[Ip-health] USTR 301 report

[James Love]

full report: http://www.ustr.gov/reports/2002/special301.htm

Press release
OFFICE OF THE UNITED STATES
TRADE REPRESENTATIVE

Executive Office of the President
Washington, D.C.
20508
---------------------------------------------------------

For Immediate Release
April 30, 2002
02-48

Contact:
Rich Mills (202) 395-3230

USTR Releases Annual "Special 301" Report
on Global Intellectual Property Protection

WASHINGTON - The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative today released its
annual report ("Special 301" report) on the adequacy and effectiveness of
intellectual property protection around the globe.

"U.S. creativity and ingenuity improves the lives of people all over the
world. American innovators, like our scientists, artists and writers, rely
on intellectual property protection to safeguard their inventions and
creations. Strong IPR protection should also be a priority for other
countries because it will help them attract investment and technology," said
U.S. Trade Representative Robert B. Zoellick. "This report reflects the
Administration's continued commitment to ensure effective intellectual
property protection around the world. We will continue to work with Congress
to identify our priorities in this area."

Intellectual property protection standards and enforcement have improved in
part as a result of
implementation of the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual
Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement). However, one of the key issues addressed
in this year's Special 301 report, as in the past two years, is the need for
governments to take effective enforcement action against commercial piracy
and counterfeiting.

The report highlights that Korea has made progress in enforcement.
Unfortunately however, problems continue in the Ukraine, which remains
designated as a Priority Foreign Country (PFC) for increased review. And the
intellectual property rights situation in Brazil has worsened. Macau has
been removed from the Special 301 lists altogether due to their ongoing
enforcement efforts.

Another key focus of this year's report is the problem of internet piracy
and the importance of the World Intellectual Property Organization's
Internet treaties. As of May 20, 2002, both treaties will be in effect.
Internet piracy relates to copyright and trademark violations that are aided
and abetted by the Internet.

"These treaties represent the current state of international copyright law
and provide a critical foundation needed to enable e-commerce to flourish.
They also provide the tools necessary to fight piracy on the internet,"
noted Zoellick. "We will continue to work internationally to promote
ratification of these treaties by our trading partners."

Click here for more information on the report.

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James Love mailto:james.love@cptech.org
http://www.cptech.org +1.202.387.8030 mobile +1.202.361.3040