Page:Special 301 Report 2000.pdf/38



1999

May

 The Mexican Government amended its criminal code on May 17 to increase the level of penalties imposed for copyright offenses.

The Russian State Customs Committee issued an executive decree on May 27 that designates a department within the customs department to fight piracy and provides that department with specialized tools and new rules to fight piracy.

Bangladesh joined the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works (Berne Convention) on May 4. 

June

 Azerbaijan adhered to the Berne Convention on June 4.

Kazakhstan's Law on Customs was amended on June 16.

Lebanon's new copyright law became effective June 14.

<li>Lithuania's new copyright law became effective June 9.</li> </ul>

July

<ul> <li>The Government of Israel established special police units in Israel to tackle copyright piracy problems, and started operating in July.</li>

<li>The Paraguayan Government amended its criminal code making copyright crimes "public" actions, therefore, allowing prosecutors to pursue copyright cases on their own initiative. The law entered into effect on July 9.</li>

<li>Georgia's civil code on copyright protection became effective July 8.</li>

<li>The Kyrgyz Republic joined the Berne Convention, effective July 8.</li> </ul>