Annotated Republic of China Laws/Copyright Act/Article 90-1

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Copyright Act Republic of China (Taiwan) Law Article 90-1

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Promulgated amendment in 2001-11-12

Article 90-1

A copyright holder or plate rights holder may apply to the customs authorities to suspend the release of import or export goods that infringe on their copyright or plate rights.

The application referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be filed in writing, shall state the facts of the infringement, and shall include a bond in an amount equivalent to the import customs value or the export FOB value of the goods, as assessed by customs, to serve as a security to offset the loss suffered by the party whose goods are subject to attachment.

Customs shall immediately inform the applicant when processing an application to suspend the release of goods. Where Customs determines that the conditions in the preceding paragraph have been met and issues an attachment order, it shall give written notification to the applicant and to the party whose goods are attached.

The applicant or the party whose goods are attached may apply to the customs authorities for permission to inspect the attached goods.

Attached goods shall be confiscated by the customs authorities where the applicant has obtained a final and unappealable civil judgment determining that the goods infringe on copyright or plate rights. The owner of the attached goods shall be held liable for such costs as container demurrage, warehousing, loading, unloading, as well as for expenses connected with destruction of the goods.

If the expenses connected with destruction of the goods referred to in the preceding paragraph are not paid within the period prescribed by customs authorities, the claim shall be enforced through compulsory execution.

In any of the following circumstances, an attachment order shall be rescinded by the customs authorities and the attached goods shall be processed in accordance with applicable import and export regulations; in addition, the applicant shall compensate the party whose goods were attached for damage incurred on account of the attachment:

1. The attached goods have been determined to be non-infringing of copyright or plate rights by a final and unappealable court judgment.

2. Within twelve days of the date on which the applicant is informed of the attachment, the customs authorities have not received notification from the applicant indicating that it has initiated litigation proceedings alleging that the attached goods are in infringement.

3. The applicant applies to rescind the attachment.

The period referred to in subparagraph 2 of the preceding paragraph may be extended by another twelve days if customs authorities deem it necessary.

Customs authorities shall return the bond upon the applicant's request in any of the following circumstances:

1. There is no need to continue posting the bond either because the applicant has obtained a final and unappealable judgment in its favor or because the applicant has reached a settlement with the party whose goods were attached.

2. The attachment order has been rescinded and the applicant can prove that at least the required twenty days have elapsed since the applicant notified the party whose goods are subject to the suspension of release to exercise its rights and such party has failed to exercise its rights.

3. The party whose goods were attached agrees to the return.

A person whose goods have been attached shall have the same rights as a pledgee with respect to the bond referred to in the second paragraph of this article.

Promulgated amendment on 2004-09-01

Article 90-1

A copyright holder or plate rights holder may apply to the customs authorities to suspend the release of import or export goods that infringe on their copyright or plate rights.

The application referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be filed in writing, shall state the facts of the infringement, and shall include a bond in an amount equivalent to the import customs value or the export FOB value of the goods, as assessed by customs, to serve as a security to offset the loss suffered by the party whose goods are subject to attachment.

Customs shall immediately inform the applicant when processing an application to suspend the release of goods. Where Customs determines that the conditions in the preceding paragraph have been met and issues an attachment order, it shall give written notification to the applicant and to the party whose goods are attached.

The applicant or the party whose goods are attached may apply to the customs authorities for permission to inspect the attached goods.

Attached goods shall be confiscated by the customs authorities where the applicant has obtained a final and unappealable civil judgment determining that the goods infringe on copyright or plate rights. The owner of the attached goods shall be held liable for such costs as container demurrage, warehousing, loading, unloading, as well as for expenses connected with destruction of the goods.

If the expenses connected with destruction of the goods referred to in the preceding paragraph are not paid within the period prescribed by customs authorities, the claim shall be enforced through compulsory execution.

In any of the following circumstances, an attachment order shall be rescinded by the customs authorities and the attached goods shall be processed in accordance with applicable import and export regulations; in addition, the applicant shall compensate the party whose goods were attached for damage incurred on account of the attachment:

1. The attached goods have been determined to be non-infringing of copyright or plate rights by a final and unappealable court judgment.

2. Within twelve days of the date on which the applicant is informed of the attachment, the customs authorities have not received notification from the applicant indicating that it has initiated litigation proceedings alleging that the attached goods are in infringement.

3. The applicant applies to rescind the attachment.

The period referred to in subparagraph 2 of the preceding paragraph may be extended by another twelve days if customs authorities deem it necessary.

Customs authorities shall return the bond upon the applicant's request in any of the following circumstances:

1. There is no need to continue posting the bond either because the applicant has obtained a final and unappealable judgment in its favor or because the applicant has reached a settlement with the party whose goods were attached.

2. The attachment order has been rescinded and the applicant can prove that at least the required twenty days have elapsed since the applicant notified the party whose goods are subject to the suspension of release to exercise its rights and such party has failed to exercise its rights.

3. The party whose goods were attached agrees to the return.

A person whose goods have been attached shall have the same rights as a pledgee with respect to the bond referred to in the second paragraph of this article.

When the customs authorities, in the course of executing their duties, discover import/export goods that in appearance are obviously suspect of copyright infringement, they may within one business day notify the rights holder and notify the importer/exporter to produce authorization materials. After receiving notice, the rights holder shall proceed to customs within four hours for air export goods and within one business day for air import goods and sea import/export goods to assist with verification. Where the rights holder is unknown or cannot be notified, or the rights holder fails to proceed to customs within the time limit as notified to assist with verification, or the rights holder determines that the goods in question are not infringing, and if there is no violation of other customs clearance regulations, customs shall release the goods forthwith.

Where the goods are determined to be suspected infringing goods, customs shall take measures to suspend the release of the goods.

If within three business days after customs has taken measures to suspend the release of the goods the rights holder has not applied to customs for attachment under paragraphs 1 to 10, or has not initiated civil or criminal litigation procedure to protect the rights, and if there is no violation of other customs clearance regulations, customs shall release the goods forthwith.