CONSUMER COUNCIL ORDINANCE ——附加英文版
Hong Kong
CONSUMER COUNCIL ORDINANCE
(CHAPTER 216)
CONTENTS
ion
I PRELIMINARY
hort title
nterpretation
II INCORPORATION AND POWERS
ncorporation of Consumer Council
unctions of Council
owers of Council
embership of Council
eetings of Council
ommittees
isclosure of member's interest
Appointment of staff and advisers
Documents of Council
III FINANCIAL
Resources of Council
Borrowing powers
Investment of funds
Estimates
Accounts, audit and annual report
IV GENERAL
Council not servant or agent of Crown
Governor may give directions
Protection of members of Council and committees
Prohibition of exploitation of the Council's name for
advertisement
oses
Transitional provisions
dule
Whole document
ncorporate the Consumer Council, to define its functions and
powers,
egative personal liability of members and employees for the
Council's
ts committees' acts or omissions, and for connected purposes.
July 1977] L. N. 167 of 1977
PART I PRELIMINARY
hort title
Ordinance may be cited as the Consumer Council Ordinance.
nterpretation
his Ordinance, unless the context otherwise requires--
ncil" means the Consumer Council incorporated by section 3 (1);
ancial year" means each period of 12 months ending with 31 March;
ber" means a member of the Council.
PART II INCORPORATION AND POWERS
ncorporation of Consumer Council
The Consumer Council existing at the commencement of this
Ordinance is
by created a body corporate consisting of the persons who from
time to
hold office as members of the Council.
The Council shall have perpetual succession and a common
seal and
l be capable of suing and being sued and of doing and suffering
all
other acts and things as bodies corporate may lawfully do and
suffer.
The Council shall continue to be known in the Chinese language
as.
unctions of Council
The functions of the Council are to protect and promote the
interests
onsumers of goods and services and purchasers, mortgagors and
lessees
mmovable property by--
collecting, receiving and disseminating
rmation concerning goods, services and immovable property;
receiving and examining complaints by and giving advice to
consumers
oods and services and purchasers, mortgagors and lessees of
immovable
erty;
taking such action as it thinks justified by information
in its
ession, including tendering advice to the Government or to any
public
cer;
encouraging business and professional associations to
blish codes of practice to regulate the activities of their
members;
undertaking such other functions as the Council may adopt
with the
r approval of the Governor in Council.
The Governor may be notice in writing to the Council
declare any
s, services or immovable property or class of goods,
services or
vable property to be outside the scope of the Council's
functions
r subsection (1).
In subsection (1) and in section 5 (2) (c) "goods and services"
does
include goods and services which are--
supplied by--
the Government, the Urban Council or the Regional Council; or
(Amended
f 1985 s. 60)
a body mentioned in the Schedule; or
made the subject of a declaration under subsection (2).
The Governor in Council may, by order published in the Gazette,
amend
Schedule. (Amended 5 of 1992 s. 2)
owers of Council
The Council may do such things as are reasonably necessary to
enable
o carry out its functions.
Without restricting the generality of subsection (1), the Council
may
arrying out its functions--
acquire, hold and dispose of all kinds of property
movable and
vable and in any manner which it thinks fit;
enter into any contract;
undertake the testing and examination of goods and
services and
ection of immovable property; (Amended 5 of 1992s. 3)
produce or distribute, by way of sale or otherwise, any
publication
h is of interest to consumers;
do any thing which it may do under this ordinance in
association or
peration with any other person or sponsor any other person to do
that
g;
charge for the use of any facility or service provided by the
Council;
with the prior approval of the Governor, become a member
of or
liate to any international body concerned with consumer matters.
embership of Council
The Council shall consist of the following members--
a Chairman who shall be appointed by the Governor for a
term not
eding 2 years;
a Vice-Chairman who shall be appointed by the Governor for a term
not
eding 2 years; and (Replaced 28 of 1985 s. 2)
not more than 20 other persons each of whom shall be appointed
by the
rnor for a term not exceeding 2 years. (Replaced 28 of 1989 s.
2)
The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and any other member
appointed under
ection (1) (c) may be reappointed upon expiry of their
respective
s of office. (Amended 28 of 1985 s. 2)
The Chairman, Vice-Chairman and any other member
appointed under
ection (1) (c) may at any time-- (Amended 28 of 1985 s. 2)
resign his office by notice to the Governor; or
be removed therefrom by the Governor for permanent incapacity or
other
icient cause, and upon such resignation or removal the term for
which
as appointed shall be deemed to have expired.
Where the Chairman, Vice-Chairman or any other member appointed
under
ection (1) (c) is precluded by temporary incapacity or other
cause
exercising his functions as such for any period the
Governor may
int another person to act in place of the Chairman Vice-
Chairman or
r member during such period with all such rights, powers,
duties or
ilities as if he had been appointed under subsection (1). (Amended
28
985s. 2)
(Replaced 28 of 1985s. 2)
Where any question arises under subsection (3) or (4) as to
whether
incapacity or cause exists or whether any incapacity is
temporary or
anent or any cause sufficient, the decision of the Governor
thereon
l be final.
eetings of Council
Meetings of the Council shall be held at such times and places
as the
cil, the Chairman or in his absence, the Vice-Chairman may from
time
ime appoint.
The following procedural provisions shall apply to
y meeting of the Council and subject thereto the Council may
regulate
own procedure--
at meetings of the Council 11 members shall form a quorum;
(Replaced
f 1989 s. 3. Amended 5 of 1992 s. 4)
the Chairman or in his absence, the Vice-Chairman shall preside
or, if
are absent or disqualified under section 9 (c), the members
present
l appoint one of their number to preside;
every question shall be determined by a majority of votes
of the
ers present and voting thereon;
in the event of an equality of votes the member presiding shall
have a
ing vote in addition to his ordinary vote.
nded 28 of 1985 s. 3)
ommittees
The Council may appoint committees and may delegate to
them the
cise and performance of any of its powers and functions except
this
r of delegation.
Persons who are not members of the Council are
ible for appointment to committees.
Subject to the terms of any delegation by the
Council, every
ittee--
may exercise and perform the delegated powers and functions
the same effect as if it were the Council itself;
shall be presumed to be acting in accordance with the terms of
the
gation in the absence of proof to the contrary;
may regulate its own procedure.
isclosure of member's interest
member of the Council, or of any committee of the Council,
has a
ct or indirect commercial interest in any matter under discussion
at a
ing of the Council or of the committee, being an interest greater
than
which he has as a member of the general public, the
following
isions shall apply--
he shall disclose the nature of his interest at the meeting;
the disclosure shall be recorded in the minutes;
where the disclosure is made by the member presiding, he shall
vacate
chair during the discussion;
the member (including one who has vacated the chair under
paragraph
shall, if so required by the member presiding, withdraw
from the
ing during the discussion and shall not in any case,
except as
rwise determined by the member presiding, vote on any
resolution
erning the matter or be counted for the purpose of establishing
the
tence of a quorum.
Appointment of staff and advisers
Subject to subsection (4), the Council shall appoint a person to
hold
office of Chief Executive. (Amended 28 of 1985 s. 4)
The Council may appoint such other employees as it thinks
fit and
ect to subsection (4), determine all matters relating
to their
neratior and terms and conditions of appointment or employment.
The Council may engage the services of technical and
professional
sers in such manner and on such terms and conditions as it thinks
fit.
The Council shall obtain the prior approval of the Governor to--
any appointment proposed to be made under subsection (1) and the
terms
conditions thereof;
the suspension or dismissal of the Chief Executive;
the salary or salary scale (including allowances and other
pecuniary
fits) and conditions of employment applicable to the Chief
Executive
every other employee or class employee, and any variation
thereof.
nded 28 of 1985 s. 4)
No person shall be employed by the Council otherwise than on the
salar
alary scale or on the conditions of employment applicable to that
pers
oved by the Governor under subsection (4).
Documents of Council
The Council may make and execute all such documents as may
expedient
or conducive to the exercise and performance of its power
functions
duties.
The fixing of the seal of the Council to any document
l--
be authorized by resolution of the Council; and
be authenticated by the signatures of any 2 members
authorize by
lution of the Council, either generally or specially, to ao for
that
ose.
Any document purporting to be duly executed under the seal
of the
cil shall, unless the contrary is proved, be considered to be
duly
uted.
Any contract or instrument which if entered into or executed
by a
on not being a body corporate would not be required to be in the
form
deed may be entered into or executed on behalf of the Council by
any
on generally or specially authorized by the Council for that
purpose.
PART III FINANCIAL
Resources of Council
The Governor may, out of money appropriated for the purpose
by the
slative Council, authorize payment to the Consumer Council
of such
nts as he thinks fit.
The resources of the Council shall consist
all money received by the Council pursuant to subsection (1);
money paid to the Council by way of donations, fees,
subscriptions,
and interest;
all other money and property, including accumulations of
income,
ived by the Council for its purposes.
Borrowing powers
Council may, with the approval of the Financial Secretary,
borrow or
rwise raise money and charge all or any part of its
property as
rity therefor.
Investment of funds
money of the Council that is not immediately required
shall be
sted--
on fixed deposit in any bank or savings bank approved by the
ncial Secretary, either generally or in any particular case, for
the
ose; or
in such other forms of investment as the Financial
Secretary may
ove.
Estimates
Council shall in each financial year adopt estimates of
income and
nditure for the ensuing financial year and, before a date
to be
inted by the Financial Secretary, send them to the Governor for
his
oval together with a programme of its proposed activities
for the
ing financial year.
Accounts, audit and annual report
The Council shall keep proper accounts and proper records in
relation
eto and shall within 3 months after the expiry of a financial year,
or
further period as the Financial Secretary may allow,
prepare a
ement of the accounts of the Council, which statement shall
include an
me and expenditure account and a balance sheet.
The Council
l, subject to subsection (3), appoint an auditor, who
shall be
tled to have access at any time to all books of account, vouchers
and
r financial records of the Council and to require such information
and
anations relating thereto as he thinks fit.
The Council shall obtain the prior approval of the Financial
Secretary
ny appointment proposed to be made under subsection (2).
The auditor shall, as soon as is practicable, audit the
accounts
ired by subsection (1) and shall submit a report thereon
to the
cil.
The Council shall within 3 months after the receipt by it
of the
tor's report in respect of its accounts for a financial
year, or
in such further period as the Financial Secretary may allow,
furnish--
a report on the affairs of the Council for that year;
a copy of its accounts therefor; and
the auditor's report on the accounts, to the Governor who shall
cause
same to be tabled in the Legislative Council.
PART IV GENERAL
Council not servant or agent of Crown
Council is not a servant or agent of the Crown and does not enjoy
any
us, immunity or privilege of the Crown.
Governor may give directions
The Governor may, if he considers that the public
interest so
ires, give to the Council such directions as he thinks
fit with
ect to the exercise and performance by the Council of its
powers,
tions and duties under this Ordinance, either generally or
in any
icular case.
The Council shall comply with any direction given to
it under
ection (1).
Protection of members of Council and committees
No member or employee of the Council or of any committee
of the
cil shall be personally liable for any act done or default made--
by the Council; or
by any committee of the Council, acting in good faith in the course
of
operations of the Council or of the committee.
The protection hereby conferred on members and employees
of the
cil or of a committee in respect of any act or default shall not
in
way affect any liability of the Council for that act or default.
Prohibition of exploitation of the Council's name for
advertisement
oses
No person shall, with a view to promoting or disparaging any
s, services or immovable property or promoting the image
of any
on, publish or cause to be published any advertisement which
either
essly or by implication makes reference to--
the Council;
any committee, member, agent or employee of the Council;
the Council's publication or finding of tests or surveys
conducted by
n behalf of the Council; or
any other information published by the Council, without
written
ent of the Council.
Any person who contravenes subsection (1) commits an offence
and is
le to a fine of $ 100,000.
For the purpose of subsection (1) "advertisement" may be
constituted
ny words, whether written or spoken, or any picture, drawing,
visual
e, figure or article--
appearing in any publication; or
brought to the notice of the public or any section of the public
in
other way. (Replaced 5 of 1992 s. 5)
Transitional provisions
All property of whatever kind and whether movable or immovable
vested
r belonging to the Consumer Council existing at the
commencement of
Ordinance shall as from that date vest in or belong to that
Council
ts corporate capacity without any further assurance.
All obligations and liabilities of the said Consumer Council
are as
the commencement of this Ordinance the obligations and
liabilities of
Council in its corporate capacity.
Where anything has been commenced by or under the authority
of the
Consumer Council before the commencement of this Ordinance such
thing
be carried on any completed by the Council in its corporate
capacity.
Every person who immediately before the commencement of this
Ordinance
s an appointment as Chairman, Executive Director or a member of
the
Consumer Council is, as from such commencement but subject to
the
s of his appointment, the Chairman, Executive Director, or a
member of
Council, as the case may be, for the purposes of this Ordinance.
Notwithstanding the definition of "financial year" in section
2 the
od between the commencement of this Ordinance and 31 March 1978
shall
eemed to be a financial year.
No stamp duty shall be payable in respect of any transfer of
property
r this section.
SCHEDULE
Television Limited
a Light and Power Company, Limited
a Motor Bus Company, Limited
Cross-Harbour Tunnel Company, Limited
Marketing Organization
Kong Air Cargo Terminals Limited
Hong Kong and Yaumati Ferry Company Limited
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《计算机软件保护条例 》第31条质疑
倪学伟
1991年5月24日国务院第83次常务会议通过了《计算机软件保护条例》(以下简称《条例》),其中第3l条规定:“因下列情况之一而引起的所开发的软件与已经存在的软件相似,不构成对已经存在的软件的著作权的侵犯:(一)由于必须执行国家有关政策、法律、法规和规章;(二)由于必须执行国家技术标准;(三)由于可供选用的表现形式种类有限。”对这一条规定的正向逻辑理解是没有异议的,但对其反向逻辑理解则存在较大出入。一般情况下认为:第一,由于第3l条规定的三种原因而引起的所开发的软件与已经存在的软件相同,则不构成对已经存在的软件的著作权的侵犯;第二,不是由于第31条规定的三种原因而引起的所开发的软件与已经存在的软件相似,则构成对已经存在的软件的著作权的侵犯。笔者认为,这种反向的逻辑理解与该《条例》其他条款的规定相矛盾,也与著作权法对作品保护的目的和宗旨相悖,有违世界大多数国家采用著作权法保护软件的初衷,其结果将缩小对软件保护的范围,不利于调动软件开发者的积极性。因此,有必要对第31条的规定作正确的阐释,以便与该《条例》其他条款及著作权法的规定相吻合。
一、著作权法所保护的作品的特征
我国著作权法第3条规定,软件属于“本法所称的作品”。著作权法实施条例第2条进一步规定:“著作法所称作品,指文学、艺术和科学领域内,具有独创性并能以某种有形形式复制的智力创作成果。”由此可见,著作权法所保护的作品,包括软件,具有以下基本特征:
(一)独创性。作品必须是作者通过自己的智力劳动独立创作出来的,具有原创的性质。创作是一种直接产生文学、艺术和科学作品的智力劳动。为他人创作进行组织工作,提供咨询意见、物质条件,或者进行其他辅助活动的,均不得视为创作。剽窃、抄袭他人的作品的,更不得视为创作。著作权法不保护思想,只保护思想的载体形式作品。只要作品是独立创作的,即使与他人作品内容相同,著作权法也予以保护。这与专利法对发明创造的保护有根本的区别。发明必须是前所未有的、非显而易见的,有突出的实质性特点和显著进步。一项发明要取得专利,必须具备新颖性、创造性和实用性。在某种意义上可以说,发明专利就是保护发明人在一定时间期限和地域范围内对其发明的垄断权利,其他人不得就同样的产品、方法或者其改进所提出的相同的技术方案申请专利,亦即发明专利保护的是发明的内容本身,包括发明的思想以及由发明思想而产生的技术方案。如果著作权法也保护思想以及思想的表现形式如小说、诗歌、散文等,一个作者表述过的思想以及使用过的表现形式,其他人都不得再次表述和使用,那么,创作活动将根本无法进行,著作权法也无独立存在的必要。
(二)可复制性。著作权法第52条规定:“本法所称的复制,指以印刷、复制、临摹、拓印、录音、录像、翻录、翻拍等方式将作品制作一份或者多份的行为。”作品必须具有可复制性,否则作品就不能得以广泛地传播和有效地利用。复制是对作品的客观再现,不发生作品内容的改变,不影响作品本身的价值。复制行为是一种将作品转载于某种有形的物质载体上的行为,即复制后的作品应以一定的客观物质形式加以体现,具有可感知性。通常情况下,作品在创作完成之时就有一定的物质载体,但舞蹈作品、口述作品、民间文学艺术作品等则不一定具有有形的物质载体。无论作品在产生之时是否具备了有形的物质载体,在对其复制时都必须是能够有效地转载于特定的有形物质如纸张、磁带、磁盘、录像带等之上,否则,复制将不可能进行。不能以某种有形形式复制的“作品”,如作者头脑中的创作构思或某一种新奇的思想,因仅停留于头脑之中而无法让人感知到,不具有可感知性,无法进行复制,故不属于著作权法所保护的作品的范畴。
(三)合法性。著作权是指法律赋予作者基于其独立的创作活动而对作品享有的精神权利和经济权利的总和。法律是否赋予作者对其作品的著作权,取决于统治阶级的意志和统治阶级赖以生存的物质生活条件,取决于一个国家的生产力发展水平和经济制度、政治制度的性质。我国著作权法第4条明确规定:“依法禁止出版、传播的作品,不受法律保护。著作权人行使著作权,不得违反宪法和法律,不得损害公共利益。”作品一经创作出来,不管发表与否,均自动地享有著作权。也就是说,我国施行的是“著作权自动取得主义”,只要作品是作者独立创作的,法律均赋予作者对其作品的著作权。但是,这并不意味着作者对任何性质的作品享有的著作权都受法律的保护,也不意味着法律不能对某一作品的著作权加以限制甚至取消。譬如,一作者创作的淫秽小说,因其违反公序良俗而被依法禁止出版、传播,这就是法律限制或者说取消了作者本应享有的发表权、使用权、获得报酬权等著作权权项。因此,受著作权法保护的作品必须是合法的作品,非法作品不受法律保护。
二、计算机软件的特征
我国著作权法明确规定,软件是作品的一种形式,受其保护。这就意味着软件具有作品的一般特征,即独创性、可复制性和合法性。同时,软件又不同于传统意义的一般作品,它是高科技发展的产物,除具有作品的一般特征之外,还具有以下的特征:
(一)软件的开发工作量大、开发成本高,但对其复制却很容易,且复制的成本极低。一切软件的开发都要经过功能限定、逻辑设计和编码三个步骤,要求软件开发人员必须具备丰富而超前的专业知识和相关知识,具有极强的逻辑思维能力和形象思维能力,了解计算机硬件的最新发展状况与发展前景,熟练掌握使用编程语言。开发一个具有实用商业价值的计算机软件,通常需要按照专业化分工、流水线作业的方式,由一大批人共同进行,少数人几乎不可能进行软件开发工作。同时,开发软件必须要具备相应的物质条件和技术条件,有充足的开发资金和良好的开发环境,否则,开发工作将很难完成。软件的高开发成本,决定了绝大多数软件只能在一个或几个法人的组织和投资之下才能完成开发工作,单个的自然人不可能成为软件开发的组织者和投资者。软件的复制是指把软件打印在纸上或穿孔在卡片上、把软件转存于磁盘、磁带或ROM芯片中等等。在计算机上进行软件复制是极其容易的,而且所需成本极为低廉,仅为开发成本的数百万分之一甚至数千万分之一。软件的极易复制性和复制成本的低廉性,使非法复制他人软件牟取暴利成为可能,因而有必要严格保护软件著作权,坚决打击软件的“海盗式”复制行为。
(二)软件既是作品,又是工具,是作品性与工具性相结合的智力成果。软件包括程序和文档两个部分。文档是用自然语言或形式化语言编写的文字资料和图表,其作品性是显而易见的。计算机程序包括源程序和目标程序。源程序是用计算机高级语言编写的程序,如用Basic、Algol、CaboL、Fortran等语言编写,表现为一些数字、文字和符号的组合,构成符号化指令序列或符号化语句序列,这与传统的文字作品没有显著的不同。目标程序是使用机器语言编制的体现为电脉冲序列的一串二进制数(0和l)指令编码,直接用于驱动计算机硬件工作,使计算机系统能发挥其各项功能,从而获得一定的结果,因而目标程序又具有了工具性的特征。同一程序的源文本和目标文本应当视为同一作品,源代码和目标代码是同一作品的两类不同表现形式,亦即计算机程序包括了源程序的作品性和目标程序的工具性双重特性。软件在调入计算机运行之前,首先表现为作品性,人们无法通过 “阅读”或 “欣赏”计算机程序或文档制造任何有关产品或实现任何实际的操作。但是,软件在调入计算机中运行时,则更主要地表现为工具性,以达到控制计算机硬件、实现某种过程、获得某种结果的目的。
(三)软件可以反复多次使用,具有实用性,但其商业寿命较短。软件只要不受计算机病毒、操作失误等影响,就可以无限制地反复使用,软件本身不会因为使用而受到磨损或产生损耗。这里需要将软件与软件的载体磁盘、磁带、内存储器等区别开来。软件的物质载体当然会因使用而受到磨损,但软件是一种“程序”,是人通过智力劳动而产生的精神产品,因而不可能有磨损或损耗的问题。但是,软件又具有工具性的特点,主要是通过使用而发挥其功用的,这种使用寿命在流通领域表现为商业寿命。在科学技术飞速发展、新软件层出不穷的今天,软件的商业寿命正在日益缩短。一般而言,超过l0年的软件效率差,实用价值不大,已很难有效地占领市场。
三、对《计算机软件保护条例》第3l条的正确理解
我国著作权法第53条规定:“计算机软件的保护办法由国务院另行规定。”据这一授权性的规定,国务院制定了《计算机软件保护条例》。该《条例》属于著作权法的范畴,是著作权法的特别法。根据“特别法优于普通法”法律原则,对软件的保护优先适用《条例》的规定,对《条例》未作规定的事项则适用著作权法的有关规定。但是,《条例》的适用不能违反著作权法的基本原则和著作权法律的本质特征,《条例》对软件的保护不能超越或缩小作品应受保护的程序和应受保护的作品范围。
在实践中,两个独立开发的软件之间不可能相同,除非是极其简单的软件,但从理论上讲,两个独立开发的软件之间相同的可能性是存在的,因而在这里将先后开发的两个软件之间的相似和相同两种情况一并加以研究。根据著作权法律的本质特征和著作权法所保护的作品的基本特点,判断一个软件是否侵权,关键在于该软件是否属于独立创作的作品。如果一个软件是作者独立开发完成的,不存在抄袭或剽窃行为,那么,不论何种原因造成的所开发的软件与已经存在的软件相似甚至相同,也不得认定为侵权,这两个软件应分别享有著作权,受法律的保护。反之,如果后开发的软件抄袭或剽窃了他人的作品,则后开发的软件不仅不享有著作权,而且还要因此承担相应的法律责任。另外,《条例》第5条规定:“条例保护的软件必须由开发者独立开发,并已固定在某种有形物体上。”也说明法律的保护并不要求软件具有新颖性或“前所未有性”而只要求“独立开发"完成。该《条例》第6条第1款还规定:“公民和单位对其所开发的软件,不论是否发表,不论在何地发表,均依照本条例享有著作权。” 本款的规定说明软件著作权的享有并不以“不与已经存在的软件相似或相同” 为前提,因为未发表的软件尚处于保密阶段,不为公众所知晓,不可能判定其是否与已经存在的软件相似或相同,未发表的软件享有著作权的前提仍然是“开发者独立开发,并已固定在某种有形物体上”。
如何认定先后开发的两个相似或相同的软件之间存在抄袭或剽窃行为,这是一个技术性和实践性极强的问题,我国现行法律未作明确规定。美国法院在长期的软件版权保护实践中确立的“实质性相似加接触”的原则,对我国软件保护的立法与实践有借鉴意义。美国法院的做法是这样的:首先判断两个软件之间是否“实质性相似”,这需要对两类材料和三个层次进行分析判断。对两类材料的判断是指对计算机程序及有关的文档的判断,程序与文档之间应相互对比和交叉对比进行判断。分析三个层次是指对代码的分析,包括各种形式的源代码和目标代码的分析;对深层逻辑设计的分析,包括对程序的结构、顺序和组织进行分析;对程序的外观与感受的分析,即对程序运行的方式与结果进行分析。对这三个层次既应各自独立地分别作出判断,又应相互联系进行综合判断。在这两类材料和三个层次中,只要存在任何一类材料或任何一个层次相同或相似之处,即可认定为“相似”,但是否为“实质性”相似,则应根据具体案件,考查“相似”的部分在两个软件中所占的地位及其作用之后再做决定。如果两个软件之间的“实质性相似”被确认,被告又接触过原告的软件,则法院即可推定被告的软件系抄袭或剽窃之作,不具有独创性。当然,被告也可以证明虽接触过原告的软件,但自己的软件确系独立开发,从而推卸其侵权责任。但在实践中,被告的这种举证几乎是不可能的。
此外,笔者认为,《条例》第3l条的规定,从逻辑上讲,属于充分条件的假言判断,即“如果P,则Q”,推不出“如果非P,则非Q",对该条款不能进行反对解释。也就是说,我们只能按第31条的规定进行正向逻辑理解,即如果由于第31条所规定的三种原因而引起的所开发的软件与已经存在的软件相似,不构成对已经存作的软件的著作权的侵犯。该条的反向逻辑理解是错误的,即不能理解为:如果不是由于第31条所规定的三种原因而引起的所开发的软件与已经存在的软件相似,则构成对已经存在的软件的著作权的侵犯。
综上所述,《条例》第31条的规定并不是判断先后开发的两个软件是否侵权的法律标准, 而只是进一步地强调说明不存在侵权关系的两个软件之间在所规定的三种情况下,同样不构成侵权。判断先后开发的两个软件之间是否侵权的法律标准是该《条例》第5条的规定,即“受本条例保护的软件必须由开发者独立开发,并已固定在某种有形物体上”。如果后开发的软件是抄袭、剽窃先开发的软件的结果,那么,即使符合《条例》第31条规定的三种情况,亦应认定为“构成对已经存在的软件的著作权的侵犯”。我们不能对《条例》第3l条孤立地进行理解,而应结合《条例》的其他条款及著作权法所保护的作品的本质特征和根本属性进行考察,才可能得出正确的结论。笔者认为,《条例》第31条的规定似有画蛇添足之嫌,删除这一条并不会影响我国软件著作权法律保护的完整性。
本文首次发表于《中央政法管理干部学院学报》1998年第3期。
倪学伟 广州海事法院法官。电话:020-3406 3886 电子邮箱:nxw8859@163.com