The Similar And Different Regulations
On Industrial Designs
Between China And Canada
He Zijing
Abstract:
With China entering WTO, more and more Chinese industrial designers want to apply internationally to register their designs outside China. This paper shows you the detailed comparison about regulations concerning industrial designs between China and Canada, gives some suggestions about the process to register internationally to protect Chinese applier. Some hints imposed on the difference between the two countries will help to improve our patent law.
KEYWORDS:
Industrial design, China, Canada
1. General introduction on industrial designs
1.1 What is an industrial design?
1.1.1 Of WIPO
An industrial design is the ornamental of aesthetic aspect of an article. The design may consist of three-dimensional features, such as the shape or surface of an article, or of two-dimensional features, such as patterns, lines or color. Industrial designs are applied to a wide variety of products of industry and handicraft. To be protected under most national laws, an industrial design must appeal to the eye. This means that an industrial design is primarily of an aesthetic nature, and does not protect any technical features of the article to which it is applied.
1.1.2 Of CHINA
Design in the Patent Law means any new design of the shape, the pattern or their combination, or the combination of the color with shape or pattern, of a product with creates an aesthetic feeling and it fits for industrial application.
1.1.3 Of CANADA
Design of industrial design means features of shape, configuration, pattern or ornament and any combination of those features that, in a finished article, appeal to and are judged solely by the eye.
1.2 Other forms of Intellectual Property
In China, Intellectual property can be generally classified as patent, copyright, trademark. Patents, or in other words, inventions-creations, mean inventions, utility models and designs. So that the designs are one of the subdivisions of patents.
Whereas, in Canada, in addition to industrial designs, there other forms of intellectual property, as patents, copyrights, and integrated circuit topographies. Hereby, patents cover new inventions (process, machine, manufacture, composition of matter), or any new and useful improvement of an existing invention. So that industrial designs have the equal statues to patents, as one of the subdivisions of intellectual property.
1.3 Why protect industrial designs?
Industrial designs are what make an article attractive and appealing; hence, they add to the commercial value of a product and increase its marketability.
When an industrial design is protected, the owner-the person or entity that has registered the design-is assured an exclusive right against unauthorized copying or imitation of the design by third parties. This helps to ensure a fair return on investment. An effective system of protection also benefits consumers and the public at large, by promoting fair competition and honest trade practices, encouraging creativity, and promoting more aesthetically attractive product.
Protecting industrial designs helps economic development, by encouraging creativity in the industrial and manufacturing sectors, as well as in the traditional arts and crafts. They contribute to the expansion of commercial activities and the export of national products.
Industrial designs can be relatively simple and inexpensive to develop and protect. They are reasonably accessible to small and medium-sized enterprises as well as to individual artists and craftsmen, in both industrialized and developing countries.
1.4 How can industrial designs be protected?
In most countries, an industrial design must be registered in order to be protected under Industrial Design Law. As for China, the regulations on design are under the Patent Law of People’s Republic of China (PRC) and its implementing regulations; As for Canada, The Industrial Design Act and Industrial Design Regulations details the regulations that govern design rights. As a general rule, to be registerable, the design must be “new” or “original”. Different countries have varying definitions of such terms, as well as variations in the registration process itself. Generally, “new” means that no identical or very similar design is known to have existed before.
Depending on the particular national law and the kind of design, an industrial design may also be protected as a work of art under copyright.
2.The main difference concerning registration
2.1 When to file an application
There is no time limit for filing an application as long as the design had never been published. The term “published” means that the design has been made public (even to your neighbors) or offered for commercial sale or use anywhere in the world. It is best to file an quickly as possible if publication has occurred.
In china, an design application does not lose its novelty where, within six months before the date of filing, one of the following events occurred: [1] where it was first exhibited at an international exhibition sponsored of recognized by the Chinese Government;[2]where it was first made public at a prescribed academic or technological meeting;[3]when it was disclosed by any person without the consent of the applicant.
In Canada, the design shall be refused to be registered if the application is filed more than one year after the publication of the design in Canada of somewhere.
2.2 who can apply?
Only the proprietor of a design may apply for and obtain registration for an industrial design both in China and Canada, while there exists little difference between the two countries on the question that who can be defined as proprietor.[1] usually you are considered the proprietor if you have created the design;[2] if you work together with other person to creat a design, you should file for registration as joint proprietors ( unless you are all working under contract or commission );[3] if you have acquired ownership of a design, then you may apply;[4] if you are employee of a company and develop design as part of your employment, then the employer may be the proprietor. In that case, only the employer may apply in Canada; while in china, the entity and the inventor or creator may enter into a contract in which the right to apply for and own the exclusive right is provided for;[5] if you have been hired under contract to develop design for someone else, then that person is the proprietor and is the only one entitled to apply for registration in Canada; whereas in that case in China, the right to apply for registration belongs, unless otherwise agreed upon, to the entity or individual that made the design.
2.3 What requirements to make designs registerable?
In Canada, the minister shall register the design if the minister finds that it is not identical with or dose not so closely resemble any other design already registered as to be confounded therewith, and shall return to the proprietor thereof the drawing or photograph and description with the certificate required.
In China, any design for which patent fight may be granted must not be identical with and similar to any design which, before the date of falling has been publicly disclosed in publications in the country or abroad or has been publicly used in the country, and must not be in conflict with any prior right of any other person.
2.4 What you cannot register?
In Canada, you cannot register the following under the Industrial Design Act: [1] Designs that are utilitarian only and which are not intended to provide visual appeal; [2] Designs that have no fixed appearance; [3] Designs for components that are not clearly visible; [4] a method of construction; [5] an idea; [6] materials used in the construction of an article; [7] the useful function of the article; or [8] color.
In China, for any of the following, no patent right shall be granted: [1] scientific discoveries;[2] rules and methods for mental activities;[3] methods for diagnoses or for the treatment for the diseases;[4] animal and plant varieties;[5] substances obtained by means of nuclear transformation.
From the above regulations, we can see that the Chinese regulations is more generic for all of the three types of creation-inventions; and the Canadian’s is more special in detail on designs. So we should absorb some of them in our implementing regulations of patent law.
2.5 searching of office record prior to filing an application
Prior to filing an application, you may wish to conduct a search of office records in order to better determine whether your design is truly new and original. This will give you the opportunity to see other registered designs. You should also keep your design confidential.
2.6 How long the process takes?
In Canada, the Office dose not register any design until six months after the date of filing. Normally it takes between eight and twelve months to have your application examined. While in china, there is no such kind of provisions concerning the term of process of designs.
2.7 Duration of protection
Both in the two countries, duration of protection of industrial designs is for ten-year term, while the beginning date is quite different. In Canada, it is the date of registration-usually six months after the date of filing; in china, it is the date of filing. Once the ten-year term has expired, anyone is free to make, import, rent or sell etc., the designs.
2.8 Extension of protection
In Canada, your application must include a description which identifies the features that constitute the design since the court may use your description to help determine the limits of protection for your design, you should word your description with care and precision. If your description is too broad, you may over-extend the scope of the design, and it may be impossible to enforce. If it is too narrow, you may limit the scope of the design or leave out features that you intended to protect.
河北省税务征收管理办法
河北省人民政府
河北省税务征收管理办法
河北省人民政府
第一条 为了保证国家税收政策法令的贯彻执行，发挥税收的经济杠杆作用，促进国民经济的发展，根据现行税法的规定和我省具体情况，制定本办法。
第二条 凡在本省境内按税法规定应当纳税的单位和个人，都要遵守本办法的规定，履行纳税义务。
代扣代交义务人，也应遵照税法和本办法的规定，履行代扣代交税款的义务。
第三条 各级税务机关，是税收法令的执行和检查机关。所有纳税单位和个人，都应服从当地税务机关的监督管理。
税务机关根据工作需要，可以采取委托代征办法办理税收业务。代征单位和代征人员，依照国家税收法令，在指定的范围内，代行税务机关的部分职权。
未经税务机关委托，任何单位和个人不得擅自征收税款。
第四条 纳税单位和个人，应分别在开业后或停业前三十天内，向当地税务机关办理开业或停业的税务登记。登记后如变更企业名称，改变生产、经营范围，以及迁移营业地址等，应在变动后十五天内，办理变更登记；如有转业、合并、分设、联营的，则应重新办理税务登记。申报停
止的，应及时清理纳税事项，并办理注销税务登记手续。
第五条 纳税单位和个人，必须将生产经营项目、业务范围、经营方式、财务处理和其它有关税收事项，向当地税务机关申报。由税务机关依据税法规定，确定征免界限、纳税环节、计税依据、适用税率、纳税期限、交税日期和交税方式，发给“纳税鉴定表”，作为纳税单位和个人纳
税申报的依据。在进行纳税鉴定之后，如生产、经营等情况发生变化，纳税单位和个人，要及时向税务机关申报，修改“纳税鉴定表”；税法如有变动，税务机关要及时通知纳税单位和个人，并修改“纳税鉴定表”。
第六条 交纳税款的期限，除税法有明确规定者外，均由市、县税务机关根据纳税单位和个人的经营情况、税额大小，分别核定为一天、五天、十天、十五天、一个月 氮”号为一期，逐期计算；不能按期纳税的，按次计算交纳。纳税期为一天、五天、十天、十五天的，于期满后三天
内交纳；纳税期为一个月的，于期满后五天内结算交纳。在结算交纳日期最后一天，如遇星期日或法定假日，可以顺延。
工商所得税以税法规定的申报期为纳税期限。
第七条 纳税单位和个人，应按当地税务机关规定的期限申报纳税。按照税法规定纳税确有困难，需要减税或免税照顾的，应向当地税务机关提出申请。在批准减免税之前，应照章纳税。经批准减税或免税的，在减免税期间仍应按期履行申报手续，以备税务机关查核，减免税期满后应
即恢复照章纳税。
第八条 一切单位签订的经济合同，凡涉及税务事项的，都应在合同签订前与当地税务机关联系，以便鉴定税收的征免和纳税手续。合同签订后，必须将副本送当地税务机关。
第九条 纳税单位应指定专人为办税员。办税员的职责是：办理纳税申报和税务有关事项，向税务机关反映纳税的情况与意见，维护税收政策法令和税务管理规定的贯彻执行，同偷税漏税行为作斗争。
第十条 税务机关有权对纳税单位和个人的生产经营、财务会计业务及纳税情况进行监督检查。纳税单位和个人必须如实提供帐据、资料和有关情况，不得隐瞒、拒绝。税务工作人员在执行公务时，要出示证件，并对纳税户提供的资料负责保密。
第十一条 税法规定应当交纳所得税的纳税单位及其主管部门，在制定或修改财务制度、会计制度时，必须事前征得同级税务机关的同意。
第十二条 凡有关工商税收政策法令的解释和具体纳税规定，均由税务机关办理。任何部门和单位不得自行下达同税法相抵触的文件。纳税单位和个人，对纳税事项如有不同意见，应先依税法规定纳税，然后将意见报告上一级税务机关，不得以任何借口拒绝纳税。
第十三条 纳税单位和个人的纳税地点，除特案规定者外，在本省境内均按属地征收的原则执行：
1．独立核算单位应纳的税款，在独立核算单位所在地的税务机关交纳；
2．报帐制单位应纳的税款，在核算单位所在地税务机关汇总交纳；
3．联合企业应纳的税款，在统一核算单位所在地税务机关交纳。
第十四条 个体工商业户，都应当建立营业帐簿。由国合企业供货的，实行购货簿制度，购货簿由市、县税务机关核发，个体商贩持用，供货单位负责填写。
对帐、票健全，或全部由国合企业供货并认真填写购货簿，确能作为计税依据的，由税务机关按帐核实征收；对帐、票不健全的，实行民主评议，依率计征，或在民主评议基础上，定期定额征收。按定期定额办法征收的，如营业情况发生较大变化，应及时调整税额。
税收民主评议组织，由基层税务机关、工商行政管理机关、国合商业部门、个体工商业联合会及纳税户代表组成，在当地政府领导下进行工作。
第十五条 工商业户将产品、商品运出所在的市、县范围以外销售，应向企业所在地税务机关申请发给外销证明单，凭以向销地税务机关办理申报登记。其应纳的税款，回原地税务机关交纳。未持有外销证明单的，允许限期补开；不能取得外销证明单的，销地税务机关按临时经营处理
。
个体商贩，在工商行政管理部门批准的经营地点和经营范围内经营，回原地纳税，不开外销证明单。
第十六条 凡未经工商行政管理部门批准，或超出工商行政管理部门批准的经营范围，进行跨行业非法投机经营的，经税务机关查实后，按临时经营的征税规定处理。
第十七条 纳税单位和个人，由于计算错误或其它原因多交了税款的，应在下一年度终了前，提出有关证据向税务机关申请退税；隔年度的溢交税款，一般不再退还。
第十八条 纳税单位和个人，超过税务机关核定的纳税期限，没有按时交纳税款的，属于欠税行为，应按税法的规定加收滞纳金。
企业收回的货款，应首先交纳税款。对无故拖欠税款，经催收无效的，税务机关应通知企业的开户银行，从他们的存款中扣交，并加收滞纳金。
第十九条 纳税单位和个人，由于不了解、不熟悉税法规定和财务制度，或因工作失误，造成少缴税款的，属于漏税行为；有意违反税收法规、财务制度，用欺骗、隐瞒等方式逃避缴纳税款的，属于偷税行为；经税务机关明确通知仍拒不申报纳税，或抗拒税务机关检查的，属于抗税行
为。
对漏税、偷税、抗税者，除限期追缴应纳税款外，应根据税法规定，按照情节轻重，分别给予批评教育，处以罚金，或依本办法第二十条的规定处理。
第二十条 凡有下列情形之一者，由市、县税务机关送交司法机关追究刑事责任：
1、偷税、抗税情节严重的；
2、伪造税务机关票证、印章、文件、证件的；
3、煽动抗税闹事，围攻税务机关、殴打税务工作人员，或以暴力威胁、阻挠税务人员依法执行公务的；
4、冒充国家税务工作人员招摇撞骗的。
第二十一条 凡违反本规定，不办理税务登记，不按期履行纳税申报，不向税务机关提供帐册、凭证等有关税务资料，不报送业务合同副本，以及违反外销管理的，视其情节轻重，给予批评教育，或经市、县税务机关批准，对单位处以五千元以下的罚金，对个人处以五百元以下的罚金
。
第二十二条 违反税法和征收管理规定，被加收滞纳 一0一金或处以罚金的单位，其支付的滞纳金和罚金，均不得作为费用列支。上述单位的负责人在一年之内不得享受奖金待遇，并由当地劳动部门、企业主管部门和税务机关监督执行。
第二十三条 税务机关和税务人员应当积极宣传并模范地执行税收政策法令，发动和依靠群众办税、护税，同时接受人民群众的监督。税收人员不得贪赃枉法，违者应根据情节轻重，予以严肃处理。
税务机关要积极配合有关部门，加强市场管理，保护合法经营，限制非法经营，打击投机倒把和走私活动，维护社会主义经济秩序。
第二十四条 对违反税收法令和税务管理法规的行为，任何人都有权检举揭发。税务机关对检举揭发的税务违章案件，认真查实处理后，对检举人应给予适当奖励，并为检举人保守秘密。
第二十五条 本办法自省政府批准之日起施行。凡国家税法有规定的，均按税法执行。本省过去规定与本办法不抵触的继续有效。
第二十六条 本办法的解释和其它有关具体执行事项，由省税务局负责办理。
1982年8月28日
