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JANUARY–APRIL 1994

 Korea began a 10-month effort to reduce piracy, albeit at a reduced level from its January-October 1993 campaign (January).

Poland passed a new copyright law and signed it into law. (February)

Colombia deposited its instrument of accession to the Geneva Convention for the Protection of Phonograms. (February)

On February 23, 1994, the Italian Parliament approved the Film Industry Decree Law issued by the government on January 17. The Law abolished longstanding Italian screen quotas.

On February 25, 1994, the United States concluded a Section 301 investigation in which Brazil outlined steps it had taken and plans it will take to improve intellectual property protection.

Jamaica signed a comprehensive bilateral intellectual property rights agreement. (March)

Indonesia issued implementing regulations for its patent law. The regulations were necessary to carry out important elements of the 1992 understanding between the United States and Indonesia. (March)

<li>Egypt's People's Assembly enacted amendments to its 1992 copyright law to treat computer software as literary works, thus ensuring that the copyright term for computer software is 50 years. (March)</li>

<li>The United Arab Emirates Ministry of Information issued a circular prohibiting all importation of piratical material, and giving stores and manufacturers until September 1, 1994 to eliminate all piratical stock. (March)</li>

<li>The results of the Uruguay Round were signed at a Ministerial in Marrakesh, Morocco. (April)</li>

<li>Saudi Arabia deposited its instrument of accession to the Universal Copyright Convention. (April)</li>

<li>The United Arab Emirates cancelled the September grace period, and required immediate elimination of all pirated stock. The UAE also issued a circular prohibiting use of unlicensed software. (April)</li>

<li>The following countries undertook significant enforcement efforts since last April: Korea, Thailand, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Italy and Taiwan. We will continue to monitor these countries to ensure that improved enforcement efforts continue.</li> </ul>