia stayed at the Austrian Patent Office.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
Page 16
FINLAND
1. General remarks
The activities of Finland relating to technical and financial cooperation relevant to the
implementation of the TRIPS Agreement have conti nued in forms largely similar to those carried out
in previous years.  The most extensive multilateral cooperation activities have taken place within the
framework of the annual WIPO training programmes for civil servants from developing and least-developed member countries.  As regards bilateral cooperation, it is of a great interest for Finland to
assist and support Russia to create a new and an effective industrial property rights system.  This
cooperation has taken place within the mutual cooperation agreement concluded by the National
Board of Patents and Registration of Finland and the City of St. Petersburg of Russia.
The present technical and financial cooperation activities relating to intellectual property
rights are introduced below.
2. Cooperation relating to industrial property rights
2.1 Multilateral cooperation
2.1.1 Human resources
The National Board of Patents and Registration of Finland (hereinafter referred to as the
Patents Board) organizes training courses within the framework of the WIPO Training
Programme.  The training courses provide information about the system of intellectualproperty rights in general and especially in the Nordic countries, as well as an introduction to
the organization and functions of the Patents Board.  Participants in the training courses have
come from Asia, Africa and Latin America.  At the end of September this year, a Ghanian and
a Sudanese will start their two-week training course provided by the Patents Board.
The representatives of the Patents Board have also given lectures in industrial property rights
courses organized by other member countries.  Last May, the Director General of the Patents
Board lectured in a seminar organized by WIPO  and the Patent Office of South Korea within
the framework of the United Nations Development Programme.
2.1.2 Technical assistance
The Patents Board has annually completed several "state-of-the-art" searches consisting of
compilation of published patent documents for the purposes of the developing countries'
patent offices at the request of WIPO.  These searches may be broad reviews of the relevant
technical field or detailed reports on the recent development in a particular field of
technology.  Last year the number of completed "state-of-the-art" reviews was 12.  This year
there have not so far been any requests for such reviews by WIPO.
2.2 Bilateral cooperation
The Patents Board and the Mayor's Office of the City of St. Petersburg have a mutual
cooperation agreement concerning industrial property rights.  This cooperation agreement was
concluded in the interest of further development and protection of industrial property rights
and was renewed for a further three years in January 1997.  The focus of the cooperation hasIP/C/W/77/Add.1
Page 17
been on education and exchange of information relating to industrial property rights, their
legal protection and commercialization.
Lectures and training on industrial property rights were also provided by representatives of
the Patents Board in St. Petersburg in January 1997 within the framework of the
above-mentioned cooperation.
Financial support for the St. Petersburg cooperation project has been applied for by the
Patents Board, the application is currently being reviewed by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs
of Finland.
The Patents Board has also trained visitors form several foreign patent offices:  in
December 1996 there were visitors from Hungary and Russia and in May 1997 from the
Czech Republic.
3. Cooperation relating to copyright and neighbouring rights
The Ministry of Education and Culture organizes as well as finances, in cooperation with
WIPO, training courses for officials from developing countries.  These courses have been carried out
jointly with the collecting societies and the Finnish Copyright Society.  The participants in the courses
will be provided with an introduction to the Finnish and Nordic solutions concerning intellectual
property legislation, collective administration of rights and questions relating to enforcement.  The
courses have been arranged on an annual basis and will be held this year in October with severalparticipants from African and Asian countries.
Training courses relating to copyright issues will  be arranged also in the future in Finland,
subject to the undertakings of WIPO in the field of technical cooperation and requests as well as
factual needs of the developing country members of the Organization.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
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GERMANY
Technical Cooperation with developing countries under the aegis of the Federal Ministry of Justice
Federal Patent Court:
- Advice on legal matters
Countries :
Chile, China, Cuba, Mexico, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Turkey, third countries.Duration :
Unlimited.
Aims :
To provide an insight into how a patent court is set up, organized and operates.
Description :
Under the legal advice programme the Federal Patent Court regularly receives groups of
visitors (judges, administrative lawyers, inspectors, patent lawyers and scholarship holders)including from developing countries.
German Patent Office:
Projects completed in 1996.-U k r a i n e
Cooperation with the State Patent Office of Ukraine as part of the European Commission's
Tacis project.
Duration :
The project ran from 1994 until November 1996.
Aims :
Practice-oriented training on trademark law for Ukraine experts.Description :
Cooperation included visits by German experts to Kiev and training of Ukraine experts at the
German Patent Office.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
Page 19
On-going projects
- Training programme for officials from developing countries
Countries involved in 1997 :
Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Trinidad and Tobago.
Duration :
The programme was launched in 1973 for an unlimited period.  Three-week long training
courses are run each year.
Aims :
Modernization of patent systems and patent offices in developing countries.  The training
aims to give experts from developing countri es information about how an examining patent
office is set up and organized and about how the different types of property rights are
administered.  Participants should also become familiar with the procedure for awarding
patents and with the activities of a patent examiner.
Description :
The annual training seminars generally cover the following subjects:  patent documentation
and classification, structure and up-keep of search files, principles of law pertaining to utility
models, trademarks and employee inventions;  search procedures and drafting of search
reports.
- Further training measures in cooperation with WIPO
Countries involved in 1996 and 1997 :
Albania, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Gambia, Sierra Leone and Sudan.
Duration :
Unlimited.Aims :
Information on issues concerning trade marks and patents.
Description :
Within the framework of WIPO-funded country projects and study visits the German Patent
Office welcomes groups of visitors and provid es them for example with information about
patent and trademark procedures, patents and patent documentation.
- Drafting of search reports for developing countries
Countries involved in 1996 :
Botswana, Chile, Malawi, Malaysia, Panama , South Africa, Chinese Taipei, Zimbabwe.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
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Duration :
Unlimited.
Aims :
To provide developing countries with information on the state of the art.
Description :
Each year the German Patent Office produces one hundred search reports free of charge for
developing countries which request term.
- Cooperation with the European Patent Office
Countries :
Various Asian, Latin American and African countries.
Duration :
Unlimited.
Aims :
Information on issues relating to industrial property rights.
Description :
The German Patent Office, in collaboration with the European Patent Office and WIPO,
organizes seminars on different subjects relating to industrial property rights each year.
- Cooperation with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe
Cooperation within the framework of the European Commission's Phare-Ripp project.
Countries involved in 1997 :
Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland and Romania.
Duration :
The programme was launched in January 1993 and is scheduled to continue until the end
of 1998.
Aims :
Modernization of intellectual property and industrial property rights in the countries of
Central and Eastern Europe.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
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Description :
The German Patent Office runs training course for experts from the countries of Central and
Eastern Europe.
-C r o a t i a
Project:  "Improving protection of industrial property in Croatia".Duration :
The project was launched in July 1997 and is planned to run for three years.
Aims :
Modernization of protection of industrial property in Croatia.
Description :
The German Patent Office will primarily be acting in an advisory capacity and offer training.
As a first measure three members of staff from the Croatian Patent Office have received
training on the patent examination procedure.
- Slovenia
Assistance with training in the areas of copyright law and protection of industrial property.Duration :
The project began in June 1994 and officially ended in February 1997.  However cooperation
with the Solvenian Patent Office will continue.
Aims :
Practice-oriented training of Slovenian experts in patent, trademark and utility model
protection and in copyright law.
Description :
Measures consist of German experts spending time in Slovenia and Slovenian experts
receiving training at the German Patent Office.
- China
Cooperation with the Chinese copyright authorities.Duration :
The project was launched in 1995 and is expected to end in October 1997.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
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Aims :
To assist China in setting up and developing performing rights societies.
Description :
Information visits (some of several months' duration) by delegations from China to the
German Patent Office, including visits to different performing rights societies.  The
concluding part of the project is a visit by a delegation from various German performingrights societies to China, scheduled for October 1997.
- Thailand
Project to improve the protection of intellectual and industrial property.Duration :
The project was launched in November 1995 and is scheduled to run for about four years.
Aims :
Modernization of Thai legislation and administrative procedures applicable to intellectual and
industrial property;  improving public access to information concerning patents.
Description :
Measures consist of German experts spending time in Thailand and training visits to the
German Patent Office.  Since April 1996 a German expert has been on long-term secondment
to the Department of Intellectual Property in Thailand and coordinates the various measuresthere.  In 1997 a symposium on utility model law was held in Bangkok and training was given
in Munich on the subject of copyright and product piracy.
- Turkey
Promotion of industrial property protection.Duration :
The project began in January 1997 and is scheduled to run for four years.
Aims :
Modernization of the administrative procedures applicable to all types of right.
Description :
Since January 1997 a German expert has been on long-term secondment to Ankara.  Training
is also provided in Germany and Turkey on trademarks, patents, utility models and on
information and documentation.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
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- Exchange of search and examination results
Countries :
China, Croatia, Hungary, Mongolia, Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Slovenia and
Thailand.
Duration :
Unlimited.Aims :
Mutual information concerning registration of industrial property rights for which priority has
been asserted in the relevant partner country.
Description :
The German Patent Office has entered into agreements with the relevant offices in the above-
mentioned countries to engage in regular exchanges of search and examination results.
- International exchange of literature
Countries :
Algeria, Argentina, Australia, Belarus, Braz il, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Colombia, Croatia,
Cuba, Czech Republic, Egypt, Estonia, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Japan, Kazakstan,
Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Korea, Kyrgyz Republic, Latvia,
Lithuania, Mexico, Moldavia, Mongolia, Norway, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Romania,Russian Federation, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Thailand, Tunisia, Turkey, Ukraine, United
Arab Emirates, United States of America, Uzbekistan, Vietnam.
Duration :
Unlimited.
Aims :
Mutual information about literature on copyright and industrial property rights.
Description :
The German Patent Office exchanges patent specifications and other publications with the
above-mentioned countries.
German Association for International Judicial Cooperation e.V.
Ongoing projects
- Bulgaria
Cooperation with the Bulgarian Association of Patent Experts and the Bulgarian privatization
agency with respect to industrial property rights and copyright.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
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Duration :
Cooperation commenced in 1993 for an unlimited period.
Aims :
Advice on the privatization of intellectual and industrial property rights and with economic
assessment of industrial property rights within the framework of company privatizations.
Description :
The Association organizes seminars in Germany and Bulgaria - the latest one was held in
Sofia from 10 to 13 October 1997 - covering subjects such as the statutory bases for copyright
and industrial property rights, latest European and international developments in the field of
intellectual and industrial property rights and the protection of biotechnological invention.
- Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Romania and Slovak Republic
Symposium on the alignment of national law with European Community law.Duration :
16 to 20 October 1996.
Content :
Issues related inter alia  to copyright and protection of industrial property at European level.
Description :
The symposium, which the Association conduct ed in Budapest, was aimed at members of
national parliaments and their staff and at Ministerial representatives concerned with the
practical aspects of aligning national law on European Community law.
- Lithuania
Cooperation with the Lithuanian Patent Office with respect to industrial property rights.Duration :
Cooperation began in 1996 and is planned to continue in 1997.
Aims :
Discussion of issues related to trademark and patent law.
Description :
Working visits and seminars bringing together experts from Lithuanian and German Patent
Offices and of the Federal Patent Court.  A seminar is scheduled to take place in Vilnius on 8
and 9 October 1997.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
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- Russian Federation
1. Cooperation with Russian patent institutes
Duration :
Cooperation began in 1993 and is scheduled to continue in the long term.
Aims :
Assistance with implementation of the new Russian patent, trademarks and utility models
legislation.
Description :
The Association holds seminars focused on the following subjects:  general status of
industrial property rights in market economies, practical aspects of the patent issue procedure
and legal and contractual problems in the patents field, issues of trademark and utility model
law, issues concerning the patent jurisdiction and patent court procedure, legal protection of
computer software, procedures for registering trademarks with the German Patent Office andFederal Patent Court procedure in trademark cases.
2. Cooperation with the Russian Centre for Private Law
Duration :
Cooperation began in 1995 and will continue indefinitely.
Aims :
Advisory function in the drafting or revision of statutory rules for the protection of copyright
and industrial property rights.
Description :
Once drafted the rules are assessed at the Association's request by experts at the Federal
Patent Court, the Max Planck Institute for foreign and international patent, copyright andcompetition law and the Association of Lawyers.  Moreover, talks are held at expert level, the
latest of which concentrated on assertion of protective rights, copyright and technical rights of
protection.
-U k r a i n e
Cooperation in the drafting of a new Ukrainian Civil Code.
Duration :
Cooperation began in 1993;  no completion date has been fixed.
Aims :
Support in the reform of statutory rules on copyright and industrial property rights.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
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Description :
The Association provides support in an advisory capacity, produces expert reports, organizes
meetings between experts and runs specialist seminars.
Future projects
- Czech Republic
Cooperation under the European Commission's Phare programme.
Duration :
Starting and completion dates have not yet been fixed.
Aims :
Alignment of Czech copyright and industrial property law on European Community law.
Description :
Advice will be provided by experts from Germany.  No further details are known at this stage.IP/C/W/77/Add.1
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SWEDEN
IP/C/W/34/Add.3 is still basically relevant.  The following information might, however, be
added:
"The activities, in particular in the copyright field, have increased during the last year.  An
increasing number of people (20 in 1997) from developing countries have taken part in the
Stockholm courses financed by Sweden, and the Swedish International Development Agency(SIDA) has spent more money on the funding of the courses than before.
In the programme more attention has been given to issues relating to the TRIPS Agreement
and its proper implementation.  The constructive cooperation with the World Intellectual
Property Organization in the organization of the courses has proved to be very effective."