USA Puts Belarus On Special List

• 27.04.2023, 13:13

For legalized piracy.

The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has added Belarus to the list of countries under surveillance for possible violations of intellectual property rights, the Voice of America reports.

The measures were taken in connection with a law passed in Belarus that legalizes the unauthorized use of copyrighted works from countries that have imposed sanctions on Belarus for supporting Russia's war against Ukraine.

USTR's 2023 Special Report on the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) of US trading partners has upheld the suspension of the review of Ukraine's intellectual property situation in connection with the full-scale Russian invasion of the country.

However, the USTR report added NATO member Bulgaria to the list of countries under surveillance for failing to address deficiencies in its investigation of Internet piracy cases.

The regular list and the "priority" list now include 29 countries under surveillance for violations and deficiencies in the observance of IP rights. Seven countries are on this year's priority list: China, Chile, Argentina, India, Indonesia, Russia and Venezuela.

The USTR notes that China continues to amend patent law, copyright law and criminal law as agreed in the 2020 trade deal, but explains that "the pace of reforms to address IP issues has slowed".

The report highlights that while "rights holders have welcomed some positive developments, they have concerns about the adequacy and effective implementation of these measures", along with concerns about the transfer of technology and trade secrets, as well as the production of counterfeit products.