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 The Paraguayan Government issued a software decree requiring the use of legal software in all federal agencies on December 31.

The Czech Republic's legislation granting customs officials broader authority to seize suspected infringing copies of intellectual property went into force in December.

The technical committee of the Turkish Government completed its revisions to the copyright amendments and forwarded it to the full subcommittee for review.

The Colombian Congress passed domestic legislation to permit it to ratify the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright and Performances and Phonograms Treaties.

Costa Rica passed copyright legislation on December 31 designed to conform to the requirements of the WTO TRIPS Agreement.

Costa Rica passed domestic legislation to permit it to ratify the WIPO Copyright and Performances and Phonograms Treaties.

Jamaica's amended trademark legislation came into force in December.

<li>Bulgaria's legislation on trademarks, geographical indications, industrial designs and lay out designs came into force on December 14, and are designed to meet WTO TRIPS requirements.</li>

<li>Indian Parliament passed three bills on December 23 designed to meet WTO TRIPS requirements. The bills include copyright amendments, trademarks and geographical indications.</li> </ul>

2000

January

<ul> <li>Israel amended its intellectual property laws with the intention of meeting WTO TRIPS obligations. The laws became effective January 1.</li>

<li>On January 12, the Hong Kong Government enacted amendments to the Organized and Serious Crimes Ordinance that makes copyright piracy and trademark counterfeiting a more serious criminal offense.</li>

<li>The Hong Kong Government introduced legislation into the Legislative Council on January 26, 2000, which is designed to prevent bootlegging of copyrighted material and to clarify the law to facilitate prosecution of corporate piracy activities.</li> </ul>