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 Egypt

Egypt remains on the Watch List in 2014. IPR challenges for Egypt include the failure to obtain deterrent-level sentences for IPR violations that are prosecuted and the need for additional training for enforcement officials. Egypt has not issued regulations to clarify border procedures for the destruction of counterfeit and pirated products and to provide customs officials with the authority to take ex officio action. The United States urges Egypt to clarify its protection against the unfair commercial use, as well as unauthorized disclosure, of undisclosed test or other data generated to obtain marketing approval of pharmaceutical products. Although Egypt is working to upgrade its trademark system, rights holders have expressed concerns about the registration of trademarks filed in bad-faith. Rights holders have reported certain market access impediments, such as fees and taxes applied to foreign films. The United States appreciates Egypt's recent engagement on many of these and other IPR issues and stands ready to work with Egypt to improve its IPR regime.

Finland

Finland remains on the Watch List in 2014. The United States continues to be concerned about the lack of product patent protection for certain pharmaceutical products. U.S. industry also has expressed concern that the regulatory framework in Finland regarding process patents filed before 1995, and pending in 1996, denies adequate protection to many of the top-selling U.S. pharmaceutical products currently on the Finnish market. The United States looks forward to continuing to work with Finland to address these and other issues.

Greece

Greece remains on the Watch List in 2014. U.S. concerns continue with respect to several IPR protection and enforcement issues in Greece. The United States encourages Greece to continue its efforts to implement the 2009 IPR Action Plan, which identifies many of these priority issues. Greece should fully implement legislation and regulations that provide administrative fines for software infringement. Greece should also take steps to ensure that it has effective legal mechanisms to address piracy over the Internet, including by implementing existing measures that allow civil actions by rights holders concerning piracy over the Internet, as well as by providing ISPs with clear incentives to cooperate with rights holders in removing unauthorized content. The lack of adequate governmental resources to combat piracy over the Internet has exacerbated this growing problem. In addition, Greece should expand on its enforcement efforts to address the continuing widespread availability of pirated and counterfeit goods. The United States also continues to encourage Greece to address key challenges facing IPR enforcement in the Greek judicial system, including significant delays and few infringement convictions. Greece has made progress, however, in a few key areas. There has been positive development in trademark protection particularly by passing a new trademark law which established the Illegal Trade Coordination Center (SYKAP). Moreover, national police, customs, and financial police also conducted investigations which resulted in seizures of counterfeit and pirated goods. In particular, rights holders have experienced excellent cooperation with the Tax Police in 52