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  Australia announced that is would impose a new regime for the protection of test data for pharmaceuticals and agricultural chemicals, effective January 1, 1998. Under the new system, data for "new chemical entities" will receive protection for five years from the date of registration of the originator product.

WIPO Copyright Treaties on electronic transmissions concluded.

Mozambique becomes party to WIPO. 

JANUARY

 Russia's new Criminal Code took effect on January 1. The new Code provides for stiffer penalties for violations of intellectual property rights. The Criminal Code was signed on June 13.

Spain approved implementing regulations for the 1994 cinema law.

Effective January 1, all Taiwanese CD manufacturers must, in accordance with the Commodity Labeling Law, use a unique identificatim number on their products during CD production.

<li>The Chinese State Council IPR Executive Conference issued the regulations, "Publication Management Measures."</li>

<li>The U.S. and Japan jointly notified the WTO Dispute Settlement Body that a mutually satisfactory solution to the sound recordings case had been reached.</li> </ul>

FEBRUARY

<ul style="list-style-type:circle;list-style-image:none;"> <li>Pakistan issued Ordinance No. XXVI of 1997 on February 4 that implements its obligations under articles 70.8 and 70.9 of the TRIPs Agreement to establish a mailbox and exclusive marketing rights system.</li>

<li>Amendments to the 1982 Honduran Penal Code, published in the Official Gazette on February 8 under Decree Number 191-96, include stiffer new penalties for violators of intellectual property rights.</li>

<li>U.S. and Pakistani officials notified the WTO on February 28 that the mailbox and exclusive marketing rights matter had been resolved.</li>

<li>The Philippines' Senate ratified the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works on February 27.</li> </ul>