POSITIVE LIST OF DEVELOPMENTS: MAY 2004 - APRIL 2005
2004
May
In May 2004, China's State Council established an IPR Working Group within the Market Order and Rectification Office (MORO) made up of 12 governmental agencies reporting to the Vice Premier to plan and coordinate nationwide efforts on IPR protection and monitor important cases. Counterpart organizations based on the national model have been set up in provinces as well as in many cities and counties.
In May 2004, an amendment to Hong Kong's Broadcasting Ordinance went into effect that also criminalized possessing or using illegal decoders for commercial purposes.
In May 2004, Iraq's Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) issued orders 80, 81, and 83, updating Iraq's trademark, patent, and copyright laws.
In May 2004, Italy's Parliament passed the Urbani Law. The law criminalizes the exchanging of copyrighted works regardless of whether such file sharing is done for cash profit or simply for gain, such as downloading music, film, or software to avoid having to purchase a legitimate copy.
In May 2004, the New Korea Media Rating Board (KMRB) implementing regulations went into effect to halt fraudulent DVD and video registrations through the movie rating system.
In May 2004, a Mexican law was adopted granting the Mexican Consumer Protection Agency (PROFECO) Authority to take ex officio action against markets selling goods that represent a risk to consumers, such as adulterated alcohol. PROFECO can seize the goods and give them to IMPI (Mexican Institute for Industrial Property) or PGR [Attorney General's Office (Prosecutor)].
In May 2004, Rwandan authorities continued to work with representatives of Sara Lee Household and Body Care to investigate a report about an incoming shipment of counterfeit Kiwi brand shoe polish. The 12-ton shipment of contraband was tracked, seized, confirmed to be counterfeit, and destroyed.
In May 2004, implementing regulations for Uruguay's upgraded copyright law were approved.
In Vietnam in May 2004, Joint Teams from the Economic Police Department of the Ministry of Public Security and the Market Management Bureau raided three computer companies in Hanoi. Each company was fined more than USD $ 8,000 for using pirated versions of Microsoft's operating system, Lac Viet Dictionary and Norton Anti-virus programs.
On May 1, 2004, Poland doubled its period of pharmaceutical data protection to six years to meet EU requirements.
