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 States-Turkmenistan Trade Agreement. Turkmenistan should also adopt more comprehensive administrative, civil, and criminal procedures for adjudicating IPR cases, and impose penalties for IPR infringement. Such steps would help to combat copyright piracy and trademark counterfeiting. Other steps that Turkmenistan should take include granting ex officio authority to its Customs officials to interdict suspected infringing materials at the border. The United States urges Turkmenistan to improve its IPR regime, including by adopting the necessary legal reforms to implement its commitments under the 1993 bilateral trade agreement. The United States looks forward to working with Turkmenistan on these and other matters.

Ukraine

Ukraine remains on the Watch List. Ukraine made some improvements in 2010, including by developing and adopting a highly publicized IPR action plan. The United States encourages Ukraine to meet the goals set forth in that action plan, which include addressing the government's use of unlicensed software, amending the Ukrainian copyright law, and increasing IPR enforcement. Overall enforcement efforts in Ukraine have not yet effectively addressed the widespread availability of counterfeit and pirated products, many of which are transshipped through Ukraine to third countries. Customs officials continue to lack ex officio authority to interdict shipments. Piracy over the Internet has reportedly increased, and the United States encourages Ukraine to adopt proposed legislation to provide an appropriate regime for notice and takedown. While Ukraine remains one of the world's leading distributors of unauthorized camcorded movies, reports indicate that this illegal activity decreased significantly in 2010. The United States encourages Ukraine to improve the operation of its judicial system, which suffers from significant delays, a lack of deterrent-level sentences, and judges who lack relevant IPR expertise. The United States looks forward to engaging with Ukraine to address these and other issues and to assess the results of Ukraine's implementation of its action plan.

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan remains on the Watch List. Uzbekistan has yet to fully implement its IPR-related commitments under the 1994 United States-Uzbekistan Trade Agreement. Uzbekistan's copyright law contains a number of gaps, and does not provide protection for preexisting works or for U.S. and other foreign sound recordings. Uzbekistan has also not joined the Geneva Phonograms Convention. While enforcement has improved slightly, criminal penalties for IPR infringement are not sufficient to deter further infringement. Additionally, amendments are needed to provide enforcement officials, including Customs officials, with ex officio authority to initiate investigations and enforcement actions. The United States will continue to work with Uzbekistan on these and other issues.

Vietnam

Vietnam remains on the Watch List. While Vietnam took steps to implement important amendments to its IP Law in 2010, the United States urges Vietnam to do more to ensure full implementation. Vietnam made positive progress in 2010 by clarifying certain administrative procedures. However, additional work is needed to streamline enforcement efforts and to improve coordination among enforcement authorities, including by making clear the respective areas of responsibility of the