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 Ukraine's new Customs Code went into force on January 1, 2004, providing Customs Authorities the power to seize suspected illegal material at the border.

Croatia became party to the Protocol Relating to the Madrid Agreement Concerning the International Registration of Marks (Madrid Protocol 1989) on January 23, 2004.

Jordan's deposited its instruments of accession for the WIPO Copyright Treaty on January 27, 2004 (entry into force on April 27, 2004).

In January 2004, the Bangladesh Cabinet approved an amended copyright act, which is now waiting for Parliamentary approval.

In January 2004, Bolivia's National Intellectual Property Service (SENAPI) signed an agreement with the Bolivian Customs Authority and the National Tax Administration in order to better combat the entrance of pirated materials and merchandise through Bolivian borders.

In January 2004, the Jamaican Parliament approved a bill to protect Geographical Indications (GIs).

In January 2004, an amendment to the Japanese copyright law took effect, extending the length of copyright protection from 50 to 70 years from the release date for movies and animated films, and simplifying the way damages are computed for copyright violations.

<li>In January 2004, revisions to Luxembourg's "Benelux" trademark system entered into force and created for the first time an administrative opposition procedure for trademarks.</li>

<li>A new decree passed as part of Peru's tax reform in January 2004, requires importers of blank CDs to make value-added tax payments in advance, improving Peru's ability to track subsequent purchasers.</li> </ul>

February

<ul> <li>China's State Council issued the Amendments to the Patent Law Implementing Measures, effective February 1, 20032004 [sic].</li>

<li>The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM) became party to the WIPO Copyright Treaty on February 4, 2004.</li>

<li>On February 10, 2004, Morocco's Parliament announced establishment of a permanent watchdog committee to promote public awareness about the threat of piracy.</li>

<li>Philippine President Arroyo signed the Optical Media Bill into law on February 10, 2004. The law regulates the manufacture, mastering, replication, importation and exportation of optical media.</li>

<li>Jordan's deposited its instruments of accession for the WIPO Performance and Phonograms Treaty on February 24, 2004 (entry into force on May 24, 2004).</li> </ul>