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 Kuwait

Although Kuwait remains on the Watch List, the United States will conduct an Out-of-Cycle Review (OCR) in September 2014 to determine whether to elevate Kuwait to the Priority Watch List. The review is prompted both by Kuwait's failure for more than 14 years to draft and pass amendments to its copyright law to meet international standards, and the recent sharp decline in enforcement actions against copyright and trademark infringement. If Kuwait does not introduce to the National Assembly legislation which will result in a copyright law that is consistent with international standards and does not resume enforcement against copyright and trademark infringement by the time of the OCR, Kuwait will be moved to the Priority Watch List. The United States notes that the Kuwait Customs IPR Office has not halted its IP enforcement efforts, and commends the work by that office. The United States remains willing to work with Kuwait on these important issues.

Lebanon

Lebanon remains on the Watch List in 2014. The United States continues to encourage Lebanon to make progress on pending IPR legislative reforms, including amendments to Lebanon's patent and copyright laws and efforts to accede to the WIPO Internet treaties. The United States encourages the Parliament to approve several additional IPR treaties that have been forwarded by the Cabinet, including the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, the Singapore Treaty on the Law of Trademarks, and the Patent Cooperation Treaty. Additionally, the United States encourages Lebanon to provide its Cyber Crime and Intellectual Property Rights Bureau (CCIPRB) with ex officio enforcement authority as well as to provide all of its enforcement authorities with adequate resources to carry out their enforcement functions. The United States looks forward to continuing to work with Lebanon to address these and other issues.

Mexico

Mexico remains on the Watch List in 2014. Positive developments in Mexico in 2013 included entry into force of the Madrid Protocol, implementation of amendments to the copyright law that allow rights holders to seek damages in civil courts before an administrative infringement decision is issued or becomes final, and progress in the destruction of seized illegal goods, although overall seizure numbers have declined. However, serious concerns remain, particularly with respect to the widespread availability of pirated and counterfeit goods in Mexico, including at the Notorious Markets Tepito and San Juan de Dios, and also increased Internet piracy due in part to higher broadband penetration. Although coordination has been increasing, criminal enforcement suffers from inefficient coordination among federal and sub-federal officials, as well as a lack of resources. In addition, to combat high levels of IPR infringement, Mexico needs to devote additional resources, bring more IPR-related prosecutions, and impose deterrent penalties against infringers. The United States continues to urge Mexico to provide its customs officials with ex officio authority and to enact legislation to strengthen its copyright regime, including by fully implementing the WIPO Internet Treaties and providing stronger protection 54