U.S. sees improvement in RI protection of IPR

U.S. sees improvement in RI protection of IPR

JAKARTA (JP): The United States government has seen a
remarkable improvement in Indonesia's protection of intellectual
property rights and has accordingly moved the country down to
Watch List from Priority Watch List, the government announced
here on Wednesday.

Director General for Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Zen
Umar Purba said the higher grading for Indonesia was announced in
Washington on Monday by United States Trade Representative
Charlene Barshefsky after her annual (2000) review of the
adequacy and effectiveness of IPR protection in foreign
countries.

"Over the past few years Indonesia remained on the so-called
Special 301 Priority Watch List that groups countries with a lack
of adequate and effective protection of IPR," Purba said in a
statement.

The United States, under the Special 301 provisions of the
Trade Act of 1974, classifies countries into three categories
according to their performance in IPR protection.

The Priority Foreign Country category is given to countries
with the worst conduct in IPR protection, followed by Priority
Watch List and Watch List categories.

"This impressive improvement should be attributed to the good
cooperation among various government institutions in IPR
protection in the country," Purba added.

In its 1999 Special 301 review, the trade body retained
Indonesia on the Priority Watch List, saying the country's
copyright and patent laws did not provide minimum levels of IPR
protection consistent with World Trade Organization rules.

The U.S. then saw Indonesia as ineffective in taking firm
measures against the piracy of computer software, video compact
discs, books and infringement of pharmaceutical patents.

Observing impressive improvements in IPR protection in the
country, Purba quoted a February, 2000 report of the
International Property Associations which estimated that losses
caused by IPR piracy in Indonesia in 1999 totaled just US$173.6
million, compared to $1.70 billion in China and $286.8 million in
Malaysia.