Cap. 417 Art. 87Exclusive licensee having right and remedies of assignee.

(1) An exclusive licence may provide that the licensee shall have, to such extent as may be provided by the licence, the same rights and remedies in respect or matters occurring after the grant of the licence as it the licence had been an assignment.

Where or to the extent that such provision is made, the licensee shall be entitled, subject to the provisions of the licence and to the following provisions of this article, to bring infringement proceedings in his own name against any person other than the proprietor.

(2) The rights and remedies of an exclusive licensee are concurrent with those of the proprietor of the registered design; and references in this Act to the proprietor of a registered design relating to infringement shall be construed accordingly.

(3) In an action brought by an exclusive licensee under this article a defendant may avail himself of any defence which would have been available to him if the action had been brought by the proprietor of the registered design.

(4) Where proceedings for infringement of registered design are brought by the proprietor or by the exclusive licensee relating to an infringement in respect of which they have concurrent right of action, the proprietor or, as the case may be, the exclusive licensee who are not the plaintiff shall be jointed in the suit.

(5) (a) Where an action for infringement of a registered design relating to an infringement in respect of which the proprietor and an exclusive licensee have concurrent right of action is brought -

(i) the Court shall in assessing damages take into account the terms of the licence, and any pecuniary remedy already awarded or available to either of them in respect of the infringement;

(ii) no account of profits shall be ordered to be made if an award of damages has been made, or an account of profits has been ordered, in favour or either of them in respect of the infringement; and

(iii) the Court shall, if an account of profits has been ordered, apportion subject to any agreement between the proprietor and the exclusive licensee, the profits between them as the Court considers just.

(b) The provisions of this subarticle apply whether action is brought by the proprietor alone, or it is brought by the proprietor and the exclusive licensee; and if they are not both parties the Court may give such directions as it deems fit with regard to the disposal and distribution of any sum awarded as remedy for the infringement.

(6) The proprietor of a registered design shall notify any exclusive licensee who has a concurrent right of action before applying for an order under article 115; and the Court may on the application of the licensee make such order under that article as it thinks fit having regard to the terms of the licensee.

(7) The provisions of subarticles (4) to (6) shall be without prejudice to any agreement to the contrary between the exclusive licensee and the proprietor.