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  • On February 25, 2004, the Mauritius Supreme Court upheld the temporary injunction against the producers and retailers of counterfeit apparel of a prominent U.S. apparel company. This has the effect of a permanent injunction against the named counterfeit producers and retailers.
  • In February 2004, China recognized two U.S. companies' trademarks as well-known marks.
  • A draft civil procedure code that includes civil ex parte search provisions passed the first reading in the Estonian parliament in February 2004.

March

  • China's State Council Regulations on Customs Protection of IPR became effective March 1, 2004. These regulations prohibit the import and export of IPR infringing goods and improve some aspects of customs procedures for seizing IPR Infringing goods.
  • On March 2, 2004, the United States and Morocco reached final agreement on a Free Trade Agreement, whereby it agreed to high levels of patent and copyright protection as well as enforcement, including full implementation of accession to the WIPO "Internet" treaties.
  • On March 3, 2004, the Croatian Parliament approved the U.S. - Croatia MOU on Intellectual Property Rights.
  • On March 3, 2004, at the request of the United States Government, the Korean Ministry of Education sent a letter to nearly 200 four-year universities in Korea, instructing school authorities to take extra measures to prohibit book piracy and actively cooperate with related officials' efforts to strengthen IPR protection activities.
  • Nicaragua became party to the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty on March 6, 2003.
  • Saudi Arabia joined the Paris Convention for Protection of Industrial Property and the Berne Convention for Protection of Literary and Artistic Works effective March 11, 2004.
  • Poland became party to the WIPO Copyright Treaty on March 23, 2004.
  • On March 23, 2004 Ukraine's regulations defining procedures for the acquisition and use of software by government agencies came into effect.
  • In March 2004, the United States and Bahrain negotiated the intellectual property language of the Free Trade Agreement, whereby Bahrain will agree to high levels of patent and copyright protection as well as enforcement, including full implementation of and accession to the WIPO "Internet" treaties.
  • In March 2004, the Polish Sejm and the Senate adopted a legislative package, which included provisions regulating optical disc manufacturing and copyright law amendments necessary in order to comply fully with EU directives. The Sejm is expected to vote on the bill in early April.

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