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  New Zealand enacted the Layout Designs Act of 1994, intended to brings its level of protection for integrated circuit layout designs into conformity with TRIPs. (November)

Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador and Nicaragua signed the revised Central American Convention on Industrial Property on November 30, 1994. Honduras did not sign this convention. The revised Convention has not yet come into force. (November)

The European Union (EU) initiated a review of the EU Broadcast Directive, to be completed by the end of 1995. (November)

The Government of Bolivia issued a Supreme Decree on December 7 that provided regulations for the 1992 Copyright Law. (December)

New Zealand enacted the Copyright Act of 1994 to amend the 1962 Copyright Act. New Zealand also amended eleven other laws with an aim toward bringing its IPR regime into compliance with the TRIPs agreement. (December)

The Colombian Congress enacted legislation to ratify the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property on December 28; it is now undergoing a review by the constitutional court. (December)

Italy's Guardia di Finanza (Finance Police) conducted its first major operation against a corporate end-user on December 16, raiding the Italy-based division of Mitsubishi Electric Europe GMBH. (December)

<li>Several provisions of the TRIPs agreement became effective on January 1 when the World Trade Organization (WTO) came into force. (January)</li>

<li>Poland joined the Berne Convention. (January)</li>

<li>ANDEAN Decisions 344/345/351 took effect in ColumbiaColombia [sic], Peru and Venezuela on January 1.</li>

<li>A new copyright law took effect in Panama on January 1 that substantially improves its protection for copyrighted works. (January)</li>

<li>Paraguay ratified the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property. (January)</li> </ul>