M. whereas even more account should be duly taken of the elements on recognition, suitable and effective protection, implementation and enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs), including patents, trade or service marks, copyright and similar rights, geographical indications (including marks of origin), industrial design and integrated circuit topography,

For passports it recommended inter alia that facial recognition be used world-wide for machine-assisted identity confirmation and the use of a contact-less integrated circuit (chip), with a minimum capacity of 32K bytes as the storage medium.

RETURNS AND REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE HOUSE Pursuant to Standing Order 32(1), papers deposited with the Clerk of the House were laid upon the Table as follows: by Mr. Manley (Minister of Industry) Report on the review of the Integrated Circuit Topography Act, pursuant to the Integrated Circuit Topography Act, S.C. 1990, c. 37, sbs. 28(2).

Its activities consist of defining a generic specification for components (e.g., integrated circuit (IC) memory circuits, memory modules, logic circuits, linear circuits, microprocessor circuits, peripheral circuits and passive components) which has been recognized as a de facto industry standard throughout the world; certifying compliance with that specification by individual products; defining a standard ('S/0001') for manufacturers of such components; certifying compliance by individual manufacturers with that standard; monitoring prices paid by member companies for such components; and reporting the resulting benchmark prices to ...[+++] them.

The Community is largely competent in this subject matter by virtue of the Council Directive of 1986 on the legal protection of topographies of semiconductor products (1) although Member States remain competent in some aspects/ (1) Council Directive 87/54/EEC of 16 December 1986 (O.J. L 24, 27.01.1987, p. 36 The Treaty has proved to be controversial because of its outright rejection by the United States and Japan, the two most important world producers of integrated circuits, on the grounds that it does not set high enough minimum standards of protection. However, certain other industrialised countries, while not denouncing the Treaty in ...[+++] such forthright terms, have also argued within the TRIPs negotiations for higher standards of protection than are provided in the Treaty. In April, the Community submitted within the GATT negotiations a comprehensive new proposal for an agreement on TRIPs which would include an obligation to respect the substantive provisions of the Washington Treaty, subject to additional provisions in three key areas which would result overall in a standard of protection equivalent to that so far adopted in the laws of the Community, the United States, Japan and other countries. * * * * * * * * * * * Joint statement by Messrs BANGEMANN and ANDRIESSEN on the subject of possible adherence by the Community and Member States to the Washington Treaty _____________ 1) In May of last year a Diplomatic Conference was held in Washington DC under the auspices of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) with the aim of concluding a multilateral Treaty on the protection of intellectual property in respect of integrated circuits.

REPORTS DEPOSITED WITH THE CLERK OF THE SENATE PURSUANT TO RULE 28(2): Report on the review of the Integrated Circuit Topography Act pursuant to the Integrated Circuit Topography Act, S.C. 1990, c. 37, sbs. 28(2).-Sess. Paper No. 1/36-1212.