|
|
Article 5
Transfer of technology
1. When submitting a plan of work, every applicant shall make available to
the Authority a general description of the equipment and methods to be used
in carrying out activities in the Area, and other relevant non-proprietary
information about the characteristics of such technology and information as
to where such technology is available.
2. Every operator shall inform the Authority of revisions in the
description and information made available pursuant to paragraph 1 whenever
a substantial technological change or innovation is introduced.
3. Every contract for carrying out activities in the Area shall contain the
following undertakings by the contractor:
- to make available to the Enterprise on fair and reasonable commercial
terms and conditions, whenever the Authority so requests, the
technology which he uses in carrying out activities in the Area under
the contract, which the contractor is legally entitled to transfer.
This shall be done by means of licences or other appropriate
arrangements which the contractor shall negotiate with the Enterprise
and which shall be set forth in a specific agreement supplementary to
the contract. This undertaking may be invoked only if the Enterprise
finds that it is unable to obtain the same or equally efficient and
useful technology on the open market on fair and reasonable
commercial terms and conditions;
- to obtain a written assurance from the owner of any technology used
in carrying out activities in the Area under the contract, which is
not generally available on the open market and which is not covered
by subparagraph (a), that the owner will, whenever the Authority so
requests, make that technology available to the Enterprise under
licence or other appropriate arrangements and on fair and reasonable
commercial terms and conditions, to the same extent as made available
to the contractor. If this assurance is not obtained, the technology
in question shall not be used by the contractor in carrying out
activities in the Area;
- to acquire from the owner by means of an enforceable contract, upon
the request of the Enterprise and if it is possible to do so without
substantial cost to the contractor, the legal right to transfer to
the Enterprise any technology used by the contractor, in carrying out
activities in the Area under the contract, which the contractor is
otherwise not legally entitled to transfer and which is not generally
available on the open market. In cases where there is a substantial
corporate relationship between the contractor and the owner of the
technology, the closeness of this relationship and the degree of
control or influence shall be relevant to the determination whether
all feasible measures have been taken to acquire such a right. In
cases where the contractor exercises effective control over the
owner, failure to acquire from the owner the legal right shall be
considered relevant to the contractor's qualification for any
subsequent application for approval of a plan of work;
- to facilitate, upon the request of the Enterprise, the acquisition by
the Enterprise of any technology covered by subparagraph (b), under
licence or other appropriate arrangements and on fair and reasonable
commercial terms and conditions, if the Enterprise decides to
negotiate directly with the owner of the technology;
- to take the same measures as are prescribed in subparagraphs (a),
(b), (c) and (d) for the benefit of a developing State or group of
developing States which has applied for a contract under article 9 of
this Annex, provided that these measures shall be limited to the
exploitation of the part of the area proposed by the contractor which
has been reserved pursuant to article 8 of this Annex and provided
that activities under the contract sought by the developing State or
group of developing States would not involve transfer of technology
to a third State or the nationals of a third State. The obligation
under this provision shall only apply with respect to any given
contractor where technology has not been requested by the Enterprise
or transferred by that contractor to the Enterprise.
4. Disputes concerning undertakings required by paragraph 3, like other
provisions of the contracts, shall be subject to compulsory settlement in
accordance with Part XI and, in cases of violation of these undertakings,
suspension or termination of the contract or monetary penalties may be
ordered in accordance with article 18 of this Annex. Disputes as to whether
offers made by the contractor are within the range of fair and reasonable
commercial terms and conditions may be submitted by either party to binding
commercial arbitration in accordance with the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules or
such other arbitration rules as may be prescribed in the rules, regulations
and procedures of the Authority. If the finding is that the offer made by
the contractor is not within the range of fair and reasonable commercial
terms and conditions, the contractor shall be given 45 days to revise his
offer to bring it within that range before the Authority takes any action
in accordance with article 18 of this Annex.
5. If the Enterprise is unable to obtain on fair and reasonable commercial
terms and conditions appropriate technology to enable it to commence in a
timely manner the recovery and processing of minerals from the Area, either
the Council or the Assembly may convene a group of States Parties composed
of those which are engaged in activities in the Area, those which have
sponsored entities which are engaged in activities in the Area and other
States Parties having access to such technology. This group shall consult
together and shall take effective measures to ensure that such technology
is made available to the Enterprise on fair and reasonable commercial terms
and conditions. Each such State Party shall take all feasible measures to
this end within its own legal system .
6. In the case of joint ventures with the Enterprise, transfer of
technology will be in accordance with the terms of the joint venture
agreement.
7. The undertakings required by paragraph 3 shall be included in each
contract for the carrying out of activities in the Area until 10 years
after the commencement of commercial production by the Enterprise, and may
be invoked during that period.
8. For the purposes of this article, "technology" means the specialized
equipment and technical know-how, including manuals, designs, operating
instructions, training and technical advice and assistance, necessary to
assemble, maintain and operate a viable system and the legal right to use
these items for that purpose on a non-exclusive basis.
Previous
Convention on the Law of the Sea: Index
Parts:
I -
II -
III -
IV -
V -
VI -
VII -
VIII-IX -
X -
XI -
XII -
XIII -
XIV -
XV -
XVI -
XVII
Annexes:
I -
II -
III -
IV -
V -
VI -
VII -
VIII -
IX
|