Russia, Pakistan and Ukraine should be placed on the USTR’s “Special 301” list of egregious copyright pirates, said the International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA). The group suggested 64 more countries - including Argentina, Indonesia and Thailand - should also be closely watched by the USTR. According to the IIPA, copyright violations from the group cost U.S. companies $13.4 billion in 2004. “The annual Special 301 process is designed to shape U.S. policies to ensure the protection and expansion of U.S. jobs and U.S. economic growth through the effective protection of intellectual property,” said IIPA Pres. Eric Smith. “Those jobs and growth continue to be threatened when the countries highlighted in the report fail to take action to curb copyright piracy, including that perpetrated by criminal syndicates, which is a form of economic crime.”
American Shipper reports that during a visit to China in January, out-going Commerce Secretary Don Evans called for more progress on intellectual property rights (IPR) issues in China, citing a recent case in which a GM Daewoo car was copied by a state-owned Chinese auto-manufacturer. (See ITT's Online Archives or 02/03/05 news, 05020320, for BP summary of the USTR's extension of the comment deadline for a Special 301 out-of-cycle review of China regarding IPR.) (American Shipper Pub February 2005, www.americanshipper.com)
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has posted to its Web site a guidance document for the Pilot Bond Centralization Program entitled "Latest News and Developments."
The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has issued an interim rule that amends 9 CFR 94.6(d) to adds Malaysia to the list of regions where the H5N1 subtype of highly pathogenic avian influenza (avian flu) is considered to exist, effective August 7, 2004.1
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) has issued a notice extending the deadline for submitting written comments on its Special 301 out-of-cycle review of China regarding intellectual property rights (IPR).
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued a proposed rule that would add a new Part 1633 to 16 CFR in order to establish a flammability standard that would address open flame ignition of mattresses and mattress and foundation sets (mattresses/sets).
China’s track record on intellectual property rights again is under the microscope. One week remains before the U.S. Trade Representative closes the industry comment period in a sweeping examination of that country’s efforts to control piracy and enforce existing laws on copyright infringement.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has issued an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to consider whether it should issue a flammability standard that would address open flame ignition of bedclothes.
China’s track record intellectual property rights is under the microscope. One week remains before the U.S. Trade Representative closes the industry comment period in a sweeping examination of that country’s efforts to control piracy and enforce existing laws on copyright infringement.
The U.S. Census Bureau (Census) has issued a proposed rule that would amend the Foreign Trade Statistics Regulations (FTSR) to incorporate the requirement for reporting the Kimberley Process Certificate (KPC) number for exports/reexports of rough diamonds filed through the Automated Export System (AES) in accordance with the Clean Diamond Trade Act (Public Law (P.L.) 108-19).