In August 2004, the first U.S.-China joint investigative effort, dubbed "Operation Spring," resulted in the shut down of a DVD export ring, arresting six people (including two Americans) while seizing more than $83,000 in cash and more than 200,000 DVDs. This is notable for the cooperation between U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Chinese Ministry of Public Security (MPS) authorities. International press reports and positive television coverage have drawn attention to this case.
In August 2004, the Kuwaiti Government submitted a draft law to the National Assembly that would make some improvements, including small increases in penalties for those convicted of violating intellectual property rights, and provisions to deal with some digital issues such as communication to the public/making available and protection for technological protection measures.
In August 2004, the Government of Mauritius amended the Customs Act to enable Customs to intercept counterfeit and pirated products entering Mauritius.
In August 2004, Taiwan's legislature passed a number of corrective improvements to a copyright amendment passed the previous year, including (a) restoring provisions prohibiting the circumvention of technological protection measures; (b) restoring most of the heavier criminal penalties recommended by the Executive Yuan; (c) authorizing Taiwan Customs to take ex officio action, and removing the "intent to profit" criteria from the prior amendment.
In August 2004, Taiwan authorities, in close cooperation with industry, raided an optical media burning lab, seizing 228 CD-R burners and 49 DVD-R burners with the capability of producing $47 million worth of pirated product annually.
In August 2004, Vietnam's Office of the Government issued Official Letter No.3985/VPCP-KG containing the Prime Minister's approval for most to draft new intellectual property rights and technology transfer laws.
Costa Rica signed the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) on August 5, 2004.
The Dominican Republic signed the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central America Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) on August 5, 2004.
Guatemala signed the U.S.-Dominican Republic-Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR) on August 5, 2004.
Syria became party to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Agreement) and the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol) on August 5, 2004.
In August 2004, a Russian court sentenced a pirate to a prison sentence of three years for DVD piracy. This was the first non-suspended prison sentence for piracy in almost three years.
