Russia Still on Special 301 Report Priority Watch List

Russia remains on the Priority Watch List of the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) 2011 Special 301 report, which was released last month and which examines the adequacy and effectiveness of intellectual property rights protection in the 77 trading partners of the United States.

Russia is the only Eastern European country among the 12 countries placed on the Priority Watch List, mainly due to the widespread counterfeiting and piracy, particularly in terms of the motion picture, television and entertainment software industries. The report also notes the widespread Internet piracy and the weak IP enforcement in the country.

On the positive note, the report emphasizes Russia’s completion of the following legislative commitments in the IP area:

• Amendments to the Civil Code paragraphs specifically dealing with IP;
• Passing of the Federal Law on Customs Regulation, granting ex officio authority to customs officials;
• Amendments to the Law on Activity Licensing, prohibiting infringers from renewing optical media production licenses; and
• Amendments to the Law on Circulation of Medicines.

Another 29 countries are placed on the Watch List, among them Belarus, Romania, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Last year, the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland were removed from the Watch List because of significant improvements in the reduction of piracy and counterfeiting.

For the full report go here.

For more information, please contact Jelena Jankovic at our Balkan Regional Office.

Source: USTR 2011 Special 301 Report