Korea also restricts market access in the cable television sector, including limitations on foreign investment and broadcast quotas. Sufficient progress by Korea on these issues over the course of the coming months could result in a review of Korea's status on the priority watch list.
Saudi Arabia has been kept on the "priority watch list" because it has not yet taken adequate steps to ensure copyright protection for foreign-published works. Additionally, Saudi Arabia's copyright law contains numerous deficiencies, including terms of protection of less than 50 years. In a positive step, Saudi Arabia deposited its instruments of accession to the Universal Copyright Convention in April 1994, and protection for foreign works should take effect 90 days later. The U.S. will watch with interest the degree to which Saudi Arabia protects U.S. works after this date.
Thailand made significant progress in intellectual property protection in 1993. Enforcement of the existing copyright law was more vigorous, additional protection was provided administratively for certain pharmaceuticals, and the Thai government stated its intention to bring its copyright regime into conformity with international standards of TRIPS and the Berne Convention (Paris Act). Thailand remains on the "priority watch list" in light of the need for further steps to improve the legal regime for protection of intellectual property, including the passage of a new copyright law and legislation to establish an IPR court, and continued vigorous enforcement of regulations protecting all forms of intellectual property. Based on the achievements of the Thai Government over the last year, the United States looks forward to continued progress and Thailand's removal from the Priority Watch List in the near future.
Turkey has been kept on the "priority watch list" because of the lack of modern patent or copyright legislation. Draft patent legislation before the Grand National Assembly since 1992, even if enacted, would still leave Turkish patent law with critical shortcomings, including a 5-year transition period, no pipeline protection, onerous compulsory licensing requirements and unacceptable working requirements. In addition, Turkish copyright legislation is inadequate, and enforcement is almost non-existent. Shortcomings in the laws include lack of protection for computer programs and sound recordings, inadequate term of protection for motion pictures and trivial penalties for piracy.
Watch List
In reviewing the practices of all of our trading partners, the USTR has decided that 18 of them should be placed (or retained) on the "watch list". The Administration uses the "watch list" as a means to monitor progress in implementing commitments with regard to the protection of intellectual property rights and for providing comparable market access for U.S. intellectual property products.
Countries placed on the watch list are:
Australia: The U.S. has dropped Australia to the "watch list" this year because of measures by the Australian Government to provide protection for U.S. performers against bootlegging
