2003 USTR Special 301 Report Issued
01-Jul-2003
Significant Improvements in Arab IP Performance
United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert B. Zoellick announced the results of the 2003 “Special 301” annual review, which examined in detail the adequacy and effectiveness of intellectual property protection in approximately 74 countries.
The Special 301 report addresses significant concerns with respect to trading partners. In addition, the report notes that the United States will consider all options, including (but not limited) to initiation of dispute settlement consultations with countries that do not appear to have implemented fully their obligations under the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS Agreement).
In this year’s review, USTR devotes special attention to the growing issues of counterfeiting and piracy, Internet piracy, proper implementation of the TRIPS Agreement by developing countries that are WTO Members. It further discusses full implementation of TRIPS standards by new WTO Members at the time of their accession. The report indicates that the USTR also continues to encourage countries to ensure that government ministries use only authorized software.
Over the past year, many developing countries have made progress towards implementing TRIPS obligations. This year, in particular, the Arab countries have made big strides in intellectual property protection and enforcement.
The Special 301 Report holds special praise for Egypt. Its status has been amended to a Watch List country this year, in contrast to last year’s Priority Watch List category. The USTR acknowledges that Egypt has made significant progress in strengthening IPR protection starting from passing new IPR Law, ratifying PCT and combating piracy of books, music and business software applications.
Other Arab countries placed in the Watch List category were Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. They were designated as Watch List countries last year. Both of them made major improvements in legally protecting and enforcing IPR over the past year, in addition to fighting piracy and trademark counterfeiting.
Although many encouraging steps by government and legal circles seem to hold the promise of change very soon, Lebanon, unfortunately, is the only Arab country this year to be placed in the category of Priority Watch List.