particularly troubling example is that of SlySoft, a company headquartered and operating in Antigua, which developed and sells a program called "Any DVD HD" enabling the user to defeat the encryption technology embedded in Blu-ray Discs that prevents unauthorized reproduction and distribution. Antigua's Copyright Act makes it illegal to manufacture or import for sale or rental any such circumvention device. The consortium of electronic manufacturers, software companies, and motion picture studios that developed these technological protection measures has worked with the criminal enforcement authorities in Antigua for over 5 years to enforce this statute and have this case prosecuted. However this case has proceeded very slowly.
The United States will work with its trading partners to combat these growing problems, and urges trading partners to adequately implement the WIPO Internet Treaties, which provide tools necessary for protecting copyrighted works in the digital environment.
To encourage effective action against piracy over the Internet, the United States will seek to work with the following trading partners to strengthen legal regimes and enhance enforcement: Argentina, Belarus, Brazil, Chile, China, Colombia, India, Indonesia, Italy, Mexico, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Vietnam. In particular, the United States will encourage trading partners to implement the WIPO Internet Treaties, which will provide, among other things, protection against the circumvention of technological protection measures.
The United States continues to have serious concerns regarding the inability of rights holders to secure legal redress in Switzerland in cases involving copyright piracy over the Internet. The United States strongly encourages Switzerland to demonstrate its commitment to copyright protection and to combating online piracy vigorously, including by taking steps to ensure that rights holders can protect their rights. The United States will be closely monitoring the results of the current AGUR12 ("Arbeitsgruppe Urheberrecht 2012," or "Working Group on Copyright 2012") process as well as the Swiss Ministry of Economy (SECO)-led roundtable process.
The United States also encourages trading partners to adopt appropriate measures where needed with respect to the unauthorized camcording of motion pictures in theaters. Material that is recorded in this manner is often distributed without authorization over the Internet. In addition, the United States encourages trading partners to enhance enforcement efforts including through the following: strengthening enforcement against major channels of piracy over the Internet, including notorious markets; creating specialized enforcement units or undertaking special initiatives against piracy over the Internet; and undertaking training to strengthen capacity to fight piracy over the Internet.
Although piracy over the Internet is rapidly supplanting physical piracy in many markets around the world, the production of, and trade in, pirated optical discs remain major problems in many regions. In recent years, some trading partners, such as the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, and Russia, have made progress toward implementing controls on optical media production. Other trading partners still need to adopt and implement legislation or improve existing measures to combat illegal optical disc production and distribution, including China, India, Paraguay, and Vietnam. The United States continues to urge those trading partners who face challenges regarding illegal optical disc production to pass effective legislation to counter this problem, and to enforce existing laws and regulations aggressively.
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