Despite progress, IP theft remains high in China, Russia and Canada, according to...
Despite progress, IP theft remains high in China, Russia and Canada, according to the U.S. Trade Representative’s annual Special 301 report issued Monday. A prevalence of piracy and counterfeiting remains in China and the country’s policy of “indigenous innovation” both…
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disadvantages and discriminates against U.S. exports and investment, the report said: China remains on the “priority” watch list. Though Russia enacted four IP rights laws in 2010, ongoing piracy concerns and a lack of adequate enforcement kept Russia high on the office’s priority list, the report said. Canada’s inability to enact copyright legislation in 2010 and its lack of border enforcement contributed to the country’s continued presence on the priority list, the report said: The U.S. “continues to urge Canada to implement its previous commitments to improve its legal framework for IPR protection and enforcement.” USTR said there was more variety of goods being counterfeited in 2010 and online sales of pirated and counterfeit goods are nearly equal to the volume of fake goods sold by street vendors and other physical markets. The office touted positive IP developments such as progress made on the Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement negotiations and the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement. USTR identified 12 countries for placement on the priority list, including Algeria, Argentina, Chile, India, Israel, Indonesia, Pakistan, Thailand and Venezuela. Brazil, Italy and Spain remained on the regular watch list. Twenty-nine countries were placed on the watch list in all. USTR praised Mexico for enacting legislation granting ex officio authority to its law enforcement officials to start criminal investigations against trademark counterfeiting and copyright piracy without requiring the rights holder to first file a complaint. Spain was commended for taking “action to address the problem of copyright piracy over the Internet by passing legislation that will provide a mechanism for rights holders to remove or block access to infringing content online.” Entertainment Software Association President Michael Gallagher said “one of the fastest ways to get our economy back on track is to incent and reward high value intellectual property,” including videogames. The MPAA on Monday hailed the report and urged more protection to prevent movie theft abroad.