counterfeiting and piracy, particularly book and optical disc piracy, continue to present serious concerns for U.S. industry. Pakistan should ensure that its enforcement officials can exercise ex officio authority without the need for a formal complaint by a rights holder, and should provide for deterrent-level penalties for criminal IPR infringement. Pakistan should also take the necessary steps to reform its copyright law to address the piracy challenges of the digital age. The United States continues to encourage Pakistan to provide an effective system for protecting against unfair commercial use, as well as unauthorized disclosure, of tests and other data generated to obtain marketing approval for pharmaceutical products. The United States appreciates Pakistan's interest in improving its IPR environment and looks forward to working with Pakistan to address these and other issues, including in connection with Pakistan's implementation of the IPO Act.
Thailand
Thailand remains on the Priority Watch List in 2014. The United States remains encouraged by Thailand's stated commitment to improving IPR protection and enforcement, and is hopeful that the National IPR Center of Enforcement, launched in March 2013, will help to improve coordination and allow for more effective enforcement actions among Thai enforcement agencies. The United States urges Thailand to complete many of the legislative initiatives begun in past years, including: legislation to address landlord liability and unauthorized camcording of motion pictures in theaters; to provide Thai Customs with ex officio authority; to fully implement the provisions of the WIPO Internet Treaties; to restructure the Trade Secret Committee and modify penalty provisions under the Trade Secrets Act; to accelerate patent examination and registration procedures and address issues such as partial designs; and to establish improved legal mechanisms to address the rapidly growing problem of copyright piracy and trademark counterfeiting on the Internet. The United States also urges Thailand to take enforcement action against widespread piracy and counterfeiting in the country; to impose deterrent-level sentences; and to address effectively its longstanding problem of piracy of cable and satellite signals. The United States continues to encourage Thailand to provide an effective system for protecting against the unfair commercial use, as well as unauthorized disclosure, of test or other data generated to obtain marketing approval for pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical products. The United States urges Thailand to engage in a meaningful and transparent manner with all relevant stakeholders, including IPR owners, as it considers ways to address Thailand's public health challenges, while maintaining a patent system that promotes innovation. The United States looks forward to continuing to work with Thailand to address these and other issues.
Venezuela
Venezuela remains on the Priority Watch List in 2014. Issues of continuing concern include: questions about the consistency of domestic laws and international obligations resulting from the 2008 reinstatement of the 1955 Industrial Property Law; the status of trademarks that were registered under the Andean Community law prior to Venezuela's withdrawal from the Andean Community; and lack of enforcement against counterfeiting and piracy, both physical and online. The United States also continues to encourage Venezuela to provide an effective system for
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