Page:Special 301 Report 2003.pdf/34

  customs officials implement IPR laws. 

June

 On June 2, Egypt passed a comprehensive IPR law (Law No. 82) that will bring Egypt's IPR regime into closer compliance with TRIPS. Implementing regulations for the copyright portions of the new law have not yet been issued.

On June 8, Qatar passed a new Copyright and Neighboring Rights Law, which entered into effect on August 3rd On June 15th, Qatar passed a new intellectual property rights law for trademarks commercial indications, trade names, geographical indications and industrial designs, which entered into effect on August 27th.

On June 12, the law on amending Belarusian Customs Code came into effect, providing Customs Authorities with legal mechanism to block the transfer of pirated products and equipment through the Belarusian customs border.

On June 12, Jamaica became party to the WIPO Copyright Treaty and the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty.

On June 28, Ukraine became party to the Hague Agreement Concerning the International Deposit of Industrial Designs.

<li>The El Salvador Legislative Assembly passed the Law of Trademarks and Other Distinctive Signs, in an effort to comply with TRIPS, and also created a new separate Registry for Intellectual Property. The Salvadoran National Registry Center also divided the Registry of Commerce and Intellectual Property in two, creating a new separate Registry for Intellectual Property.</li>

<li>The Philippines enacted a new plant varieties protection law.</li> </ul>

July

<ul> <li>On July 2, the Dominican Congress passed a new Criminal Procedures Code that continues to allow ONDA and Fiscalia to conduct ex officio actions.</li>

<li>On July 10, the Thai Trade Secrets that includes provisions for data protection became effective.</li>

<li>On July 18, Peru became party to the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty.</li>

<li>On July 25, the Bulgarian Parliament approved amendments to the 1993 Law on Copyright </li> </ul> May 1, 2003