U.S. says Poland must punish its pirates
The Bush administration reviewed Polish efforts to combat counterfeiting and piracy, and, although it said encouraging steps had been taken, it says more work needs to be done to protect intellectual property rights, including strengthening copyright laws.
U.S. trade representative Robert Zoellick said: "[The review recognizes] the need for stronger and sustained enforcement measures, including the necessity to protect data submitted by innovative pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical producers to obtain marketing approval."
Last year, Poland was identified by the U.S. as being lax on protecting intellectual property rights and was placed on a 'watch list'. America is demanding more effective raids and prosecutions against piracy, more protection of test data of drug companies, increased border enforcement, and new copyright amendments and regulations.
If the situation does not improve the U.S. could impose trade sanctions. Currently, only one country, Ukraine, is subject to these penalties, which come to $75 (zł.236) million.
Wojciech Dziomdziora, the director of the legal-legislation department at the Ministry of Culture, said: "We perceive the latest statement by the American Department of State as a positive sign. Poland together with Taiwan is listed among those countries that take restless efforts to improve the situation.
"The law is well designed, but it is not executed enough. New projects will be outlined in the government's strategy in March. In 2004 we focused on Stadion Dziesięciolecia, this year we will place local markets on the eastern border and in Wrocław in the spotlight. This year we will also implement EU directives concerning the execution of copyright laws. We can expect a new bill in the autumn."
Additional reporting by Błażej Karwowski
U.S. trade representative Robert Zoellick said: "[The review recognizes] the need for stronger and sustained enforcement measures, including the necessity to protect data submitted by innovative pharmaceutical and agricultural chemical producers to obtain marketing approval."
Last year, Poland was identified by the U.S. as being lax on protecting intellectual property rights and was placed on a 'watch list'. America is demanding more effective raids and prosecutions against piracy, more protection of test data of drug companies, increased border enforcement, and new copyright amendments and regulations.
If the situation does not improve the U.S. could impose trade sanctions. Currently, only one country, Ukraine, is subject to these penalties, which come to $75 (zł.236) million.
Wojciech Dziomdziora, the director of the legal-legislation department at the Ministry of Culture, said: "We perceive the latest statement by the American Department of State as a positive sign. Poland together with Taiwan is listed among those countries that take restless efforts to improve the situation.
"The law is well designed, but it is not executed enough. New projects will be outlined in the government's strategy in March. In 2004 we focused on Stadion Dziesięciolecia, this year we will place local markets on the eastern border and in Wrocław in the spotlight. This year we will also implement EU directives concerning the execution of copyright laws. We can expect a new bill in the autumn."
Additional reporting by Błażej Karwowski
