RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/L/60
21April 1995
ORGANIZATION(95-0975)
Original: English
ACCESSION OFESTONIA
Communication from Estonia
Thefollowing communication hasbeenreceived fromtheMinistry ofForeign Affairs ofthe
Republic ofEstonia.
_______________
Inorder topursue theprocess ofEstonia 'saccession totheWorld Trade Organization, please
findenclosed herewith thefollowing documentation:
- Note onservices;
- Note onTrade-Related Intellectual Property Rights;
- Estonia 'sinitial offer formarket access negotiations ongoods;
- Note onforeign trade legislation.
Theinitial offer fornegotiations ofcommitments inservices hasbeensubmitted separately.
_______________
Estonia 'sdraftSchedule ofSpecific Commitments onTrade inServices hasbeencirculated
indocument WT/L/59.
TheLaw onCredit Institutions inEnglish translation isavailable intheSecretariat
(Accessions Division, Room 2075) forconsultation.
Thenotes mentioned inthecommunication from Estonia arereproduced hereunder.WT/L/60
Page2
NOTE ONTRADE INSERVICES
None oftheexisting legalactsinEstonia isinconsistent withtheGeneral Agreement onTrade
inServices.
AccordingtotheLawonAliensandtheOrderofGivingResidentialPermitandWorkingPermits
toAliens, onlyaperson whohasaresidential andworking permit canwork inEstonia. Onecanapply
foravisaforaperiod of90days, butatemporary stayislimited to30daysatatime. Residential
Permit canbeapplied forthemaximum offiveyears. Theimmigration quota is1,000 persons ayear,
regardless oftheirqualification ororigin.
Commercial presence ofaforeign company must taketheform ofalegalperson registered
inEstonia.
Services areregulated bythefollowing legalacts:
Legal services areregulated bytheBarStatute (Advokatuuri põhimäärus) which states that
foreign investors arenotallowed toparticipate inestablishing alawyer 'soffice. Alllawyers must
bemembers oftheBarAssociation (Advokatuur) .Atfirstonemustwork asanassistant toabarrister
atlawfortwoyears, thenpassanexam andwork forthree years asasenior assistant andafterthat
itispossible topassalawyers exam. LawonPublic Notaries (notaries areappointed bytheMinistry
ofJustice) andadraftLawonLegal Advice areinconformity withtheGATS.
Accounting, auditing andbookkeeping services areregulated bytheLawonBookkeeping and
Auditing Statute which areconsistent withtheGATS. Anauditor needs anattestation certificate issued
bytheAuditors Board, which isappointed bytheMinistry ofFinance. Toacquire anattestation
certificate onemusthaveeither economic orlegalhigher education pluswork experience inarelevant
fieldatleastforthree years.
Architectural andconstruction services: atthepresent moment theGovernment Decree isin
force, according towhich activity licences arerequired. However, there isadraftLawonPlanning
andConstruction intheParliament which contains onlyacompetency requirement (specialists must
havehigher education intherelevant field). Probably thelicences willremain inuseforanother year.
Medical anddental services: areregulated byaDecree oftheMinistry ofSocial Affairs "The
Temporary regulation ontheOrder ofForeign Practising Physicians inEstonia". There arenobarriers,
onlyanattestation certificate issued bytheMinistry ofSocial Affairs isrequired.
Tourism andtravel related services: nobarriers, onlyactivity licence isrequired; special
minimum requirements forhotels. Decrees oftheMinistry ofEconomy "TheRegulation ontheOrder
ofGranting StateLicences onRendering Tourist Services toTravel Agents andTourOperators" and
"The General Requirements andMinimum Requirements toPrivate Individuals andLegal Persons
Rendering Hotel Services".
Transport services: Traffic Law; Merchant Shipping Code; LawonAviation; Lawon
Railways; LawonTelecommunications. There arenobarriers. Tooffertransport orcommunication
services, onemustacquire anactivity licence inacorresponding field(aviation, navigation, roador
railtransport; orcommunications) from theMinistry ofTransport andCommunications. Activity
licences willbeabolished inthenearest future. Inshipping thelicence isnotrequired already now.WT/L/60
Page3
Inthefieldoftransportandcommunications,thereexiststwoconcessionagreementsguaranteeing
monopoly rights: inshipping there isaconcession onconveyance ofpassengers between Estonia and
Sweden granted toacompany "Estline"; intelecommunications aconcession hasbeengranted to"Eesti
Telefon". The10years, foreseen intheGATS foreliminating monopolies, isenough, as"Estline 's"
concession remains inforceforanother threeyears andthatof"Eesti Telefon" foreightyears. Licences
forconveyance ofpassengers andgoods areissued onlytovehicles belonging tocompanies registered
inEstonia. Tosailunder theEstonian flag,theferry mustbelong either toacitizen oftheEstonian
Republic oracompany where theshare ofEstonia isatleast51percentandwhich headquarters are
situated inEstonia andwhich operates under theEstonian law.
Banking andfinancial services: LawonCredit Institutions; LawonBank ofEstonia; Law
onSecurities Market; LawonInsurance; LawonTraffic Insurance. Licences areneeded ininsurance,
banking andsecurities sectors. Alllegalactsconcerning banking andfinancial services areconsistent
withtheGATS.
Computerandrelatedservices:researchanddevelopmentservicesarenotregulatedwithspecific
legalacts.
Other business services: must follow thegenerally admitted lawslikeCivil Code, Lawon
Property, LawonForeign Investments, LawonCompetition, Advertising Law, Business Law.
Rental/leasing services areregulated bytheLawonRenting.WT/L/60
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NOTE ONTRADE-RELATED ASPECTS OFINTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
INDUSTRIAL PROPERTY RIGHTS
Allthelawsonandregulations concerning industrial property rights atpresent inforce in
Estonia, i.e.theLawonTrademarks (inforcefrom1October 1992), theLawonPatents (23May1994)
andtheLawonUtility Model (23May1994) arefullyconsistent withtheAgreement onTrade-Related
Intellectual Property Rights.
TheLawonIndustrial Design, TheLawonGeographical Indication andtheLawonLayout-
Designs areinthestage ofpreparing adraft. Forenforcement ofindustrial property rights certain
amendments andsupplements totheCriminal Code andtotheCode ofAdministrative Offences isto
bemade. After adopting them inRiigikogu (Parliament) during 1995-1997, thelegislative bases
guarantee theimplementation ofTRIPS Agreement.
COPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS
Comparative Analysis ofEstonian Legislation.
PartI:General provisions andbasic principles
1. TheEstonian legislation oncopyright andrelated rights consists ofthefollowing acts:
- Article 39oftheConstitution of28June1992: "Authors shallhaveinalienable right
totheircreation. TheState protects therights oftheauthors";
- Copyright Law(Author 'sRights Law) of11November 1992 which came intoeffect
on12December 1992;
- Competition Lawof1993 contains aspecial chapter onunfair competition;
- Broadcasting Lawof19May1994 contains some provisions oncopyright;
- LawonAmendingandSupplementingtheCriminalCodeandtheCodeofAdministrative
Offences of9January 1995 introduces newcriminal sanctions andforthefirsttime
establishes administrative liability fortheinfringement ofcopyright andneighbouring
rights;
- Government Resolution No.40of26January 1995 which approved theOrder of
Collection andPayment oftheLevy toCompensate fortheUseofAudiovisual Works
andSound Recordings ofWorks.
2. TheCopyright Lawof1992 wasworked outonthebasis oftheParis ActoftheBerne
Convention fortheProtection ofLiterary andArtistic Works, andtheInternational Convention for
theProtectionofPerformers,ProducersofPhonogrammesandBroadcastingOrganizations(Rome1961),
aswellastheprinciples oftheEEC Council Directive of14May1991 onthelegal protection of
computer programmes (thesoftware directive). TheWIPO Model LawonCopyright andNeighbouring
Rights served asoneofthemodels. TheDraft Lawpassed theexpertise ofWIPO andwasassessed
byleading copyright specialists inFinland, Sweden andtheUnited States.WT/L/60
Page5
The1992 Copyright Lawrepealed PartIV"Copyright" oftheCivil Code of1964. Inthe
process oflegalreform going oninEstonia theCivil Code oftheEstonian Soviet Socialist Republic
of12June1964(inforce from1January 1995) isbeing replaced byanewCivil Code. ThenewCivil
Code willconsist offiveseparate lawsandwillnotinclude theCopyright Law. However, theCivil
Code includes general civillawprovisions which areapplicable tocopyright andrelated rights.
Thestructure ofthenewCivil Code isdrafted asfollows:
I. LawonGeneral Principles oftheCivilCode of28June1994which waseffected from
1September 1994;
II. Property Law of9June 1993, inforce from 1December 1993 andLaw on
Implementation oftheProperty Lawof27October 1993;
III. Family Lawof12October 1994 which came intoeffect on1January 1995;
IV. LawonObligations islikely topassin1995 andwillalsocontain aseparate parton
commercial contracts which traditionally forms partoftheBusiness Code;
V. Inheritance Lawwhich isexpected topassin1995.
TheBusiness Code which isalsoalegalbasisforcopyright-based industries (cultural industries)
waspassed on14February 1995. Itcontains rulesabout different forms ofenterprises (partnerships,
joint-stock companies, limited liability companies, etc.).
3. Estonia isamember oftheWorld Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) since
5February 1994 (State Reporter II1994, No.1/2,p.77). TheLawontheRatification ofthe
Convention onEstablishing theWorld Intellectual Property Organization waspassed byRiigikogu on
25August 1993.
4. Estonia isparty totheBerne Convention fortheProtection ofLiterary andArtistic Works
since 26October 1994. TheLawonAccession totheBerne Convention fortheProtection ofLiterary
andArtistic Works waspassed on18May1994.
5. EstoniaisnotapartytotheInternationalConventionfortheProtectionofPerformers,Producers
ofPhonogrammes andBroadcasting Organizations (Rome Convention, 1961). Buttherearenoformal
obstacles tojoinastheRome Convention served asamodel fortheneighbouring rights chapter
(Chapter VIII) intheEstonian Copyright Law. Thequestion ofaccession totheRome Convention
isunder discussion attheMinistry ofCulture andEducation.
6. Estonia isnotaparty totheUniversal Copyright Convention (UCC; Geneva 1952).
7. Estonia isnotaparty totheConvention fortheProtection ofProducers ofPhonogrammes
against Unauthorized Duplication oftheir Phonogrammes of1971 (Phonogramme Convention,
Geneva 1971). Thequestion ofaccession tothePhonogramme Convention isunder discussion atthe
Ministry ofCulture andEducation.WT/L/60
Page6
PartII:Standards concerning theavailability, scope anduseofintellectual property rights
Section 1:Copyright andrelated rights
Article 9,Relation totheBerne Convention
1. Estonia hasacceded theBerne Convention (1971, ParisAct)without making anyreservations.
TheEstonian Copyright Lawgrants theauthor economic rights, which aretransferable either
asseparate rights orasacollection ofrights (§11and13),andmoral rights (§11and12).
Theeconomic rights include arightofreproduction ofthework, rightofpublic performance,
right ofdistribution, rightofimportation, rightoftranslation, right ofadaptation, right ofdisplay,
rightofcommunication etc.(§13).
2. According to§4(1)oftheCopyright Lawcopyright subsists inliterary, artistic anscientific
works. "Works" forthepurposes oftheCopyright Lawmeans anyoriginal results ofaperson 'screative
activities intheliterary, artistic andscientific domain, which havebeenexpressed inanobjective form
and,inthisform, canbeperceived andreproduced either directly orbymeans ofatechnical device
(§4(2)). Copyright inawork shallcommence uponthecreation ofthework which means themoment
offixing thework inanobjective form which permits ittobeperceived andreproduced.
According to§5ideas, images, notions, theories, processes, systems, methods, conceptions,
principles, discoveries, inventions andother suchresults ofintellectual creation, described, explained
orotherwise expressed inawork arenotprotected bytheCopyright Law.
§4(3)contains annon-exhaustive listofworks protected bytheCopyright Law. Thelistalso
contains works ofapplied artandworks ofdesign. After adoption ofthespecial lawonindustrial
designs thelast-mentioned objects willhavecumulative protection inEstonia.
3. Theprinciple ofnational treatment isexpressed in§3oftheCopyright Law.
4. Theauthor (aphysical person orpersons) shallbethefirstowner ofthemoral rights andthe
economic rights inhiswork(§28).Theexceptions fromthisgeneral principle provided intheCopyright
Lawasregards theeconomic rights oftheauthor arethefollowing:
- theauthor 'seconomic rights intheuseoftheworkcreated inthecourse ofemployment
under anemployment contract shallbetransferred totheemployer, unless provided
otherwise bycontract (§32);
- copyright inanaudiovisual work shallbeenjoyed byitsauthor orjointauthors -the
director, scriptwriter, composer, cameraman anddesigner -buttheeconomic rights
oftheauthor shallbetransferred totheproducer ofthework, unless provided otherwise
bycontract (§33);
- copyright inacollective work shallbeenjoyed bytheperson onwhose initiative and
under whose direction suchawork wascreated andunder whose name itwasmade
available tothepublic, unless provided otherwise bycontract.WT/L/60
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"Collective work" isawork consisting ofcontributions bydifferent authors which havebeen
merged intoanintegral whole byaphysical person orlegalentity onhisoritsinitiative andunder
hisoritsdirection, andwhich hasbeenmade public under thename ofthephysical person orthelegal
entity (works ofreference, scientific collections, newspapers, journals andother periodicals, etc.)
(§31).
5. Theuseofawork byother persons shallbepermitted onlyincaseofthetransfer (assignment)
oftheauthor 'seconomic rights oronthebasis ofalicence (exclusive ornon-exclusive) granted by
theauthor inanauthor 'scontract (§46andthefollowing sections inChapter VII"Use ofWorks").
Theexceptions tothisrulearedealtwithunder Article 13.
Article 10,Computer programmes andcompilations ofdata
1. According to§4(3)3 computer programmes areprotected aswritten/literary/works.
Chapter IVoftheCopyright Law"Use ofWorks Without theAuthor 'sConsent andWithout
Payment ofRemuneration" contains twosections onfreeuseofcomputer programmes. §24"Free
UseofComputer Programmes" and§25"Free Decompilation ofComputer Programmes" follow the
principles ofthe1991 EEC software directive.
2. "Collectionsofworksandcollectionsofinformation(includingdatabases)"aredirectlymentioned
onthelistofworks inwhich copyright subsists (§4(3)22) oftheCopyright Law. There isaspecial
section -§34-oncopyright ofcompilers. According to§34(1) aperson (thecompiler) whohas,
asaresult ofhiscreative activities byselecting andsystematizing thematerial, created acollection
shallenjoy thedataormaterial itself. According to§34(4) works protected bycopyright maybe
systematized andincluded inacollection, either intheiroriginal form orinamodified form, only
withtheconsent oftheauthor orhisheirs, except forthecases provided forunder Chapter IVofthe
Copyright Law. Thecompiler shallbeobliged torespect thecopyright oftheauthor oftheworks
included inthecollection.
Article 11,rental rights
According to§13(2) oftheCopyright Lawtheauthors andtheirsuccessors intitleofaudiovisual
works/cinematographic works/works included inphonogrammes, computer programmes andworks
which canbeusedbymeans ofacomputer oranyothertechnical device shallenjoy therighttoauthorize
therental oranyother public useoftheirwork.
Article 12,terms ofprotection
1. Thegeneral ruleisthatcopyright shallsubsist forthelifeoftheauthor and50years afterhis
death (§38(1)).
2. Copyright inawork firstmade available tothepublic within 50years afterthedeath ofthe
author shallsubsist for50years afterthelawful making available tothepublic ofthework (§38(2)).
3. Copyright inawork created bytwoormore persons byjointcreation (joint authorship) shall
subsist forthelifeofthelastsurviving author and50years afterhisdeath (§39).
4. Copyright inawork made available tothepublic anonymously orunder apseudonym shall
subsist for50years afterthework hasbeenlawfully made available tothepublic butifduring this
termtheauthor reveals hiscivilname orhisauthorship isotherwise established, thelifeplus50years
termshallbeapplied (§40).WT/L/60
Page8
5. Copyrightinacollectivework,theproducer'scopyrightinanaudiovisual/cinematographic/work
andacopyright inaphotographic work shallsubsist for50years afterthework hasbeenlawfully
made available tothepublic. Ifsuchawork hasnotbeenmade available tothepublic within 50years
afterthecreation thereof, copyright therein shallsubsist for50years afterthecreation ofthework
(§41).
6. Copyright inworks ofapplied artshallsubsist for25years afterthework hasbeencreated
(§42).
7. Theterms runfrom1January oftheyearfollowing thedeath oftheauthor orfollowing the
dateoflawfully making thework available tothepublic orthecreation ofthework (§43).
Article 13,limitations andexceptions
1. Limitations toexclusive rights oftheauthor areinChapter IV"Use ofWorks Without the
Author 'sConsent andWithout Payment ofRemuneration" oftheCopyright Law. Theuseofawork
without theauthors consent andwithout payment ofremuneration (freeuse)shallbepermitted only
inthecases directly prescribed by§18to§25oftheCopyright Law, provided thatsuchausedoes
notconflict withanormal exploitation ofthework anddoesnotprejudice thelegitimate interests of
theauthor (§17). Such afreeuseincludes:
- freereproduction ofworks forcertain scientific, educational, informatory, legaland
administrative purposes (§19);
- freereproduction ofworks bylibraries, archives andmuseums incertain cases (§20);
- freeuseofimages ofworks permanently located inpublic places (§21);
- freepublic performance ofworks ateducational institutions, under certain limitations
(§22);
- making ofephemeral recordings bybroadcasting organizations (§23);
- cases offreeuseofcomputer programmes (§24)anddecompilation ofcomputer
programmes (§25).
2. TheEstonian Copyright Lawdoesnotcontain provisions oncompulsory licences.
3. TheGovernment Resolution No.40of26January 1995prescribes theprocedure forfulfilment
ofSections 26and27oftheCopyright Law. According toSections 26and27oftheCopyright Law
theauthors, performers andproducers ofphonogrammes shallbecompensated forthereproduction
oftheiraudiovisual works andsound recordings forpersonal use.Theappropriate remuneration, the
sizeofwhich isestablished onayearly basis bytheMinistry ofCulture andEducation, shallbepaid
byproducers andimporters oftechnical devices forprivate reproduction, blank tapes, cassettes and
other such devices. Theorganization incharge ofcollecting theremuneration istheAuthor 's
Association. Thecollecting anddistribution ofremuneration starts from 1April 1995.
Article 14,protection ofperformers, producers ofphonogrammes (sound recordings) andbroadcasting
organizations
1. Therights ofperformers, producers ofphonogrammes andradio andtelevision organizations
(broadcasting organizations) areinChapter VIIIoftheCopyright Law.WT/L/60
Page9
2. According to§65theperformer shallenjoy moral andeconomic rights intheperformances.
Theperformer ofawork shallhavetheexclusive right tousetheperformance ofthework
andtoauthorize theusethereof byothers, aswellastheright toremuneration forsuchuse,which
hasbeenagreed uponbetween theparties, except forthecasesagreed between theparties andprescribed
in§75"Limitations onRights Neighbouring onCopyright" oftheCopyright Law(§67).
Itshallbepermitted onlywiththeauthorization oftheperformer:
(1) tofixanunfixed performance onarecord, sound orvideo tape, filmetc.;
(2) toreproduce afixation oftheperformance;
(3) tobroadcast theperformance;
(4) tocommunicate theperformance tothepublic byanytechnical device outside theplace
where theperformance istaking place;
(5) tousethesound andtheimages separately, where these havebeenfixed together and
form anintegral whole (§67).
3. According to§70oftheCopyright Lawitshallbepermitted onlywiththeauthorization of
theproducer ofphonogrammes:
(1) toreproduce hisphonogrammes;
(2) toimport copies ofhisphonogrammes;
(3) torent,oruseinanyother manner, copies ofhisphonogramme.
4. According to§73oftheCopyright Lawitshallbepermitted onlywiththeauthorization of
thebroadcasting organization:
(1) tofixabroadcast;
(2) toreproduce thefixation ofabroadcast;
(3) torebroadcast abroadcast (itincludes therebroadcasting bywireless means of
broadcasts, aswellasthecommunication tothepublic oftelevision broadcasts ofthe
same) (§73).
5. Thetermofprotection available under theEstonian Copyright Lawinrespect ofperformers,
producersofphonogrammesandbroadcastingorganizationsshalllastfor50years.Thetermiscomputed
fromthefirstperformance ofthework ifitisunfixed, orfromthefirstpublication iftheperformance
hasbeen fixed onthephonogramme (performers), from thefirstpublication (producers of
phonogrammes) andfrom thefirsttransmission ofthebroadcast (broadcasting organizations). The
termshallrunfrom1January ofyearfollowing theyearduring which theactsreferred toweredone
(§74).
6. Thelimitations oftherelated rights, fixed in§75oftheCopyright Law, arethose permitted
bytheRome Convention.WT/L/60
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PartIII:Enforcement ofintellectual property rights
Section 1:General obligations
1. According to§79oftheCopyright Law, violations oftherights ofauthors, performers,
producers ofphonogrammes andbroadcasting organizations shallbring about civil, administrative or
criminal liability.
2. Thecourt reform inEstonia wascompleted in1993. There arethreecourt levels -city(county)
courts, district courts andtheNational Court situated inTartu. There arealsoseparate Administrative
Courts inTallinn, Tartu andNarva. Cityandcounty courts include administrative judges. There are
noseparate intellectual property (copyright) courts inEstonia.
3. TheMinistry ofCulture andEducation isresponsible forthedevelopment andadministration
ofCopyright andrelated rights inEstonia. Allthebillsinthesefields havebeendrafted attheMinistry
ofCulture andEducation.
Section 2:Civil andadministrative procedures andremedies
1. Civil lawremedies fortheviolation ofauthor 'smoral andeconomic rights canbefound in
theCopyright LawaswellasintheCivil Code.
Protection ofauthor 'smoral andeconomic rights canbeachieved through courtinthefollowing
ways:
(1) byrecognizing therights;
(2) byceasing theactsofviolation orrestraining theactivities which aggravate therisk
ofviolation oftherights (stopping thereproduction ofthework, fixation ofa
performance orphonogramme orstopping thedistribution thereof, etc.);
(3) byrestoring thesituation prior totheviolation oftheright;
(4) byobliging theother party tofulfil thecontract orbycancelling thecontract;
(5) byeliminating theeffects oftheinfringement;
(6) byrecovering material compensation forthemoral damage incurred;
(7) byreclaiming theprofit made bytheinfringer forthebenefit oftheperson whohas
suffered damages;
(8) bycompensating forthedamages;
(9) byother means prescribed bylegalacts(§80oftheCopyright Law).
2. TheCivil Lawmeasures alsoinclude destruction, alteration andseizure ofillegal copies and
technical devices usedformaking suchinfringing copies (§81oftheCopyright Law).
3. Thepractical questions orprotection ofviolated rights withCivil Lawmeans areregulated
intheCode ofCivilProcedure of19May1993which isinconformity withtherequirements ofSection 2
ofPartIIIoftheTRIPS Agreement.WT/L/60
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Parties totheprocedure havetherighttoberepresented byindependent legal counsel (asa
rule, amember oftheEstonian BarAssociation ischosen bytheparties asarepresentative). The
procedure shallprovide ameans toidentify andprotect confidential information.
4. TheLawonAmendments totheCriminal Code andtotheCode ofAdministrative Offences
of9January 1995 introduces forthefirsttimeaspecial provision (Section 184)which prescribes
administrative liability fortheviolation ofcopyright andrelated rights. Thesanctions foreseen are
afineandadministrative detention.
TheCode ofAdministrative Offences
Section 184: Violation ofcopyright andneighbouring rights
(1) Theunlawful reproduction ofcopyright works, including computer programmes, electronic
databases andaudiovisual works, performances ofworks, phonogrammes, radio andtelevision
programmes shallbepunishable withamonetary fineamounting tothedaily wages ofupto
200days.
(2) Theunlawful alteration ormaking ofcopies aswellastheunlawful rental, leasing, offering
forsaleorrental, display, distribution, performance ofworks, broadcasting oranyother
unlawful useofcopyright works, phonogrammes, radio andtelevision programmes shallbe
punishable withamonetary fineamounting tothedaily wages ofupto200daysorwithan
administrative detention lasting upto15days.
(3) Making known tothepublic without consent oftheauthor orperformer ofworks oftheirname
iftheworkwaspublishedunderapseudonym,author'ssignoranonymously,aswellasviolation
oftheintegrity andintactness ofawork, oroftheorder ofitspublicising shallbepunishable
withamonetary fineamounting tothedaily wages ofupto200daysoranadministrative
detention lasting upto20days.
(4) Violation ofregulations regarding payment ofremuneration provided forinSections 15,26
and27oftheCopyright Lawshallbepunishable withamonetary fineamounting tothedaily
wages ofupto100days.
(5) Thesale,rental, leasing, offering forsaleorrental, display, distribution oranyother unlawful
useoftechnical equipment ordevices designed forremoval ofaprotective device against the
unlawful reproduction ofcopyright works, performances ofworks, phonogrammes, radio and
Television programmes, orforremoval ofaprotective device against theunlawful reception
ofasignal transmitted viasatellite orcable shallbepunishable withamonetary fineamounting
tothedaily wages ofupto200daysoranadministrative detention upto15days.
Section 4:Special requirements related toborder measures
TheCustoms Lawof15September 1993, effected from 1November 1993, forms thelegal
foundation forprotection measures against import andexport ofpirated copyright goods. TheCustoms
Lawalsocontains sanctions fortheviolation ofcustoms regulations.WT/L/60
Page12
Section 5:Criminal procedures
1. Fundamental changes wereintroduced intheCriminal Code with theLawonAmendments
totheCriminal Code andtotheCode ofAdministrative Offences of9January 1995. Nowitisexpressly
stated that"special seizure maybeexercised inrespect ofcopies ofworks which havebeenmade in
violation oftheCopyright Law" (§33(5)).
Fortheviolation ofauthor 'sandperformer 'smoral rights (plagiarism, etc.)thesanction is
afineorimprisonment uptotwoyears. Thecriminal codenowcontains theenumeration ofthese
violations ofeconomic rights ofauthors, performers, producers ofphonogrammes andbroadcasting
organizations which bring along criminal sanctions -afineorimprisonment uptothree years. Afine
canbeimposed intheamount ofupto300dailywages. Thedailywages ofthefineshallbecalculated
onthebasis ofthemean daily income aftertaxoftheperson convicted, considering his/her family
andeconomic condition (§28oftheCriminal Code).
There arethree conditions forimposing criminal sanctions:
(i) ifanadministrative penalty hadbeenimposed ontheguilty party forthesame act;
(ii) iftheunlawful actwasperformed forthepurpose ofentrepreneurship, or
(iii) ifthisactcaused amajor economic damage totheperson holding thecopyright or
neighbouring rights.
Criminal Code
Section 136: Violation ofcopyright andneighbouring rights
(1) Publishing inone'sownname ofacopyright work, performance ofawork, phonogramme,
radio orTVprogramme (plagiarism), oranyother violation ofcopyright shallbepunishable
withamonetary fineorimprisonment uptotwoyears.
(2) Theunlawful reproduction, sale,rental, leasing, performance, broadcasting, offering forsale
orrental, display, distribution, import, export oranyother unlawful use(contrafaction) of
copyright works, including computer programmes, electronic databases andaudiovisual works,
performances ofworks, phonogrammes, radio andTVprogrammes shallbepunishable with
amonetary fineorimprisonment uptothree years, iftheunlawful actwasperformed forthe
purpose ofentrepreneurship, orifanadministrative penalty hadbeenimposed ontheguilty
party forthesame act,orifthisactcaused amajor economic damage totheperson holding
thecopyright orneighbouring rights.
(3) Theproduction, sale,rental, leasing, offering forsaleorrental, display, distribution, import
oranyother unlawful useoftechnical equipment ordevices designed forremoval ofthe
protective device against theunlawful reproduction ofcopyright works, including computer
programs, electronic databases andaudiovisual works, performances ofworks, phonogrammes,
radioandTVprogrammes,orforremovaloftheprotectivedeviceagainsttheunlawfulreception
orsignals transmitted viasatellite orcable shall bepunishable withamonetary fineor
imprisonment uptothree years, iftheunlawful actwasperformed forthepurpose of
entrepreneurship, orifanadministrative penalty hadbeenimposed ontheguilty party forthe
same act,orifthisactcaused amajor economic damage totheperson holding thecopyright
orrelated rights.WT/L/60
Page13
PartV:Dispute prevention andsettlement
1. TheEstonian Copyright Law(§82)envisages thefoundation ofaCopyright Commission at
theMinistry ofCulture andEducation which canactasanarbitrator between theopposing parties.
TheCommission, acting onanadhocbasis, hasconsidered twodisputes concerning thesizeofpayments
between theEstonian Authors 'Society andbroadcasting organizations. Inonedispute inAugust 1994
acompromise solution wasmade, inJanuary 1995another dispute remained unsettled andwillprobably
come before thecourt.
2. Collective administration ofrights
1. Thelegalfoundation forestablishing authors 'societies inEstonia isChapter IXofthe1992
Copyright Law"Collective exercise ofrights".
2. TheEstonianAuthors'Society(EAÜ;EestiAutoriteÜhing)starteditsactivitiesatthebeginning
of1992. From May1993 EAÜ isamember ofCISAC.
EAÜ isbased onamembership principle andby1March 1995 has375members. Cooperation
agreements havebeenconcluded withsister-societies in13countries, including theUnited States, Great
Britain, Germany, Finland, Sweden, Denmark, Austria, Switzerland, Hungary, Lithuania, etc.
Starting from 1993 oneofthemost important tasks ofEAÜ hasbeentodraftandconclude
contracts withtheusers ofmusical works. Concert organizations, stateandprivate radio andtelevision
organizations aswellasrestaurants havebeennegotiation partners. Thefirststepsaremade instarting
negotiations withcinemas. Shops, transportation andsports organizations arewaiting fortheirturn.
Theusers ofcopyright works asaruledonotobject topaying theauthors; disputes arisein
connection withthesizeofpayment. Asthere isnoestablished practice inEstonia inthisquestion,
negotiations arehardandmayleadtonothing. EAÜ intends tobring anaction inthiscasebefore
thecourt ofjustice.
3. InSeptember 1994, anewcollective administration organization torepresent mostly theauthors
ofaudio-visualworksEestiAudiovisuaalautoriteÜhing(EstonianAudio-visualAuthors'Society)EAAÜ)
wasfounded inTallinn. By1March 1995theStatutes oftheSociety werenotyetofficially registered.
Nevertheless, theSociety hasstarted anambitious project tofightvideo piracy inEstonia. According
toitsStatutestheneworganizationisbasedonthemembershipprinciple,butcanalsorepresentproducers
andother interested persons onthebasis ofaspecial contract.
PartVII: Final provisions
Theyear1995islikely towitness anewstage intheEstonian copyright reform. TheMinistry
ofCulture andEducation isplanning tostartwork onabillamending theCopyright Law. Theaim
ofthebillisnotonlytoregulate certain questions more thoroughly, buttorevise some copyright and
neighbouring rights issues conceptually, inthelightofrecent developments inGATT, EUandWIPO
aswellasnewlegislation adopted inother countries.WT/L/60
Page14
Estonia 'sInitial Offer forMarket Access Negotiations
HSChapter Nos. 1-24
HSHeading No. RateofMFN tariff
Advalorem Specific
0101 50%
0102 20% +26,000 EEK/T
0103 12,000 EEK/T
0104 23,000 EEK/T
0105 10,000 EEK/T
0106 50%
0201 20% +90,000 EEK/T
0202 20% +90,000 EEK/T
0203 30,000 EEK/T
0204 20% +90,000 EEK/T
0205 50%
0206 20% +90,000 EEK/T
0207 40,000 EEK/T
0208 50%
0209 10,000 EEK/T
0210 20% +90,000 EEK/T
0301 50%
50%
0302 50%
0303 50%
0304 50%
0305 50%
0306 50%
0307 50%
0401 50,000 EEK/T
0402 50,000 EEK/T
0403 20% +50,000 EEK/T
0404 50,000 EEK/T
0405 66,000 EEK/TWT/L/60
Page15
HSHeading No. RateofMFN tariff
Advalorem Specific
0406 66,000 EEK/T
0407 3,000 EEK/T
0408 40,000 EEK/T
0409 50%
0410 50%
0501 50%
0502 50%
0503 50%
0504 50%
0505 50%
0506 50%
0507 50%
0508 50%
0509 50%
0510 50%
0511 50%
0601 50%
0602 50%
0603 50%
0812 50%
0813 50%
0814 50%
0901 50%
0902 50%
0903 50%
0904 50%
0905 50%
0906 50%
0907 50%
0908 50%
0909 50%WT/L/60
Page16
HSHeading No. RateofMFN tariff
Advalorem Specific
0910 50%
1001 4,000 EEK/T
1002 4,000 EEK/T
1003 4,000 EEK/T
1004 4,000 EEK/T
1005 4,000 EEK/T
1006 4,000 EEK/T
1007 50%
1008 20% +8,000 EEK/T
1101 8,000 EEK/T
1102 8,000 EEK/T
1103 8,000 EEK/T
1104 8,000 EEK/T
1105 50%
1106 50%
1107 6,000 EEK/T
1108 6,000 EEK/T
1109 15,000 EEK/T
1201 50%
1202 50%
1203 50%
1204 50%
1205 50%
1206 50%
1207 50%
1208 50%
1209 50%
1210 50%
1211 50%
1212 5,000 EEK/TWT/L/60
Page17
HSHeading No. RateofMFN tariff
Advalorem Specific
1213 50%
1214 50%
1301 50%
1302 50%
1401 50%
1402 50%
1403 50%
1404 50%
1501 20% +5,000 EEK/T
1502 50%
1503 50%
1504 50%
1505 50%
1506 50%
1507 50%
1508 50%
1509 35,000 EEK/T
1510 35,000 EEK/T
1511 50%
1512 50%
1513 50%
1514 50%
1515 50%
1516 50%
1517 20% +8,000 EEK/T
1518 50%
1519 50%
1520 50%
1521 50%
1522 20% +11,000 EEK/TWT/L/60
Page18
HSHeading No. RateofMFN tariff
Advalorem Specific
1601 20% +43,000 EEK/T
1602 20% +87,000 EEK/T
1603 50%
1604 50%
1605 50%
1701 10,000 EEK/T
1702 10,000 EEK/T
1703 8,000 EEK/T
1704 20% +5,000 EEK/T
1801 50%
1802 50%
1803 50%
1804 50%
1805 50%
1806 20% +9,000 EEK/T
1901 20% +5,000 EEK/T
1902 16,000 EEK/T
1903 20% +4,000 EEK/T
1904 20% +13,000 EEK/T
1905 20% +17,000 EEK/T
2001 50%
2002 50%
2003 20% +5,000 EEK/T
2004 50%
2005 50%
2006 30% +5,000 EEK/T
2007 30% +5,000 EEK/T
2008 30% +1,000 EEK/T
2009 40% +5,000 EEK/T
2101 20% +6,000 EEK/TWT/L/60
Page19
HSHeading No. RateofMFN tariff
Advalorem Specific
2102 20% +11,000 EEK/T
2103 50%
2104 50%
2105 30% +2,000 EEK/T
2106 20% +22,000 EEK/T
2201 50%
2202 20% +6,000 EEK/T
2203 50%
2204 30% +3,000 EEK/hl.
+5,000 EEK/T
2205 300EEK/hl.
2206 500EEK/hl.
2207 500EEK/hl.
2208 30
EEK(%vol./hl.) +200
EEK/hl
2209 200EEK/hl
2301 50%
2302 3,000 EEK/T
2303 10,000 EEK/T
2304 50%
2305 50%
2306 50%
2307 40EEK/kg.
100% alc.
2308 50%
2309 30,000 EEK/T
2401 100%
2402 100%
2403 100%
Theexchange rateofEstonian Kroon isafixed rateagainst Deutschmark ofDM1=EEK 8.WT/L/60
Page20
Estonia 'sInitial Offer forMarket Access Negotiations
HSChapter Nos. 25-97
HSChapter No. Tariff rate(%advalorem)
MFN Preferential
25 8 3.5
26 Free Free
27 15 4.5
28 18 10
29 23 12
30 25 12
31 16 11
32 22 10
33 18 7
34 19 7
35 20 12
36 16 6
37 23 8
38 19 8
39 23 12.5
40 22 10
41 12 7
42 22 12
43 24 6
44 18 10
45 12 8
46 18 6
47 Free Free
48 23 12
49 19 7
50 17 7.5WT/L/60
Page21
HSChapter No. Tariff rate(%advalorem)
MFN Preferential
51 15 6
52 19 10
53 21 14
54 21 9.5
55 21 9
56 19 7
57 28 14
58 23 14
59 21 12
60 20 12
61 23 14
62 22 14
63 22 14
64 20 20
65 19 6
66 20 8
67 22 5.5
68 15 3.5
69 27 10
70 25 12.5
71 17 8.5
72 11 6
73 19 6
74 18 6.5
75 15 5
76 21 10
78 17 7
79 15 8
80 15 5
81 14 7
82 19 5WT/L/60
Page22
HSChapter No. Tariff rate(%advalorem)
MFN Preferential
83 19 6
84 20 6
85 22 10
86 15 5
87 29 9
88 18 6
89 13 5
90 20 7
91 18 6
92 22 6
93 19 6
94 22 7
95 25 7
96 26 7.5
97 Free FreeWT/L/60
Page23
NOTE ONFOREIGN TRADE LEGISLATION
Estonia informs theWTO Secretariat thatthefollowing lawshavebeenadopted thisyear.
Unfortunately thetranslation ofnoneoftheselawshasbeencompleted bytoday. TheEnglish language
versions willbedispatched totheSecretariat assoonastheybecome available.
1. TheLawonCustoms Valuation wasadopted byRiigikogu (Parliament) on15February 1995.
TheLawwillcome intoforce on1January 1996. TheLawestablishes theprinciples andmethods
ofcustoms valuation. Thebases oftheLawistaken from Article VIIofGATT. According tothe
Law, theprimary customs value ofimported goods isthetransaction value ofgoods whenever the
conditions prescribed there arefulfilled. Transaction value ofimported goods istheprice actually
paidforgoods when soldforexport toEstonia. Thetransaction value could, ifnecessary, beadjusted
toitems tobeincluded inthecustom value andwithcharges forinterest inthecustoms value. The
Lawalsospecifies methods fordetermining thecustoms value, provided thatitisimpossible touse
thetransaction value.
2. TheLawontheExcise TaxofMotor Vehicles wasadopted byRiigikogu on8February 1995.
TheLawwillcome intoforce on1April 1995. Imported vehicles andmotor vehicles produced in
Estonia areequally taxed withtheexcise taxpursuant totheircylinder volume andage. Theexcise
taxcalculated onthebasisofbothrateswillbesummarized atthetaxation. Inbroad terms allmotor
vehicles withthecylinder volume of3,000 cm3aretaxed with1EEK/cm3,over3,000cm3-3EEK/cm3.
Theexcise taxfornew(unused) motor vehicles is1,000 EEK. Used motor vehicles of1-12years
aretaxed with100EEKperyear, of13years andolder -150EEKperyearcalculated fromtheyear
ofproduction.
Import taxof10percentlevied onmotor vehicles atpresent willbecome invalid afterthe
Lawwillcome inforce.
3. TheLawonFood wasadopted byRiigikogu on9February 1995. TheLawwillcome into
force on1May1995. TheaimoftheLawistoguarantee highquality foodwhich isinternationally
competitive andsafeforhuman health aswellasthefunction ofunified control andsurveillance over
foodintheterritory ofEstonia andontheborder while imported.
TheLawestablishes requirements forfood, itstreatment, export andimport, surveillance and
organization ofthecontrol andsanctions forviolation oftheLaw. Aprovision oftheLawrequires
from foodimporters (legal persons according toEstonian law)alicence from 1January 1996.
4. TheCommercial Code wasadopted bytheRiigikogu on15February 1995. TheCode will
come intoforce on1September 1995. TheCode establishes sixforms ofentrepreneurship
(entrepreneur/natural person, general partnership, limited partnership, limited company, profit
organization andjoint-stock company) andformation ofthecommercial register. Therequirements
forminimum capital areprescribed (incaseofalimited company 40,000 EEK, incaseofjoint-stock
companies 40,000 EEK) andatransition period offouryears toachieve this. Incaseofestablishing
afirm, thestock capital should bepaidatonceandinfullamount. TheCode alsoprescribes, that
stock companies 'foundation shares areequal toothers innominal andvoting terms. Incaseofalimited
company, partnerships ofdifferent extent ispossible.WT/L/60
Page24
Inaddition totheadopted Laws described above, wewould alsoliketoinform theSecretariat,
thatthefollowing steps havebeentaken toimprove thetrade regime inEstonia:
- toregulate more adequately thelicensing system andprocedures inEstonia, the
Government hasobliged allministries anddepartments issuing thelicences ofactivity
topresent theirposition ontheexpedience ofcontinuing orterminating oftheissuance
ofactivity licences aswellassubmit theirproposals onnecessity ofpreparing new
legal actsandtoamend thelegalactsinforce, inthisfield. Theproposals willbe
discussed intheGovernment inMay;
- thePrime Minister ofEstonia, Latvia andLithuania discussed thematters pertaining
totheplans toestablish theBaltic Customs Union by1January 1998 andcame toa
conclusion, thatitisnecessary toestablish suchaUnion forfacilitating andensuring
themovement ofgoods andservices between theBaltic States. TheResolution was
signed on13February 1995.
Referring totheGATT document of10February, L/7529/Add.2, question 29,please find
enclosed herewith theEnglish version oftheLawonCredit Institutions, adopted on15December 1994.