THE DESIGN RIGHTS LAW, 2019 (Law 3 of 2019)
This law sets up Cayman Islands design rights registration, fees, agents, and infringement rules.
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This law sets up Cayman Islands design rights registration, fees, agents, and infringement rules. This part sets rules for Crown use of designs, tribunal procedure, exceptions to infringement, offences, penalties, and fees.
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Provisions of THE DESIGN RIGHTS LAW, 2019 (Law 3 of 2019)
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AI-assisted research summary: This law sets up Cayman Islands design rights registration, fees, agents, and infringement rules.
CAYMAN ISLANDS THE DESIGN RIGHTS LAW, 2019 (Law 3 of 2019) Supplement No. 3 published with Legislation Gazette No. 16 dated 15th May, 2019. The Design Rights Law, 2019 Arrangement of Sections CAYMAN ISLANDS THE DESIGN RIGHTS LAW, 2019 (Law 3 of 2019) Arrangement of Sections Section Page PART 1 - PRELIMINARY 1. Short title and commencement ..................................................................................................7 2. Interpretation .............................................................................................................................7 3. Application to articles in kit form ............................................................................................... 10 Registrar, application for registration, searches 10 4. Registrar and duties ................................................................................................................. 10 5. Requirement for registered agent............................................................................................. 10 6. Application for registration ....................................................................................................... 11 7. Annual fee ............................................................................................................................... 11 8. Cancellation of registration of design right ............................................................................... 12 9. Publication ............................................................................................................................... 12 10. Searches ................................................................................................................................. 12 11. Certificate of good standing ..................................................................................................... 12 12. Renewal of design right ........................................................................................................... 12 13. Abandonment of design right ................................................................................................... 13 PART 2 – DESIGN RIGHT AND DEALINGS WITH DESIGN RIGHT Design Right 13 14. Design right ............................................................................................................................. 13 15. Ownership of design right ........................................................................................................ 14 16. Duration of design right ............................................................................................................ 14 Qualification for design right protection 14 17. Qualification by reference to designer ...................................................................................... 14 c Law 3 of 2019 Page 3 Arrangement of Sections The Design Rights Law, 2019 18. Qualification by reference to employer ..................................................................................... 15 19. Qualifications by reference to first marketing ........................................................................... 15 20. Power to make further provision as to qualification .................................................................. 15 Dealings with design right 16 21. Assignment and licences ......................................................................................................... 16 22. Prospective ownership of design right ...................................................................................... 16 23. Assignment of right in registered design presumed to carry with it design right ........................ 17 24. Exclusive licences ................................................................................................................... 17 PART 3 - RIGHTS OF DESIGN RIGHT OWNER AND REMEDIES Infringement of design right 17 25. Primary infringement of design right......................................................................................... 17 26. Secondary infringement: importing or dealing with infringing article ......................................... 17 27. Meaning of “infringing article” ................................................................................................... 18 Remedies for infringement 18 28. Rights and remedies of design right owner .............................................................................. 18 29. Order for delivery up ................................................................................................................ 19 30. Order as to disposal of infringing articles, etc. .......................................................................... 19 31. Innocent infringement .............................................................................................................. 20 32. Rights and remedies of exclusive licensee ............................................................................... 21 33. Exercise of concurrent rights ................................................................................................... 21 PART 4 - EXCEPTIONS TO RIGHTS OF DESIGN RIGHT OWNERS Infringement of copyright 22 34. Infringement of copyright ......................................................................................................... 22 Availability of licences as of right 22 35. Licences available in last five years of design right .................................................................. 22 36. Undertaking to take licence of right in infringement proceedings .............................................. 23 37. Crown use of designs .............................................................................................................. 23 38. Settlement of terms for Crown use ........................................................................................... 24 39. Rights of third parties in case of Crown use ............................................................................. 24 40. Crown use: compensation for loss of profit .............................................................................. 26 41. Special provision for Crown use during public emergency ....................................................... 26 42. Exception for private acts, experiments and teaching .............................................................. 27 43. Exception for overseas ships and aircraft................................................................................. 27 44. Powers to provide for further exceptions .................................................................................. 28 PART 5 - JURISDICTION OF THE TRIBUNAL AND THE COURT Jurisdiction of the Tribunal 28 45. Design Rights Tribunal, jurisdiction, rules, etc. ......................................................................... 28 46. Costs, proof of orders .............................................................................................................. 29 47. Appeals ................................................................................................................................... 29 48. Jurisdiction to decide matters relating to design right ............................................................... 29 Page 4 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Arrangement of Sections 49. Application to settle terms of licence as of right ........................................................................ 30 50. Settlement of terms where design right owner unknown .......................................................... 30 References to the court 31 51. Reference of design right matters ............................................................................................ 31 52. Reference of disputes relating to Crown use ............................................................................ 31 PART 6 – GENERAL Offences 32 53. Falsification of Register, etc. .................................................................................................... 32 54. Falsely representing a design right as registered ..................................................................... 32 Actionable Threats 33 55. Threats of infringement proceedings ........................................................................................ 33 56. Actionable threats .................................................................................................................... 33 57. Permitted communications ....................................................................................................... 33 58. Remedies and defences .......................................................................................................... 34 59. Professional advisers ............................................................................................................... 35 60. Licensee under licence of right not to claim connection with design right owner ....................... 35 61. Countries enjoying reciprocal protection .................................................................................. 36 62. Requirement of signature: application in relation to body corporate ......................................... 36 63. Immunity .................................................................................................................................. 36 64. Regulations ............................................................................................................................. 36 65. Amendment of Schedule .......................................................................................................... 37 66. Repeal ..................................................................................................................................... 37 67. Savings and transitional ........................................................................................................... 37 SCHEDULE 41 c Law 3 of 2019 Page 5 The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 1 CAYMAN ISLANDS (Law 3 of 2019) I Assent, Martyn Roper Governor Date: 14th May, 2019 THE DESIGN RIGHTS LAW, 2019 (Law 3 of 2019) A LAW TO MAKE NEW PROVISION FOR DESIGN RIGHTS; TO PROVIDE FOR THE REGISTRATION OF DESIGN RIGHTS; TO REPEAL THE DESIGN RIGHTS REGISTRATION LAW, 2016; AND FOR INCIDENTAL AND CONNECTED PURPOSES ENACTED by the Legislature of the Cayman Islands. PART 1 - PRELIMINARY 1. Short title and commencement 1. (1) This Law may be cited as the Design Rights Law, 2019. (2) This Law shall come into force on such date as may be appointed by Order made by the Cabinet and different dates may be appointed for different provisions of this Law and in relation to different matters. 2. Interpretation 2. (1) In this Law — “business” includes a trade or profession; “Cayman Islands design” means a design which qualifies for design right protection by reason of a connection with the Islands of the designer or the person by whom the design is commissioned or the designer is employed; c Law 3 of 2019 Page 7 Section 2 The Design Rights Law, 2019 “computer-generated”, in relation to a design, means that the design is generated by computer in circumstances such that there is no human designer; “country” includes any territory; “the Crown” includes the Crown in right of Her Majesty’s Government in the Islands or in right of any other qualifying country, a department or a statutory board; “Crown use”, in relation to a design, means the doing of anything by virtue of section 37 which would otherwise be an infringement of design right in the design; “department concerned”, in relation to such use, means a government department of the Islands by whom or on whose authority the act was done; “design” means the design of the shape or configuration (whether internal or external) of the whole or part of an article; “design document” means any record of a design, whether in the form of a drawing, a written description, a photograph, data stored in a computer or otherwise; “designer” in relation to — (a) a design, means the person who creates it; or (b) a computer-generated design, means the person by whom the arrangements necessary for the creation of the design are undertaken; “employee”, “employment” and “employer” refer to employment under a contract of service or of apprenticeship; “infringing article”, in relation to a design, shall be construed in accordance with section 27; “owner”, with respect to a design right, includes a part owner and relates to ownership or proprietorship acquired directly or by assignment or otherwise; “public officer” has the meaning assigned to that expression under section 124 of Schedule 2 to the Cayman Islands Constitution Order, 2009; “qualifying country” means — (a) the Islands; or (b) to the extent that an Order under section 61 so provides, a country designated under that section as enjoying reciprocal protection; “qualifying person” means — (a) a qualifying individual; or (b) a body corporate or other body having legal personality which — (i) is formed under the law of the Islands or another qualifying country; and Page 8 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 2 (ii) has, in any qualifying country, a place of business at which substantial business activity is carried on; or (c) the Crown and the government of any other qualifying country; “Register” means the register of design rights and registered agents maintained under section 4(2)(a); “registered agent” means a person whose name is entered on the register of agents maintained by the Registrar pursuant to section 4(2)(e) or as a registered agent in the Islands for trade marks or patents; “Registrar” means the Registrar of Design Rights referred to in section 4; “Registry” means the Registry of design rights and registered agents under section 4; and “repealed Law” means the Design Rights Registration Law, 2016. (2) For the purposes of the definition of “Cayman Islands design”, holding British citizenship shall be treated as having a connection with the Islands. (3) In determining for the purpose of the definition of “qualifying person” whether substantial business activity is carried on at a place of business in any country, no account shall be taken of dealings in goods which are at all material times outside that country. (4) References in this Law to “marketing” in relation to an article, are to the article being sold or let for hire, or offered or exposed for sale or hire, in the course of business and related expressions shall be construed accordingly but no account shall be taken, for the purposes of this Law, of marketing which is merely colourable and not intended to satisfy the reasonable requirements of the public. (5) References in this Law to an act being done in relation to an article “for commercial purposes” are to the act being done with a view to the article being sold or hired in the course of a business. (6) For the purposes of this Law, the territorial waters of the Islands shall be treated as part of the Islands. (7) Where different persons are (whether in consequence of a partial assignment or otherwise) entitled to different aspects of design right in a work, the design right owner for any purpose of this Law is the person who is entitled to the right in the respect relevant for that purpose. (8) Where design right, or any aspect of design right, is owned by more than one person jointly, references in this Law to the design right owner are to all the owners, so that any requirement of the licence of the design right owner requires the licence of all of them. c Law 3 of 2019 Page 9 Section 3 The Design Rights Law, 2019 (9) In this Law, a “joint design” means a design produced by the collaboration of two or more designers in which the contribution of each is not distinct from that of the other or others. (10) References in this Law to the designer of a design shall, except as otherwise provided, be construed in relation to a joint design as references to all the designers of the design. 3. Application to articles in kit form 3. (1) The provisions of this Law apply in relation to a kit, that is, a complete or substantially complete set of components intended to be assembled into an article, as they apply in relation to the assembled article. (2) Subsection (1) does not affect the question of whether design right subsists in any aspect of the design of the components of a kit as opposed to the design of the assembled article. Registrar, application for registration, searches 4. Registrar and duties 4. (1) The Registrar shall be the Registrar referred to in section 4 of the Patents Law (2018 Revision). (2) The duties of the Registrar include — (a) maintaining the register of design rights in accordance with this Law; (b) supervising the staff and the operations of the Registry; (c) prescribing forms and procedures for applications for the registration of design rights under this Law, receipt of such applications and deciding whether to accept or reject them; (d) collecting appropriate fees payable upon application, registration and search and accounting therefor to the general revenue of the Islands; and (e) maintaining a register of persons who may act as registered agents in respect of design rights in the Islands and who are recognized as such pursuant to section 5. (3) Where the Registrar is satisfied that a typographical, arithmetical or procedural error has occurred in the Register, the Registrar may correct the error. 5. Requirement for registered agent 5. (1) Subject to section 10, only a registered agent may carry on the business of acting as agent for others for the purpose of dealings with the Registry under this Law. Page 10 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 6 (2) A person legally and ordinarily resident in the Islands or a firm of attorneys-at- law desirous of being recognized as a registered agent may apply in writing to the Registrar and the Registrar shall determine the application in such manner as may be prescribed. (3) An application under subsection (2) shall be accompanied by the non- refundable processing fee specified in the Schedule. (4) A registered agent shall pay the registered agent annual fee specified in the Schedule. (5) Subject to subsection (6), where a recognized registered agent is unable to carry out duties as a registered agent, the agent shall take all reasonable steps to notify the Registrar and the owner of the registered design of the inability of the registered agent to carry out duties. (6) The Registrar, upon receipt of a notice under subsection (5), shall publish such notification in the Gazette and the owner shall appoint a new registered agent within one hundred and eighty days of publication of the notice. (7) Where a registered agent is not appointed within the time set out in subsection (6), the rights protected by the design for which the agent is recognized as the registered agent shall be in abeyance until the owner appoints a new registered agent. (8) For the purpose of this section, legal and ordinary residence is determined in accordance with the Immigration (Transition) Law, 2018. 6. Application for registration 6. (1) An application for the registration of a design right shall be made to the Registrar in the prescribed form. (2) An application under subsection (1) shall be subject to the payment of the prescribed application fee. 7. Annual fee 7. (1) The owner of a design right shall, by the owner’s duly authorized registered agent, in January of each year, after the year of the initial registration, pay to the revenues of the Islands the annual fee specified in the Schedule. (2) A default in the payment of the annual fee specified in the Schedule by the 31st day of March causes the rights protected by the registration to be in abeyance as against the person in default from 1st April until the annual fee and penalty specified in the Schedule have been paid. c Law 3 of 2019 Page 11 Section 8 The Design Rights Law, 2019 8. Cancellation of registration of design right 8. (1) A default in the payment of the annual fees and penalties for more than twelve months renders the registration of a design right liable to cancellation by the Registrar. (2) The owner of a design right, the registration of which has been cancelled under subsection (1) may reapply for the registration of the design right as though it were being registered for the first time in accordance with section 6. 9. Publication 9. Every registration and cancellation of registration made in the Register (other than the expiry of the registration or abandonment of a design right) shall be published in the Gazette and the publication shall be prima facie evidence of the registration or cancellation. 10. Searches 10. Any member of the public may cause the Registrar to search the Register for particulars of any registration of a design right contained in it and, on payment of the fees specified in the Schedule, the Registrar shall cause such search to be made and supply the applicant with the particulars requested. 11. Certificate of good standing 11. (1) The Registrar may, where a request is made by a registered agent, issue a certificate of good standing, in the form determined by the Registrar, to evidence that a design right is still registered and that all applicable annual fees and penalties have been paid. (2) A request under this section shall be accompanied by the fee specified in the Schedule. 12. Renewal of design right 12. (1) A design right that is in the Register may, on the application by the duly authorized registered agent of the owner and on payment of the fees specified in the Schedule, be renewed at any time if — (a) all applicable annual fees and penalties have been paid; and (b) any changes in the particulars since the initial registration or the initial recording of the extension of the design right under the repealed Law have been recorded in the Registry. (2) If an application for renewal is filed more than two months after the expiry date recorded in the Register, a penalty fee is payable as specified in the Schedule. Page 12 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 13 13. Abandonment of design right 13. (1) The owner of a registered design right shall, by the owner’s registered agent, notify the Registrar that a design right has been abandoned, whereupon the rights protected by the registration shall be held in abeyance and the Registrar shall record the design right as inactive. (2) The obligation to pay an annual fee under section 7 is suspended while the design right is inactive. (3) A registered agent may apply to reactivate a design right that has been abandoned under subsection (1) upon payment of the reactivation fee and annual fees specified in the Schedule for the period the design right was suspended. PART 2 – DESIGN RIGHT AND DEALINGS WITH DESIGN RIGHT Design Right 14. Design right 14. (1) Design right is a property right which subsists in accordance with this Law in an original design. (2) Design right does not subsist in — (a) a method or principle of construction; (b) features of shape or configuration of an article, which — (i) enable the article to be connected to, or placed in, around or against, another article so that either article may perform its function; or (ii) are dependent upon the appearance of another article of which the article is intended by the designer to form an integral part; or (c) surface decoration. (3) A design is not original for the purposes of this Law if it is commonplace in the design field in question at the time of its creation. (4) Design right subsists in a design only if the design qualifies for design right protection by reference to — (a) the designer or the person by whom the designer was employed; or (b) the person by whom and country in which an article made to the design was first marketed, or in accordance with an Order under section 20. c Law 3 of 2019 Page 13 Section 15 The Design Rights Law, 2019 (5) Design right does not subsist until the design has been recorded in a design document or an article has been made to the design. (6) Design right does not subsist in a design which was recorded in a design document or to which an article was made before the commencement of this Law except a design right which was recorded in accordance with the repealed Law. 15. Ownership of design right 15. (1) The designer is the first owner of any design right in a design which is not created in the course of employment. (2) Where a design is created by an employee in the course of employment, the employer is the first owner of any design right in the design. (3) If a design qualifies for design right protection by virtue of section 19, the provisions under subsections (1) and (2) do not apply and the person by whom the article in question is marketed is the first owner of the design right. 16. Duration of design right 16. (1) Design right expires — (a) fifteen years from the end of the calendar year in which the design was first recorded in a design document or an article was first made to the design, whichever first occurred; or (b) if articles made to the design are made available for sale or hire within five years from the end of that calendar year, ten years from the end of the calendar year in which that first occurred. (2) The reference in subsection (1) to articles being made available for sale or hire is to their being made so available anywhere in the world by or with the licence of the design right owner. Qualification for design right protection 17. Qualification by reference to designer 17. (1) This section applies to a design which is not created in the course of employment. (2) A design to which this section applies qualifies for design right protection if the designer is a qualifying person. (3) A joint design to which this section applies qualifies for design right protection if any of the designers is a qualifying person. Page 14 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 18 (4) Where a joint design qualifies for design right protection under this section, only those designers who are qualifying persons are entitled to design right under section 15(1). 18. Qualification by reference to employer 18. (1) A design qualifies for design right protection if it is created in the course of employment with a qualifying person. (2) In the case of joint employment, a design qualifies for design right protection if any of the employers is a qualifying person. (3) Where a design which is created in the course of joint employment qualifies for design right protection under this section, only those employers who are qualifying persons are entitled to design right under section 15(2). 19. Qualifications by reference to first marketing 19. (1) A design which does not qualify for design right protection under section 17 or 18 qualifies for design right protection if the first marketing of articles made to the design — (a) is by a qualifying person who is exclusively authorized to put such articles on the market in the Islands; and (b) takes place in the Islands. (2) If the first marketing of articles made to the design is done jointly by two or more persons, the design qualifies for design right protection if any of those persons meets the requirements specified in subsection (1)(a). (3) In the case under subsection (2), only the persons who meet those requirements are entitled to design right under section 15. (4) In subsection (1)(a) “exclusively authorized” refers to — (a) authorization by the person who would have been the first owner of design right as designer, or employer of the designer if the person had been a qualifying person, or by a person lawfully claiming under such a person; and (b) exclusivity capable of being enforced by legal proceedings in the Islands. 20. Power to make further provision as to qualification 20. (1) The Cabinet may by Order, with a view to fulfilling an international obligation of the Islands, provide that a design qualifies for design right protection if such requirements as are specified in the Order are met. (2) An Order may make different provision for different descriptions of design or articles and may make such consequential modifications to the operation of sections 15, 17, 18 and 19 as appear to the Cabinet to be appropriate. c Law 3 of 2019 Page 15 Section 21 The Design Rights Law, 2019 Dealings with design right 21. Assignment and licences 21. (1) Design right is transmissible by assignment, by testamentary disposition or by operation of law as personal or moveable property. (2) An assignment or other transmission of design right may be partial, that is, limited so as to apply — (a) to one or more, but not all, of the things the design right owner has the exclusive right to do; or (b) to part, but not the whole, of the period for which the right is to subsist. (3) An assignment of design right is not effective unless it is in writing and signed by or on behalf of the assignor. (4) A licence granted by the owner of a design right is binding on every successor in title to the owner’s interest in the right, except a purchaser in good faith for valuable consideration and without notice (actual or constructive) of the licence or a person deriving title from such a purchaser and references in this Law to doing anything with, or without, the licence of the design right owner shall be construed accordingly. 22. Prospective ownership of design right 22. (1) Where, by an agreement made in relation to a future design right, and signed by or on behalf of the prospective owner of the design right, the prospective owner purports to assign the future design right (wholly or partially) to another person, then if, on the right coming into existence, the assignee or another person claiming under the assignee would be entitled, as against all other persons, to require the right to be vested in the assignee, the right shall vest in, the said assignee, by virtue of this section. (2) In this section — (a) “future design right” means design right which will or may come into existence in respect of a future design or class of designs or on the occurrence of a future event; and (b) “prospective owner” shall be construed accordingly and includes a person who is prospectively entitled to design right by virtue of such an agreement as is mentioned in subsection (1). (3) A licence granted by a prospective owner of design right is binding on every successor in title to the interest (or prospective interest) in the design right, except a purchaser in good faith for valuable consideration and without notice (actual or constructive) of the licence or a person deriving title from such a purchaser and references in this Law to doing anything with, or without, the licence of the design right owner shall be construed accordingly. Page 16 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 23 23. Assignment of right in registered design presumed to carry with it design right 23. Where a design consisting of a design in which design right subsists is registered under any law subsisting prior to the enactment of this Law and the proprietor of the registered design is also the design right owner, an assignment of the right in the registered design shall be taken to be also an assignment of the design right, unless a contrary intention appears. 24. Exclusive licences 24. The licensee under an exclusive licence has the same rights against any successor in title who is bound by the licence as the licensee has against the person granting the licence. PART 3 - RIGHTS OF DESIGN RIGHT OWNER AND REMEDIES Infringement of design right 25. Primary infringement of design right 25. (1) The owner of design right in a design has the exclusive right to reproduce the design for commercial purposes — (a) by making articles to that design; or (b) by making a design document recording the design for the purpose of enabling such articles to be made. (2) Reproduction of a design by making articles to the design means copying the design so as to produce articles exactly or substantially to that design, and references in this Law to making articles to a design shall be construed accordingly. (3) Design right is infringed by a person who without the licence of the design right owner does, or authorizes another to do, anything which by virtue of this section is the exclusive right of the design right owner. (4) For the purposes of this section reproduction may be direct or indirect, and it is immaterial whether any intervening acts themselves infringe the design right. (5) This section has effect subject to the provisions of Part 4. 26. Secondary infringement: importing or dealing with infringing article 26. (1) Design right is infringed by a person who without the licence of the design right owner — (a) imports into the Islands for commercial purposes; c Law 3 of 2019 Page 17 Section 27 The Design Rights Law, 2019 (b) has in his or her possession for commercial purposes; or (c) sells, lets for hire, or offers or exposes for sale or hire, in the course of a business, an article which is, and which the person knows or has reason to believe is, an infringing article. (2) This section has effect subject to the provisions of Part 4. 27. Meaning of “infringing article” 27. (1) An article is an infringing article if the making of the article to that design is an infringement of design right in the design. (2) An article is also an infringing article if — (a) it has been or is proposed to be imported into the Islands; and (b) the making of the article to that design in the Islands would have been an infringement of design right in the design or a breach of an exclusive licence agreement relating to the design. (3) Where it is shown that an article is made to a design in which design right subsists or has subsisted at any time, it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved that the article was made at a time when design right subsisted. (4) The expression “infringing article” — (a) in relation to a design, shall be construed in accordance with this section; and (b) does not include a design document, notwithstanding that its making was or would have been an infringement of design right. Remedies for infringement 28. Rights and remedies of design right owner 28. (1) An infringement of design right is actionable by the design right owner. (2) In an action for infringement of design right all such relief by way of damages, injunctions, accounts or otherwise is available to the plaintiff as is available in respect of the infringement of any other property right. (3) The Grand Court may, in an action for infringement of design right, having regard to all the circumstances and in particular to — (a) the flagrancy of the infringement; and (b) any benefit accruing to the defendant by reason of the infringement, award such additional damages as the justice of the case may require. (4) This section has effect subject to section 31. Page 18 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 29 29. Order for delivery up 29. (1) Where a person — (a) has in his or her possession, custody or control for commercial purposes an infringing article; or (b) has in his or her possession, custody or control anything specifically designed or adapted for making articles to a particular design, knowing or having reason to believe that it has been or is to be used to make an infringing article, the owner of the design right in the design in question may apply to the Grand Court for an order that the infringing article or other thing be delivered up to the owner or to such other person as the court may direct. (2) An application shall not be made after the end of the period specified in subsections (3) and (4) and no order shall be made unless the court also makes, or it appears to the court that there are grounds for making, an order under section 30. (3) An application for an order under this section may not be made after the end of the period of six years from the date on which the article or thing in question was made, subject to subsection (4). (4) If during the whole or any part of the period in subsection (3) the design right owner — (a) is under disability; or (b) is prevented by fraud or concealment from discovering the facts entitling the owner to apply for an order, an application may be made at any time before the end of the period of six years from the date on which the design right owner ceased to be under a disability or could with reasonable diligence have discovered those facts. (5) In subsection (4), “disability” has the same meaning as in the Disabilities (Solomon Webster) Law, 2016. (6) A person to whom an infringing article or other thing is delivered up in pursuance of an order under this section shall, if an order under section 30 is not made, retain it pending the making of an order, or the decision not to make an order, under that section. (7) Nothing in this section affects any other power of the Grand Court. 30. Order as to disposal of infringing articles, etc. 30. (1) An application may be made to the Grand Court for an order that an infringing article or other thing delivered up in pursuance of an order under section 29 shall be — (a) forfeited to the design right owner; or c Law 3 of 2019 Page 19 Section 31 The Design Rights Law, 2019 (b) destroyed or otherwise dealt with as the court may think fit, or for a decision that no such order should be made. (2) In considering what order, if any, should be made, the court shall consider whether other remedies available in an action for infringement of design right would be adequate to compensate the design right owner and to protect the right owner’s interests. (3) Provision shall be made by rules of court as to the service of notice on persons having an interest in the article or other thing, and any such person is entitled — (a) to appear in proceedings for an order under this section, whether the person was served with notice or was not served with notice; and (b) to appeal against any order made, whether the person appeared or did not appear, and an order shall not take effect until the end of the period within which notice of an appeal may be given or, if before the end of that period notice of appeal is duly given, until the final determination or abandonment of the proceedings on the appeal. (4) Where there is more than one person interested in an article or other thing, the court shall make such order as it thinks just and may direct that the thing be sold, or otherwise dealt with, and the proceeds divided. (5) If the court decides that no order should be made under this section, the person in whose possession, custody or control the article or other thing was before being delivered up is entitled to its return. (6) References in this section to a person having an interest in an article or other thing include any person in whose favour an order could be made in respect of it under this section or under section 114 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 of the United Kingdom as extended to the Islands by the Copyright (Cayman Islands) Order 2015 SI 2015 No. 795 and modified in accordance with paragraph 32 of Part 2 of the Schedule to that Order or section 52 of the Trade Marks Law, 2016 which make similar provision in relation to infringement of copyright, rights in performances and trade marks. 31. Innocent infringement 31. (1) Where in an action for infringement of design right referred to in section 25 it is shown that at the time of the infringement the defendant did not know, and had no reason to believe, that design right subsisted in the design to which the action relates, the plaintiff is not entitled to damages against the defendant, but without prejudice to any other remedy to which the plaintiff may be entitled. (2) Where in an action for infringement of design right referred to in section 26 a defendant shows that the infringing article was innocently acquired by the Page 20 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 32 defendant or a predecessor in title, the only remedy available against the defendant in respect of the infringement is damages not exceeding a reasonable royalty in respect of the act complained of. (3) In subsection (2), “innocently acquired” means that the person acquiring the article did not know and had no reason to believe that it was an infringing article. 32. Rights and remedies of exclusive licensee 32. (1) An exclusive licensee has, except against the design right owner, the same rights and remedies in respect of matters occurring after the grant of the licence as if the licence had been an assignment. (2) The rights and remedies of an exclusive licensee are concurrent with those of the design right owner and references in the relevant provisions of this Law to the design right owner shall be construed accordingly. (3) In an action brought by an exclusive licensee by virtue of this section a defendant may avail himself or herself of any defence which would have been available to the defendant if the action had been brought by the design right owner. 33. Exercise of concurrent rights 33. (1) Where an action for infringement of design right brought by the design right owner or an exclusive licensee relates (wholly or partly) to an infringement in respect of which they have concurrent rights of action, the design right owner or the exclusive licensee may not, without the leave of the court, proceed with the action unless the other is either joined as a plaintiff or added as a defendant. (2) A design right owner or exclusive licensee who is added as a defendant in pursuance of subsection (1) is not liable for any costs in the action unless the design right owner or exclusive licensee takes part in the proceedings. (3) The provisions in subsections (1) and (2) do not affect the granting of interlocutory relief on the application of the design right owner or an exclusive licensee. (4) Where an action for infringement of design right is brought which relates (wholly or partly) to an infringement in respect of which the design right owner and an exclusive licensee have concurrent rights of action — (a) the court shall, in assessing damages, take into account — (i) the terms of the licence; and (ii) any pecuniary remedy already awarded or available to either of them in respect of the infringement; c Law 3 of 2019 Page 21 Section 34 The Design Rights Law, 2019 (b) no account of profits shall be directed if an award of damages has been made, or an account of profits has been directed, in favour of the other of them in respect of the infringement; and (c) the court shall, if an account of profits is directed, apportion the profits between them as the court considers just, subject to any agreement between them, and these provisions apply whether or not the design right owner and the exclusive licensee are both parties to the action. (5) The design right owner shall notify any exclusive licensee having concurrent rights before applying for an order under section 29 and the court may, on the application of the licensee, make such order under that section as it thinks fit having regard to the terms of the licence. PART 4 - EXCEPTIONS TO RIGHTS OF DESIGN RIGHT OWNERS Infringement of copyright 34. Infringement of copyright 34. Where copyright subsists in a work which consists of or includes a design in which design right subsists, it is not an infringement of design right in the design to do anything which is an infringement of the copyright in that work. Availability of licences as of right 35. Licences available in last five years of design right 35. (1) Any person is entitled as of right to a licence to do in the last five years of the design right term any act which would otherwise infringe the design right. (2) The term of the licence shall, in default of agreement, be settled by the Tribunal. (3) The Cabinet may by Order exclude from the operation of subsection (1) designs of a description specified in the Order or designs applied to articles of a description so specified if it appears necessary in order to — (a) comply with an international obligation of the United Kingdom which extends to the Islands; or (b) secure or maintain reciprocal protection for Cayman Islands designs in other countries. Page 22 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 36 36. Undertaking to take licence of right in infringement proceedings 36. (1) If in proceedings for infringement of design right in a design in respect of which a licence is available as of right under section 35 the defendant undertakes to take a licence on such terms as may be agreed or, in default of agreement, settled by the Tribunal under that section — (a) no injunction shall be granted against him or her; (b) no order for delivery up shall be made under section 29; and (c) the amount recoverable against the defendant by way of damages or on an account of profits shall not exceed two times the amount which would have been payable by the defendant as licensee if such a licence on those terms had been granted before the earliest infringement. (2) An undertaking may be given at any time before final order in the proceedings without any admission of liability. (3) Nothing in this section affects the remedies available in respect of an infringement committed before licences as of right were available. 37. Crown use of designs 37. (1) A government department of the Islands, or a person authorized in writing by such a government department, may without the licence of the design right owner — (a) do anything for the purpose of supplying articles for the services of the Crown; or (b) dispose of articles no longer required for the services of the Crown, and nothing done by virtue of this section infringes the design right. (2) References in this Law to “the services of the Crown” are to — (a) the defence of the Islands; (b) foreign defence purposes; and (c) health service purposes. (3) The reference to the supply of articles for “foreign defence purposes” is to their supply — (a) for the defence of a country outside of the Islands in pursuance of an agreement or arrangement to which the government of that country and the government of the United Kingdom are parties; or (b) for use by armed forces operating in pursuance of a resolution of the United Nations or one of its organs. (4) The reference to the supply of articles for “health service purposes” is to the supply for the purpose of providing — (a) general pharmaceutical services; c Law 3 of 2019 Page 23 Section 38 The Design Rights Law, 2019 (b) general medical services; or (c) general dental services, that is, services of those kinds under the Health Practice Law (2017 Revision). (5) The authority of a government department of the Islands, in respect of Crown use of a design, may be given to a person either before or after the use and whether or not the person is authorized, directly or indirectly, by the design right owner to do anything in relation to the design. (6) A person acquiring anything sold in the exercise of powers conferred by this section, and any other person claiming under the first mentioned person, may deal with it in the same manner as if the design right were held on behalf of the Crown. 38. Settlement of terms for Crown use 38. (1) Subject to subsection (3), where Crown use is made of a design, the department concerned shall — (a) notify the design right owner as soon as practicable; and (b) give the design right owner such information as to the extent of the use as the design right owner may from time to time require, unless it appears to the department that it would be contrary to the public interest to do so or the identity of the design right owner cannot be ascertained on reasonable inquiry.Referenced legislation
- Patents Law (2018 Revision). (resolved)
- Immigration (Transition) Law, 2018 (unresolved)
- Design Rights Registration Law, 2016 (resolved)
- Copyright (Cayman Islands) Order 2015 SI 2015 No. 795 (unresolved)
- Disabilities (Solomon Webster) Law, 2016 (resolved)
- Trade Marks Law, 2016 (unresolved)
- Cayman Islands Constitution Order, 2009 (unresolved)
- DESIGN RIGHTS REGISTRATION LAW, 2016 (resolved)
- Health Practice Law (2017 Revision). (resolved)
Part document.segment-2
THE DESIGN RIGHTS LAW, 2019 (Law 3 of 2019) — segment 2
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THE DESIGN RIGHTS LAW, 2019 (Law 3 of 2019) — segment 2
AI-assisted research summary: This part sets rules for Crown use of designs, tribunal procedure, exceptions to infringement, offences, penalties, and fees.
(2) Crown use of a design shall be on such terms, either before or after the use, as are agreed between the department concerned and the design right owner with the approval of the Treasury or, in default of agreement, as determined by the Grand Court. (3) Where the identity of the design right owner cannot be ascertained on reasonable inquiry, the department concerned may apply to the Grand Court who may order that no royalty or other sum shall be payable in respect of Crown use of the design until the owner agrees terms with the department concerned or refers the matter to the court for determination. 39. Rights of third parties in case of Crown use 39. (1) The provisions of any licence, assignment or agreement made between the design right owner (or anyone deriving title from the design right owner or from whom he or she derives title) and any person other than a government department of the Islands are of no effect in relation to Crown use of a design, or any act incidental to Crown use, so far as they — (a) restrict or regulate anything done in relation to the design or the use of any model, document or other information relating to it; or Page 24 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 39 (b) provide for the making of payments in respect of or calculated by reference to such use, and the copying or issuing to the public of copies of any such model or document in connection with the thing done, or any such use, shall be deemed not to be an infringement of any copyright in the model or document. (2) Subsection (1) shall not be construed as authorizing the disclosure of any such model, document or information in contravention of the licence, assignment or agreement. (3) Where an exclusive licence is in force in respect of the design — (a) if the licence was granted for royalties — (i) any agreement between the design right owner and a government department of the Islands under section 38 requires the consent of the licensee; and (ii) the licensee is entitled to recover from the design right owner such part of the payment for Crown use as may be agreed between them or, in default of agreement, determined by the Grand Court; or (b) if the licence was granted otherwise than for royalties — (i) section 38 applies in relation to anything done which, but for section 37 and subsection (1), would be an infringement of the rights of the licensee with the substitution for references to the design right owner of references to the licensee; and (ii) section 38 does not apply in relation to anything done by the licensee by virtue of an authority given under section 37. (4) Where the design right has been assigned to the design right owner in consideration of royalties — (a) section 38 applies in relation to Crown use of the design as if the references to the design right owner included the assignor, and any payment for Crown use shall be divided between them in such proportion as may be agreed or, in default of agreement, determined by the Grand Court; and (b) section 38 applies in relation to any act incidental to Crown use as it applies in relation to Crown use of the design. (5) Where any model, document or other information relating to a design is used in connection with Crown use of the design, or any act incidental to Crown use, section 38 applies to the use of the model, document or other information with the substitution for the references to the design right owner of references to the person entitled to the benefit of any provision of an agreement rendered inoperative by subsection (1). (6) In this section — c Law 3 of 2019 Page 25 Section 40 The Design Rights Law, 2019 “act incidental to Crown use” means anything done for the services of the Crown to the order of a government department of the Islands by the design right owner in respect of a design; “payment for Crown use” means such amount as is payable by the department concerned by virtue of section 38; and “royalties” includes any benefit determined by reference to the use of the design. 40. Crown use: compensation for loss of profit 40. (1) Where Crown use is made of a design, the department concerned shall pay — (a) to the design right owner; or (b) if there is an exclusive licence in force in respect of the design, to the exclusive licensee, compensation for any loss resulting from the right owner or the exclusive licensee not being awarded a contract to supply the articles made to the design. (2) Compensation is payable only to the extent that such a contract could have been fulfilled from the design right owner’s or exclusive licensee’s existing manufacturing capacity but is payable notwithstanding the existence of circumstances rendering him or her ineligible for the award of such a contract. (3) In determining the loss, regard shall be had to the profit which would have been made on such a contract and to the extent to which any manufacturing capacity was underused. (4) No compensation is payable in respect of any failure to secure contracts for the supply of articles made to the design otherwise than for the services of the Crown. (5) The amount payable shall, if not agreed between the design right owner or licensee and the department concerned with the approval of the Treasury, be determined by the Grand Court on a reference under section 52 and it shall be in addition to any amount payable under section 38 or 39. 41. Special provision for Crown use during public emergency 41. (1) During a period of public emergency the powers exercisable in relation to a design by virtue of section 37 include power to do any act which would otherwise be an infringement of design right for any purpose which appears to the department concerned necessary or expedient — (a) for the efficient prosecution of any war in which Her Majesty may be engaged; (b) for the maintenance of supplies and services essential to the life of the community; Page 26 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 42 (c) for securing a sufficiency of supplies and services essential to the well- being of the community; (d) for promoting the productivity of industry, commerce and agriculture; (e) for fostering and directing exports and reducing imports, or imports of any classes, from all or any countries and for redressing the balance of trade; (f) generally for ensuring that the whole resources of the community are available for use, and are used, in a manner best calculated to serve the interests of the community; or (g) for assisting the relief of suffering and the restoration and distribution of essential supplies and services in any country outside the Islands which is in grave distress as the result of war. (2) References in this Law to the “services of the Crown” include, as respects a period of public emergency, the purposes set out in subsection (1) and references to “Crown use” include any act which would, apart from this section, be an infringement of design right. (3) In this section “period of public emergency” means a period beginning with such date as may be declared by Order of the Governor to be the beginning and ending with such date as may be so declared to be the end of a period of public emergency. 42. Exception for private acts, experiments and teaching 42. Design right is not infringed by — (a) an act which is done privately and for purposes which are not commercial; (b) an act which is done for experimental purposes; or (c) an act of reproduction for teaching purposes or for the purpose of making citations provided that — (i) the act of reproduction is compatible with practice and does not unduly prejudice the normal exploitation of the design; and (ii) mention is made of the source. 43. Exception for overseas ships and aircraft 43. Design right is not infringed by — (a) the use of equipment on ships or aircraft which are registered in another country but which are temporarily in the Islands; (b) the importation into the Islands of spare parts or accessories for the purpose of repairing such ships or aircraft; or (c) the carrying out of repairs on such ships or aircraft. c Law 3 of 2019 Page 27 Section 44 The Design Rights Law, 2019 44. Powers to provide for further exceptions 44. The Cabinet may by Order provide that acts of a description specified in the Order do not infringe design right if it appears necessary in order — (a) to comply with an international obligation of the United Kingdom which extends to the Islands; or (b) to secure or maintain reciprocal protection for Cayman Islands designs in other countries. PART 5 - JURISDICTION OF THE TRIBUNAL AND THE COURT Jurisdiction of the Tribunal 45. Design Rights Tribunal, jurisdiction, rules, etc. 45. (1) There shall be a Design Rights Tribunal, referred to as “the Tribunal” in this Law, for the Islands. (2) The Tribunal shall be constituted in the same manner and by the same persons as the Tribunal constituted under the Copyright (Cayman Islands) Order, 2015 SI 2015 No 795 and shall determine matters within its jurisdiction in accordance with this Law. (3) The Cabinet may make rules for regulating proceedings before the Tribunal and the rules shall include — (a) specifying the parties to any proceedings and enabling the Tribunal to make a party to the proceedings any person or organisation satisfying the Tribunal that they have a substantial interest in the matter; (b) requiring the Tribunal to give the parties to proceedings an opportunity to state their case in writing or orally; (c) prescribing any matters incidental to or consequential upon any appeal from the Tribunal in relation to an appeal to the court on a point of law; (d) the appointment of advisers to assist the Tribunal in proceedings under this Law; and (e) providing for the fees chargeable in respect of proceedings, and those rules may apply, in relation to the Tribunal, any of the provisions of the Arbitration Law, 2012. (4) Rules made under this section shall be subject to negative resolution. Page 28 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 46 46. Costs, proof of orders 46. (1) Subject to any rules that may be made by the Rules Committee referred to in section 19 of the Grand Court Law (2015 Revision), the Tribunal may order that the costs of a party to proceedings before it shall be paid by such other party as the Tribunal may direct and the Tribunal may tax or settle the amount of the costs, or direct in what manner they are to be taxed. (2) The Tribunal may award simple interest at such rate and for such period, beginning not earlier than the last five years of the design right term and ending not later than the expiry of the design right term, as the Tribunal considers reasonable in the circumstances. (3) A document purporting to be a copy of an order of the Tribunal and to be certified by the chairman to be a true copy shall, in any proceedings, be sufficient evidence of the order unless the contrary is proved. 47. Appeals 47. (1) An appeal lies on any point of law arising from a decision of the Tribunal to the Grand Court. (2) Provision shall be made by rules under section 45 limiting the time within which an appeal may be brought. (3) Provision may be made by rules under section 45 — (a) for suspending, or authorizing or requiring the Tribunal to suspend, the operation of orders of the Tribunal in cases where its decision is appealed against; (b) for modifying in relation to an order of the Tribunal whose operation is suspended the operation of any provision of this Law as to the effect of the order; and (c) for the publication of notices or the taking of other steps for securing that persons affected by the suspension of an order of the Tribunal will be informed of its suspension. 48. Jurisdiction to decide matters relating to design right 48. (1) A party to a dispute as to any of the following matters may refer the dispute to the Tribunal for its decision — (a) the subsistence of design right; (b) the term of design right; or (c) the identity of the person in whom design right first vested, and the Tribunal’s decision on the reference is binding on the parties to the dispute. (2) No other court or tribunal shall decide any such matter except — c Law 3 of 2019 Page 29 Section 49 The Design Rights Law, 2019 (a) on an appeal or reference from the Tribunal; (b) in infringement or other proceedings in which the issue arises incidentally; or (c) in proceedings brought with the agreement of the parties or the leave of the Tribunal. (3) The Tribunal has jurisdiction to decide any incidental question of fact or law arising in the course of a reference under this section. 49. Application to settle terms of licence as of right 49. (1) A person requiring a licence which is available as of right by virtue of section 35 may apply to the Tribunal to settle the terms of the licence. (2) No application for the settlement of the terms of a licence available by virtue of section 35 may be made earlier than one year before the earliest date on which the licence may take effect under that section. (3) The terms of a licence settled by the Tribunal shall authorize the licensee to do everything which would be an infringement of the design right in the absence of a licence. (4) In settling the terms of a licence, the Tribunal shall have regard to such matters as may be prescribed by the Cabinet by Order. (5) Where the terms of a licence are settled by the Tribunal, the licence has effect — (a) in the case of an application made before the earliest date on which the licence may take effect under section 35, from that date; and (b) in any other case, from the date on which the application to the Tribunal was made. 50. Settlement of terms where design right owner unknown 50. (1) This section applies where a person making an application under section 49 is unable, on reasonable inquiry, to discover the identity of the design right owner. (2) The Tribunal may, in settling the terms of the licence, order that the licence shall be free of any obligation as to royalties or other payments. (3) If an order under subsection (2) is made, the design right owner may apply to the Tribunal to vary the terms of the licence with effect from the date on which the application is made. (4) If the terms of a licence are settled by the Tribunal and it is subsequently established that a licence was not available as of right, the licensee shall not be liable in damages for, or for an account of profits in respect of, anything done Page 30 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 51 before the licensee was aware of any claim by the design right owner that a licence was not available as of right. References to the court 51. Reference of design right matters 51. (1) In any proceedings before it under section 48, the Tribunal may, at any time, order the whole proceedings or any question or issue (whether of fact or law) to be referred, on such terms as it may direct, to the Grand Court. (2) The Tribunal shall make an order under subsection (1) if the parties to the proceedings agree that it should do so. (3) On a reference under this section the court may exercise any power available to the Tribunal by virtue of this Law as respects the matter referred to it and, following its determination, may refer any matter back to the Tribunal. 52. Reference of disputes relating to Crown use 52. (1) A dispute as to any matter which falls to be determined by the court in default of agreement under — (a) section 38; (b) section 39; or (c) section 40, may be referred by any party to the dispute to the Grand Court. (2) In determining a dispute between a government department of the Islands and any person as to the terms for Crown use of a design the court shall have regard to — (a) any sums that the person or a person from whom he or she derives title has received or is entitled to receive, directly or indirectly, from any government department of the Islands in respect of the design; and (b) whether that person or a person from whom he or she derives title has in the court’s opinion, without reasonable cause, failed to comply with a request of any government department for the use of the design on reasonable terms. (3) One of two or more joint owners of design right may, without the concurrence of the other owners, refer a dispute to the Grand Court under this section, but shall not do so unless the other owners are made parties and none of those other owners is liable for any costs unless the joint owner takes part in the proceedings. (4) Where the consent of an exclusive licensee is required by section 39(3)(a)(i) to the settlement by agreement of the terms for Crown use of a design, a c Law 3 of 2019 Page 31 Section 53 The Design Rights Law, 2019 determination by the Grand Court of the amount of any payment to be made for such use is of no effect unless the licensee has been notified of the reference and given an opportunity to be heard. (5) On the reference of a dispute regarding the amount recoverable, as referred to in section 39(3)(a)(ii), the Grand Court shall determine what is just having regard to any expenditure incurred by the licensee — (a) in developing the design; or (b) in making payments to the design right owner in consideration of the licence (other than royalties or other payments determined by reference to the use of the design). PART 6 – GENERAL Offences 53. Falsification of Register, etc. 53. Any person who makes or causes to be made a false entry in the Register, or a writing falsely purporting to be a copy of such an entry, or produces or tenders or causes to be produced or tendered in evidence any such writing, knowing the entry or writing to be false, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of ten thousand dollars or imprisonment for a term of six months, or to both. 54. Falsely representing a design right as registered 54. (1) A person who — (a) falsely represents that a design applied to any article sold by that person is registered in the Register in respect of that article; or (b) after a registered design right has expired, marks any article to which the design has been applied with the word “registered” or any word or words implying that there is a subsisting design right in respect of the article under this Law, commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine of ten thousand dollars. (2) For the purpose of this section, a person who sells an article having stamped, engraved or impressed thereon or otherwise applied thereto the word “registered”, or any other word expressing or implying that the design applied to the article is registered, is deemed to represent that the design applied to the article is registered as a design right in respect of that article. Page 32 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 55 Actionable Threats 55. Threats of infringement proceedings 55. (1) Where a person threatens another person with proceedings for infringement of design right, a person aggrieved by the threat may bring an action against the person who is making the threats. (2) If the plaintiff proves that the threats were made and that the plaintiff is a person aggrieved by the threats, the plaintiff is entitled to the relief claimed unless the defendant shows that the acts in respect of which proceedings were threatened did constitute, or if done would have constituted, an infringement of the design right concerned. (3) Proceedings may not be brought under this section in respect of a threat to bring proceedings for an infringement alleged to consist of making or importing anything. (4) Mere notification that a design is protected by design right does not constitute a threat of proceedings for the purposes of this section. 56. Actionable threats 56. (1) A threat of infringement proceedings is not actionable if the infringement is alleged to consist of — (a) making an article for disposal; or (b) importing an article for disposal. (2) A threat of infringement proceedings is not actionable if the infringement is alleged to consist of an act which, if done, would constitute an infringement of a kind mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b). (3) A threat of infringement proceedings is not actionable if the threat — (a) is made to a person who has done, or intends to do, an act mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b) in relation to an article; and (b) is a threat of proceedings for an infringement alleged to consist of doing anything else in relation to that article. (4) A threat of infringement proceedings which is not an express threat is not actionable if it is contained in a permitted communication. 57. Permitted communications 57. (1) For the purposes of section 56(4), a communication containing a threat of infringement proceedings is a “permitted communication” if — (a) the communication, so far as it contains information that relates to the threat, is made for a permitted purpose; and (b) all of the information that relates to the threat is information that — c Law 3 of 2019 Page 33 Section 58 The Design Rights Law, 2019 (i) is necessary for that purpose; and (ii) the person making the communication reasonably believes is true. (2) Each of the following is a “permitted purpose” — (a) giving notice that design right subsists in a design; (b) discovering whether, or by whom, design right in a design has been infringed by an act mentioned in section 56(1)(a) or (b); or (c) giving notice that a person has a right in or under the design right, where another person’s awareness of the right is relevant to any proceedings that may be brought in respect of the design right in the design. (3) The court may, having regard to the nature of the purposes listed in subsection (2)(a) to (c), treat any other purpose as a permitted purpose if it considers that it is in the interests of justice to do so. (4) The following shall not be treated as a “permitted purpose” — (a) requesting a person to cease doing, for commercial purposes, anything in relation to an article made to a design; (b) requesting a person to deliver up or destroy an article made to a design; or (c) requesting a person to give an undertaking relating to an article made to a design. (5) Where any of the following information is included in a communication made for a permitted purpose, it is information that is necessary for that purpose, that is — (a) a statement that design right subsists in a design; (b) details of the design, or of a right in or under the design right in the design, which — (i) are accurate in all material respects; and (ii) are not misleading in any material respect; and (c) information enabling the identification of articles that are alleged to be infringing articles in relation to the design. 58. Remedies and defences 58. (1) Proceedings in respect of an actionable threat may be brought against the person who made the threat for — (a) a declaration that the threat is unjustified; (b) an injunction against the continuance of the threat; or (c) damages in respect of any loss sustained by the aggrieved person by reason of the threat. Page 34 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 59 (2) It is a defence for the person who made the threat to show that the act in respect of which proceedings were threatened constitutes, or if done would constitute, an infringement of design right. (3) It is a defence for the person who made the threat to show that — (a) despite having taken reasonable steps, the person has not identified anyone who has done an act mentioned in section 56(1)(a) or (b) in relation to the article which is the subject of the threat; and (b) the person notified the recipient, before or at the time of making the threat, of the steps taken. 59. Professional advisers 59. (1) Proceedings in respect of an actionable threat may not be brought against a professional adviser, or any person vicariously liable for the actions of that professional adviser, if the conditions in subsection (3) are met. (2) In this section “professional adviser” means a person who, in relation to the making of the communication containing the threat is a legal practitioner under the Legal Practitioners Law (2015 Revision) or a registered agent. (3) The conditions are that — (a) in making the communication the professional adviser is acting on the instructions of another person; and (b) when the communication is made the professional adviser identifies the person on whose instructions the professional adviser is acting. (4) This section does not affect any liability of the person on whose instructions the professional adviser is acting. (5) It is for a person asserting that subsection (1) applies to prove (if required) that at the material time — (a) the person concerned was acting as a professional adviser; and (b) the conditions in subsection (3) were met. 60. Licensee under licence of right not to claim connection with design right owner 60. (1) A person who has a licence in respect of a design by virtue of section 35 shall not, without the consent of the design right owner — (a) apply to goods which the person is marketing, or proposes to market, in reliance on that licence a trade description indicating that he or she is the licensee of the design right owner; or (b) use any such trade description in an advertisement in relation to such goods. (2) A contravention of subsection (1) is actionable by the design right owner. c Law 3 of 2019 Page 35 Section 61 The Design Rights Law, 2019 (3) In this section — (a) “advertisement” includes a catalogue, a circular and a price list; and (b) “trade description” has the same meaning as in the Merchandise Marks Law (1997 Revision). 61. Countries enjoying reciprocal protection 61. (1) The Cabinet may, if it appears to it that the law of a country provides or will provide adequate protection for Cayman Islands designs, by Order designate that country as one enjoying reciprocal protection under this Law. (2) If the law of a country under subsection (1) provides adequate protection only for certain classes of Cayman Islands designs, or only for designs applied to certain classes of article, any Order designating that country shall contain provisions limiting, to a corresponding extent, the protection afforded by this Law in relation to designs connected with that country. 62. Requirement of signature: application in relation to body corporate 62. The requirement that an instrument be signed by or on behalf of a person is also satisfied in the case of a body corporate by the affixing of its seal in the following provisions — (a) section 21(3); and (b) section 22(1). 63. Immunity 63. The Registrar shall not be liable in damages for anything done or omitted in the discharge or purported discharge of functions under this Law unless it is shown that the act or omission was in bad faith. 64. Regulations 64. The Cabinet may make regulations prescribing all matters that are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to the purposes of this Law, including regulations — (a) prescribing procedures for the conduct of business with the Registry; (b) authorizing the Registrar to issue Practice Directions to registered agents for the conduct of the business of the Registry; and (c) respecting applications for recognition as registered agents, including — (i) any qualification to being recognized as such; (ii) the payment of fees by applicants; (iii) change of registered agent; and (iv) the exemption from reapplying to be recognized where the person is a recognized registered agent for trade marks or patents. Page 36 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 65 65. Amendment of Schedule 65. The Cabinet may by Order amend the Schedule. 66. Repeal 66. The Design Rights Registration Law, 2016 is repealed. 67. Savings and transitional 67. (1) The Cabinet may make regulations containing provisions of a saving or transitional nature in relation to a design right. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of subsection (1), the regulations may provide for — (a) the application of provisions of this Law; or (b) the continued application of the repealed Law, in connection with any matter specified in the regulations, such matter having commenced before the coming into force of this Law. (3) From the commencement date, existing design rights that were recorded under the repealed Law shall be transferred to the new Register and shall be considered as registered under this Law until the renewal date under the repealed Law except where steps are taken to cancel the design right. (4) Where prior to the commencement date a matter was pending before the court or the Registrar for a decision, that matter shall continue to be dealt with under the repealed Law, unless otherwise provided for in this Law. (5) For the purposes of this Law, a matter shall be considered as pending before the commencement date if the matter was — (a) before the Registrar but no written decision on the matter had been issued by the Registrar before the commencement date; (b) the subject of a written decision issued by the Registrar under the repealed Law before the commencement date but the decision was subject to appeal and the period for commencing the appeal had not expired at the commencement date; (c) the subject of proceedings which were pending before a court immediately before the commencement date; or (d) the subject of an order made by a court before the commencement date but the order was subject to appeal and the period for commencing the appeal had not expired at the commencement date. (6) For the purposes of this section, “design right” means a property right that is, immediately before the commencement of this Law, held in the United Kingdom that — c Law 3 of 2019 Page 37 Section 67 The Design Rights Law, 2019 (a) subsisted in an original design in accordance with Part III of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988; (b) was derived from registration of the right in the United Kingdom or the European Community; and (c) was recorded by the Registrar in accordance with the repealed Law. Page 38 Law 3 of 2019 c The Design Rights Law, 2019 Section 67 c Law 3 of 2019 Page 39 The Design Rights Law, 2019 SCHEDULE SCHEDULE (Sections 5,7,10,11,12,13,65) Fees Part 1-Design Rights Item Particulars Fee 1. Application fee for registration of design rights to the Islands $150 2. Annual fee for design right $150 3. Late payment of design right annual fee (for each year of default) $100 4. Application fee for renewal of a design right $150 5. Penalty for late filing of a renewal $100 6. Reactivation fee for an abandoned design right $150 Part 2-General Item Particulars Fee 1. Search fee $50 2. Non-refundable processing fee accompanying an application $200 to be recognized by the Registrar as a registered agent 3. Registered agent annual fee: number of registered design Under 10: $200 rights as at 31st December 10-99: $500 100+: $2,000 4. Issue of a certificate of good standing in relation to a design $100 right Passed by the Legislative Assembly the 10th day of April, 2019. Hon. W. McKeeva Bush Speaker Zena Merren-Chin Clerk of the Legislative Assembly c Law 3 of 2019 Page 41Referenced legislation
- Grand Court Law (2015 Revision), (unresolved)
- Arbitration Law, 2012 (unresolved)
- Copyright (Cayman Islands) Order, 2015 SI 2015 No 795 (unresolved)
- Design Rights Registration Law, 2016 (resolved)
- Legal Practitioners Law (2015 Revision) (unresolved)
- Copyright, Designs and Patents Act, 1988 (unresolved)
- Merchandise Marks Law (1997 Revision). (resolved)
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THE DESIGN RIGHTS LAW, 2019 (Law 3 of 2019)
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