ensuring legal use of software, and government software piracy is a concern. Stakeholders report that judicial delay is a significant obstacle to enforcement of IPR in Turkey. Additional resources and training, including for customs officials and judges, are needed to allow for more effective IPR enforcement efforts. The United States understands that Turkey is considering legislative reforms in the areas of industrial property and copyright law, and hopes that this process will result in the amelioration of some of the persistent IPR problems. In particular, the copyright law should be amended to provide an effective mechanism to address piracy in the digital environment, including full implementation of the WIPO Internet Treaties, and the industrial property law should be amended to resolve the uncertainty about trademark-related cases stemming from a 2008 Constitutional Court decision that annulled certain trademark infringement penalties. Legislative reforms should provide for penalties for IPR infringement in order to deter such conduct, including deterrence against those who aid and abet those who manufacture and sell counterfeit goods. Royalty collecting societies should have fair and transparent procedures. Police should be given the ex officio authority they currently lack, which impedes police from acting on obvious infringement cases. The United States continues to encourage Turkey to clarify its protection against the unfair commercial use, as well as unauthorized disclosure, of test and other data generated to obtain marketing approval for pharmaceutical products. The United States was encouraged by constructive bilateral engagement with Turkey over the past year and looks forward to continuing to work with Turkey to address these and other issues.
Turkmenistan
Turkmenistan remains on the Watch List in 2013. In 2012, Turkmenistan adopted a Law on Copyright and Allied Rights and amended its Civil Code to enhance IPR protection. However, Turkmenistan should also provide for administrative and civil procedures for IPR enforcement, as well as criminal penalties against IPR infringement, and should provide ex officio authority to its customs officials. The United States urges Turkmenistan to implement its commitments under the 1993 United States-Turkmenistan Trade Agreement. In addition, the United States continues to encourage Turkmenistan to join the Berne Convention on the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works and the Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of their Phonographs (Geneva Phonograms Convention). The United States looks forward to continuing to work with Turkmenistan on these and other issues.
Uzbekistan
Uzbekistan remains on the Watch List in 2013. Uzbekistan's Agency for Intellectual Property has expressed a commitment to improve the protection of IPR. To that end, Uzbekistan should increase penalties for IPR violations and ensure that its law enforcement authorities have ex officio authority to initiate investigations and enforcement actions. Uzbekistan also needs to allocate more resources to IPR enforcement at its borders to stem the flow of pirated films and recordings as well as counterfeit goods into Uzbekistan. The Uzbek Parliament should immediately take several legislative steps to move forward to address longstanding deficiencies
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