In July 2004, the Government of Peru passed a law requiring that SUNAT, Peru's Tax and Customs Agency, establish an import registry for all persons and companies importing blank optical discs and recording equipment.
The Serbia and Montenegro State Union parliament passed a new patent law in July 2004.
In July 2004, Singapore's amendments to the Trademarks Act, the Patents Act, a New Plant Varieties Protection Act, and a New Manufacture of Optical Discs Act came into effect, meeting the timeline for such acts in accordance with its U.S.-Singapore FTA Commitments.
In July 2004, revisions to Taiwan's patent law took effect, which simplified filing procedures.
In Estonia on July 1, 2004, the New Criminal Procedure Act entered into force. Under the new legal act, corporate entities can now be considered injured parties, allowing producers to file criminal claims, in addition to civil claims, for IPR infringements.
On July 3, 2004, Saudi Arabia's Ministerial Decision No. 1277, Regulations of Border Procedures for Protection of Intellectual Property Rights of Trademarks and Copyrights was published and went into effect on October 3, 2004. This decision empowers the customs authorities, part of the ministry of finance, to suspend the clearance of goods and to dispose of goods infringing on intellectual property rights.
The United Arab Emirates became party to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works and the WIPO Copyright Treaty on July 14, 2004.
On July 14, 2004, Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology issued Instruction No. 18/2004/CT-BKHCN with the intent to strengthen intellectual property rights enforcement and oversight of the quality of domestic, import and export goods. The instruction requires inspectors to monitor and resolve administrative breaches of intellectual property rights.
On July 20, 2004, Russian President Putin signed into law amendments to Russia's Copyright Law. Among the primary features of this law are the recognition and protection of pre-existing works and sound recordings, as required by Russia's obligation under the Berne Convention and the 1992 U.S.-Russia bilateral trade agreement and the adoption of provisions prohibiting the circumvention of technological protection measures and the trafficking in devices and services used to circumvent.
August
In August 2004, China's State Council announced a year-long campaign targeting IPR infringement which it said would focus on import/export activities, trade fairs and exhibitions, distribution, wholesale markets, processing of brand name goods, and publishing. This campaign seeks to integrate the work of multiple government agencies in order to combat IPR abuses in fifteen provinces and cities designated for priority action, both for enforcement and education purposes. Various ministerial and local action plans have also been adopted.
