USTR, Reporting on Chinese IPR, Seeks Changes at Local Level
For all the hardcore intellectual property watchers out there, here is the 2007 “Special 301″ Report of the US Trade Representative, the annual global review of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement. This year’s report underscores growing concerns about China and Russia. No surpise there.
The report identifies several “Notorious Markets” for counterfeiting and piracy. Among these:
In the virtual realm, the 301 report cites Baidu.com as “the largest of an estimated seven or more China-based ‘MP3 search engines’ offering deep links to song files for downloads or streaming.” Famed Russian site allofmp3.com also makes the list of notorious virtual markets.
As for physical markets, the report identifies the Beijing’s Silk Street Market and the China Small Commodities Market in Yiwu as prominent symbols of China’s enforcement problem.
The report also includes a special provincial reviw of China’s IPR protection and enforcement at the local level, which provides a far more nuanced look at China’s progress and challenges on these matters.
“Leadership at the provincial and local levels is critical to improving China’s IPR climate,” US Trade Representative Susan Schwab said. “By highlighting local problems and also giving credit where it is due, we encourage local leadership.”
Seems like a sensible enough strategy. But given political constraints in Washington, will there be enough time to execute subtly, with patience and wisdom?
