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 Cyprus became party to the WIPO Copyright Treaty on November 4, 2003.

Cyprus became party to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Agreement) and the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol 1989) on November 4, 2003.

In Vietnam, a November 5, 2003 circular on the procedures to establish industrial property rights for patent and utility solutions streamlined internal regulations and processes with respect to the registration of patents and utility solutions and established procedures on granting, invalidating and canceling the title of protection of patents and utility solutions.

In Vietnam, a November 5, 2003 circular on the procedures for establishing industrial property rights for industrial designs simplifies the procedures and requirements related to establishing intellectual property rights for industrial designs.

On November 12, 2003, a new Sri Lankan intellectual property law came into force, governing copyrights and related rights, industrial designs, patents for inventions, trademarks and service marks, trade names, layout designs of integrated circuits, geographical indications, unfair competition and undisclosed information.

On November 25, 2003, the Government of Spain modified its penal code to reinforce intellectual and industrial property protection. The revised penal code increases the punishments for crimes against IP infringements, especially for repeat offenders and will take effect on October 1, 2004.

In November 2003, Chile passed two sets of copyright law amendments in order to implement its TRIPs obligations and its immediate obligations under the U.S. - Chile Free Trade Agreement.

<li>Hungary's 1997 Copyright Act was amended in November 2003, to ensure compliance with various EU directives; these amendments will enter into force on May 1, 2004.</li>

<li>In November 2003, Kazakhstan issued a resolution directing enhanced cooperation on IPR enforcement between the Ministry of Justice, Procurator General, Ministry of Interior, Customs, and Financial Police.</li>

<li>In November 2003, President Remengesau signed the Palau Island's Copyright Act. The act provides protection on a variety of artistic and intellectual properties for local and foreign artists.</li> </ul>

December

<ul> <li>Lithuania became party to the International Convention for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) on December 10, 2003.</li>

<li>The U.S. and Paraguayan Governments negotiated a new IPR MOU in December 2003 replacing the 1998 MOU and focusing on areas that are still of concern, especially the lack of effective IPR enforcement.</li>

<li>China's Supreme People's Court issued, on December 23, 2003, an amended "Interpretation of the applicable law and some other matters for hearing computer network copyright-related </li> </ul>