In December 2004, Spain announced key aspects of its new Integrated Plan for the Reduction and Elimination of Activities Violating Intellectual Property, which includes the creation of an interministerial commission involving 11 ministries and private sector representatives, preventative actions and public campaigns against piracy, an analysis of the efficacy of existing Spanish legislation, an emphasis on more effective police action and prosecution of street piracy, and the creation of mechanisms for training officials involved with combating IPR violations.
In December 2004, Taiwan Customs, with the assistance of Taiwan's Aerial Policy Bureau, seized over 1,800 counterfeit video game semiconductor chips and PC boards bound for mainland China.
On December 5, 2004 the Kuwaiti Ministry of Commerce and Industry conducted raids on 17 local shops, resulting in the seizure of 182,139 DVDs and CDs, including 62,000 from one store alone.
San Marino became party to the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) on December 14, 2004.
In December 2004, Estonia's new civil court procedure act, which provides law enforcement agencies with the right to perform ex parte searches, passed its second reading in the Parliament.
In December 2004, the Government of India issued an ordinance to amend its current Patent Act. Effective January 1, 2005, India expanded product patent coverage to include pharmaceuticals and agro-chemicals.
In December 2004, Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance Issued Inter-ministerial Circular No. 129/2004/TTLT/BTC-BKHCN on border control measures for industrial property of import and export goods. This circular authorizes intellectual property rights holders and their representatives to file petitions for applying border control measures for intellectual property if they find evidence of infringement.
In December 2004, Vietnam's Ministry of Finance issued Circular 132/2004/TT-BTC providing guidelines for the collection, payment, control and utilization of industrial property fees and charges. Circular 132 established one set of fees and charges for industrial property protection and services for all Vietnamese and foreign entities and individuals.
2005
January
In January 2005, in Beijing, the third annual Ambassador's IPR Roundtable brought together both USG, Chinese, EU, and Japanese officials with business and industry representatives to discuss the new judicial interpretations on the IPR section of China's criminal code presented by the Supreme People's Court, and Chinese IPR enforcement activities. Vice Premier Wu Yi delivered opening remarks and Secretary Evans gave an address.
Pursuant to its TRIPS obligation, Egypt opened its patent mailbox on January 1, 2005.
