ISLAMABAD, May 1: The United States has placed Pakistan on the Watch List in 2007 as a result of poor enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPRs) regime in the country, said a US report.

Pakistan will remain on the watch list in the current year and the US will conduct an out-of-cycle review to monitor Pakistan’s progress on IPRs issue, according United States Trade Representative (USTR) 2007 Special 301 Report released recently.In 2006, Pakistan was lowered from the Priority Watch List to the Watch List in recognition of Pakistan’s progress on IPR enforcement.

As many as 24 other countries were also placed on the US watch list as a result of survey of the report.

However, 12 countries were placed at top priority list for week IPR protection, and enforcement. They are China, Russia, Argentina, Chile, Egypt and India etc.

USTR has created a “Priority Watch List” and “Watch List” under Special 301 provisions.

Placement of a trading partner on the Priority Watch List or Watch List indicates that particular problems exist in that country with respect to IPR protection, enforcement, or market access for persons relying on intellectual property.

Countries placed on the Priority Watch List are the focus of increased bilateral attention concerning the problem areas.

Commenting on Pakistan’s IPR regime, the report said, however, the US remains concerned about the lack of effective protection against unfair commercial use for data generated to obtain marketing approval, as well as failure to codify the existing system of coordination between its health and patent authorities to prevent the issuance of marketing approvals for patent-infringing pharmaceutical products.

Due to a lack of progress this year in either of these areas, the US will conduct an out-of-cycle review.

The US and Pakistan will remain closely engaged on these issues during the coming year, the report added.

The US commends Pakistan for continuing to take enforcement actions against large-scale illegal optical disc production and retail sales of pirated and counterfeit products.

The US encourages Pakistan to ensure that its authorities aggressively prosecute IPR crimes and that its courts issue deterrent sentences for pirates and counterfeiters.

The US will continue to monitor closely the IPR situation during the OCR, and will work together with Pakistan to achieve further improvements in its IPR protection and enforcement regimes.

The “Special 301” Report is an annual review of the global state of intellectual property rights (IPR) protection and enforcement, conducted by the USTR pursuant to Special 301 provisions of the Trade Act of 1974 (Trade Act).

The 2007 Special 301 review process examines IPR protection and enforcement in 79 countries.