Title: | Article 57 of the Patents Act (1967:837) as last amended on 01/07/2011 |
Field of IP: | Patents |
Type of flexibility: | Criminal sanctions for patent infringement |
Summary table: |
Article 57. If anyone infringes the exclusive right conferred by a patent (patent infringement) and if the act is committed wilfully or with gross negligence, he or she shall be sentenced to fines or imprisonment for not more than two years. Anyone who has violated an injunction issued under penalty of a fine pursuant to Article 57 b, may not be held liable under criminal law for the infringement covered by the injunction. Attempts to commit acts implying violations referred to in the first Paragraph, and preparations for such acts, are punishable pursuant to Chapter 23 of the Criminal Code.
The Public Prosecutor may bring an action for offences referred to in the first or second Paragraph only if the injured party files a complaint and a prosecution is called for in the public interest. (Act 2005:289).