Na podlagi druge alinee prvega odstavka 107. člena in prvega odstavka 91. člena Ustave Republike Slovenije izdajam

Razglašam Zakon o ratifikaciji Budimpeštanske pogodbe o mednarodnem priznanju depozita mikroorganizmov za postopek patentiranja in Pravilnika Budimpeštanske pogodbe o mednarodnem priznanju depozita mikroorganizmov za postopek patentiranja (MBPMPD), ki ga je sprejel Državni zbor Republike Slovenije na seji 28. oktobra 1997.

Ratificira se Budimpeštanska pogodba o mednarodnem priznanju depozita mikroorganizmov za postopek patentiranja, sprejeta 28. aprila 1977 in dopolnjena 26. septembra 1980, ter Pravilnik Budimpeštanske pogodbe o mednarodnem priznanju depozita mikroorganizmov za postopek patentiranja, sprejet 28. aprila 1977 in dopolnjen 20. januarja 1981.

Pogodba in pravilnik se v izvirniku v angleškem jeziku in v prevodu v slovenskem jeziku glasita:

The States party to this Treaty (hereinafter called “the Contracting States”) constitute a Union for the international recognition of the deposit of microorganisms for the purposes of patent procedure.

For the purposes of this Treaty and the Regulations:
(i) references to a “patent” shall be construed as references to patents for inventions, inventors’ certificates, utility certificates, utility models, patents or certificates of addition, inventors’ certificates of addition, and utility certificates of addition;
(ii) “deposit of a microorganism” means, according to the context in which these words appear, the following acts effected in accordance with this Treaty and the Regulations; the transmittal of a microorganism to an international depositary authority, which receives and accepts it, or the storage of such a microorganism by the international depositary authority, or both the said transmittal and the said storage;
(iii) “patent procedure” means any administrative or judicial procedure relating to a patent application or a patent;
(iv) “publication for the purposes of patent procedure” means the official publication, or the official laying open for public inspection, of a patent application or a patent;
(v) “intergovernmental industrial property organization” means an organization that has filed a declaration under Article 9 (1);
(vi) “industrial property office” means an authority of a Contracting State or an intergovernmental industrial property organization competent for the grant of patents;
(vii) “depositary institution” means an institution which provides for the receipt, acceptance and storage of microorganisms and the furnishing of samples thereof;
(viii) “international depositary authority” means a depositary institution which has acquired the status of international depositary authority as provided in Article 7;
(ix) “depositor” means the natural person or legal entity transmitting a microorganism to an international depositary authority, which receives and accepts it, and any successor in title of the said natural person or legal entity;
(x) “Union” means the Union referred to in Article 1;
(xi) “Assembly” means the Assembly referred to in Article 10;
(xii) “Organization” means the World Intellectual Property Organization;
(xiii) “International Bureau” means the International Bureau of the Organization and, as long as it subsists, the United International Bureaux for the Protection of Intellectual Property (BIRPI);
(xiv) “Director General” means the Director General of the Organization;
(xv) “Regulations” means the Regulations referred to in Article 12.

(1) (a) Contracting States which allow or require the deposit of microorganisms for the purposes of patent procedure shall recognize, for such purposes, the deposit of a microorganism with any international depositary authority. Such recognition shall include the recognition of the fact and date of the deposit as indicated by the international depositary authority as well as the recognition of the fact that what is furnished as a sample is a sample of the deposited microorganism.
(b) Any Contracting State may require a copy of the receipt of the deposit referred to in subparagraph (a), issued by the international depositary authority.
(2) As far as matters regulated in this Treaty and the Regulations are concerned, no Contracting State may require compliance with requirements different from or additional to those which are provided in this Treaty and the Regulations.

(1) (a) Where the international depositary authority cannot furnish samples of the deposited microorganism for any reason, in particular,
(i) where such microorganism is no longer viable, or
(ii) where the furnishing of samples would require that they be sent abroad and the sending or the receipt of the samples abroad is prevented by export or import restrictions,
that authority shall, promptly after having noted its inability to furnish samples, notify the depositor of such inability, indicating the cause thereof, and the depositor, subject to paragraph (2) and as provided in this paragraph, shall have the right to make a new deposit of the microorganism which was originally deposited.
(b) The new deposit shall be made with the international depositary authority with which the original deposit was made, provided that:
(i) it shall be made with another international depositary authority where the institution with which the original deposit was made has ceased to have the status of international depositary authority, either entirely or in respect of the kind of microorganism to which the deposited microorganism belongs, or where the international depositary authority with which the original deposit was made discontinues, temporarily or definitively, the performance of its functions in respect of deposited microorganisms;
(ii) it may be made with another international depositary authority in the case referred to in subparagraph (a) (ii).
(c) Any new deposit shall be accompanied by a statement signed by the depositor alleging that the newly deposited microorganism is the same as that originally deposited. If the allegation of the depositor is contested, the burden of proof shall be governed by the applicable law.
(d) Subject to subparagraph (a) to subparagraph (c) and subparagraph (e), the new deposit shall be treated as if it had been made on the date on which the original deposit was made where all the preceding statements concerning the viability of the originally deposited microorganism indicated that the microorganism was viable and where the new deposit was made within three months after the date on which the depositor received the notification referred to in subparagraph (a).
(e) Where subparagraph (b) (i) applies and the depositor does not receive the notification referred to in subparagraph (a) within six months after the date on which the termination, limitation or discontinuance referred to in subparagraph (b) (i) was published by the International Bureau, the threemonth time limit referred to in subparagraph (d) shall be counted from the date of the said publication.
(2) The right referred to in paragraph (1) (a) shall not exist where the deposited microorganism has been transferred to another international depositary authority as long as that authority is in a position to furnish samples of such microorganism.

Each Contracting State recognizes that it is highly desirable that, if and to the extent to which the export from or import into its territory of certain kinds of microorganisms is restricted, such restriction should apply to microorganisms deposited, or destined for deposit, under this Treaty only where the restriction is necessary in view of national security or the dangers for health or the environment.

(1) In order to qualify for the status of international depositary authority, any depositary institution must be located on the territory of a Contracting State and must benefit from assurances furnished by that State to the effect that the said institution complies and will continue to comply with the requirements specified in paragraph (2). The said assurances may be furnished also by an intergovernmental industrial property organization; in that case, the depositary institution must be located on the territory of a State member of the said organization.
(2) The depositary institution must, in its capacity of international depositary authority:
(i) have a continuous existence;
(ii) have the necessary staff and facilities, as prescribed in the Regulations, to perform its scientific and administrative tasks under this Treaty;
(iii) be impartial and objective;
(iv) be available, for the purposes of deposit, to any depositor under the same conditions;
(v) accept for deposit any or certain kinds of microorganisms, examine their viability and store them, as prescribed in the Regulations;
(vi) issue a receipt to the depositor, and any required viability statement, as prescribed in the Regulations;
(vii) comply, in respect of the deposited microorganisms, with the requirement of secrecy, as prescribed in the Regulations;
(viii) furnish samples of any deposited microorganism under the conditions and in conformity with the procedure prescribed in the Regulations.
(3) The Regulations shall provide the measures to be taken:
(i) where an international depositary authority discontinues, temporarily or definitively, the performance of its functions in respect of deposited microorganisms or refuses to accept any of the kinds of microorganisms which it should accept under the assurances furnished;
(ii) in case of the termination or limitation of the status of international depositary authority of an international depositary authority.

(1) (a) A depositary institution shall acquire the status of international depositary authority by virtue of a written communication addressed to the Director General by the Contracting State on the territory of which the depositary institution is located and including a declaration of assurances to the effect that the said institution complies and will continue to comply with the requirements specified in Article 6 (2). The said status may be acquired also by virtue of a written communication addressed to the Director General by an intergovernmental industrial property organization and including the said declaration.
(b) The communication shall also contain information on the depositary institution as provided in the Regulations and may indicate the date on which the status of international depositary authority should take effect.
(2) (a) If the Director General finds that the communication includes the required declaration and that all the required information has been received, the communication shall be promptly published by the International Bureau.
(b) The status of international depositary authority shall be acquired as from the date of publication of the communication or, where a date has been indicated under paragraph (1) (b) and such date is later than the date of publication of the communication, as from such date.
(3) The details of the procedure under paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) are provided in the Regulations.

(1) (a) Any Contracting State or any intergovernmental industrial property organization may request the Assembly to terminate, or to limit to certain kinds of microorganisms, any authority’s status of international depositary authority on the ground that the requirements specified in Article 6 have not been or are no longer complied with. However, such a request may not be made by a Contracting State or intergovernmental industrial property organization in respect of an international depositary authority for which it has made the declaration referred to in Article 7 (1) (a).
(b) Before making the request under subparagraph (a), the Contracting State or the intergovernmental industrial property organization shall, through the intermediary of the Director General, notify the reasons for the proposed request to the Contracting State or the intergovernmental industrial property organization which has made the communication referred to in Article 7 (1) so that that State or organization may, within six months from the date of the said notification, take appropriate action to obviate the need for making the proposed request.
(c) Where the Assembly finds that the request is well founded, it shall decide to terminate, or to limit to certain kinds of microorganisms, the status of international depositary authority of the authority referred to in subparagraph (a). The decision of the Assembly shall require that a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast be in favor of the request.
(2) (a) The Contracting State or intergovernmental industrial property organization having made the declaration referred to in Article 7 (1) (a) may, by a communication addressed to the Director General, withdraw its declaration either entirely or in respect only of certain kinds of microorganisms and in any event shall do so when and to the extent that its assurances are no longer applicable.
(b) Such a communication shall, from the date provided for in the Regulations, entail, where it relates to the entire declaration, the termination of the status of international depositary authority or, where it relates only to certain kinds of microorganisms, a corresponding limitation of such status.
(3) The details of the procedure under paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) are provided in the Regulations.

(1) (a) Any intergovernmental organization to which several States have entrusted the task of granting regional patents and of which all the member States are members of the International (Paris) Union for the Protection of Industrial Property may file with the Director General a declaration that it accepts the obligation of recognition provided for in Article 3 (1) (a), the obligation concerning the requirements referred to in Article 3 (2) and all the effects of the provisions of this Treaty and the Regulations applicable to intergovernmental industrial property organizations. If filed before the entry into force of this Treaty according to Article 16 (1), the declaration referred to in the preceding sentence shall become effective on the date of the said entry into force. If filed after such entry into force, the said declaration shall become effective three months after its filing unless a later date has been indicated in the declaration. In the latter case, the declaration shall take effect on the date thus indicated.
(b) The said organization shall have the right provided for in Article 3 (1) (b).
(2) Where any provision of this Treaty or of the Regulations affecting intergovernmental industrial property organizations is revised or amended, any intergovernmental industrial property organization may withdraw its declaration referred to in paragraph (1) by notification addressed to the Director General. The withdrawal shall take effect:
(i) where the notification has been received before the date on which the revision or amendment enters into force, on that date;
(ii) where the notification has been received after the date referred to in (i), on the date indicated in the notification or, in the absence of such indication, three months after the date on which the notification was received.
(3) In addition to the case referred to in paragraph (2), any intergovernmental industrial property organization may withdraw its declaration referred to in paragraph (1) (a) by notification addressed to the Director General. The withdrawal shall take effect two years after the date on which the Director General has received the notification. No notification of withdrawal under this paragraph shall be receivable during a period of five years from the date on which the declaration took effect.
(4) The withdrawal referred to in paragraph (2) or (3) by an intergovernmental industrial property organization whose communication under Article 7 (1) has led to the acquisition of the status of international depositary authority by a depositary institution shall entail the termination of such status one year after the date on which the Director General has received the notification of withdrawal.
(5) Any declaration referred to in paragraph (1) (a), notification of withdrawal referred to in paragraph (2) or (3), assurances furnished under Article 6 (1), second sentence, and included in a declaration made in accordance with Article 7 (1) (a), request made under Article 8 (1) and communication of withdrawal referred to in Article 8 (2) shall require the express previous approval of the supreme governing organ of the intergovernmental industrial property organization whose members are all the States members of the said organization and in which decisions are made by the official representatives of the governments of such States.

(1) (a) The Assembly shall consist of the Contracting States.
(b) Each Contracting State shall be represented by one delegate, who may be assisted by alternate delegates, advisors, and experts.
(c) Each intergovernmental industrial property organization shall be represented by special observers in the meetings of the Assembly and any committee and working group established by the Assembly.
(d) Any State not member of the Union which is a member of the Organization or of the International (Paris) Union for the Protection of Industrial Property and any intergovernmental organization specialized in the field of patents other than an intergovernmental industrial property organization as defined in Article 2 (v) may be represented by observers in the meetings of the Assembly and, if the Assembly so decides, in the meetings of any committee or working group established by the Assembly.
(2) (a) The Assembly shall:
(i) deal with all matters concerning the maintenance and development of the Union and the implementation of this Treaty;
(ii) exercise such rights and perform such tasks as are specially conferred upon it or assigned to it under this Treaty;
(iii) give directions to the Director General concerning the preparations for revision conferences;
(iv) review and approve the reports and activities of the Director General concerning the Union, and give him all necessary instructions concerning matters within the competence of the Union;
(v) establish such committees and working groups as it deems appropriate to facilitate the work of the Union;
(vi) determine, subject to paragraph (1) (d), which States other than Contracting States, which intergovernmental organizations other than intergovernmental industrial property organizations as defined in Article 2 (v) and which international nongovernmental organizations shall be admitted to its meetings as observers and to what extent international depositary authorities shall be admitted to its meetings as observers;
(vii) take any other appropriate action designed to further the objectives of the Union;
(viii) perform such other functions as are appropriate under this Treaty.
(b) With respect to matters which are of interest also to other Unions administered by the Organization, the Assembly shall make its decisions after having heard the advice of the Coordination Committee of the Organization.
(3) A delegate may represent, and vote in the name of, one State only.
(4) Each Contracting State shall have one vote.
(5) (a) One-half of the Contracting States shall constitute a quorum.
(b) In the absence of the quorum, the Assembly may make decisions but, with the exception of decisions concerning its own procedure, all such decisions shall take effect only if the quorum and the required majority are attained through voting by correspondence as provided in the Regulations.
(6) (a) Subject to Article 8 (1) (c) and Article 12 (4) and Article 14 (2) (b), the decisions of the Assembly shall require a majority of the votes cast.
(b) Abstentions shall not be considered as votes.
(7) (a) The Assembly shall meet once in every second calendar year in ordinary session upon convocation by the Director General, preferably during the same period and at the same place as the General Assembly of the Organization.
(b) The Assembly shall meet in extraordinary session upon convocation by the Director General, either on his own initiative or at the request of one-fourth of the Contracting States.
(8) The Assembly shall adopt its own rules of procedure.

(1) The International Bureau shall:
(i) perform the administrative tasks concerning the Union, in particular such tasks as are specifically assigned to it under this Treaty and the Regulations or by the Assembly;
(ii) provide the secretariat of revision conferences, of the Assembly, of committees and working groups established by the Assembly, and of any other meeting convened by the Director General and dealing with matters of concern to the Union.
(2) The Director General shall be the chief executive of the Union and shall represent the Union.
(3) The Director General shall convene all meetings dealing with matters of concern to the Union.
(4) (a) The Director General and any staff member designated by him shall participate, without the right to vote, in all meetings of the Assembly, the committees and working groups established by the Assembly, and any other meeting convened by the Director General and dealing with matters of concern to the Union.
(b) The Director General, or a staff member designated by him, shall be ex officio secretary of the Assembly, and of the committees, working groups and other meetings referred to in subparagraph (a).
(5) (a) The Director General shall, in accordance with the directions of the Assembly, make the preparations for revision conferences.
(b) The Director General may consult with intergovernmental and international nongovernmental organizations concerning the preparations for revision conferences.
(c) The Director General and persons designated by him shall take part, without the right to vote, in the discussions at revision conferences.
(d) The Director General, or a staff member designated by him, shall be ex officio secretary of any revision conference.

(1) The Regulations provide rules concerning:
(i) matters in respect of which this Treaty expressly refers to the Regulations or expressly provides that they are or shall be prescribed;
(ii) any administrative requirements, matters or procedures;
(iii) any details useful in the implementation of this Treaty.
(2) The Regulations adopted at the same time as this Treaty are annexed to this Treaty.
(3) The Assembly may amend the Regulations.
(4) (a) Subject to subparagraph (b), adoption of any amendment of the Regulations shall require two-thirds of the votes cast.
(b) Adoption of any amendment concerning the furnishing of samples of deposited microorganisms by the international depositary authorities shall require that no Contracting State vote against the proposed amendment.
(5) In the case of conflict between the provisions of this Treaty and those of the Regulations, the provisions of this Treaty shall prevail.

(1) This Treaty may be revised from time to time by conferences of the Contracting States.
(2) The convocation of any revision conference shall be decided by the Assembly.
(3) Articles 10 and 11 may be amended either by a revision conference or according to Article 14.

(1) (a) Proposals under this Article for the amendment of Articles 10 and 11 may be initiated by any Contracting State or by the Director General.
(b) Such proposals shall be communicated by the Director General to the Contracting States at least six months in advance of their consideration by the Assembly.
(2) (a) Amendments to the Articles referred to in paragraph (1) shall be adopted by the Assembly.
(b) Adoption of any amendment to Article 10 shall require four-fifths of the votes cast; adoption of any amendment to Article 11 shall require three-fourths of the votes cast.
(3) (a) Any amendment to the Articles referred to in paragraph (1) shall enter into force one month after written notifications of acceptance, effected in accordance with their respective constitutional processes, have been received by the Director General from three-fourths of the Contracting States members of the Assembly at the time the Assembly adopted the amendment.
(b) Any amendment to the said Articles thus accepted shall bind all the Contracting States which were Contracting States at the time the amendment was adopted by the Assembly, provided that any amendment creating financial obligations for the said Contracting States or increasing such obligations shall bind only those Contracting States which have notified their acceptance of such amendment.
(c) Any amendment which has been accepted and which has entered into force in accordance with subparagraph (a) shall bind all States which become Contracting States after the date on which the amendment was adopted by the Assembly.

(1) Any State member of the International (Paris) Union for the Protection of Industrial Property may become party to this Treaty by:
(i) signature followed by the deposit of an instrument of ratification, or
(ii) deposit of an instrument of accession.
(2) Instruments of ratification or accession shall be deposited with the Director General.

(1) This Treaty shall enter into force, with respect to the first five States which have deposited their instruments of ratification or accession, three months after the date on which the fifth instrument of ratification or accession has been deposited.
(2) This Treaty shall enter into force with respect to any other State three months after the date on which that State has deposited its instrument of ratification or accession unless a later date has been indicated in the instrument of ratification or accession. In the latter case, this Treaty shall enter into force with respect to that State on the date thus indicated.

(1) Any Contracting State may denounce this Treaty by notification addressed to the Director General.
(2) Denunciation shall take effect two years after the day on which the Director General has received the notification.
(3) The right of denunciation provided for in paragraph (1) shall not be exercised by any Contracting State before the expiration of five years from the date on which it becomes party to this Treaty.
(4) The denunciation of this Treaty by a Contracting State that has made a declaration referred to in Article 7 (1) (a) with respect to a depositary institution which thus acquired the status of international depositary authority shall entail the termination of such status one year after the day on which the Director General received the notification referred to in paragraph (1).

(1) (a) This Treaty shall be signed in a single original in the English and French languages, both texts being equally authentic.
(b) Official texts of this Treaty shall be established by the Director General, after consultation with the interested Governments and within two months from the date of signature of this Treaty, in the other languages in which the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization was signed.
(c) Official texts of this Treaty shall be established by the Director General, after consultation with the interested Governments, in the Arabic, German, Italian, Japanese and Portuguese languages, and such other languages as the Assembly may designate.
(2) This Treaty shall remain open for signature at Budapest until December 31, 1977.

(1) The original of this Treaty, when no longer open for signature, shall be deposited with the Director General.
(2) The Director General shall transmit two copies, certified by him, of this Treaty and the Regulations to the Governments of all the States referred to in Article 15 (1), to the intergovernmental organizations that may file a declaration under Article 9 (1) (a) and, on request, to the Government of any other State.
(3) The Director General shall register this Treaty with the Secretariat of the United Nations.
(4) The Director General shall transmit two copies, certified by him, of any amendment to this Treaty and to the Regulations to all Contracting States, to all intergovernmental industrial property organizations and, on request, to the Government of any other State and to any other intergovernmental organization that may file a declaration under Article 9 (1) (a).

The Director General shall notify the Contracting States, the intergovernmental industrial property organizations and those States not members of the Union which are members of the International (Paris) Union for the Protection of Industrial Property of:
(i) signatures under Article 18;
(ii) deposits of instruments of ratification or accession under Article 15 (2);
(iii) declarations filed under Article 9 (1) (a) and notifications of withdrawal under Article 9 (2) or (3);
(iv) the date of entry into force of this Treaty under Article 16 (1);
(v) the communications under Article 7 and 8 and the decisions under Article 8;
(vi) acceptance of amendments to this Treaty under Article 14 (3);
(vii) any amendment of the Regulations;
(viii) the dates on which amendments to the Treaty or the Regulations enter into force;
(ix) denunciations received under Article 17.

1.1 “Treaty”
In these Regulations, the word “Treaty” means the Budapest Treaty on the International Recognition of the Deposit of Microorganisms for the Purposes of Patent Procedure.
1.2 “Article”
In these Regulations, the word “Article” refers to the specified Article of the Treaty.
1.3 “Signature”
In these Regulations, whenever the word “signature” is used, it shall be understood that, where the law of the State on the territory of which an international depositary authority is located requires the use of a seal instead of a signature, the said word shall mean “seal” for the purposes of that authority.

2.1 Legal Status
Any international depositary authority may be a government agency, including any public institution attached to a public administration other than the central government, or a private entity.
2.2 Staff and Facilities
The requirements referred to in Article 6 (2) (ii) shall include in particular the following:
(i) the staff and facilities of any international depositary authority must enable the said authority to store the deposited microorganisms in a manner which ensures that they are kept viable and uncontaminated;
(ii) any international depositary authority must, for the storage of microorganisms, provide for sufficient safety measures to minimize the risk of losing microorganisms deposited with it.
2.3 Furnishing of Samples
The requirements referred to in Article 6 (2) (viii) shall include in particular the requirement that any international depositary authority must furnish samples of deposited microorganisms in an expeditious and proper manner.

3.1 Communication
(a) The communication referred to in Article 7 (1) shall be addressed to the Director General, in the case of a Contracting State, through diplomatic channels or, in the case of an intergovernmental industrial property organization, by its chief executive officer.
(b) The communication shall:
(i) indicate the name and address of the depositary institution to which the communication relates;
(ii) contain detailed information as to the said institution’s capacity to comply with the requirements specified in Article 6 (2), including information on its legal status, scientific standing, staff and facilities;
(iii) where the said depositary institution intends to accept for deposit only certain kinds of microorganisms, specify such kinds;
(iv) indicate the amount of any fees that the said institution will, upon acquiring the status of international depositary authority, charge for storage, viability statements and furnishing of samples of microorganisms;
(v) indicate the official language or languages of the said institution;
(vi) where applicable, indicate the date referred to in Article 7 (1) (b).
3.2 Processing of the Communication
If the communication complies with Article 7 (1) and Rule 3.1, it shall be promptly notified by the Director General to all Contracting States and intergovernmental industrial property organizations and shall be promptly published by the International Bureau.
3.3 Extension of the List of Kinds of Microorganisms Accepted
The Contracting State or intergovernmental industrial property organization having made the communication referred to in Article 7 (1) may, at any time thereafter, notify the Director General that its assurances are extended to specified kinds of microorganisms to which, so far, the assurances have not extended. In such a case, and as far as the additional kinds of microorganisms are concerned, Article 7 and Rules 3.1 and 3.2 shall apply, mutatis mutandis.

4.1 Request; Processing of Request
(a) The request referred to in Article 8 (1) (a) shall be addressed to the Director General as provided in Rule 3.1 (a).
(b) The request shall:
(i) indicate the name and address of the international depositary authority concerned;
(ii) where it relates only to certain kinds of microorganisms, specify such kinds;
(iii) indicate in detail the facts on which it is based.
(c) If the request complies with paragraphs (a) and (b), it shall be promptly notified by the Director General to all Contracting States and intergovernmental industrial property organizations.
(d) Subject to paragraph (e), the Assembly shall consider the request not earlier than six and not later than eight months from the notification of the request.
(e) Where, in the opinion of the Director General, respect of the time limit provided for in paragraph (d) could endanger the interests of actual or potential depositors, he may convene the Assembly for a date earlier than the date of the expiration of the six-month period provided for in paragraph (d).
(f) If the Assembly decides to terminate, or to limit to certain kinds of microorganisms, the status of international depositary authority, the said decision shall become effective three months after the date on which it was made.
4.2 Communication; Effective Date; Processing of Communication
(a) The communication referred to in Article 8 (2) (a) shall be addressed to the Director General as provided in Rule 3.1 (a).
(b) The communication shall:
(i) indicate the name and address of the international depositary authority concerned;
(ii) where it relates only to certain kinds of microorganisms, specify such kinds;
(iii) where the Contracting State or intergovernmental industrial property organization making the communication desires that the effects provided for in Article 8 (2) (b) take place on a date later than at the expiration of three months from the date of the communication, indicate that later date.
(c) Where paragraph (b) (iii) applies, the effects provided for in Article 8 (2) (b) shall take place on the date indicated under that paragraph in the communication; otherwise, they shall take place at the expiration of three months from the date of the communication.
(d) The Director General shall promptly notify all Contracting States and intergovernmental industrial property organizations of any communication received under Article 8 (2) and of its effective date under paragraph (c). A corresponding notice shall be promptly published by the International Bureau.
4.3 Consequences for Deposits
In the case of a termination or limitation of the status of international depositary authority under Articles 8 (1), 8 (2), 9 (4) or 17 (4), Rule 5.1 shall apply, mutatis mutandis.

5.1 Discontinuance of Performance of Functions in Respect of Deposited Microorganisms
(a) If any international depositary authority temporarily or definitively discontinues the performance of any of the tasks it should perform under the Treaty and these Regulations in relation to any microorganisms deposited with it, the Contracting State or intergovernmental industrial property organization which, in respect of that authority, has furnished the assurances under Article 6 (1) shall:
(i) ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that samples of all such microorganisms are transferred promptly and without deterioration or contamination from the said authority (“the defaulting authority”) to another international depositary authority (“the substitute authority”);
(ii) ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that all mail or other communications addressed to the defaulting authority, and all files and other relevant information in the possession of that authority, in respect of the said microorganisms are promptly transferred to the substitute authority;
(iii) ensure, to the fullest extent possible, that the defaulting authority promptly notifies all depositors affected of the discontinuance of the performance of its functions and the transfers effected;
(iv) promptly notify the Director General of the fact and the extent of the discontinuance in question and of the measures which have been taken by the said Contracting State or intergovernmental industrial property organization under (i) to (iii).
(b) The Director General shall promptly notify the Contracting States and the intergovernmental industrial property organizations as well as the industrial property offices of the notification received under paragraph (a) (iv); the notification of the Director General and the notification received by him shall be promptly published by the International Bureau.
(c) Under the applicable patent procedure it may be required that the depositor shall, promptly after receiving the receipt referred to in Rule 7.5, notify to any industrial property office with which a patent application was filed with reference to the original deposit the new accession number given to the deposit by the substitute authority.
(d) The substitute authority shall retain in an appropriate form the accession number given by the defaulting authority, together with the new accession number.
(e) In addition to any transfer effected under paragraph (a) (i), the defaulting authority shall, upon request by the depositor, transfer, as far as possible, a sample of any microorganism deposited with it together with copies of all mail or other communications and copies of all files and other relevant information referred to in paragraph (a) (ii) to any international depositary authority indicated by the depositor other than the substitute authority, provided that the depositor pays any expenses to the defaulting authority resulting from the said transfer. The depositor shall pay the fee for the storage of the said sample to the international depositary authority indicated by him.
(f) On the request of any depositor affected, the defaulting authority shall retain, as far as possible, samples of the microorganisms deposited with it.
5.2 Refusal To Accept Certain Kinds of Microorganisms
(a) If any international depositary authority refuses to accept for deposit any of the kinds of microorganisms which it should accept under the assurances furnished, the Contracting State or intergovernmental industrial property organization which, in respect of that authority, has made the declaration referred to in Article 7 (1) (a) shall promptly notify the Director General of the relevant facts and the measures which have been taken.
(b) The Director General shall promptly notify the other Contracting States and intergovernmental industrial property organizations of the notification received under paragraph (a); the notification of the Director General and the notification received by him shall be promptly published by the International Bureau.

6.1 Original Deposit
(a) The microorganism transmitted by the depositor to the international depositary authority shall, except where Rule 6.2 applies, be accompanied by a written statement bearing the signature of the depositor and containing:
(i) an indication that the deposit is made under the Treaty and an undertaking not to withdraw it for the period specified in Rule 9.1;
(ii) the name and address of the depositor;
(iii) details of the conditions necessary for the cultivation of the microorganism, for its storage and for testing its viability and also, where a mixture of microorganisms is deposited, descriptions of the components of the mixture and at least one of the methods permitting the checking of their presence;
(iv) an identification reference (number, symbols, etc.) given by the depositor to the microorganism;
(v) an indication of the properties of the microorganism which are or may be dangerous to health or the environment, or an indication that the depositor is not aware of such properties.
(b) It is strongly recommended that the written statement referred to in paragraph (a) should contain the scientific description and/or proposed taxonomic designation of the deposited microorganism.
6.2 New Deposit
(a) Subject to paragraph (b), in the case of a new deposit made under Article 4, the microorganism transmitted by the depositor to the international depositary authority shall be accompanied by a copy of the receipt of the previous deposit, a copy of the most recent statement concerning the viability of the microorganism which was the subject of the previous deposit indicating that the microorganism is viable and a written statement bearing the signature of the depositor and containing:
(i) the indications referred to in Rule 6.1 (a) (i) to (v);
(ii) a declaration stating the reason relevant under Article 4 (1) (a) for making the new deposit, a statement alleging that the microorganism which is the subject of the new deposit is the same as that which was the subject of the previous deposit, and an indication of the date on which the depositor received the notification referred to in Article 4 (1) (a) or, as the case may be, the date of the publication referred to in Article 4 (1) (e);
(iii) where a scientific description and/or proposed taxonomic designation was/were indicated in connection with the previous deposit, the most recent scientific description and/or proposed taxonomic designation as communicated to the international depositary authority with which the previous deposit was made.
(b) Where the new deposit is made with the international depositary authority with which the previous deposit was made, paragraph (a) (i) shall not apply.
(c) For the purposes of paragraphs (a) and (b) and of Rule 7.4, “previous deposit” means,
(i) where the new deposit has been preceded by one or more other new deposits: the most recent of those other new deposits;
(ii) where the new deposit has not been preceded by one or more other new deposits: the original deposit.
6.3 Requirements of the International Depositary Authority
(a) Any international depositary authority may require:
(i) that the microorganism be deposited in the form and quantity necessary for the purposes of the Treaty and these Regulations;
(ii) that a form established by such authority and duly completed by the depositor for the purposes of the administrative procedures of such authority be furnished;
(iii) that the written statement referred to in Rule 6.1 (a) or 6.2 (a) be drafted in the language, or in any of the languages, specified by such authority, it being understood that such specification must at least include the official language or languages indicated under Rule 3.1 (b) (v);
(iv) that the fee for storage referred to in Rule 12.1 (a) (i) be paid; and
(v) that, to the extent permitted by the applicable law, the depositor enter into a contract with such authority defining the liabilities of the depositor and the said authority.
(b) Any international depositary authority shall communicate any such requirements and any amendments thereof to the International Bureau.
6.4 Acceptance Procedure
(a) The international depositary authority shall refuse to accept the microorganism and shall immediately notify the depositor in writing of such refusal and of the reasons therefor:
(i) where the microorganism is not of a kind of microorganism to which the assurances furnished under Rule 3.1 (b) (iii) or 3.3 extend;
(ii) where the properties of the microorganism are so exceptional that the international depositary authority is technically not in a position to perform the tasks in relation to it that it must perform under the Treaty and these Regulations;
(iii) where the deposit is received in a condition which clearly indicates that the microorganism is missing or which precludes for scientific reasons the acceptance of the microorganism.
(b) Subject to paragraph (a), the international depositary authority shall accept the microorganism when all the requirements of Rule 6.1 (a) or 6.2 (a) and Rule 6.3 (a) are complied with. If any of those requirements are not complied with, the international depositary authority shall immediately notify the depositor in writing of that fact and invite him to comply with those requirements.
(c) When the microorganism has been accepted as an original or new deposit, the date of that original or new deposit, as the case may be, shall be the date on which the microorganism was received by the international depositary authority.
(d) The international depositary authority shall, on the request of the depositor and provided that all the requirements referred to in paragraph (b) are complied with, consider a microorganism, deposited before the acquisition by such authority of the status of international depositary authority, to have been received, for the purposes of the Treaty, on the date on which such status was acquired.

7.1 Issuance of Receipt
The international depositary authority shall issue to the depositor, in respect of each deposit of microorganism effected with it or transferred to it, a receipt in attestation of the fact that it has received and accepted the microorganism.
7.2 Form; Languages; Signature
(a) Any receipt referred to in Rule 7.1 shall be established on a form called an “international form,” a model of which shall be established by the Director General in those languages which the Assembly shall designate.
(b) Any words or letters filled in in the receipt in characters other than those of the Latin alphabet shall also appear therein transliterated in characters of the Latin alphabet.
(c) The receipt shall bear the signature of the person or persons having the power to represent the international depositary authority or that of any other official of that authority duly authorized by the said person or persons.
7.3 Contents in the Case of the Original Deposit
Any receipt referred to in Rule 7.1 and issued in the case of an original deposit shall indicate that it is issued by the depositary institution in its capacity of international depositary authority under the Treaty and shall contain at least the following indications:
(i) the name and address of the international depositary authority;
(ii) the name and address of the depositor;
(iii) the date of the original deposit as defined in Rule 6.4 (c);
(iv) the identification reference (number, symbols, etc.) given by the depositor to the microorganism;
(v) the accession number given by the international depositary authority to the deposit;
(vi) where the written statement referred to in Rule 6.1 (a) contains the scientific description and/or proposed taxonomic designation of the microorganism, a reference to that fact.
7.4 Contents in the Case of the New Deposit
Any receipt referred to in Rule 7.1 and issued in the case of a new deposit effected under Article 4 shall be accompanied by a copy of the receipt of the previous deposit (within the meaning of Rule 6.2 (c)) and a copy of the most recent statement concerning the viability of the microorganism which was the subject of the previous deposit (within the meaning of Rule 6.2 (c)) indicating that the microorganism is viable, and shall at least contain:
(i) the name and address of the international depositary authority;
(ii) the name and address of the depositor;
(iii) the date of the new deposit as defined in Rule 6.4 (c);
(iv) the identification reference (number, symbols, etc.) given by the depositor to the microorganism;
(v) the accession number given by the international depositary authority to the new deposit;
(vi) an indication of the relevant reason and the relevant date as stated by the depositor in accordance with Rule 6.2 (a) (ii);
(vii) where Rule 6.2 (a) (iii) applies, a reference to the fact that a scientific description and/or a proposed taxonomic designation has/have been indicated by the depositor;
(viii) the accession number given to the previous deposit (within the meaning of Rule 6.2 (c)).
7.5 Receipt in the Case of Transfer
The international depositary authority to which samples of microorganisms are transferred under Rule 5.1 (a) (i) shall issue to the depositor, in respect of each deposit in relation with which a sample is transferred, a receipt indicating that it is issued by the depositary institution in its capacity of international depositary authority under the Treaty and containing at least:
(i) the name and address of the international depositary authority;
(ii) the name and address of the depositor;
(iii) the date on which the transferred sample was received by the international depositary authority (date of the transfer);
(iv) the identification reference (number, symbols, etc.) given by the depositor to the microorganism;
(v) the accession number given by the international depositary authority;
(vi) the name and address of the international depositary authority from which the transfer was effected;
(vii) the accession number given by the international depositary authority from which the transfer was effected;
(viii) where the written statement referred to in Rule 6.1 (a) or 6.2 (a) contained the scientific description and/or proposed taxonomic designation of the microorganism, or where such scientific description and/or proposed taxonomic designation was/were indicated or amended under Rule 8.1 at a later date, a reference to that fact.
7.6 Communication of the Scientific Description and/or Proposed Taxonomic Designation
On request of any party entitled to receive a sample of the deposited microorganism under Rule 11.1, 11.2 or 11.3, the international depositary authority shall communicate to such party the most recent scientific description and/or proposed taxonomic designation referred to in Rules 6.1 (b), 6.2 (a) (iii) or 8.1 (b) (iii).

8.1 Communication
(a) Where, in connection with the deposit of a microorganism, the scientific description and/or taxonomic designation of the microorganism was/were not indicated, the depositor may later indicate or, where already indicated, may amend such description and/or designation.
(b) Any such later indication or amendment shall be made in a written communication, bearing the signature of the depositor, addressed to the international depositary authority and containing:
(i) the name and address of the depositor;
(ii) the accession number given by the said authority;
(iii) the scientific description and/or proposed taxonomic designation of the microorganism;
(iv) in the case of an amendment, the last preceding scientific description and/or proposed taxonomic designation.
8.2 Attestation
The international depositary authority shall, on the request of the depositor having made the communication referred to in Rule 8.1, deliver to him an attestation showing the data referred to in Rule 8.1 (b) (i) to (iv) and the date of receipt of such communication.

9.1 Duration of the Storage
Any microorganism deposited with an international depositary authority shall be stored by such authority, with all the care necessary to keep it viable and uncontaminated, for a period of at least five years after the most recent request for the furnishing of a sample of the deposited microorganism was received by the said authority and, in any case, for a period of at least 30 years after the date of the deposit.
9.2 Secrecy
No international depositary authority shall give information to anyone whether a microorganism has been deposited with it under the Treaty. Furthermore, it shall not give any information to anyone concerning any microorganism deposited with it under the Treaty except to an authority, natural person or legal entity which is entitled to obtain a sample of the said microorganism under Rule 11 and subject to the same conditions as provided in that Rule.

10.1 Obligation to Test
The international depositary authority shall test the viability of each microorganism deposited with it:
(i) promptly after any deposit referred to in Rule 6 or any transfer referred to in Rule 5.1;
(ii) at reasonable intervals, depending on the kind of microorganism and its possible storage conditions, or at any time, if necessary for technical reasons;
(iii) at any time, on the request of the depositor.
10.2 Viability Statement
(a) The international depositary authority shall issue a statement concerning the viability of the deposited microorganism:
(i) to the depositor, promptly after any deposit referred to in Rule 6 or any transfer referred to in Rule 5.1;
(ii) to the depositor, on his request, at any time after the deposit or transfer;
(iii) to any industrial property office, other authority, natural person or legal entity, other than the depositor, to whom or to which samples of the deposited microorganism were furnished in conformity with Rule 11, on his or its request, together with or at any time after such furnishing of samples.
(b) The viability statement shall indicate whether the microorganism is or is no longer viable and shall contain:
(i) the name and address of the international depositary authority issuing it;
(ii) the name and address of the depositor;
(iii) the date referred to in Rule 7.3 (iii) or, where a new deposit or a transfer has been made, the most recent of the dates referred to in Rules 7.4 (iii) and 7.5 (iii);
(iv) the accession number given by the said authority;
(v) the date of the test to which it refers;
(vi) information on the conditions under which the viability test has been performed, provided that the said information has been requested by the party to which the viability statement is issued and that the results of the test were negative.
(c) In the cases of paragraph (a) (ii) and (iii), the viability statement shall refer to the most recent viability test.
(d) As to form, languages and signature, Rule 7.2 shall apply, mutatis mutandis, to the viability statement.
(e) In the case of paragraph (a) (i) or where the request is made by an industrial property office, the issuance of the viability statement shall be free of charge. Any fee payable under Rule 12.1 (a) (iii) in respect of any other viability statement shall be chargeable to the party requesting the statement and shall be paid before or at the time of making the request.

11.1 Furnishing of Samples to Interested Industrial Property Offices
Any international depositary authority shall furnish a sample of any deposited microorganism to the industrial property office of any Contracting State or of any intergovernmental industrial property organization, on the request of such office, provided that the request shall be accompanied by a declaration to the effect that:
(i) an application referring to the deposit of that microorganism has been filed with that office for the grant of a patent and that the subject matter of that application involves the said microorganism or the use thereof;
(ii) such application is pending before that office or has led to the grant of a patent;
(iii) the sample is needed for the purposes of a patent procedure having effect in the said Contracting State or in the said organization or its member States;
(iv) the said sample and any information accompanying or resulting from it will be used only for the purposes of the said patent procedure.
11.2 Furnishing of Samples to or with the Authorization of the Depositor
Any international depositary authority shall furnish a sample of any deposited microorganism:
(i) to the depositor, on his request;
(ii) to any authority, natural person or legal entity (hereinafter referred to as “the authorized party”), on the request of such party, provided that the request is accompanied by a declaration of the depositor authorizing the requested furnishing of a sample.
11.3 Furnishing of Samples to Parties Legally Entitled
(a) Any international depositary authority shall furnish a sample of any deposited microorganism to any authority, natural person or legal entity (hereinafter referred to as “the certified party”), on the request of such party, provided that the request is made on a form whose contents are fixed by the Assembly and that on the said form the industrial property office certifies:
(i) that an application referring to the deposit of that microorganism has been filed with that office for the grant of a patent and that the subject matter of that application involves the said microorganism or the use thereof;
(ii) that, except where the second phrase of (iii) applies, publication for the purposes of patent procedure has been effected by that office;
(iii) either that the certified party has a right to a sample of the microorganism under the law governing patent procedure before that office and, where the said law makes the said right dependent on the fulfillment of certain conditions, that that office is satisfied that such conditions have actually been fulfilled or that the certified party has affixed his signature on a form before that office and that, as a consequence of the signature of the said form, the conditions for furnishing a sample to the certified party are deemed to be fulfilled in accordance with the law governing patent procedure before that office; where the certified party has the said right under the said law prior to publication for the purposes of patent procedure by the said office and such publication has not yet been effected, the certification shall expressly state so and shall indicate, by citing it in the customary manner, the applicable provision of the said law, including any court decision.
(b) In respect of patents granted and published by any industrial property office, such office may from time to time communicate to any international depositary authority lists of the accession numbers given by that authority to the deposits of the microorganisms referred to in the said patents. The international depositary authority shall, on the request of any authority, natural person or legal entity (hereinafter referred to as “the requesting party”), furnish to it a sample of any microorganism where the accession number has been so communicated. In respect of deposited microorganisms whose accession numbers have been so communicated, the said office shall not be required to provide the certification referred to in Rule 11.3 (a).
11.4 Common Rules
(a) Any request, declaration, certification or communication referred to in Rules 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3 shall be
(i) in English, French, Russian or Spanish where it is addressed to an international depositary authority whose official language is or whose official languages include English, French, Russian or Spanish, respectively, provided that, where it must be in Russian or Spanish, it may be instead filed in English or French and, if it is so filed, the International Bureau shall, on the request of the interested party referred to in the said Rules or the international depositary authority, establish, promptly and free of charge, a certified translation into Russian or Spanish;
(ii) in all other cases, it shall be in English or French, provided that it may be, instead, in the official language or one of the official languages of the international depositary authority.
(b) Notwithstanding paragraph (a), where the request referred to in Rule 11.1 is made by an industrial property office whose official language is Russian or Spanish, the said request may be in Russian or Spanish, respectively, and the International Bureau shall establish, promptly and free of charge, a certified translation into English or French, on the request of that office or the international depositary authority which received the said request.
(c) Any request, declaration, certification or communication referred to in Rules 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3 shall be in writing, shall bear a signature and shall be dated.
(d) Any request, declaration or certification referred to in Rules 11.1, 11.2 and 11.3 (a) shall contain the following indications:
(i) the name and address of the industrial property office making the request, of the authorized party or of the certified party, as the case may be;
(ii) the accession number given to the deposit;
(iii) in the case of Rule 11.1, the date and number of the application or patent referring to the deposit;
(iv) in the case of Rule 11.3 (a), the indications referred to in (iii) and the name and address of the industrial property office which has made the certification referred to in the said Rule.
(e) Any request referred to in Rule 11.3 (b) shall contain the following indications:
(i) the name and address of the requesting party;
(ii) the accession number given to the deposit.
(f) The container in which the sample furnished is placed shall be marked by the international depositary authority with the accession number given to the deposit and shall be accompanied by a copy of the receipt referred to in Rule 7, an indication of any properties of the microorganism which are or may be dangerous to health or the environment and, upon request, an indication of the conditions which the international depositary authority employs for the cultivation and storage of the microorganism.
(g) The international depositary authority having furnished a sample to any interested party other than the depositor shall promptly notify the depositor in writing of that fact, as well as of the date on which the said sample was furnished and of the name and address of the industrial property office, of the authorized party, of the certified party or of the requesting party, to whom or to which the sample was furnished. The said notification shall be accompanied by a copy of the pertinent request, of any declarations submitted under Rule 11.1 or 11.2 (ii) in connection with the said request, and of any forms or requests bearing the signature of the requesting party in accordance with Rule 11.3.
(h) The furnishing of samples referred to in Rule 11.1 shall be free of charge. Where the furnishing of samples is made under Rule 11.2 or 11.3, any fee payable under Rule 12.1 (a) (iv) shall be chargeable to the depositor, to the authorized party, to the certified party or to the requesting party, as the case may be, and shall be paid before or at the time of making the said request.
11.5 Changes in Rule 11.1 and 11.3 when Applying to International Applications
Where an application was filed as an international application under the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the reference to the filing of the application with the industrial property office in Rules 11.1 (i) and 11.3 (a) (i) shall be considered a reference to the designation, in the international application, of the Contracting State for which the industrial property office is the “designated Office” within the meaning of that Treaty, and the certification of publication which is required by Rule 11.3 (a) (ii) shall, at the option of the industrial property office, be either a certification of international publication under the said Treaty or a certification of publication by the industrial property office.

12.1 Kinds and Amounts
(a) Any international depositary authority may, with respect to the procedure under the Treaty and these Regulations, charge a fee:
(i) for storage;
(ii) for the attestation referred to in Rule 8.2;
(iii) subject to Rule 10.2 (e), first sentence, for the issuance of viability statements;
(iv) subject to Rule 11.4 (h), first sentence, for the furnishing of samples;
(v) for the communication of information under Rule 7.6.
(b) The fee for storage shall be for the whole duration of the storage of the microorganism as provided in Rule 9.1.
(c) The amount of any fee shall not vary on account of the nationality or residence of the depositor or on account of the nationality or residence of the authority, natural person or legal entity requesting the issuance of a viability statement or furnishing of samples.
12.2 Change in the Amounts
(a) Any change in the amount of the fees charged by any international depositary authority shall be notified to the Director General by the Contracting State or intergovernmental industrial property organization which made the declaration referred to in Article 7 (1) in respect of that authority. The notification may, subject to paragraph (c), contain an indication of the date from which the new fees will apply.
(b) The Director General shall promptly notify all Contracting States and intergovernmental industrial property organizations of any notification received under paragraph (a) and of its effective date under paragraph (c); the notification of the Director General and the notification received by him shall be promptly published by the International Bureau.
(c) Any new fees shall apply as of the date indicated under paragraph (a), provided that, where the change consists of an increase in the amounts of the fees or where no date is so indicated, the new fees shall apply as from the thirtieth day following the publication of the change by the International Bureau.

12bis.1 Periods Expressed in Years
When a period is expressed as one year or a certain number of years, computation shall start on the day following the day on which the relevant event occurred, and the period shall expire in the relevant subsequent year in the month having the same name and on the day having the same number as the month and the day on which the said event occurred, provided that if the relevant subsequent month has no day with the same number the period shall expire on the last day of that month.
12bis.2 Periods Expressed in Months
When a period is expressed as one month or a certain number of months, computation shall start on the day following the day on which the relevant event occurred, and the period shall expire in the relevant subsequent month on the day which has the same number as the day on which the said event occurred, provided that if the relevant subsequent month has no day with the same number the period shall expire on the last day of that month.
12bis.3 Periods Expressed in Days
When a period is expressed as a certain number of days, computation shall start on the day following the day on which the relevant event occurred, and the period shall expire on the day on which the last day of the count has been reached.

13.1 Form of Publication
Any publication by the International Bureau referred to in the Treaty or these Regulations shall be made in the monthly periodical of the International Bureau referred to in the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.
13.2 Contents
(a) At least in the first issue of each year of the said periodical, an up-to-date list of the international depositary authorities shall be published, indicating in respect of each such authority the kinds of microorganisms that may be deposited with it and the amount of the fees charged by it.
(b) Full information on any of the following facts shall be published once, in the first issue of the said periodical published after the occurrence of the fact:
(i) any acquisition, termination or limitation of the status of international depositary authority, and the measures taken in connection with that termination or limitation;
(ii) any extension referred to in Rule 3.3;
(iii) any discontinuance of the functions of an international depositary authority, any refusal to accept certain kinds of microorganisms, and the measures taken in connection with such discontinuance or refusal;
(iv) any change in the fees charged by an international depositary authority;
(v) any requirements communicated in accordance with Rule 6.3 (b) and any amendments thereof.

14.1 Coverage of Expenses
The expenses of each delegation participating in any session of the Assembly and in any committee, working group or other meeting dealing with matters of concern to the Union shall be borne by the State or organization which has appointed it.

15.1 Voting by Correspondence
(a) In the case provided for in Article 10 (5) (b), the Director General shall communicate any decision of the Assembly (other than decisions relating to the Assembly’s own procedure) to the Contracting States which were not represented when the decision was made and shall invite them to express in writing their vote or abstention within a period of three months from the date of the communication.
(b) If, at the expiration of the said period, the number of Contracting States having thus expressed their vote or abstention attains the number of Contracting States which was lacking for attaining the quorum when the decision was made, that decision shall take effect provided that at the same time the required majority still obtains.

Države pogodbenice te pogodbe (v nadaljnjem besedilu: države pogodbenice) sestavljajo Unijo za mednarodno priznanje depozita mikroorganizmov za postopek patentiranja.

Za namene te pogodbe in pravilnika:
(i) se vsako sklicevanje na “patent” šteje za sklicevanje na patente za izume, izumiteljska spričevala, spričevala o koristnosti, uporabne modele, dopolnilne patente ali spričevala, dopolnilna izumiteljska spričevala in dopolnilna spričevala o koristnosti;
(ii) “deponiranje/depozit mikroorganizma” pomeni glede na sobesedilo, v katerem se izraz uporablja, naslednja dejanja, opravljena v skladu s to pogodbo in pravilnikom: dostavo mikroorganizma mednarodnemu depozitarnemu organu, ki ga prejme in sprejme, ali hrambo takega mikroorganizma pri mednarodnem depozitarnem organu, ali oboje – tako dostavo in tako hrambo;
(iii) “postopek patentiranja” pomeni vsak upravni ali sodni postopek v zvezi s patentno prijavo ali patentom;
(iv) “objava za postopek patentiranja” pomeni uradno objavo patentne prijave ali patenta ali javnosti omogočen uradni vpogled vanju;
(v) “medvladna organizacija za industrijsko lastnino” pomeni organizacijo, ki je predložila izjavo po prvem odstavku 9. člena;
(vi) “urad za industrijsko lastnino” pomeni organ države pogodbenice ali medvladno organizacijo za industrijsko lastnino, ki sta pristojna za podeljevanje patentov;
(vii) “depozitarna ustanova” pomeni ustanovo, ki zagotavlja prejem, sprejem in hrambo mikroorganizmov in pošljanje njihovih vzorcev;
(viii) “mednarodni depozitarni organ” pomeni depozitarno ustanovo, ki si je pridobila status mednarodnega depozitarnega organa skladno s 7. členom;
(ix) “deponent” pomeni fizično ali pravno osebo, ki dostavi mikroorganizem mednarodnemu depozitarnemu organu, ki ga prejme in sprejme, in vsakega pravnega naslednika take fizične ali pravne osebe;
(x) “Unija” pomeni unijo iz 1. člena;
(xi) “skupščina” pomeni skupščino iz 10.člena;
(xiii) “Mednarodni urad” pomeni Mednarodni urad organizacije in – dokler bodo obstajali – Združene mednarodne urade za varstvo intelektualne lastnine (BIRPI);
(xiv) “generalni direktor” pomeni generalnega direktorja organizacije;
(xv) “pravilnik” pomeni pravilnik iz 12. člena.

(1) (a) Države pogodbenice, ki dovolijo ali zahtevajo deponiranje mikroorganizmov za postopek patentiranja, priznajo za take namene deponiranje mikroorganizma pri kateremkoli mednarodnem depozitarnem organu. Tako priznavanje vključuje priznanje dejstva in datuma deponiranja po navedbah mednarodnega depozitarnega organa ter priznanje dejstva, da je tisto, kar se pošija kot vzorec, vzorec deponiranega mikroorganizma.
(b) Vsaka država pogodbenica lahko zahteva kopijo potrdila o prejemu depozita, omenjenega v pododstavku (a), ki ga je izdal mednarodni depozitarni organ.
(2) Glede vprašanj, urejenih s to pogodbo in pravilnikom, ne more nobena država pogodbenica zahtevati, da se spoštujejo drugačne ali dodatne zahteve, kot so določene s to pogodbo in pravilnikom.

(1) (a) Kadar mednarodni depozitarni organ ne more poslati vzorcev deponiranega mikroorganizma iz kateregakoli razloga, predvsem pa:
(i) kadar tak mikroorganizem ni več vitalen ali
(ii) kadar bi pošiljanje vzorcev zahtevalo njihovo pošiljanje v tujino, pošiljanje ali prejem vzorcev v tujini pa preprečujejo izvozne ali uvozne omejitve,
omenjeni organ takoj, ko ugotovi, da ne more poslati vzorcev, obvesti o tem deponenta, pri čemer navede vzrok za to, deponent pa ima ob upoštevanju drugega odstavka in tega odstavka pravico do ponovnega deponiranja prvotno deponiranega mikroorganizma.
(b) Ponovno deponiranje se opravi pri mednarodnem depozitarnem organu, pri katerem je bilo opravljeno prvotno deponiranje, pri čemer se:
(i) opravi pri drugem mednarodem depozitarnem organu, kadar ustanova, pri kateri je bilo opravljeno prvotno deponiranje, nima več statusa mednarodnega depozitarnega organa bodisi v celoti ali glede na vrsto mikroorganizma, ki ji pripada deponirani mikroorganizem, ali kadar mednarodni depozitarni organ, pri katerem je bilo opravljeno prvotno deponiranje, začasno ali dokončno preneha opravljati funkcije v zvezi z deponiranimi mikroorganizmi;
(ii) lahko opravi pri drugem mednarodnem depozitarnem organu v primeru iz točke (ii) pododstavka (a).
(c) K vsakemu ponovnemu depozitu je treba priložiti izjavo s podpisom deponenta, v kateri se navede, da je ponovno deponirani mikroorganizem enak prvotno deponiranemu. Če obstaja glede navedb deponenta dvom, dokazno breme ureja ustrezna zakonodaja.
(d) Pod pogoji iz pododstavkov (a) do (c) in (e) se ponovni depozit obravnava tako, kot da je bil opravljen na dan prvotnega deponiranja, kadar vse predhodne izjave glede vitalnosti prvotno deponiranega mikroorganizma kažejo na to, da je bil mikroorganizem vitalen, in kadar je bilo ponovno deponiranje opravljeno v treh mesecih od dneva, ko je deponent prejel obvestilo iz pododstavka (a).
(e) Kadar se uporablja točka (i) pododstavka (b) in deponent ne prejme obvestila, omenjenega v pododstavku (a), v šestih mesecih od dneva, ko je Mednarodni urad objavil prenehanje, omejitev ali prekinitev iz točke (i) pododstavka (b), se trimesečni rok iz pododstavka (d) šteje od dneva omenjene objave.
(2) Pravica iz pododstavka (a) prvega odstavka ne obstaja, kadar je deponirani mikroorganizem prenesen v drug mednarodni depozitarni organ, če ta lahko pošilja vzorce takega mikroorganizma.

Vsaka država pogodbenica priznava, da je zelo zaželeno, da če je izvoz ali uvoz določenih vrst mikroorganizmov na njeno ozemlje omejen in v obsegu, v katerem je omejen, veljajo take omejitve za mikroorganizme, ki so deponirani ali namenjeni deponiranju po tej pogodbi, le če je taka omejitev nujna zaradi državne varnosti ali nevarnosti za zdravje ali okolje.

(1) Da bi izpolnila pogoje za pridobitev statusa mednarodnega depozitarnega organa, mora biti depozitarna ustanova na ozemlju države pogodbenice in imeti zagotovila te države, po katerih izpolnjuje in bo izpolnjevala zahteve iz drugega odstavka. Omenjena zagotovila lahko da tudi medvladna organizacija za industrijsko lastnino; v tem primeru mora biti depozitarna ustanova na ozemlju države članice navedene organizacije.
(2) Depozitarna ustanova kot mednarodni depozitarni organ mora:
(i) neprekinjeno obstajati;
(ii) imeti ustrezno osebje, prostore in opremo, kot predpisuje pravilnik, za izpolnjevanje znanstvenih in upravnih nalog po tej pogodbi;
(iii) biti nepristranska in objektivna;
(iv) biti na voljo za deponiranje vsem deponentom pod enakimi pogoji;
(v) sprejemati v deponiranje vse ali določene vrste mikroorganizmov, preskušati njihovo vitalnost in jih skladiščiti, kot predpisuje pravilnik;
(vi) izdati deponentu potrdilo o prejemu in vsako zahtevano izjavo o vitalnosti, kot predpisuje pravilnik;
(vii) spoštovati v zvezi z deponiranimi mikroorganizmi obvezno varovanje tajnosti, kot predpisuje pravilnik;
(viii) pošiljati vzorce vsakega deponiranega mikroorganizma pod pogoji in v skladu s postopkom, predpisanim s pravilnikom.
(3) V pravilniku so predpisani ukrepi:
(i) kadar mednarodni depozitarni organ začasno ali dokončno preneha opravljati funkcije v zvezi z deponiranimi mikroorganizmi ali noče sprejeti katere izmed vrst mikroorganizmov, ki bi jo moral sprejeti na podlagi danih zagotovil;
(ii) kadar mednarodnemu depozitarnemu organu preneha ali se omeji status mednarodnega depozitarnega organa.

(1) (a) Depozitarna ustanova pridobi status mednarodnega depozitarnega organa na podlagi pisnega sporočila, ki ga na generalnega direktorja naslovi država pogodbenica, na katere ozemlju je depozitarna ustanova, vključno z izjavo, s katero zagotavlja, da navedena ustanova izpolnjuje in bo izpolnjevala pogoje, določene v drugem odstavku 6. člena. Navedeni status lahko pridobi tudi na podlagi pisnega sporočila, ki ga medvladna organizacija za industrijsko lastnino pošlje generalnemu direktorju s priloženo omenjeno izjavo.
(b) Sporočilo vsebuje tudi podatke o depozitarni ustanovi, kot določa pravilnik, naveden pa je lahko tudi datum, ko naj bi začel veljati status mednarodnega depozitarnega organa.
(2) (a) Če generalni direktor ugotovi, da sporočilo vključuje zahtevano izjavo in da so vsi zahtevani podatki prejeti, Mednarodni urad sporočilo nemudoma objavi.
(b) Status mednarodnega depozitarnega organa se pridobi z datumom objave sporočila ali, kadar je datum naveden v skladu s pododstavkom (b) prvega odstavka in je kasnejši od datuma objave sporočila, s tem datumom.
(3) Podrobnosti o postopku iz prvega in drugega odstavka so določene s pravilnikom.

(1) (a) Vsaka država pogodbenica ali medvladna organizacija za industrijsko lastnino lahko zahteva od skupščine, da odpravi status mednarodnega depozitarnega organa ali ga omeji na določene vrste mikroorganizmov kateremukoli organu, ker zahteve iz 6. člena niso bile izpolnjene ali se več ne izpolnjujejo. Država pogodbenica ali medvladna organizacija za industrijsko lastnino pa ne more vložiti take zahteve v zvezi z mednarodnim depozitarnim organom, za katerega je dala izjavo iz pododstavka (a) prvega odstavka 7. člena.
(b) Preden država pogodbenica ali medvladna organizacija za industrijsko lastnino vloži zahtevo v skladu s pododstavkom (a), uradno obvesti prek generalnega direktorja o razlogih za predlagano zahtevo državo pogodbenico ali medvladno organizacijo za industrijsko lastnino, ki je poslala sporočilo iz prvega odstavka 7. člena, tako da lahko ta država ali organizacija v šestih mesecih od dneva navedenega obvestila z ustreznimi ukrepi poskrbi, da ni treba vložiti predlagane zahteve.
(c) Kadar skupščina ugotovi, da je zahteva utemeljena, odloči, da se status mednarodnega depozitarnega organa organu iz pododstavka (a) odpravi ali omeji na določene vrste mikroorganizmov. Za odločanje skupščine je potrebna dvetretjinska večina glasov v prid zahteve.
(2) (a) Država pogodbenica ali medvladna organizacija za industrijsko lastnino, ki je dala izjavo iz pododstavka (a) prvega odstavka 7. člena, lahko s sporočilom, poslanim generalnemu direktorju, umakne svojo izjavo bodisi v celoti ali samo v zvezi z določenimi vrstami mikroorganizmov, v vsakem primeru pa to stori, kadar in če njena zagotovila ne veljajo več.
(b) Tako sporočilo ima od datuma, določenega v pravilniku, za posledico prenehanje statusa mednarodnega depozitarnega organa, kadar se nanaša na izjavo v celoti, ali ustrezno omejitev takega statusa, kadar se nanaša le na določene vrste mikroorganizmov.
(3) Podrobnosti o postopku iz prvega in drugega odstavka so določene v pravilniku.

(1) (a) Vsaka medvladna organizacija, ki ji je več držav naložilo, da podeljuje regionalne patente, in katere države članice so članice Mednarodne (pariške) unije za varstvo industrijske lastnine, lahko vloži pri generalnem direktorju izjavo, da sprejema obveznost priznavanja iz pododstavka (a) prvega odstavka 3. člena, obveznost v zvezi z zahtevami iz drugega odstavka 3. člena in vse učinke določb te pogodbe in pravilnika, ki se uporabljajo za medvladne organizacije za industrijsko lastnino. Če je izjava vložena pred začetkom veljavnosti te pogodbe po prvem odstavku 16. člena, začne veljati z dnem začetka njene veljavnosti, če je vložena po začetku njene veljavnosti, pa tri mesece po vložitvi, razen če ni v njej naveden kasnejši datum. V tem primeru začne izjava veljati na ta datum.
(b) Navedena organizacija ima pravico, predvideno v pododstavku (b) prvega odstavka 3. člena.
(2) Kadar se revidira ali spremeni oziroma dopolni katera od določb te pogodbe ali pravilnika, ki se nanaša na medvladne organizacije za industrijsko lastnino, lahko vsaka medvladna organizacija za industrijsko lastnino umakne svojo izjavo iz prvega odstavka z uradnim obvestilom generalnemu direktorju. Umik začne veljati:
(i) kadar je uradno obvestilo prejeto pred dnem, ko sta začela veljati revizija ali sprememba oziroma dopolnitev – tega dne;
(ii) kadar je uradno obvestilo prejeto po dnevu, navedenem v točki (i) – na dan, naveden v uradnem obvestilu, ali tri mesece po dnevu prejema uradnega obvestila, če take navedbe ni.
(3) Poleg primera iz drugega odstavka lahko vsaka medvladna organizacija za industrijsko lastnino umakne svojo izjavo iz pododstavka (a) prvega odstavka z uradnim obvestilom generalnemu direktorju. Umik začne veljati dve leti od dneva, ko generalni direktor prejme uradno obvestilo. Nobeno uradno obvestilo o umiku iz tega odstavka ne bo sprejeto v obdobju petih let od dneva, ko je začela izjava veljati.
(4) Umik medvladne organizacije za industrijsko lastnino iz drugega ali tretjega odstavka, zaradi sporočila katere je po prvem odstavku 7. člena depozitarna ustanova pridobila status mednarodnega depozitarnega organa, ima za posledico prenehanje takega statusa po enem letu od dneva, ko generalni direktor prejme uradno obvestilo o umiku.
(5) Vsaka izjava iz pododstavka (a) prvega odstavka, uradno obvestilo o umiku iz drugega ali tretjega odstavka, zagotovila, dana v skladu z drugim stavkom prvega odstavka 6. člena in vključena v izjavo, dano v skladu s pododstavkom (a) prvega odstavka 7. člena, zahteva, poslana po prvem odstavku 8. člena, in sporočilo o umiku iz drugega odstavka 8. člena zahtevajo izrecno poprejšnje dovoljenje najvišjega upravnega organa medvladne organizacije za industrijsko lastnino, katerega članice so vse države članice navedene organizacije, in v katerem odločajo uradni predstavniki vlad teh držav.

(1) (a) Skupščino sestavljajo države pogodbenice.
(b) Vsako državo pogodbenico zastopa po en delegat, ki mu lahko pomagajo namestniki, svetovalci in strokovnjaki.
(c) Vsako medvladno organizacijo za industrijsko lastnino zastopajo na zasedanjih skupščine in v vsakem odboru in delovni skupini, ki jih ustanovi skupščina, posebni opazovalci.
(d) Vsako državo, ki ni članica Unije, je pa članica organizacije ali Mednarodne (pariške) unije za varstvo industrijske lastnine, in vsako medvladno organizacijo, specializirano za patente, razen medvladne organizacije za industrijsko lastnino iz točke (v) 2. člena, lahko zastopajo opazovalci na zasedanjih skupščine in, če skupščina tako odloči, tudi na sestankih vsakega odbora ali delovne skupine, ki jih ustanovi skupščina.
(2) (a) Skupščina:
(i) obravnava vsa vprašanja v zvezi z delom in razvojem Unije in izvajanjem te pogodbe;
(ii) uresničuje take pravice in opravlja take naloge, ki so ji izrecno zaupane ali dodeljene po tej pogodbi;
(iii) daje generalnemu direktorju napotke v zvezi s pripravami revizijskih konferenc;
(iv) pregleduje in potrjuje poročila in dejavnosti generalnega direktorja v zvezi z Unijo in mu daje vsa potrebna navodila, ki se nanašajo na pristojnost Unije;
(v) ustanavlja odbore in delovne skupine, ki so po njenem mnenju ustrezni za lažje delo Unije;
(vi) ob upoštevanju pododstavka (d) prvega odstavka odloča o tem, katere države, ki niso pogodbenice, katere medvladne organizacije, razen medvladnih organizacij za industrijsko lastnino, navedenih v točki (v) 2. člena, in katere mednarodne nevladne organizacije so lahko kot opazovalke navzoče na njenih sestankih, in v kolikšnem obsegu so lahko mednarodni depozitarni organi navzoči na njenih sestankih;
(vii) sprejema vse druge ustrezne ukrepe za uresničitev ciljev Unije;
(viii) opravlja druge ustrezne naloge v okviru te pogodbe.
(b) Skupščina odloča o zadevah, ki zanimajo tudi druge unije, ki jih upravlja organizacija, in sicer po poprejšnjem mnenju usklajevalnega odbora organizacije.
(3) Delegat lahko zastopa samo eno državo in lahko glasuje samo v njenem imenu.
(4) Vsaka država pogodbenica ima en glas.
(5) (a) Za sklepčnost mora biti navzoča polovica držav pogodbenic.
(b) Če skupščina ni sklepčna, lahko sprejema sklepe; ti sklepi, razen tistih, ki se nanašajo na njen postopek, so veljavni samo, če sta bili sklepčnost in potrebna večina doseženi z dopisnim glasovanjem, kot določa pravilnik.
(6) (a) Ob upoštevanju pododstavka (c) prvega odstavka 8. člena, četrtega odstavka 12. člena in pododstavka (b) drugega odstavka 14. člena se sklepi skupščine sprejemajo z večino oddanih glasov.
(b) Vzdržani glasovi se ne štejejo.
(7) (a) Skupščina se na sklic generalnega direktorja sestane na rednem zasedanju vsako drugo koledarsko leto, po možnosti v istem času in na istem kraju kot generalna skupščina organizacije.
(b) Skupščina ima izredna zasedanja, ki jih skliče generalni direktor bodisi na svojo pobudo ali na zahtevo četrtine držav pogodbenic.
(8) Skupščina sprejme svoj poslovnik.

(1) Mednarodni urad:
(i) opravlja upravne naloge v zvezi z Unijo, predvsem naloge, ki mu jih posebej nalagata ta pogodba in pravilnik ali skupščina;
(ii) opravlja delo sekretariata revizijskih konferenc, skupščine, odborov in delovnih skupin, ki jih je ustanovila skupščina, ter vseh drugih sestankov, ki jih skliče generalni direktor in obravnavajo vprašanja, ki zadevajo Unijo.
(2) Generalni direktor je najvišji funkcionar Unije in jo predstavlja.
(3) Generalni direktor sklicuje vse sestanke o zadevah, pomembnih za Unijo.
(4) (a) Generalni direktor in vsak uslužbenec, ki ga on določi, sodelujeta brez glasovalne pravice na vseh sestankih skupščine, odborov in delovnih skupin, ki jih je ustanovila skupščina, in na vseh drugih sestankih, ki jih skliče generalni direktor in obravnavajo zadeve, pomembne za Unijo.
(b) Generalni direktor ali uslužbenec, ki ga on določi, je po uradni dolžnosti sekretar skupščine in tudi odborov, delovnih skupin ter drugih sestankov iz pododstavka (a).
(5) (a) Generalni direktor v skladu z navodili skupščine pripravlja revizijske konference.
(b) Generalni direktor se lahko posvetuje z medvladnimi in mednarodnimi nevladnimi organizacijami v zvezi s pripravami revizijskih konferenc.
(c) Generalni direktor in osebe, ki jih on določi, sodelujejo brez glasovalne pravice v razpravah na revizijskih konferencah.
(d) Generalni direktor ali uslužbenec, ki ga on določi, je po uradni dolžnosti sekretar vsake revizijske konference.

(1) Pravilnik vsebuje pravila, ki se nanašajo na:
(i) zadeve, glede katerih se ta pogodba izrecno sklicuje na pravilnik ali izrecno določa, da so ali morajo biti predpisane;
(ii) vse upravne zahteve, zadeve ali postopke;
(iii) vse koristne podrobnosti v zvezi z izvajanjem te pogodbe.
(2) Pravilnik, sprejet hkrati s to pogodbo, je njen dodatek.
(3) Skupščina lahko spremeni oziroma dopolni pravilnik.
(4) (a) Ob upoštevanju pododstavka (b) sta za sprejetje vsake spremembe oziroma dopolnitve pravilnika potrebni dve tretjini oddanih glasov.
(b) Za sprejetje vsake spremembe oziroma dopolnitve, ki se nanaša na pošiljanje vzorcev deponiranih mikroorganizmov s strani mednarodnih depozitarnih organov, je potrebno, da nobena država pogodbenica ne glasuje proti predlagani spremembi oziroma dopolnitvi.
(5) Če so določbe te pogodbe in določbe pravilnika v nasprotju, veljajo določbe pogodbe.

(1) Ta pogodba se lahko občasno revidira na konferencah držav pogodbenic.
(2) O sklicu vsake revizijske konference odloči skupščina.
(3) 10. in 11. člen se lahko spremenita oziroma dopolnita na revizijski konferenci ali na podlagi 14. člena.

(1) (a) Predloge po tem členu za spremembo oziroma dopolnitev 10. in 11. člena lahko da vsaka država pogodbenica ali generalni direktor.
(b) Te predloge sporoči generalni direktor državam pogodbenicam najmanj šest mesecev pred njihovo obravnavo v skupščini.
(2) (a) Skupščina sprejme spremembe oziroma dopolnitve členov iz prvega odstavka.
(b) Za sprejetje vsake spremembe oziroma dopolnitve 10. člena je potrebna štiripetinska večina oddanih glasov, za sprejetje vsake spremembe oziroma dopolnitve 11. člena pa tričetrtinska večina oddanih glasov.
(3) (a) Vsaka sprememba oziroma dopolnitev členov iz prvega odstavka začne veljati mesec dni po dnevu, ko generalni direktor od treh četrtin držav pogodbenic, ki so bile članice skupščine v času, ko je bila sprememba oziroma dopolnitev sprejeta, prejme uradna pisna obvestila o sprejetju v skladu z njihovimi ustavnimi postopki.
(b) Vsaka tako sprejeta sprememba oziroma dopolnitev navedenih členov zavezuje vse države pogodbenice, ki so bile države pogodbenice v času, ko je bila sprememba oziroma dopolnitev sprejeta v skupščini, pod pogojem, da vsaka sprememba oziroma dopolnitev, s katero nastanejo finančne obveznosti za navedene države pogodbenice ali so take obveznosti povečane, zavezuje samo tiste države pogodbenice, ki so poslale uradna obvestila, da sprejemajo tako spremembo oziroma dopolnitev.
(c) Vsaka sprememba oziroma dopolnitev, ki je bila sprejeta in je začela veljati v skladu s pododstavkom (a), zavezuje vse države, ki postanejo države pogodbenice po sprejetju spremembe oziroma dopolnitve na skupščini.

(1) Vsaka država članica Mednarodne (pariške) unije za varstvo industrijske lastnine lahko postane pogodbenica te pogodbe:
(i) s podpisom, ki mu sledi deponiranje listine o ratifikaciji, ali
(ii) z deponiranjem listine o pristopu.
(2) Listine o ratifikaciji ali pristopu se deponirajo pri generalnem direktorju.

(1) Ta pogodba začne veljati za prvih pet držav, ki so deponirale svoje listine o ratifikaciji ali pristopu po treh mesecih od dneva, ko je bila deponirana peta listina o ratifikaciji ali pristopu.
(2) Ta pogodba začne veljati za vse druge države po treh mesecih od dneva, ko je zadevna država deponirala svojo listino o ratifikaciji ali pristopu, razen če je v listini o ratifikaciji ali pristopu naveden kasnejši datum; v tem primeru začne pogodba veljati za zadevno državo na navedeni datum.

(1) Vsaka država pogodbenica lahko odpove to pogodbo z uradnim obvestilom generalnemu direktorju.
(2) Odpoved začne veljati po dveh letih od dneva, ko generalni direktor prejme uradno obvestilo.
(3) Nobena država pogodbenica ne more uporabiti pravice do odpovedi iz prvega odstavka pred potekom petih let od dneva, ko postane pogodbenica te pogodbe.
(4) Za državo pogodbenico, ki je dala izjavo iz pododstavka (a) prvega odstavka 7. člena v zvezi z depozitarno ustanovo, ki je s tem pridobila status mednarodnega depozitarnega organa, ima odpoved te pogodbe za posledico prenehanje takega statusa po poteku enega leta od dneva, ko je generalni direktor prejel uradno obvestilo iz prvega odstavka.

(1) (a) Ta pogodba je podpisana v enem izvirniku v angleškem in francoskem jeziku, pri čemer sta besedili enako verodostojni.
(b) Uradna besedila te pogodbe v drugih jezikih kot sta tista, v katerih je bila podpisana Konvencija o ustanovitvi Svetovne organizacije za intelektualno lastnino, določi generalni direktor po posvetovanju z zainteresiranimi vladami in v dveh mesecih po podpisu te pogodbe.
(c) Uradna besedila te pogodbe v arabskem, nemškem, italijanskem, japonskem in portugalskem jeziku ter v drugih jezikih, ki jih lahko določi skupščina, določi generalni direktor po posvetovanju z zainteresiranimi vladami.
(2) Ta pogodba je na voljo za podpis v Budimpešti do 31. decembra 1977.

(1) Izvirnik te pogodbe se po poteku roka, v katerem je na voljo za podpis, deponira pri generalnem direktorju.
(2) Generalni direktor overi in pošlje po dva izvoda te pogodbe in pravilnika vladam vseh držav, navedenih v prvem odstavku 15. člena, medvladnim organizacijam, ki lahko predložijo izjavo po pododstavku (a) prvega odstavka 9. člena, in vladi vsake druge države na njeno zahtevo.
(3) Generalni direktor registrira to pogodbo pri sekretariatu Združenih narodov.
(4) Generalni direktor overi in pošlje po dva overjena izvoda vsake spremembe oziroma dopolnitve te pogodbe in pravilnika državam pogodbenicam, vsem medvladnim organizacijam za industrijsko lastnino in na zahtevo vladi vsake druge države in vsaki drugi medvladni organizaciji, ki lahko predloži izjavo po pododstavku (a) prvega odstavka 9. člena.

Generalni direktor uradno obvesti države pogodbenice, medvladne organizacije za industrijsko lastnino in tiste države, ki niso članice Unije, so pa članice Mednarodne (pariške) unije za varstvo industrijske lastnine:
(i) o podpisih pogodbe po 18. členu;
(ii) o deponiranju listin o ratifikaciji ali pristopu po drugem odstavku 15. člena;
(iii) o izjavah, vloženih po pododstavku (a) prvega odstavka 9. člena, in uradnih obvestilih o umiku po drugem ali tretjem odstavku 9. člena;
(iv) o datumu začetka veljavnosti te pogodbe po prvem odstavku 16. člena;
(v) o sporočilih po 7. in 8. členu in sklepih po 8. členu;
(vi) o sprejemu sprememb oziroma dopolnitev te pogodbe po tretjem odstavku 14. člena;
(vii) o vsaki spremembi oziroma dopolnitvi pravilnika;
(viii) o datumih, ko začnejo veljati spremembe oziroma dopolnitve te pogodbe ali pravilnika;
(ix) o odpovedih, sprejetih po 17. členu.

1.1 “Pogodba”
V tem pravilniku pomeni beseda “pogodba” Budimpeštansko pogodbo o mednarodnem priznanju depozita mikroorganizmov za postopek patentiranja.
1.2 “člen”
V tem pravilniku se beseda “člen” nanaša na imenovani člen te pogodbe.
1.3 “Podpis”
Kadar zakon države, na katere ozemlju je mednarodni depozitarni organ, zahteva uporabo pečata namesto podpisa, pomeni v tem pravilniku uporabljena beseda “podpis” za namene tega organa “pečat”.

2.1 Pravni status
Vsak mednarodni depozitarni organ je lahko vladna agencija, vključno z vsako javno ustanovo, pridruženo javni upravi, razen centralne vlade, ali zasebni subjekt.
2.2 Osebje, prostori in oprema
Zahteve iz točke (ii) drugega odstavka 6. člena obsegajo predvsem naslednje:
(i) osebje, prostori in oprema vsakega mednarodnega depozitarnega organa morajo temu organu omogočiti, da hrani deponirane mikroorganizme na način, ki zagotavlja, da ostanejo vitalni in neokuženi;
(ii) vsak mednarodni depozitarni organ mora za hrambo mikroorganizmov zagotoviti zadostne varnostne ukrepe, da bi bilo tveganje pred izgubo mikroorganizmov, ki so pri njem deponirani, čim manjše.
2.3 Pošiljanje vzorcev
Zahteve iz točke (viii) drugega odstavka 6. člena vključujejo predvsem zahtevo, da mora vsak mednarodni depozitarni organ hitro in na ustrezen način poslati vzorce deponiranih mikroorganizmov.

3.1 Sporočilo
(a) Če gre za državo pogodbenico, se sporočilo iz prvega odstavka 7. člena pošlje generalnemu direktorju po diplomatski poti, če gre za medvladno organizacijo za industrijsko lastnino, pa ga pošlje njen najvišji funkcionar.
(b) Sporočilo:
(i) navaja ime in naslov depozitarne ustanove, na katero se sporočilo nanaša;
(ii) vsebuje podrobne informacije v zvezi s sposobnostjo omenjene ustanove, da izpolni zahteve iz drugega odstavka 6. člena, vključno z informacijami o njenem pravnem statusu, znanstvenem položaju, osebju, prostorih in opremi;
(iii) kadar namerava omenjena depozitarna ustanova sprejemati depozit samo določenih vrst mikroorganizmov, navede te vrste;
(iv) navaja zneske vseh taks, ki jih bo omenjena ustanova po pridobitvi statusa mednarodnega depozitarnega organa zaračunavala za hrambo, dajanje izjav o vitalnosti in pošiljanje vzorcev mikroorganizmov;
(v) navaja uradni jezik ali jezike omenjene ustanove;
(vi) po potrebi navaja datum, omenjen v pododstavku (b) prvega odstavka 7. člena.
3.2 Obravnava sporočila
Če je sporočilo skladno s prvim odstavkom 7. člena in pravilom 3.1, generalni direktor o njem takoj uradno obvesti vse države pogodbenice in medvladne organizacije za industrijsko lastnino, Mednarodni urad pa ga takoj objavi.
3.3 Razširitev seznama vrst mikroorganizmov, ki se sprejemajo
Država pogodbenica ali medvladna organizacija za industrijsko lastnino, ki je poslala sporočilo iz prvega odstavka 7. člena, lahko po tistem kadarkoli obvesti generalnega direktorja, da se njena zagotovila razširjajo na imenovane vrste mikroorganizmov, na katere se do takrat niso nanašala. V takem primeru in glede dodatnih vrst mikroorganizmov se 7. člen in pravili 3.1 in 3.2 uporabljajo mutatis mutandis.

4.1 Zahteva, obravnava zahteve
(a) Zahteva iz pododstavka (a) prvega odstavka 8. člena se naslovi na generalnega direktorja, kot je določeno v odstavku (a) pravila 3.1.
(b) Zahteva:
(i) navaja ime in naslov zadevnega mednarodnega depozitarnega organa;
(ii) kadar se nanaša le na določene vrste mikroorganizmov – podrobno navaja take vrste;
(iii) podrobno navaja dejstva, na katerih temelji.
(c) Če je zahteva v skladu z odstavkoma (a) in (b), generalni direktor o njej takoj uradno obvesti vse države pogodbenice in medvladne organizacije za industrijsko lastnino.
(d) Ob upoštevanju odstavka (e) skupščina prouči zahtevo po najmanj šestih in največ osmih mesecih po uradnem obvestilu o zahtevi.
(e) Kadar bi po mnenju generalnega direktorja spoštovanje roka iz odstavka (d) utegnilo ogroziti interese dejanskih ali možnih deponentov, lahko skliče skupščino za dan pred potekom šestmesečnega roka iz odstavka (d).
(f) Če skupščina odloči, da preneha status mednarodnega depozitarnega organa ali ga omeji na določene vrste mikroorganizmov, začne omenjeni sklep veljati tri mesece po njegovem sprejetju.
4.2 Sporočilo, datum začetka veljavnosti, obravnava sporočila
(a) Sporočilo iz pododstavka (a) drugega odstavka 8. člena se pošlje generalnemu direktorju, kot je določeno v odstavku (a) pravila 3.1.
(b) Sporočilo:
(i) navaja ime in naslov zadevnega mednarodnega depozitarnega organa;
(ii) kadar se nanaša le na določene vrste mikroorganizmov – podrobno navaja take vrste;
(iii) kadar država pogodbenica ali medvladna organizacija za industrijsko lastnino, ki pošlje sporočilo, želi, da določbe iz pododstavka (b) drugega odstavka 8. člena začnejo učinkovati na dan po poteku treh mesecev od dneva sporočila – navede ta kasnejši datum.
(c) Kadar se uporablja točka (iii) odstavka (b), začnejo določbe iz pododstavka (b) drugega odstavka 8. člena učinkovati na dan, naveden v sporočilu v skladu s točko (iii) odstavka (b); sicer začnejo učinkovati po treh mesecih od dneva sporočila.
(d) Generalni direktor takoj uradno obvesti vse države pogodbenice in medvladne organizacije za industrijsko lastnino o vsakem sporočilu, prejetem po drugem odstavku 8. člena, in o datumu začetka njegove veljavnosti skladno z odstavkom (c). Obvestilo o tem Mednarodni urad takoj objavi.
4.3 Posledice za depozite
V primeru prenehanja ali omejitve statusa mednarodnega depozitarnega organa po prvem in drugem odstavku 8. člena, četrtem odstavku 9. člena ali četrtem odstavku 17. člena se uporablja pravilo 5.1 mutatis mutandis.

5.1 Prenehanje opravljanja funkcij v zvezi z deponiranimi mikroorganizmi
(a) Če kateri mednarodni depozitarni organ začasno ali dokončno preneha izpolnjevati katerokoli nalogo, ki bi jo moral opravljati po tej pogodbi in pravilniku v zvezi s katerimikoli mikroorganizmi, deponiranimi pri njem, mora država pogodbenica ali medvladna organizacija za industrijsko lastnino, ki je v zvezi z omenjenim organom dala zagotovila po prvem odstavku 6. člena:
(i) zagotoviti v največjem možnem obsegu, da se vzorci vseh takih mikroorganizmov takoj in brez poškodb ali okužbe prenesejo iz omenjenega organa (“organ, ki ne izpolnjuje obveznosti”) v drugi mednarodni depozitarni organ (“nadomestni organ”);
(ii) zagotoviti v največjem možnem obsegu, da se vsa pošta in druga sporočila, naslovljena na organ, ki ne izpolnjuje obveznosti, ter vsi dokumenti in druge ustrezne informacije, s katerimi ta organ razpolaga in so v zvezi z navedenimi mikroorganizmi, takoj prenesejo v nadomestni organ;
(iii) zagotoviti v največjem možnem obsegu, da organ, ki ne izpolnjuje obveznosti, takoj uradno obvesti vse prizadete deponente o prenehanju izvrševanja svojih funkcij in o opravljenih prenosih;
(iv) takoj uradno obvestiti generalnega direktorja o dejstvu in obsegu zadevnega prenehanja in o ukrepih, ki jih je omenjena država pogodbenica ali medvladna organizacija za industrijsko lastnino sprejela na podlagi točk (i) do (iii).
(b) Generalni direktor takoj uradno obvesti države pogodbenice in medvladne organizacije za industrijsko lastnino ter urade za industrijsko lastnino o uradnem obvestilu, prejetem v skladu s točko (iv) odstavka (a); Mednarodni urad takoj objavi uradno obvestilo generalnega direktorja in uradno obvestilo, ki ga je ta prejel.
(c) Skladno z veljavnim postopkom patentiranja se lahko zahteva, da deponent takoj po prejemu potrdila iz pravila 7.5 uradno obvesti urad za industrijsko lastnino, pri katerem je bila vložena patentna prijava za prvotni depozit, o novi pristopni številki, ki jo je nadomestni organ dal depozitu.
(d) Nadomestni organ obdrži v ustrezni obliki pristopno številko, ki jo je dal organ, ki ni izpolnjeval obveznosti, skupaj z novo pristopno številko.
(e) Poleg prenosov, opravljenih v skladu s točko (i) odstavka (a), organ, ki ne izpolnjuje obveznosti, prenese na zahtevo deponenta, če je to mogoče, vzorce vsakega pri njem deponiranega mikroorganizma skupaj s kopijami vse pošte ali drugih sporočil ter kopijami vseh dokumentov in drugih ustreznih informacij iz točke (ii) odstavka (a) mednarodnemu depozitarnemu organu, ki ga navede deponent in ni nadomestni organ, pri čemer deponent plača organu, ki ne izpolnjuje obveznosti, stroške za omenjeni prenos. Deponent plača takso za hrambo omenjenega vzorca mednarodnemu depozitarnemu organu, ki ga navede.
(f) Na zahtevo kateregakoli prizadetega deponenta obdrži organ, ki ne izpolnjuje obveznosti, če je mogoče, vzorce pri njem deponiranih mikroorganizmov.
5.2 Zavrnitev sprejema določenih vrst mikroorganizmov
(a) Če mednarodni depozitarni organ noče sprejeti v depozit katero od vrst mikroorganizmov, ki bi jo moral sprejeti na podlagi danih zagotovil, država pogodbenica ali medvladna organizacija za industrijsko lastnino, ki je glede zadevnega organa dala izjavo iz pododstavka (a) prvega odstavka 7. člena, takoj uradno obvesti generalnega direktorja o pomembnih dejstvih in sprejetih ukrepih.
(b) Generalni direktor takoj uradno obvesti druge države pogodbenice in medvladne organizacije za industrijsko lastnino o uradnem obvestilu, prejetem na podlagi odstavka (a); Mednarodni urad uradno obvestilo generalnega direktorja in uradno obvestilo, ki ga je ta prejel, takoj objavi.

6.1 Prvotni depozit
(a) K mikroorganizmu, ki ga deponent dostavi mednarodnemu depozitarnemu organu, je treba priložiti, razen kadar se uporablja pravilo 6.2, pisno izjavo s podpisom deponenta, ki vsebuje:
(i) navedbo, da je deponiranje opravljeno po tej pogodbi, in zavezo, da ga ne bo umaknil v obdobju, določenem v pravilu 9.1;
(ii) ime in naslov deponenta;
(iii) podrobnosti o pogojih, potrebnih za gojenje in hrambo mikroorganizma ter preskušanje njegove vitalnosti, pa tudi opise sestavin mešanice, kadar je deponirana mešanica mikroorganizmov, in vsaj ene od metod, ki omogočajo preveritev njihove navzočnosti;
(iv) identifikacijski znak (številko, simbole itd.), ki ga je dal deponent mikroorganizmu;
(v) podatke o lastnostih mikroorganizma, ki so ali utegnejo biti nevarne za zdravje ali okolje, ali navedbo, da deponentu niso znane take lastnosti.
(b) Močno se priporoča, da pisna izjava iz odstavka (a) vsebuje znanstveni opis in/ali predlagano taksonomsko oznako deponiranega mikroorganizma.
6.2 Ponovni depozit
(a) Ob upoštevanju odstavka (b) je treba ob ponovnem depozitu po 4. členu k mikroorganizmu, ki ga deponent dostavi mednarodnemu depozitarnemu organu, priložiti kopijo potrdila o prvotnem depozitu, kopijo zadnje izjave o vitalnosti prvotno deponiranega mikroorganizma, ki navaja, da je mikroorganizem vitalen, in pisno izjavo s podpisom deponenta, ki vsebuje:
(i) navedbe iz točk (i) do (v) odstavka (a) pravila 6.1;
(ii) izjavo z navedbo razloga, ki je na podlagi pododstavka (a) prvega odstavka 4. člena pomemben za ponovno deponiranje, izjavo, v kateri je navedeno, da je ponovno deponirani mikroorganizem enak prvotno deponiranemu, in navedbo datuma, ko je deponent prejel uradno obvestilo iz pododstavka (a) prvega odstavka 4. člena, ali, odvisno od primera, datum objave iz pododstavka (e) prvega odstavka 4. člena;
(iii) če sta bila znanstveni opis in/ali predlagana taksonomska oznaka navedena v zvezi s prvotnim depozitom – zadnji znanstveni opis in/ali predlagano taksonomsko oznako, kot sta bila sporočena mednarodnemu depozitarnemu organu, pri katerem je bilo opravljeno prvotno deponiranje.
(b) Kadar se ponovno deponiranje opravi pri mednarodnem depozitarnem organu, pri katerem je bilo opravljeno prvotno deponiranje, se točka (i) odstavka (a) ne uporablja.
(c) Za namene odstavkov (a) in (b) ter pravila 7.4 izraz “prvotni depozit/prvotno deponiranje” pomeni:
(i) kadar je bil pred ponovnim depozitom eden ali več drugih ponovnih depozitov – zadnji teh depozitov;
(ii) če pred ponovnim depozitom ni bilo enega ali več drugih ponovnih depozitov – prvotni depozit.
6.3 Zahteve mednarodnega depozitarnega organa
(a) Vsak mednarodni depozitarni organ lahko zahteva:
(i) da se mikroorganizem deponira v obliki in v količini, ki sta potrebni za namene te pogodbe in pravilnika;
(ii) da deponent pošlje pravilno izpolnjen obrazec, ki ga je tak organ določil za svoje upravne postopke;
(iii) da je pisna izjava iz odstavka (a) pravila 6.1 ali odstavka (a) pravila 6.2 v jeziku ali v katerem od jezikov, ki jih določi tak organ, pri čemer se razume, da mora biti vsaj v uradnem jeziku ali v jezikih, navedenih v točki (v) odstavka (b) pravila 3.1;
(iv) da se plača taksa za hrambo, omenjena v točki (i) odstavka (a) pravila 12.1, in
(v) da v obsegu, ki ga dovoljujejo veljavni zakoni, deponent sklene pogodbo s takim organom, v kateri so določene obveznosti deponenta in omenjenega organa.
(b) Mednarodni depozitarni organ sporoči vsako tako zahtevo in njeno spremembo oziroma dopolnitev Mednarodnemu uradu.
6.4 Postopek sprejemanja
(a) Mednarodni depozitarni organ zavrne sprejem mikroorganizma in o taki zavrnitvi in razlogih zanjo takoj uradno pisno obvesti deponenta:
(i) kadar mikroorganizem ne pripada vrsti mikroorganizma, na katero se nanašajo zagotovila, dana po točki (iii) odstavka (b) pravila 3.1 ali po pravilu 3.3;
(ii) kadar so lastnosti mikroorganizma tako izjemne, da mednarodni depozitarni organ tehnično ni sposoben izpolniti nalog v zvezi z njim, ki jih mora izpolnjevati po tej pogodbi in pravilniku;
(iii) kadar je depozit sprejet v stanju, ki jasno nakazuje, da mikroorganizma ni, ali ki iz znanstvenih razlogov preprečuje sprejem mikroorganizma.
(b) Ob upoštevanju odstavka (a) mednarodni depozitarni organ sprejme mikroorganizem, če so izpolnjene vse zahteve iz odstavka (a) pravila 6.1 ali odstavka (a) pravila 6.2 in odstavka (a) pravila 6.3.Če katera izmed teh zahtev ni izpolnjena, mednarodni depozitarni organ o tem takoj uradno pisno obvesti deponenta in ga pozove, da izpolni te zahteve.
(c) Kadar je mikroorganizem sprejet kot prvotni ali ponovni depozit, je datum tega prvotnega ali ponovnega depozita, odvisno od primera, datum, ko mednarodni depozitarni organ prejme mikroorganizem.
(d) Mednarodni depozitarni organ na zahtevo deponenta in pod pogojem, da so izpolnjene vse zahteve iz odstavka (b), obravnava mikroorganizem, ki je bil deponiran, preden je tak organ pridobil status mednarodnega depozitarnega organa, kot da je bil sprejet za namene te pogodbe na dan, ko je bil tak status pridobljen.

7.1 Izdaja potrdila o prejemu
Mednarodni depozitarni organ v zvezi z vsakim depozitom mikroorganizma, ki je bil opravljen pri njem ali je bil k njemu prenesen, izda deponentu potrdilo, s katerim potrdi dejstvo, da je prejel in sprejel mikroorganizem.
7.2 Obrazec, jeziki, podpis
(a) Vsako potrdilo o prejemu iz pravila 7.1 je na tako imenovanem “mednarodnem obrazcu”, katerega obliko določi generalni direktor v jezikih, ki jih določi skupščina.
(b) Vse besede ali črke, vpisane v potrdilu o prejemu z znaki, ki se razlikujejo od latinice, se morajo prepisati tudi v latinico.
(c) Potrdilo o prejemu podpišejo oseba ali osebe, ki so pooblaščene za zastopanje mednarodnega depozitarnega organa, ali kak drug uslužbenec tega organa, ki so ga omenjena oseba ali osebe pravilno pooblastile.
7.3 Vsebina ob prvotnem depozitu
V vsakem potrdilu o prejemu iz pravila 7.1, izdanem ob prvotnem depozitu, mora biti navedeno, da ga izdaja depozitarna ustanova kot mednarodni depozitarni organ po tej pogodbi, in mora vsebovati vsaj naslednje navedbe:
(i) ime in naslov mednarodnega depozitarnega organa;
(ii) ime in naslov deponenta;
(iii) datum prvotnega depozita, kot določa odstavek (c) pravila 6.4;
(iv) identifikacijski znak (številko, simbole itd.), ki ga je dal deponent mikroorganizmu;
(v) pristopno številko, ki jo je dal depozitu mednarodni depozitarni organ;
(vi) kadar pisna izjava iz odstavka (a) pravila 6.1 vsebuje znanstveni opis in/ali predlagano taksonomsko oznako mikroorganizma – sklicevanje na to dejstvo.
7.4 Vsebina ob ponovnem depozitu
K vsakemu potrdilu o prejemu iz pravila 7.1, izdanem ob ponovnem depozitu, opravljenem po 4. členu, je treba priložiti kopijo potrdila o prejemu prvotnega depozita (po odstavku (c) pravila 6.2) in kopijo zadnje izjave v zvezi z vitalnostjo prvotno deponiranega mikroorganizma (po odstavku (c) pravila 6.2), ki navaja, da je mikroorganizem vitalen; potrdilo o prejemu mora vsebovati vsaj naslednje:
(i) ime in naslov mednarodnega depozitarnega organa;
(ii) ime in naslov deponenta;
(iii) datum novega depozita, kot določa odstavek (c) pravila 6.4;
(iv) identifikacijski znak (številko, simbole itd.), ki ga je dal deponent mikroorganizmu;
(v) pristopno številko, ki jo je dal novemu depozitu mednarodni depozitarni organ;
(vi) navedbo ustreznega razloga in ustreznega datuma, ki ga deponent navede v skladu s točko (ii) odstavka (a) pravila 6.2;
(vii) kadar se uporablja točka (iii) odstavka (a) pravila 6.2 – sklicevanje na dejstvo, da je deponent navedel znanstveni opis in/ali predlagano taksonomsko oznako;
(viii) pristopno številko prvotnega depozita (po odstavku (c) pravila 6.2).
7.5. Potrdilo o prejemu pri prenosu
Mednarodni depozitarni organ, v katerega se prenesejo vzorci mikroorganizmov po točki (i) odstavka (a) pravila 5.1, izda deponentu za vsak depozit, v zvezi s katerim se prenese vzorec, potrdilo o prejemu, ki navaja, da ga je izdala depozitarna ustanova kot mednarodni depozitarni organ po tej pogodbi, vsebovati pa mora vsaj naslednje:
(i) ime in naslov mednarodnega depozitarnega organa;
(ii) ime in naslov deponenta;
(iii) datum, ko je mednarodni depozitarni organ prejel preneseni vzorec (datum prenosa);
(iv) identifikacijski znak (številko, simbole itd.), ki ga je dal deponent mikroorganizmu;
(v) pristopno številko, ki jo je dal depozitu mednarodni depozitarni organ;
(vi) ime in naslov mednarodnega depozitarnega organa, iz katerega je bil opravljen prenos;
(vii) pristopno številko, ki jo je dal depozitu mednarodni depozitarni organ, iz katerega je bil opravljen prenos;
(viii) kadar pisna izjava iz odstavka (a) pravila 6.1 ali odstavka (a) pravila 6.2 vsebuje znanstveni opis in/ali predlagano taksonomsko oznako mikroorganizma ali kadar sta tak znanstveni opis in/ali predlagana taksonomska oznaka kasneje navedena ali spremenjena oziroma dopolnjena po pravilu 8.1 – sklicevanje na to dejstvo.

8.1 Sporočilo
(a) Kadar v zvezi z depozitom mikroorganizma znanstveni opis in/ali taksonomska oznaka mikroorganizma nista bila navedena, ju lahko deponent navede kasneje ali, kadar sta že navedena, tak opis in/ali oznako spremeni oziroma dopolni.
(b) Vsaka taka kasnejša navedba ali sprememba oziroma dopolnitev se opravi s pisnim sporočilom, ki ga podpiše deponent in je naslovljeno na mednarodni depozitarni organ ter vsebuje:
(i) ime in naslov deponenta;
(ii) pristopno številko, ki jo je dal omenjeni organ;
(iii) znanstveni opis in/ali predlagano taksonomsko oznako mikroorganizma;
(iv) v primeru spremembe oziroma dopolnitve – zadnji predhodni znanstveni opis in/ali predlagano taksonomsko oznako.
8.2 Potrdilo
Mednarodni depozitarni organ na zahtevo deponenta, ki je poslal sporočilo iz pravila 8.1, izda temu potrdilo, v katerem so navedeni podatki iz točk (i) do (iv) odstavka (b) pravila 8.1 in datum prejema takega sporočila.

9.1 Trajanje hrambe
Vsak mikroorganizem, deponiran pri mednarodnem depozitarnem organu, ta hrani z vso skrbnostjo, ki je potrebna, da ga ohrani vitalnega in neokuženega, najmanj pet let po prejemu zadnje zahteve za pošiljanje vzorca deponiranega mikroorganizma, v vsakem primeru pa najmanj 30 let od dneva depozita.
9.2 Tajnost
Noben mednarodni depozitarni organ nikomur ne daje informacij o tem, ali je bil neki mikroorganizem pri njem deponiran po tej pogodbi. Nikomur ne daje nobenih informacij v zvezi s katerimkoli mikroorganizmom, deponiranem pri njem po tej pogodbi, razen organu in fizični ali pravni osebi, ki ima pravico dobiti vzorec omenjenega mikroorganizma po pravilu 11 in pod enakimi pogoji, kot jih določa to pravilo.

10.1 Obveznost preverjanja
Mednarodni depozitarni organ preverja vitalnost vsakega pri njem deponiranega mikroorganizma:
(i) takoj po vsakem deponiranju iz pravila 6 ali po vsakem prenosu iz pravila 5.1;
(ii) v razumnih časovnih presledkih, glede na vrsto mikroorganizma in možne pogoje za njegovo hrambo ali kadarkoli, če je to potrebno iz tehničnih razlogov;
(iii) kadarkoli na zahtevo deponenta.
10.2 Izjava o vitalnosti
(a) Mednarodni depozitarni organ izda izjavo v zvezi z vitalnostjo deponiranega mikroorganizma:
(i) deponentu – takoj po vsakem deponiranju iz pravila 6 ali po vsakem prenosu iz pravila 5.1;
(ii) deponentu – na njegovo zahtevo kadarkoli po depozitu ali prenosu;
(iii) vsakemu uradu za industrijsko lastnino, drugemu organu in fizični ali pravni osebi, ki ni deponent, ki so jim vzorci deponiranega mikroorganizma poslani v skladu s pravilom 11 – na njihovo zahtevo, hkrati s poslanimi vzorci ali kadarkoli kasneje.
(b) Izjava o vitalnosti vsebuje navedbo, ali je mikroorganizem vitalen ali ne, kot tudi naslednje podatke:
(i) ime in naslov mednarodnega depozitarnega organa, ki izda izjavo;
(ii) ime in naslov deponenta;
(iii) datum, omenjen v točki (iii) pravila 7.3, ali zadnji datum iz točke (iii) pravila 7.4 in točke (iii) pravila 7.5, kadar je bilo opravljeno ponovno deponiranje ali prenos;
(iv) pristopno številko, ki jo je dal omenjeni organ;
(v) datum preveritve, na katero se nanaša;
(vi) informacije o pogojih, pod katerimi se je opravila preveritev vitalnosti, če navedene informacije zahteva stran, ki se ji izjava o vitalnosti izda, in če so rezultati preveritve negativni.
(c) V primerih iz točk (ii) in (iii) odstavka (a) se izjava o vitalnosti nanaša na zadnjo preveritev vitalnosti.
(d) Glede obrazca, jezikov in podpisa se pravilo 7.2 uporablja za izjavo o vitalnosti mutatis mutandis.
(e) V primeru točke (i) odstavka (a) ali kadar zahtevo vloži urad za industrijsko lastnino, se izjava o vitalnosti izda brezplačno. Za vsako takso, ki jo je treba plačati po točki (iii) odstavka (a) pravila 12.1. v zvezi s katerokoli drugo izjavo o vitalnosti, se obremeni stran, ki zahteva izjavo, in jo je treba plačati pred vložitvijo zahteve ali ob njeni vložitvi.

11.1 Pošiljanje vzorcev zainteresiranim uradom za industrijsko lastnino
Vsak mednarodni depozitarni organ pošlje vzorec kateregakoli deponiranega mikroorganizma uradu za industrijsko lastnino katerekoli države pogodbenice ali mednarodne organizacije za industrijsko lastnino na zahtevo takega urada pod pogojem, da je k zahtevi priložena izjava v naslednjem smislu:
(i) da je bila prijava, ki se nanaša na depozit tega mikroorganizma, vložena pri uradu za podelitev patenta, in da predmet te prijave vključuje omenjeni mikroorganizem ali njegovo uporabo;
(ii) da se taka prijava že rešuje pri tem uradu ali da je v zvezi z njo že bil podeljen patent;
(iii) da je vzorec potreben za postopek patentiranja, ki velja v omenjeni državi pogodbenici ali organizaciji ali njenih državah članicah;
(iv) da bodo omenjeni vzorec in vse informacije, ki so mu priložene ali iz njega izhajajo, uporabljeni samo za navedeni postopek patentiranja.
11.2 Pošiljanje vzorcev deponentu ali z njegovim pooblastilom
Vsak mednarodni depozitarni organ pošlje vzorec kateregakoli deponiranega mikroorganizma:
(i) deponentu na njegovo zahtevo;
(ii) vsakemu organu in fizični ali pravni osebi (v nadaljnjem besedilu: pooblaščena stran), na zahtevo take strani pod pogojem, da je k zahtevi priložena izjava deponenta, s katero je dano pooblastilo za zahtevano pošiljanje vzorca.
11.3 Pošiljanje vzorcev stranem, ki imajo do tega zakonito pravico
(a) Vsak mednarodni depozitarni organ pošlje vzorec kateregakoli deponiranega mikroorganizma kateremukoli organu in fizični ali pravni osebi (v nadaljnjem besedilu: stran s potrdilom) na zahtevo take strani pod pogojem, da je zahteva vložena na obrazcu, katerega vsebino je določila skupščina, in da na navedenem obrazcu urad za industrijsko lastnino potrdi:
(i) da je bila prijava, ki se nanaša na depozit tega mikroorganizma, vložena pri tem uradu za podelitev patenta in da predmet te prijave vključuje omenjeni mikroorganizem ali njegovo uporabo;
(ii) da je, razen kadar se uporablja drugi stavek točke (iii), zadevni urad zaradi postopka patentiranja že opravil objavo;
(iii) bodisi da ima stran s potrdilom pravico do vzorca mikroorganizma po zakonu, ki ureja postopek patentiranja pri tem uradu, in, kadar je po tem zakonu omenjena pravica odvisna od izpolnitve določenih pogojev, da ta urad meni, da so ti pogoji dejansko izpolnjeni, ali da je stran s potrdilom podpisala obrazec pri tem uradu in da se kot posledica podpisa tega obrazca šteje, da so pogoji za pošiljanje vzorca strani s potrdilom izpolnjeni v skladu z zakonom, ki ureja postopek patentiranja pri tem uradu; kadar ima stran s potrdilom navedeno pravico po omenjenem zakonu, preden navedeni urad objavi postopek patentiranja in take objave še ni bilo, je treba v potrdilu to izrecno poudariti in na običajen način navesti veljavno določbo omenjenega zakona, vključno z vsako sodno odločbo.
(b) V zvezi s patenti, ki jih podeljuje in objavlja katerikoli urad za industrijsko lastnino, lahko tak urad občasno sporoči kateremukoli mednarodnemu depozitarnemu organu sezname pristopnih številk, ki jih je ta organ dal depozitom mikroorganizmov, omenjenih v patentih. Mednarodni depozitarni organ na zahtevo kateregakoli organa ali fizične ali pravne osebe (v nadaljnjem besedilu: stran, ki vlaga zahtevo) pošlje vzorec kateregakoli mikroorganizma, za katerega je tako sporočena pristopna številka. V zvezi z deponiranimi mikroorganizmi, katerih pristopne številke so tako sporočene, omenjenemu uradu ni treba izdati potrdila iz točke (a) pravila 11.3.
11.4 Splošna pravila
(a) Vsaka zahteva, izjava, potrdilo ali sporočilo iz pravil 11.1, 11.2 in 11.3 mora biti:
(i) v angleškem, francoskem, ruskem ali španskem jeziku, kadar se pošilja mednarodnemu depozitarnemu organu, katerega uradni jezik je ali katerega uradni jeziki vključujejo angleški, francoski, ruski ali španski jezik; kadar mora biti v ruskem ali španskem jeziku, je lahko namesto v teh jezikih v angleškem ali francoskem jeziku, in v tem primeru Mednarodni urad na zahtevo zainteresirane strani iz omenjenih pravil ali mednarodni depozitarni organ takoj in brezplačno zagotovita overjeni prevod v ruski ali španski jezik;
(ii) v vseh drugih primerih v angleškem ali francoskem jeziku, pri čemer je lahko namesto tega v uradnem jeziku ali enem izmed uradnih jezikov mednarodnega depozitarnega organa.
(b) Kadar zahtevo iz pravila 11.1 vloži urad za industrijsko lastnino, katerega uradni jezik je ruski ali španski, je lahko navedena zahteva ne glede na odstavek (a) v ruskem oziroma španskem jeziku, Mednarodni urad pa takoj in brezplačno zagotovi overjeni prevod v angleški ali francoski jezik na zahtevo tega urada ali mednarodnega depozitnega organa, ki je prejel navedeno zahtevo.
(c) Vsaka zahteva, izjava, potrdilo ali sporočilo iz pravil 11.1, 11.2 in 11.3 se predloži pisno s podpisom in datumom.
(d) Vsaka zahteva, izjava ali potrdilo iz pravil 11.1, 11.2 in odstavka (a) pravila 11.3 vsebuje naslednje navedbe:
(i) ime in naslov urada za industrijsko lastnino, ki vlaga zahtevo, ali pooblaščene strani ali strani s potrdilom, odvisno od primera;
(ii) pristopno številko depozita;
(iii) v primeru pravila 11.1, datum in številko prijave ali patenta, ki se nanaša na depozit;
(iv) v primeru odstavka (a) pravila 11.3, navedbe iz točke (iii) ter ime in naslov urada za industrijsko lastnino, ki je izdal potrdilo, omenjeno v tem pravilu.
(e) Vsaka zahteva iz odstavka (b) pravila 11.3 mora vsebovati naslednje navedbe:
(i) ime in naslov strani, ki vlaga zahtevo;
(ii) pristopno številko depozita.
(f) Zaboj, v katerem se pošilja vzorec, mednarodni depozitarni organ označi s pristopno številko, dano depozitu, priložena pa mu mora biti kopija potrdila o prejemu iz pravila 7, navedba kakršnihkoli lastnosti mikroorganizma, ki so ali utegnejo biti nevarne za zdravje ali okolje, in, na zahtevo, navedba pogojev, ki jih mednarodni depozitarni organ uporablja za gojenje in hrambo mikroorganizma.
(g) Kadar mednarodni depozitarni organ pošlje vzorec katerikoli zainteresirani strani, ki ni deponent, tega takoj uradno pisno obvesti o tem kot tudi o datumu, ko je bil vzorec poslan, ter o imenu in naslovu urada za industrijsko lastnino, pooblaščene strani, strani s potrdilom ali strani, ki vlaga zahtevo, ki jim je bil vzorec poslan. Omenjenemu uradnemu obvestilu mora biti priložena kopija zadevne zahteve, vsake izjave, predložene po pravilu 11.1 ali točki (ii) pravila 11.2 v zvezi z omenjeno zahtevo, in vsakega obrazca ali zahteve s podpisom strani, ki vlaga zahtevo, kot to določa pravilo 11.3.
(h) Pošiljanje vzorcev iz pravila 11.1 je brezplačno. Kadar se vzorci pošiljajo po pravilu 11.2 ali 11.3, se vsaka taksa, ki jo je treba plačati po točki (iv) odstavka (a) pravila 12.1, zaračuna deponentu, pooblaščeni strani, strani s potrdilom ali strani, ki vlaga zahtevo, odvisno od primera, plača pa se pred vložitvijo omenjene zahteve ali ob njeni vložitvi.
11.5 Spremembe v pravilih 11.1 in 11.3, kadar se uporabljajo za mednarodne prijave
Kadar je prijava vložena kot mednarodna prijava po Pogodbi o sodelovanju na področju patentov, se sklicevanje na vložitev prijave pri uradu za industrijsko lastnino v točki (i) pravila 11.1 in točki (i) odstavka (a) pravila 11.3 šteje v mednarodni prijavi za sklicevanje na navedbo države pogodbenice, za katero je urad za industrijsko lastnino “imenovani urad” po tej pogodbi, potrdilo o objavi, ki je potrebna po točki (ii) odstavka (a) pravila 11.3, pa je po izbiri urada za industrijsko lastnino bodisi potrdilo o mednarodni objavi po omenjeni pogodbi ali potrdilo o objavi urada za industrijsko lastnino.

12.1 Vrste in zneski
(a) Vsak mednarodni depozitarni organ lahko v zvezi s postopkom po tej pogodbi in tem pravilniku zaračuna takso:
(i) za hrambo;
(ii) za potrdilo iz pravila 8.2;
(iii) za izdajo izjave o vitalnosti ob upoštevanju prvega stavka odstavka (e) pravila 10.2;
(iv) za pošiljanje vzorca ob upoštevanju prvega stavka odstavka (h) pravila 11.4;
(v) za sporočanje podatkov po pravilu 7.6.
(b) Taksa za hrambo velja za ves čas hrambe mikroorganizma, kot to določa pravilo 9.1.
(c) Višina taks se ne spreminja glede na državljanstvo ali prebivališče deponenta ali glede na državljanstvo ali prebivališče oz. sedež organa, fizične ali pravne osebe, ki zahteva izdajo izjave o vitalnosti ali pošiljanju vzorcev.
12.2 Sprememba v zneskih
(a) O vsaki spremembi zneska taks, ki jih zaračunava mednarodni depozitarni organ, država pogodbenica ali medvladna organizacija za industrijsko lastnino, ki je v zvezi z omenjenim organom dala izjavo iz prvega odstavka 7. člena, uradno obvesti generalnega direktorja. Uradno obvestilo lahko ob upoštevanju odstavka (c) vsebuje navedbo datuma, od katerega se uporabljajo nove takse.
(b) Generalni direktor takoj uradno obvesti vse države pogodbenice in medvladne organizacije za industrijsko lastnino o vsakem uradnem obvestilu, prejetem po odstavku (a), in o datumu njegovega začetka veljavnosti po odstavku (c); Mednarodni urad uradno obvestilo generalnega direktorja in uradno obvestilo, ki ga je ta prejel, takoj objavi.
(c) Vsaka nova taksa se uporablja od dneva, navedenega v odstavku (a), pri čemer se nove takse, kadar vsebuje sprememba povečanje zneska taks in ni naveden noben datum v tem smislu, začnejo uporabljati trideset dni po tem, ko Mednarodni urad objavi spremembo.

12bis.1 Dobe, izražene v letih
Če je doba izražena kot leto ali določeno število let, se začne šteti na dan po dnevu ustreznega dogodka, poteče pa v ustreznem naslednjem letu v mesecu z istim imenom in na dan, ki ima isto številko kot mesec in dan navedenega dogodka; če ustrezni naslednji mesec nima dneva z isto številko, doba poteče zadnjega dne tega meseca.
12bis.2 Dobe, izražene v mesecih
Če je doba izražena kot mesec dni ali določeno število mesecev, se začne šteti na dan po dnevu ustreznega dogodka, poteče pa v ustreznem naslednjem mesecu na dan, ki ima isto številko kot dan navedenega dogodka; če ustrezni naslednji mesec nima dneva z isto številko, doba poteče zadnjega dne tega meseca.
12bis.3 Dobe, izražene v dnevih
Če je doba izražena kot določeno število dni, se začne šteti na dan po dnevu ustreznega dogodka, poteče pa zadnjega dne štetja.

13.1 Način objave
Vsaka objava Mednarodnega urada, navedena v tej pogodbi ali pravilniku, se opravi v mesečnem glasilu Mednarodnega urada, omenjenem v Pariški konvenciji za varstvo industrijske lastnine.
13.2 Vsebina
(a) Vsaj v vsaki prvi letni izdaji omenjenega glasila je treba objaviti zadnji seznam mednarodnih depozitarnih organov, v katerem so za vsak organ navedene vrste mikroorganizmov, ki se lahko pri njem deponirajo, in zneski taks, ki jih zaračunava.
(b) Enkrat, in sicer v prvi izdaji omenjenega glasila, ki sledi dogodku, se objavijo popolne informacije o vsakem izmed naslednjih dejstev:
(i) vsaki pridobitvi, prenehanju ali omejitvi statusa mednarodnega depozitarnega organa in ukrepih, sprejetih v zvezi s tem prenehanjem ali omejitvijo;
(ii) vsakem podaljšanju iz pravila 3.3;
(iii) vsakem prenehanju funkcije mednarodnega depozitarnega organa, vsaki zavrnitvi sprejema določenih vrst mikroorganizmov in ukrepih, sprejetih v zvezi s takim prenehanjem ali zavrnitvijo;
(iv) vsaki spremembi taks, ki jih zaračunava mednarodni depozitarni organ;
(v) vseh zahtevah, sporočenih v skladu z odstavkom (b) pravila 6.3, in njihovih spremembah oziroma dopolnitvah.

14.1 Kritje stroškov
Stroške vsake delegacije, ki sodeluje na zasedanjih skupščine in v kateremkoli odboru, delovni skupini ali na kakšnem drugem sestanku, ki se ukvarja z vprašanji, pomembnimi za Unijo, krije država ali organizacija, ki jo je imenovala.

15.1 Dopisno glasovanje
(a) V primeru, predvidenem v pododstavku (b) petega odstavka 10. člena, generalni direktor sporoči vsak sklep skupščine (razen sklepov, ki se nanašajo na sam skupščinski postopek) državam pogodbenicam, katerih predstavniki niso bili navzoči pri sprejetju sklepa, in jih prosi, naj v treh mesecih od datuma sporočila pisno sporočijo svoj glas ali odločitev, da se glasovanja vzdržijo.
(b) Če po poteku navedene dobe število držav pogodbenic, ki so na ta način sporočile svoj glas ali odločitev, da se glasovanja vzdržijo, doseže število držav pogodbenic, ki je manjkalo za sklepčnost ob sprejetju sklepa, začne ta sklep veljati pod pogojem, da imajo v istem času še vedno potrebno večino glasov.

Za izvajanje pogodbe in pravilnika skrbi Ministrstvo za znanost in tehnologijo, Urad Republike Slovenije za intelektualno lastnino.

Ta zakon začne veljati naslednji dan po objavi v Uradnem listu – Mednarodne pogodbe.