À propos de la propriété intellectuelle Formation en propriété intellectuelle Respect de la propriété intellectuelle Sensibilisation à la propriété intellectuelle La propriété intellectuelle pour… Propriété intellectuelle et… Propriété intellectuelle et… Information relative aux brevets et à la technologie Information en matière de marques Information en matière de dessins et modèles industriels Information en matière d’indications géographiques Information en matière de protection des obtentions végétales (UPOV) Lois, traités et jugements dans le domaine de la propriété intellectuelle Ressources relatives à la propriété intellectuelle Rapports sur la propriété intellectuelle Protection des brevets Protection des marques Protection des dessins et modèles industriels Protection des indications géographiques Protection des obtentions végétales (UPOV) Règlement extrajudiciaire des litiges Solutions opérationnelles à l’intention des offices de propriété intellectuelle Paiement de services de propriété intellectuelle Décisions et négociations Coopération en matière de développement Appui à l’innovation Partenariats public-privé Outils et services en matière d’intelligence artificielle L’Organisation Travailler avec nous Responsabilité Brevets Marques Dessins et modèles industriels Indications géographiques Droit d’auteur Secrets d’affaires Académie de l’OMPI Ateliers et séminaires Application des droits de propriété intellectuelle WIPO ALERT Sensibilisation Journée mondiale de la propriété intellectuelle Magazine de l’OMPI Études de cas et exemples de réussite Actualités dans le domaine de la propriété intellectuelle Prix de l’OMPI Entreprises Universités Peuples autochtones Instances judiciaires Ressources génétiques, savoirs traditionnels et expressions culturelles traditionnelles Économie Égalité des genres Santé mondiale Changement climatique Politique en matière de concurrence Objectifs de développement durable Technologies de pointe Applications mobiles Sport Tourisme PATENTSCOPE Analyse de brevets Classification internationale des brevets Programme ARDI – Recherche pour l’innovation Programme ASPI – Information spécialisée en matière de brevets Base de données mondiale sur les marques Madrid Monitor Base de données Article 6ter Express Classification de Nice Classification de Vienne Base de données mondiale sur les dessins et modèles Bulletin des dessins et modèles internationaux Base de données Hague Express Classification de Locarno Base de données Lisbon Express Base de données mondiale sur les marques relative aux indications géographiques Base de données PLUTO sur les variétés végétales Base de données GENIE Traités administrés par l’OMPI WIPO Lex – lois, traités et jugements en matière de propriété intellectuelle Normes de l’OMPI Statistiques de propriété intellectuelle WIPO Pearl (Terminologie) Publications de l’OMPI Profils nationaux Centre de connaissances de l’OMPI Série de rapports de l’OMPI consacrés aux tendances technologiques Indice mondial de l’innovation Rapport sur la propriété intellectuelle dans le monde PCT – Le système international des brevets ePCT Budapest – Le système international de dépôt des micro-organismes Madrid – Le système international des marques eMadrid Article 6ter (armoiries, drapeaux, emblèmes nationaux) La Haye – Le système international des dessins et modèles industriels eHague Lisbonne – Le système d’enregistrement international des indications géographiques eLisbon UPOV PRISMA UPOV e-PVP Administration UPOV e-PVP DUS Exchange Médiation Arbitrage Procédure d’expertise Litiges relatifs aux noms de domaine Accès centralisé aux résultats de la recherche et de l’examen (WIPO CASE) Service d’accès numérique aux documents de priorité (DAS) WIPO Pay Compte courant auprès de l’OMPI Assemblées de l’OMPI Comités permanents Calendrier des réunions WIPO Webcast Documents officiels de l’OMPI Plan d’action de l’OMPI pour le développement Assistance technique Institutions de formation en matière de propriété intellectuelle Mesures d’appui concernant la COVID-19 Stratégies nationales de propriété intellectuelle Assistance en matière d’élaboration des politiques et de formulation de la législation Pôle de coopération Centres d’appui à la technologie et à l’innovation (CATI) Transfert de technologie Programme d’aide aux inventeurs WIPO GREEN Initiative PAT-INFORMED de l’OMPI Consortium pour des livres accessibles L’OMPI pour les créateurs WIPO Translate Speech-to-Text Assistant de classification États membres Observateurs Directeur général Activités par unité administrative Bureaux extérieurs Avis de vacance d’emploi Achats Résultats et budget Rapports financiers Audit et supervision
Arabic English Spanish French Russian Chinese
Lois Traités Jugements Parcourir par ressort juridique

Tonga

TO028

Retour

Protection Against Unfair Competition Act 2002 (Act No. 19 of 2002, 2020 Revised Edition)

 Protection Against Unfair Competition Act 2002 (Act No. 19 of 2002, 2020 Revised Edition)

PROTECTION AGAINST UNFAIR COMPETITION ACT

Chapter 17.11

2020 Revised Edition

Arrangement of Sections

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


PROTECTION AGAINST UNFAIR COMPETITION ACT

AN ACT TO MAKE PROVISION FOR PROTECTION AGAINST UNFAIR
COMPETITION AND FOR OTHER MATTERS CONNECTED
THEREWITH OR INCIDENTAL THERETO1

Commencement [1 September 2008]2

1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Protection Against Unfair Competition Act.

2 Act binds the Crown

This Act binds the Crown.

3 Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires —

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

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

    “court” means the Supreme Court of Tonga;

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

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

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

    “practice” includes behaviour that consists of an omission to act;

    “presentation of products or services” includes advertising;

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

4 General principles

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

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

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

5 Causing confusion with respect to another's enterprise

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

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

    (a) a trademark, whether registered or not;

    (b) a trade name;

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

    (d) the appearance of a product;

    (e) the presentation of products or services; or

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

6 Damaging another's goodwill or reputation

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

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

    (a) a trademark, whether registered or not;

    (b) a trade name;

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

    (d) the appearance of a product;

    (e) the presentation of products or services; or

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

7 Misleading the public

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

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

    (a) the manufacturing process of a product;

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

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

    (d) the geographical origin of products or services;

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

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

8 Discrediting another's enterprise

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

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

    (a) the manufacturing process of a product;

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

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

    (d) the geographical origin of products or services;

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

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

9 Unfair competition in respect of secret information

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

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

    (a) industrial or commercial espionage;

    (b) breach of contract;

    (c) breach of confidence;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Provided that disclosure shall be authorised —

    (a) where necessary to protect the public; or

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

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

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


ENDNOTES

1 Act 19 of 2002

2 By GS 36/2008