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Protection Against Unfair Competition Act 2002

TONGA

PROTECTION AGAINST UNFAIR COMPETITION ACT 2002

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

SECTIONS:

1. Short title and Commencement
2. Act binds the Crown
3. Interpretation
4. General principles
5. Causing confusion with respect to another's enterprise
6. Damaging another's goodwill or reputation
7. Misleading the public
8. Discrediting another's enterprise
9. Unfair competition in respect of secret information

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No. 19 of 2002.

I assent,

TAUFA 'AHAU TUPOU IV,
23rd December, 2002.

AN ACT
TO MAKE PROVISION FOR PROTECTION AGAINST UNFAIR COMPETITION AND FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED THEREWITH OR INCIDENTAL THERETO

[5th of September 2002.]

BE IT ENACTED by the King and Legislative Assembly of Tonga in the Legislature of the Kingdom as follows:

Short title and Commencement

1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Protection Against Unfair Competition Act, 2002.

(2) This Act shall come into operation on a date to be proclaimed by His Majesty in Council.

Act binds the Crown

2. This Act binds the Crown.

Interpretation

3. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires -

"appearance of a product" includes the packaging, shape, colour or other non-functional characteristic features of the product in question;

"business identifier other than a trademark or a trade name" includes business symbols, emblems, logos and slogans used by an enterprise to convey in the course of industrial or commercial activities, a certain identity with respect to the enterprise and the products produced or the services rendered by that enterprise;

"court" means the Supreme Court of Tonga;

"dilution of goodwill or reputation" means the lessening of the distinctive character or advertising value of a trademark, trade name or other business identifier, the appearance of a product or the presentation of products or services or of a celebrity or well-known fictional character;

"enterprise" includes any business venture, undertaking, project or initiative undertaken by any person or body corporate;

"industrial or commercial activities" means activities of enterprises providing products or services, and buying and selling products or services including the activities of professionals and other such persons;

"practice" includes behaviour that consists of an omission to act;

"presentation of products or services" includes advertising;

"trade mark" means marks relating to goods, marks relating to services and marks relating to both goods and services whether registered or not.

General principles

4. (1) In addition to the acts and practices referred to in sections 5 to 9 any act or practice in the course of industrial or commercial activities that is contrary to honest commercial practices shall constitute an act of unfair competition.

(2) Any person damaged or likely to be damaged by an act of unfair competition within the meaning of this Act shall be entitled to the remedies obtainable under the law of Tonga.

(3) This section and sections 5 to 9 shall apply independently of and in addition to, any legislative provisions protecting inventions, industrial designs, trademarks, literary and artistic works and other intellectual property subject matter.

Causing confusion with respect to another's enterprise

5. (1) Any act or practice, in the course of industrial or commercial activities that causes, or is likely to cause confusion with respect to another's enterprise including the products or services offered by such enterprise, shall constitute an act of unfair competition.

(2) Confusion may be caused, inter alia, with respect to any of the following:

(a) a trademark, whether registered or not;

(b) a trade name;

(c) a business identifier other than a trademark or tradename;

(d) the appearance of a product;

(e) the presentation of products or services; or

(f) a celebrity or a well-known fictional character.

Damaging another's goodwill or reputation

6. (1) Any act or practice, in the course of industrial or commercial activities, that damages, or is likely to damage, the goodwill or reputation of another's enterprise shall constitute an act of unfair competition, regardless of whether such act or practice causes confusion.

(2) Damaging another's goodwill or reputation may result, inter alia, from the dilution of the goodwill or reputation attached to any of the following -

(a) a trademark, whether registered or not;

(b) a trade name;

(c) a business identifier other than a trademark or trade name;

(d) the appearance of a product;

(e) the presentation of products or services; or

(f) a celebrity or a well-known fictional character.

Misleading the public

7. (1) Any act or practice, in the course of industrial or commercial activities that misleads, or is likely to mislead, the public with respect to an enterprise or its activities, including the products or services offered by such enterprise, shall constitute an act of unfair competition.

(2) An act or practice is likely to mislead if it involves the advertising or promotion, inter alia, of any of the following:

(a) the manufacturing process of a product;

(b) the suitability of a product or service for a particular purpose;

(c) the quality or quantity or other characteristics of products or services;

(d) the geographical origin of products of services;

(e) the conditions on which products or services are offered or provided; or

(f) the price of products or services or the manner in which they are calculated.

Discrediting another's enterprise

8. (1) Any false or unjustifiable allegation, in the course of industrial or commercial activities that discredits, or is likely to discredit, another's enterprise including the products or services offered by such enterprise, shall constitute an act of unfair competition.

(2) A false or unjustifiable allegation is likely to discredit an enterprise if it involves the advertising or promotion, inter alia, of any of the following –

(a) the manufacturing process of a product;

(b) the suitability of a product or service for a particular purpose;

(c) the quality or quantity or other characteristics of products or services;

(d) the geographical origin of products or services;

(e) the conditions on which products or services are offered or provided;

(f) the price of products or services or the manner in which it is calculated.

Unfair competition in respect of secret information

9. (1) Any act or practice, in the course of industrial or commercial activities, that results in the disclosure, acquisition or use of secret information without the consent of the person lawfully in control of that information (hereinafter referred to as "the rightful holder") and in a manner contrary to honest commercial practices shall constitute an act of unfair competition.

(2) Disclosure, acquisition or use of secret information by others without the consent of the rightful holder may, inter alia, result from –

(a) industrial or commercial espionage;

(b) breach of contract;

(c) breach of confidence;

(d) inducement to commit any of the acts referred to in paragraphs (a) to (c);

(e) acquisition of secret information by a third party who knew, or was grossly negligent in failing to know, that an act referred to in paragraphs (a) to (d) was involved in the acquisition.

(3) For the purposes of this section, information shall be considered secret information if -

(a) it is not, as a body or in the precise configuration and assembly of its components, generally known among or readily accessible to persons within the circles that normally deal with the kind of information in question;

(b) it has commercial value because it is secret; and

(c) the rightful holder has taken reasonable steps to keep it secret.

(4) Any act or practice in the course of industrial or commercial activities shall be deemed to be an act of unfair competition if it consists or results in the unfair commercial use or disclosure of secret tests or other data relating to pharmaceutical or agricultural chemical products utilising new chemical substances and which have been submitted to a competent authority for marketing approval.

Provided that disclosure shall be authorised -

(a) where necessary to protect the public; or

(b) where steps are taken to ensure that the data are protected against unfair commercial use.

(5) Subsection (4) shall not preclude a person other than the person who submitted the secret test or other data from relying on such test data in support of an application for product approval, after the expiration of a reasonable period of time from the date of submission of these tests or data for marketing approval.

(6) The period of time under subsection (5) shall be determined by the court, upon application, taking into account the nature of the tests or data and the effort and expenditure involved but shall not, except in exceptional circumstances, be less than 5 years.

Passed in the Legislative Assembly this 5th day of September, 2002.

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TONGA

Fika 19 'o e 2002.

'Oku ou loto ki ai,

TAUFA 'AHAU TUPOU IV,
23 'o Tisema, 2002.

LAO KI HE MALVI MEI HE FE'AUHI TA'ETOTONU 2002

FAKAHOKOHOKO 'O E NGAAHI KUPU

KUPU:

1. Hingoa Nounou mo e kamata'anga
2. Ha'i 'a e Kalauni
3. 'Uhinga'i Lea
4. Ngaahi tefito'i fakakaukau fakalukufua
5. Fakatupu feto'oaki felave'i mo ha pisinisi 'a ha taha kehe
6. Maumau'i 'a e hingoa lelei pe ongoongo 'o ha taha kehe
7. Takihala'i 'a e Kakai
8. Fakaongoongokovi'i ha pisinisi 'a ha taha kehe
9. Fe'auhi Ta'etotonu fekau'aki mo e fakamatala fakapulipuli

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KO E LAO
KE NE TU'UTU'UNI KI HONO TA'OFI 'A E NGAAHI FE'AUHI TA'ETOTONU

[5 'o Sepitema, 2002]

'OKU TU'UTU'UNI 'e he Tu'i mo e Fale Alea 'o Tonga 'i he Fakataha Alea 'o e Pule'anga 'o pehe:

Hingoa Nounou mo e Kamata'anga

1. (1) 'E ui 'a e Lao ni ko e Lao ki he Malu'i Mei he Fe'auhi Ta'etotonu, 2002.

(2) Kuo pau 'e kamata ngaue'aki 'a e Lao ni 'i ha 'aho 'e fanongonongo 'e he 'Ene 'Afro 'i he Fakataha Tokoni.

Ha'i 'a e Kalauni

2. 'Oku ha'I 'e he Lao ni 'a e Kalauni.

'Uhinga'i Lea

3. 'I he Lao ni, tukukehe ka 'i ai ha toe 'uhinga kehe 'i hono tu'unga –

"fotunga 'o e koloa" 'oku kau heni 'a e kofukofu, fuo, lanu pe ha ngaahi 'ulungaanga ha mai kehe 'o e koloa 'oku lau ki ai;

"faka'ilonga pisinisi kehe mei ha faka'ilonga fefakatau'aki pe hingoa fefakatau'aki" 'oku kau heni ha ngaahi faka'ilonga, sila, ngaahi loko pe moto fakakautaha 'oku ngaue'aki 'e ha pisinisi ke fakahaa'i 'aki, lolotonga 'a e ngaahi ngaue fakangaue'anga pe fakakomesiale, ha hingoa pau 'o fekau'aki mo e pisinisi mo e ngaahi koloa 'oku fo'u pe ko e ngaahi sevesi 'oku fakahoko 'e he pisinisi ko ia;

"fakamaau'anga" 'oku 'uhinga ki he Fakamaau'anga Lahi 'o Tonga;

"holoki 'o e hingoa lelei pe ongoongo lelei" 'oku 'uhinga ki hono holoki 'a e 'ulungaanga 'ilonga pe mahu'inga fakatu'uaki 'o ha faka'ilonga 'o ha faka'ilonga fefakatau'aki, hingoa fefakatau'aki pe ha faka'ilonga pisinisi kehe mei ha faka'ilonga fefakatau'aki pe hingoa fefakatau'aki, 'a e fotunga 'o ha koloa pe ko e anga hono faka'ali'ali 'o ha ngaahi koloa pe ngaahi sevesi pe ha taha ongoongoa pe ha taha kuo fa'u 'oku 'iloa;

"pisinisi" 'oku kau heni ha pisinisi, ngaue, poloseki pe ha fokotu'utu'u kuo fakahoko 'e ha taha pe 'e ha sino fakakautaha;

"ngaahi ngaue fakangaue'anga pe fakakomesiale" 'oku 'uhinga ki ha ngaahi ngaue 'a e ngaahi pisinisi ki hono tuku atu 'o e ngaahi koloa mo e ngaahi sevesi, mo e fakatau mai mo fakatau atu 'o e ngaahi koloa mo e ngaahi sevesi kau ai 'a e ngaahi ngaue 'a ha kau palofesinale mo ha kakai kehe pehe;

"taha" 'oku kau heni ha taha fakanatula pe ha sino fakalao;

"angafai" 'oku kau heni 'a e 'ulungaanga 'a is 'oku kau heni ka 'ikai ke ngaue;

"faka'ali'ali 'o e ngaahi koloa pe ngaahi sevesi" 'oku kau heni 'a e tu'uaki;

"faka'ilonga fefakatau'aki" 'oku 'uhinga ki he ngaahi faka'ilonga kau ki he ngaahi koloa, ngaahi faka'ilonga kau ki he ngaahi sevesi mo e ngaahi faka'ilonga kau ki he ngaahi koloa mo e ngaahi sevesi fakatou'osi 'o tatau ai pe pe kuo 'osi lesisita pe 'ikai.

Ngaahi tefito'i fakakaukau fakalukufua

4. (1) 'O tanaki atu ki he ngaahi ngaue mo e ngaahi angafai 'oku lau ki ai 'i he ngaahi kupu 5 ki he 9, ko ha ngaue pe angafai lolotonga 'a e ngaahi fakangaue'anga pe fakakomesiale 'a is 'oku fepaki mo e ngaahi tefito'i angafai fakakomesiale totonu kuo pau ko e fe'auhi ta'etotonu ia.

(2) Ko ha taha kuo maumau'i pe ngalingali ke maumau'i 'e ha fe'auhi ta'etotonu 'i loto 'i he 'uhinga 'o e Lao ni kuo pau 'e 'i ai 'ene totonu ki he ngaahi totongi huhu'i 'i he lao 'o Tonga.

(3) Kuo pau ke ngaue'aki 'a e ngaahi kupu 5 ki he 9 'ata'ataa mei he, mo tanaki atu, Id ha ngaahi tu'utu'uni 'a ha ngaahi lao ki hono malu'i 'o e ngaahi fakakaukau fo'ou, ngaahi fsaini fakangaue'anga, ngaahi faka'ilonga fefakatau'aki, ngaahi ngaue fakafa'u tohi mo 'aati fakamatamatalelei mo ha tefito'i me'a kehe fekau'aki mo e koloa fakaepoto.

Fakatupu feto'oakifelave'i mo ha pisinisi 'a ha taha kehe

5. (1) Ko ha ngaue pe angafai, lolotonga ha ngaahi ngaue fakangaue'anga pe fakakomesiale to ne fakatupu, pe ngalingali 'oku ne fakatupu, ha feto'oakifekau'aki mo ha pisinisi kehe 'o kau ai 'a e ngaahi koloa pe ngaahi pisinisi 'oku tuku atu 'e he pisinisi ko ia, kuo pau ko ha fe'auhi ta'e totonu ia.

(2) 'E lava ke hoko 'a e feto'oaki 'o fekau'aki mo ha ni'ihi 'o e ngaahi me'a ko 'eni, mo ha ngaahi me'a kehe:

(a) ha faka'ilonga fefakatau'aki, 'o tatau ai pe pe kuo lesisita pe 'ikai;

(b) ha hingoa fefakatau'aki;

(c) ha faka'ilonga pisinisi kehe mei ha faka'ilonga fefakatau'aki pe hingoa fefakatau'aki;

(d) ko e fotunga 'o ha koloa;

(e) anga hono faka'ali'ali ha ngaahi koloa pe ngaahi sevesi; pe (f) ha taha ongoongoa pe ha taha kuo fa'u 'oku 'iloa.

Maumau'i 'a e hingoa lelei pe ongoongo 'o ha taha kehe

6. (1) Ko ha ngaue pe angafai, lolotonga ha ngaahi ngaue fakangaue'anga pe fakakomesiale, 'oku ne maumau'i, pe ngalingali ke ne maumau'i, 'a e hingoa lelei pe ongoongo ha pisinisi 'a ha taha kehe kuo pau ko ha fe'auhi We totonu ia, 'o tatau ai pe pe 'oku fakatupu 'e he puputu'u ko is ha feto'oaki.

(2) Ko hono maumau'i ha hingoa lelei pe ongoongo 'a ha taha kehe 'e ala hoko is mei hono tukuhifo 'a e hingoa lelei pe ongoongo 'oku pipiki ki he ngaahi me'a ko 'eni, mo ha ngaahi me'a kehe:

(a) ha faka'ilonga fefakatau'aki, 'o tatau ai pe pe kuo lesisita pe 'ikai;

(b) ha hingoa fefakatau'aki;

(c) ha faka'ilonga pisinisi kehe mei ha faka'ilonga fefakatau'aki pe hingoa fefakatau'aki;

(d) ko e fotunga 'o ha koloa;

(e) anga hono faka'ali'ali ha ngaahi koloa pe ngaahi sevesi; pe (f) ha taha ongoongoa pe ha taha kuo fa'u 'oku 'iloa.

Takihala'i 'a e kakai

7. (1) Ko ha ngaue pe angafai, lolotonga ha ngaahi ngaue fakangaue'anga pe fakakomesiale 'oku ne takihala'i, pe ngalingali to ne takihala'i, 'a e kakai 'o fekau'aki mo ha pisinisi pe ko 'ene ngaahi ngaue, kau ai 'a e ngaahi koloa pe ngaahi sevesi 'oku tuku atu 'e he pisinisi ko ia, kuo pau ke hoko is ko ha fe'auhi ta'etotonu.

(2) 'Oku ngalingali ke taki hala ha ngaue pe angafai kapau 'oku kau ai hono tu'uaki pe faka'ai'ai, 'o e ngaahi me'a ko 'eni, mo ha ngaahi me'a kehe:

(a) ko e founga ngaohi 'o ha koloa;

(b) ko e taau ha koloa pe sevesi ki ha fo'i taumu'a;

(c) ko hono lelei pe lahi pe ngaahi 'ulungaanga kehe 'o e ngaahi koloa pe ngaahi sevesi;

(d) ko e tupu'anga fakasiokalafi 'o e ngaahi koloa pe ngaahi sevesi;

(e) ko e ngaahi tu'unga 'oku tuku atu pe 'oatu ai 'a e ngaahi koloa pe ngaahi sevesi;

(f) ko e mahu'inga 'o e ngaahi koloa pe ngaahi sevesi pe ko e founga 'oku fika'i 'aki.

Fakaongoongokovi'i ha pisinisi 'a ha taha kehe

8. (1) Ko ha tukuaki'i loi pe ta'etotonu, lolotonga ha ngaahi ngaue fakangaue'anga pe fakakomesiale 'a is 'oku ne fakaongoongokovi'i, pe ngalingali to ne fakaongoongokovi'i, ha pisinisi 'a ha taha kehe, kau ai 'a e ngaahi koloa pe ngaahi sevesi 'oku tuku atu 'e he pisinisi ko ia, kuo pau ke hoko is ko ha fe'auhi ta'etotonu.

(2) 'Oku ngalingali ke fakaongoongokovi'i ha tukuaki'i loi pe ta'etotonu kapau 'oku kau ai hano tu'uaki pe faka'ai'ai 'o e ngaahi me'a ko 'eni, mo ha ngaahi me'a kehe:

(a) founga hono ngaohi 'o ha koloa;

(b) ko e taau 'a ha koloa pe sevesi ki ha fo'i taumu'a;

(c) ko hono lelei pe lahi pe ngaahi 'ulungaanga kehe 'o e ngaahi koloa pe ngaahi sevesi;

(d) ko e tupu'anga fakasiokalafi 'o e ngaahi koloa pe ngaahi sevesi;

(e) ko e ngaahi tu'unga 'oku tuku atu pe 'oatu ai 'a e ngaahi koloa pe ngaahi sevesi;

(f) ko e mahu'inga 'o e ngaahi koloa pe ngaahi sevesi pe ko e founga 'oku fika'i 'aki.

Fe'auhi ta'etotonu fekau'aki mo e fakamatala fakapu i ipu li

9. (1) Ko ha ngaue pe angafai, lolotonga ha ngaahi ngaue fakangaue'anga pe fakakomesiale, 'oku iku ki hano tala, ma'u pe ngaue'aki 'o ha fakamatala fakapulipuli ta'e loto ki ai 'a e taha 'oku ne pule'i fakalao ,a e fakamatala ko is ('a is 'oku ui heni ko e "taha 'oku 'o'ona fakalao") pea 'i ha founga 'oku fepaki mo e ngaahi ngaue fakakomesiale totonu kuo pau ke hoko is ko ha fe'auhi ta'etotonu.

(2) Ko hono tala, ma'u pe ngaue'aki 'o ha fakamatala fakapulipuli 'e ha ni'ihi kehe ta'e loto ki ai 'a e taha 'oku 'o'ona fakalao, 'e ala hoko is mei he ngaahi me'a ko 'eni, mo ha ngaahi me'a kehe –

(a) mataki fakangaue'anga pe fakakomesiale;

(b) maumau'i 'o ha aleapau;

(c) maumau'i 'a e falala;

(d) fakaloto'i ke fakahoko ha ni'ihi 'o e ngaahi ngaue 'oku lau ki ai 'i he ngaahi palakalafi (a) ki he (c);

(e) ma'u ha fakamatala fakapulipuli 'e ha fa'ahi hono tolu na'a ne 'ilo'i, pe na'e matu'aki ta'etokanga 'i he 'ikai ke ne 'ilo, na'e kau ha ngaue 'oku lau ki ai 'i he ngaahi palakalafi (a) ki he (d) 'i he'ene ma'u 'a e fakamatala ko ia.

(2) Ki he ngaahi taumu'a 'o e kupu ni, kuo pau ke lau ha fakamatala ko ha fakamatala fakapulipuli kapau -

(a) 'oku 'ikai, 'i he sino pe fotunga mo e fokotu'utu'u matematee 'o hono ngaahi kongokonga, ke anga 'ilo ki ai 'a e pe ala ma'u faingofua 'e he ni'ihi 'i he ngaahi 'atakai 'oku nau faka'aonga'i angamaheni 'a e fa'ahinga fakamatala ko ia;

(b) 'oku 'i ai hano mahu'inga fakakomesiale koe'uhi ko 'ene fakapulipuli; pea

(c) kuo fakahoko 'e he taha 'oku 'o'ona fakalao ha ngaahi ngaue fakapotopoto ke tauhi is ke fakapulipuli.

(3) Kuo pau ke lau ha ngaue ko ha fe'auhi ta'etotonu lolotonga ha ngaahi ngaue fakangaue'anga pe fakakomesiale kapau 'oku kau ai 'a e pe iku ki he faka'aonga'i pe tala ta'etotonu fakakomesiale 'o e ngaahi sivi fakapulipuli pe ngaahi fakamatala kehe fekau'aki mo e ngaahi koloa fakakemikale fakahu'i vai pe fakangoue 'oku ne ngaue'aki ha ngaahi me'a fakakemikale fo'ou pea 'a is kuo tuku atu ki ha ma'u mafai fe'unga ke fakangofua ke fakamaketi'i.

(4) Ka kuo pau ke fakamafai'i 'a e tala ko is -

(a) kapau 'oku fiema'u koe'uhi ke malu'i 'a e kakai; pe

(b) kapau 'oku fakahoko ha ngaahi ngaue ke fakapapau'i 'oku malu'i 'a e ngaahi fakamatala mei hano ngaue'aki fakakomesiale ta' etotonu.

(5) Kuo pau 'e 'ikai ta'ofi 'e he kupu si'i (4) ha taha kehe mei he toko taha na'a ne fakahu atu ha sivi pe fakamatala fakapulipuli kehe mei ha'ane fakafalala 'i ha fakafalala 'i ha fakamatala pehe ke poupou'i ha kole fakangofua 'o e koloa ko ia, hili ha 'osi ha vaha'a taimi fakapotopoto mei he 'aho hono fakahu atu 'o e ngaahi sivi pe fakamatala ko is ke fakangofua hono fakamaketi'i.

(6) Kuo pau ke tu'utu'uni 'e he fakamaau'anga 'a e vaha'a taimi 'i he kupusi'i (5), 'i ha kole, kae kau 'i hono fakakaukau'i 'a e natula 'o e ngaahi sivi mo e ngaahi fakamatala mo e ngaue mo e fakamole fekau'aki mo is ka kuo pau, tukukehe 'i ha 'atakai makehe 'e 'ikai toe si'isi'i ange 'i he ta'u 'e 5.

Na'e tali 'i he Fale Alea 'i he 'aho ni 5 'o Sepitema, 2002.

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