Page:Special 301 Report 1999.pdf/27

 August


 * Paraguay enacted a new trademark law that provides specific protection for well-known trademarks.


 * The Government of Hong Kong enacted in August the Prevention of Copyright Piracy Ordinance which controls the import, export and distribution of optical media production equipment and finished products.

September


 * The Jordanian Prime Minister issued an Announcement on September 8, calling on all Jordanian Government Ministries and official public institutions to acquire authorized copies of computer programs, videotapes, cassettes, audio recordings, original copies of books and reference materials.


 * Singapore acceded to the Berne Convention.

October


 * The amendments to the Jordanian copyright law went into effect on October 1. These amendments increased penalties for copyright infringement, and increased the duration of protection for certain works to international standards.


 * The Council of Ministers of Qatar ordered that the Copyright Bureau be moved to the Department of Commercial Affairs at the Ministry of Finance, Economy, and Commerce to improve the enforcement of Qatar's copyright law.


 * The National Council of the United Arab Emirates approved proposed amendments to the UAE copyright law eliminating TRIPS-inconsistent copyright formalities.


 * The Government of Singapore passed a new trademark bill.


 * The Argentinian Chamber of Representatives approved the Copyright Software Protection Law providing specific protection for computer software. Passage of the law had an immediate impact on the market; industry reports that many bootleggers and hard-disk loaders have shut down their activities.