18

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If the Treaty has a provien

ispute settlement, there might be

good arguments to have an easier amendment procedure than a Diplomatic Conference, as this would be the first time that such a mechanism had

been included in a WIPO Treaty, and difficulties as to its correct

functioning might occur In the beginning.

Paragraph (2) (Initiation and Notice of Proposals for Amendments)

This paragraph is acceptable.

Paragraph (3) (Required Majorities)

A three-quarter majority of the votes cast in the Assembly should

provide sufficient security to prevent undesired changes which would

bind the Community and its Member States, (this position is based on

the assumption that an appropriate compromise on the Community votes

can be reached see Article 9(3)).

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Paragraph (4) (Entry into Force)

This paragraph is acceptable (see also comment on para 3); the risk

that the Community and its Member States may be bound by modifications

which they have not endorsed seems not too great having regard to the

possible majority situation of a future Assembly. In addition if only

the technical definitions the provisions of Article 10 and the dispute

mechanism are submitted to the proposed amendment procedure, the

binding character of the changes can be accepted.

Article 12 (Safeguard of Paris and Berne Conventions)

Community position

The present Article does not seem to be necessary and might prejudice the

Interpretation of the Interaction of international obligations under WIPO

treaties.

The Paris and Berne Conventions do not oblige the states party to these

Conventions to protect layout designs (topographies) of microchips. If it

were otherwise, the present Treaty would be either superfluous or certain

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