Testimony:
Office of the United States Trade Representative:

Special 301 Out-of-Cycle Review – Taiwan

(Washington, D.C., November 5, 2004)

Written Testimony by Rupert Hammond-Chambers

Comments
Taiwan has made significant headway over the past 6-12 months in protecting intellectual property rights. Taiwan President Chen Shui-bian, Premier Yu Shui-kun, and the members of the Legislative Yuan have demonstrated their understanding of the importance of IPR protection by passing crucial amendments to the Copyright Law, by providing IPR-specific training for judges and prosecutors, by the planned creation of a dedicated IPR court, as well as by increasing policing of the problem on Taiwan’s streets and at its ports.

It is important that these efforts continue, and for piracy and counterfeiting rates to be significantly reduced on a permanent basis. The US-Taiwan Business Council and our members will continue to closely monitor progress in this area. Nevertheless, the August 2004, passage of significant amendments to the Copyright Law in Taiwan’s Legislative Yuan addressed a top U.S. priority, and is a welcome development for the American business community. Taiwan has also taken concrete steps in the other key areas of concern.

The US-Taiwan Business Council recognizes Taiwan’s efforts and the significantly improved environment for IPR protection in Taiwan, and therefore supports removing Taiwan from the Special 301 Priority Watch List, provided that recent progress in curtailing IPR infringements is sustained.

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