RESTRICTED
WORLD TRADE WT/DS28/1
IP/D/1
ORGANIZATION 14February 1996
(96-0550)
Original: English
JAPAN -MEASURES CONCERNING SOUND RECORDINGS
Request forConsultations bytheUnited States
Thefollowing communication, dated 9February 1996, from thePermanent Mission ofthe
United States tothePermanent Mission ofJapan andtotheDispute Settlement Body, iscirculated
inaccordance withArticle 4.4oftheDSU.
_______________
MyauthoritieshaveinstructedmetorequestconsultationswiththeGovernmentofJapanpursuant
toArticle 4oftheUnderstanding onRules andProcedures Governing theSettlement ofDisputes
("DSU"), Article XXII oftheGeneral Agreement onTariffs andTrade 1994, andArticle 64ofthe
Agreement onTrade-Related Aspects ofIntellectual Property Rights ("TRIPS") regarding theprotection
ofsound recordings inJapan.
TheTRIPS Agreement obligates allMembers oftheWorld Trade Organization ("WTO") to
grantcertain civilrights andremedies insound recordings originating inotherWTO Members orcreated
bynationals ofotherWTO Members, togenerally provide national andmost-favoured-nation treatment
tosuchsound recordings, andtoprovide criminal procedures andpenalties forthecommercial piracy
ofsound recordings. Developed country members oftheWTO, suchasJapan, havebeenobligated
toapply these obligations since January 1,1996.
Thelegal regime fortheprotection ofsound recordings inJapan appears tobeinconsistent
withtheTRIPS Agreement, including butnotnecessarily limited to,Articles 3,4,14,61,65and70.
Welookforward toreceiving yourreply tothisrequest andtofixing amutually convenient
dateforconsultations. Inview ofthemeeting oftheTRIPS Council taking place February 22-23,
wepropose meeting at3:00p.m.onTuesday, February 20,attheCentre William Rappard, withan
option tocontinue theconsultations onFebruary 21,ifnecessary.