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 Venezuela's new Code of Criminal Procedure entered into force on July 1, establishing specialized IPR courts.

Oman amended implementing regulations to the copyright law on July 1.

Oman also joined the Berne Convention, effective July 14.

Jordan joined the Berne Convention on July 28.

Liechtenstein acceded to the Paris text of the Berne Convention on July 23. 

August

 The Singapore Parliament passed the Copyright Act Amendment Bill of 1999 on August 17, thereby amending Singapore's copyright law.

<li>Amendments to Turkish Criminal Code and the Criminal Enforcement Act entered into force on August 1.</li>

<li>Dominica joined the Berne Convention on August 7.</li> </ul>

September

<ul> <li>The Chinese Government launched the first phase of several special enforcement actions against illegal replication and smuggling of copyrighted audio and video products.</li>

<li>Implementing regulations for the 1998 Copyright Law of Paraguay were signed into law on September 13.</li>

<li>To intensify efforts by the government of the Dominican Republic to combat piracy, a commission led by the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, which includes the legal counsel to the President, the attorney general, a prosecutor, enforcement agencies and the Intellectual Property Office of the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, was created in September.</li>

<li>Hungary's revised copyright law took effect September 1. It is designed to fulfill Hungary's bilateral commitments as well as comply with WTO TRIPS Agreement obligations.</li>

<li>Jamaica's revised its copyright and layout design laws with the intention to meet WTO TRIPS requirements. The laws entered into force on September 3.</li> </ul>