Swiss upgrade treaty commitments

1 July 2008 is a red-letter day for Switzerland, for three IP-related reasons. Explains the IPKat:

By PLT Notification No. 20 the Swiss Confederation confirms its deposit of an instrument of ratification of the Patent Law Treaty (PLT), which itself has Swiss roots, having been adopted in the World Intellectual Property Organization's 'hood (Geneva) in June 2000. The PLT will enter into force for the Swiss on 1 July 2008.

By WCT Notification No. 68 the Swiss Confederation commit themselves to the WIPO Copyright Treaty, another indigenous treaty, having been adopted at Geneva in December 1996. That Treaty also enters into force for the Swiss on 1 July 2008.

Quite coincidentally, WPPT Notification No. 69 proudly proclaims that the same mountain democracy has deposited its instrument of ratification for the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, yet another bit of home-grown international law, being born at the same time and place as the WCT (above). This one's not so simple, though: it comes with a reservation. The Swiss declare:

"In accordance with Article 3, paragraph 3 of the Treaty, Switzerland hereby declares that it will make use of the option provided in Article 5, paragraph 3 of the International Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organisations (Rome Convention), 1961, to reject the criterion of fixation, applying therefore the criterion of publication".

You've guessed it -- this all takes effect from 1 July 2008.