WIPO China: WIPO Member States Adopt Riyadh Design Law Treaty
11月22日，产权组织成员国批准了一部新条约，这部条约将使全世界的设计者在国内外保护自己的外观设计变得更加方便、快捷和实惠，标志着在向设计者赋能和促进国际外观设计合作方面向前迈出了一大步。
On November 22, WIPO member states approved a new Treaty that will make it easier, faster and more affordable for designers the world over to protect their designs both at home and abroad, marking a major step forward in empowering designers and fostering international collaboration in design.
图：SAIP｜Photo: SAIP
产权组织总干事邓鸿森对《利雅得外观设计法条约》——条约这样命名是因为利雅得是承办最后阶段谈判的城市——的通过表示欢迎，祝贺谈判者达成一致，并赞扬会议主席、沙特知识产权局首席执行官阿卜杜勒阿齐兹·斯韦莱姆博士的领导才能。
WIPO Director General Daren Tang welcomed the adoption of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty – so called in recognition of the city that hosted the final stage negotiations – congratulated negotiators on reaching agreement and praised the leadership of Conference President, Dr. Abdulaziz AlSwailem, CEO of the Saudi Authority for Intellectual Property (SAIP).
“经过20年和漫长的两星期，我们今天创造了历史，我们欢迎第28部产权组织条约——《利雅得外观设计法条约》，”邓先生说。
“After 20 years, and two long weeks – we made history today, and we welcome the 28th WIPO Treaty – the Riyadh Design Law Treaty,” Mr. Tang said.
此次外交会议由沙特阿拉伯承办，于2024年11月11日至22日在利雅得阿卜杜勒·阿齐兹国王国际会议中心举行，邓先生在会议结束时说，这部条约是成员国在同一年内通过的第二部条约，它不仅是设计者的胜利，也是多边主义的福音。
Speaking at the end of the diplomatic conference that was hosted by Saudi Arabia at the King Abdul Aziz International Conference Center in Riyadh from November 11-22, 2024, Mr. Tang said the Treaty – the second adopted by member states in the same year – is not only a victory for designers but a boon for multilateralism.
“5月份，我们曾齐聚一堂，达成了《产权组织知识产权、遗传资源和相关传统知识条约》。六个月后，我们再次走到一起，达成了《利雅得外观设计法条约》。邓先生说：“我们已经证明，多边主义可以改变世界，让世界变得更美好。”
“In May, we came together to deliver the WIPO Treaty on IP, Genetic Resources and Associated Traditional Knowledge. Six months later, we came together again to deliver the Riyadh Design Law Treaty. We have demonstrated that multilateralism can change the world for the better,” Mr. Tang said.
邓先生强调了新条约对设计者的重要性，指出“谈判进程使我们能够真正参与讨论这个产权组织曾有一段时间没有放在我们工作中心的议题——外观设计和设计者，以及他/她们在利用色彩、形式、形状、美感和审美来愉悦我们的感官、丰富我们的生活、弘扬我们的遗产和改变我们的文化方面所具有的天赋。”
Mr. Tang emphasized the importance of the new pact for designers, noting: “The process of negotiations allowed us to really engage on a topic which WIPO had not put at the center of our work for some time – that of designs and designers and the gift they have in using color, form, shape, beauty and aesthetics to delight our senses, enrich our lives, promote our heritage and transform our culture.”
“让本次大会激励我们建设一个创新无国界、创造力蓬勃发展、知识产权成为强大的公益力量的世界。我们一起创造了历史。让我们一起为了世界各地的创新者和创造者，继续创造历史，”邓先生最后说。
“Let this conference inspire us to a world where innovation knows no borders, where creativity flourishes and where IP serves as a powerful force for good. Together, we’ve made history. Together, let us continue to do so for the good of innovators and creators everywhere,” Mr. Tang concluded.
图：WIPO/Borlant｜Photo: WIPO/Borlant
斯韦莱姆博士说：“《利雅得外观设计法条约》这个名称反映了沙特阿拉伯作为不同文化桥梁和支持全球倡议的枢纽所发挥的关键作用。这部条约的通过是一项历史性成就，彰显了沙特阿拉伯对国际知识产权框架的合作与贡献。它为成员国之间的合作开辟了新的途径。这部条约将为重要的法律框架奠定基础，使全世界的设计者受益，促进创新和创造。”
Dr. AlSwailem said “The name ‘Riyadh Design Law Treaty’ reflects Saudi Arabia’s pivotal role as a bridge between cultures and a hub for supporting global initiatives. Adopting this Treaty is a historic achievement highlighting Saudi Arabia’s cooperation and contribution to the international intellectual property framework. It opens new avenues for collaboration among member states. This Treaty will lay the foundation for vital legal frameworks that benefit designers and bolster innovation and creativity worldwide.”
《利雅得设计法条约》的益处
Benefits of the Riyadh Design Law Treaty
外观设计能使产品吸引消费者，从而推动消费者做出选择。外观设计是一种商业资产，可以提高产品的市场价值并提供竞争优势。利雅得条约将大大方便设计者，尤其是规模较小的设计者和微型、小型和中型企业注册其成果。
Designs drive consumer choices by making products attractive to consumers. They are business assets that increase a product’s market value and provide a competitive advantage. The Riyadh Treaty will make it significantly easier for designers, especially smaller scale designers and micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), to register their work.
当前，各国保护外观设计的程序不尽相同。在一些国家，外观设计作为“注册式外观设计”提出申请。注册制度可能涉及知识产权局对外观设计申请的审查，所涉程序因国而异。在其他司法管辖区，外观设计作为“外观设计专利”受专利法保护，通常只有在知识产权局对外观设计申请进行彻底审查后才会授予专利权。
Today, the process for protecting designs varies from one country to another. In some countries, designs are filed as “registered designs.” Registration systems may involve the examination of design applications by the IP office, involving procedures that vary from country to country. In other jurisdictions, designs are protected under patent law as “design patents,” which are usually only granted after a thorough examination of the design application by the IP office.
此外，外观设计者一般必须遵守其申请保护的国家的知识产权局所规定的申请程序。由于外观设计权具有地域性，因此仅限于获得保护的国家或地区，外观设计者在希望保护其外观设计的每个国家或地区都必须经过相同的程序。
In addition, designers generally must follow the filing procedures set by the IP office of the country in which they are seeking protection. Because design rights are territorial and thus limited to the country or region in which protection was obtained, designers must go through the same process in each country or region where they wish to protect their designs.
利雅得条约将有助于提高外观设计保护程序框架的可预测性，降低程序本身的复杂性，使其更加经济实惠。外观设计者在几个不同的司法管辖区提出申请将更加容易。
The Riyadh Treaty will help to make the framework for design protection procedures more predictable and make the procedures themselves less complex and more affordable. It will be easier for designers to file applications in several different jurisdictions.
条约作出哪些规定：
What the Treaty will do:
对外观设计人在申请时必须提交的说明或要素的清单规定上限。确立一个封闭的要素清单，有助于为外观设计保护程序建立一个可预测的框架：希望提出申请的外观设计人将清楚地知道可能需要哪些说明或要素。
set a maximum list of indications or elements that designers must submit with an application. Establishing a closed list of elements will help to create a predictable framework for design protection procedures: designers wishing to file an application will know exactly what indications or elements may be required.
允许申请人选择在申请中表现外观设计的方式（绘图、照片，或在知识产权局允许的情况下，视频）。
allow applicants to choose how they represent the design in an application (drawings, photographs or, if admitted by the IP office, video).
在某些条件下，允许申请人在一份申请中包含多项设计。
allow applicants to include several designs in a single application, under certain conditions.
对授予申请日的要求作出规定。尽量减少外观设计申请的申请日要求至关重要，因为在外观设计领域，推迟申请日会导致权利的最终丧失。
set out requirements for the granting of a filing date. Keeping the list of filing-date requirements for design applications to a minimum is crucial because, in the field of design, postponing the filing date can result in a definitive loss of rights.
规定在首次公开外观设计后有12个月的宽限期，在此期间的此种公开不会影响其新颖性。
provide for a grace period of 12 months following a first disclosure of the design, during which such disclosure will not affect its validity for registration.
允许申请人在获得申请日后至少六个月内不公布其外观设计。
allow applicants to keep their designs unpublished for at least six months after having secured a filing date.
规定救济措施并为申请人提供一定的灵活性，以防止申请人因错过时限而丧失权利。如果没有此种措施，错过时限一般会导致权利的丧失。就外观设计而言，这种损失是无法弥补的。
provide relief measures and offer some flexibility to applicants to prevent them from losing their rights if they miss a deadline. Without such measures, missing a time limit generally results in a loss of rights. In the case of designs, that loss is irreparable.
简化请求续展外观设计注册的程序。
simplify the procedure for requesting the renewal of a design registration.
推动引入外观设计电子申请系统和优先权文件电子交换系统。
furthers the introduction of e-filing systems for designs and the electronic exchange of priority documents.
条约设想对发展中国家和最不发达国家提供技术援助以实施条约。
The Treaty foresees the availability of technical assistance to developing and least developed countries for the implementation of the Treaty.
此外，《利雅得外观设计法条约》明确将外观设计保护与传统知识和传统文化表现形式的保护结合起来。这是通过一个条款来实现的，根据这个条款，缔约方可以要求申请人提交与外观设计注册资格相关的传统文化表现形式和传统知识信息。
Moreover, the Riyadh Design Law Treaty expressly interfaces design protection with the protection of traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions. This is achieved through a provision under which contracting parties may require applicants to file information on traditional cultural expressions and traditional knowledge relevant to the eligibility for registration of the design.
条约需要有15个缔约方才能生效。
The Treaty requires 15 contracting parties to enter into force.
图：WIPO｜Photo: WIPO
什么是外交会议？
What is a Diplomatic Conference?
产权组织外交会议通常根据产权组织大会的一项决定召集，该决定确定了会议的目标和与会的一般条件。外交会议受其自身的议事规则和习惯国际法管辖。因此，条约和最后文件是由外交会议本身通过的。
A WIPO diplomatic conference is typically convened by a decision of the WIPO General Assembly, which defines the objective of the conference and the general conditions for participation. Diplomatic conferences are governed by their own rules of procedure and customary international law. Accordingly, it is the conference itself that adopts the treaty and a final act.
外交会议由全体会议和若干委员会组成。第一主要委员会的任务是就所有实质性知识产权条款进行谈判和协商，并建议全体会议通过这些条款。第二主要委员会的工作则是就行政规定和最后条款进行谈判与协商，例如谁有资格加入未来的条约以及使条约生效的条件是什么。此外，还成立了其他三个委员会：资格证书委员会负责核查参加外交会议和签署条约的各代表团的资格证书；起草委员会负责确保条约六种语文的文本同等作准，互相一致；指导委员会由所有委员会的主席团主要成员组成，负责确保外交会议按计划进行。
The diplomatic conference works in plenary and several committees. Main Committee I is to negotiate and agree on all substantive IP provisions and recommend them for adoption by the plenary. Main Committee II is charged with negotiating and agreeing on all administrative provisions and final clauses, such as who can join the future treaty and the conditions for its entry into force. Three other committees are also formed: the Credentials Committee, which verifies credentials of delegations to participate in the conference and to sign the treaty; the Drafting Committee, which ensures the six language versions of the treaty are equally authentic and properly aligned; and the Steering Committee, which includes the chief officers of all the committees and ensures the process is on track.
在所有委员会完成其工作之后，条约将会提交给外交会议全体会议通过。其后，条约将开放供签署。在外交会议结束之际签署条约，并不意味着签署国必须受条约规定的约束。只不过表明签署国有强烈的意向而已。最后文件是一份关于举行过外交会议这一事实的记录，也将在条约通过后开放供签署。
When all committees finalize their work, the treaty is sent to the conference plenary for adoption. It is then open for signature. Signing the treaty at the end of a diplomatic conference does not commit a country to being bound by its provisions. It is, however, a strong indication of intent by the signatory. The final act – a record that the conference took place – is also open for signature after adoption.
点击阅读原文访问WIPO中国办事处网站，查看关于《利雅得外观设计法条约》的更多信息。
Click on Read more to visit the WIPO Office in China website for further information on the Riyadh Design Law Treaty.
