TERRITORIAL LIMITS OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS

Abstract

The article describes the territorial aspects of intellectual property rights. Comparing property right and intellectual property right, the last one has a territorial character. Such kind of activity of intellectual property rights became a reason for creation of international law system protection of intellectual property. The first form of international cooperation in intellectual property sphere were bi-side international treaties about mutual protection of rights for conforming objects on the territory of countries-participants. At the end of 19th century were signed two multiply international treaties, which became a base for creation of modern international law system of intellectual property protection – Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property (1883) and Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (1886). Intellectual property rights, which appeared on the territory of the definite country in accordance with it legislature, are limited by territory of this country, if something different isn’t subscribe in international treaty or national laws. Today this principle is a base of legislature about intellectual property of majority countries of the world and it is determined by several factors (historical factor, non-material nature of intellectual property objects, partly – state interests). Multiply international treaties in intellectual property sphere, which are administered by WIPO, don’t provide extraterritoriality of intellectual property rights, because they based on principle of national regime and fix using to objects by foreign origin the legislation, exactly that country, where protection is needed. Now on the regional level exists tendency to refuse of principle of intellectual property rights territoriality and providing unitary legal protection regime of the object based on one registration on the territory of all countries-participants. Uniform legal protection of some objects is provides on the territory of EU countries (Community trade mark, design, plant variety, geographical indications and designations of origin). Therefore Ukrainians membership in EU opens new perspectives to use procedures of legal protection of intellectual property for the extending of intellectual property rights territorial limits.