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29
March
- The Kuwaiti Cabinet approved the draft copyright law on March 21.
- The Government of Lebanon passed amendments to its Copyright Law, including adequate protection for computer programs, stiffer penalties for infringement, a term of protection of life of the author plus seventy years, confiscation of illegal products and equipment, and Berne-compatible evidentiary presumption of copyright ownership.
- The United States and Honduras concluded negotiations on a bilateral IPR agreement.
- The Economic Minister of the Palestinian Authority on March 10 brokered an agreement between Israeli music industry representatives and the owner of a pirate CD plant in Hebron to end illicit production in the Palestinian-controlled area.
- The Taiwan Semiconductor Industry Association put forward a proposal for marking semiconductor chips manufactured in Taiwan with source identification (SID) Codes.
April
- The Government of China issued a high-level decree requiring the use of only legitimate software by government ministries.
- The Government of India enacted legislation and drafted implementing regulations establishing mailbox and exclusive marketing rights systems for pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical products.
- Malaysia undertook a series of constructive steps toward developing and implementing a regulatory regime to control pirate optical media production, and to strengthen manufacturing and retail level enforcement efforts.
- Jordan signed the instrument of ratification of the Berne Convention, giving U.S. copyrighted works legal protection in Jordan.
- Mexico passed new anti-piracy legislation which is a key part of its overall enforcement intiative announced in 1998.
- Hong Kong announced the formation of a new task force, staffed by an additional 100 customs officers, to strengthen enforcement efforts against copyright piracy.
