BRAZIL
Brazil will be lowered to the Watch List in 2007, following several years on the Priority Watch List. This decision recognizes Brazil's considerable progress in enhancing copyright enforcement. Brazil's National Anti-Piracy Council is increasingly recognized as a model of public-private collaboration in the area of IP enforcement. In addition, the Brazilian Government's national action plan to address piracy and IP crimes has produced continuing positive results, particularly through effective police actions. While piracy and counterfeiting still exist at high levels and criminal prosecutions often lag police actions, Brazil merits recognition for its vigorous efforts. The United States looks forward to a continued healthy dialogue with Brazil on IP issues, including through the U.S. – Brazil Bilateral Consultative Mechanism and the U.S. – Brazil Commercial Dialogue. The United States hopes that these discussions can focus on areas where progress has been less robust than in the copyright field. While Brazil has begun to strengthen capacity for processing patents and reducing a longstanding backlog of patent applications, concrete progress has not yet been seen. The fact that the role of Brazil's health regulatory agency in the patent approval process remains unclear is an important concern. The Brazilian Government has at times indicated consideration of the use of compulsory licensing on patented pharmaceutical products. The United States underscores the importance of Brazil engaging in open and transparent discussions with all relevant stakeholders in such cases, in the interest of reaching mutually satisfactory outcomes. The United States also encourages Brazil to strengthen protection against unfair commercial use for data generated to obtain marketing approval. The United States will conduct an Out-of-Cycle Review to evaluate the sustainability of the progress Brazil has achieved with respect to IPR enforcement, and to encourage additional progress in areas of outstanding concern.
CANADA
Canada is being retained on the Watch List in 2007. The United States commends Canada for issuing regulations correcting deficiencies in its system for protecting against unfair commercial use pharmaceutical data generated to obtain marketing approval. The United States notes our continuing concerns, however, with Canada's failure to ratify and implement the WIPO Internet Treaties and its failure to prohibit the unauthorized camcording of films in movie theaters. The United States also continues to urge Canada to improve its IPR enforcement system to enable authorities to take effective action against the trade in counterfeit and pirated products within Canada, as well as curb the amount of infringing products transshipped and transiting through Canada. Canada's weak border measures continue to be a serious concern for IP owners. The United States hopes that Canada will implement legislative changes to provide a stronger border enforcement system by giving its customs officers the authority to seize products suspected of being pirated or counterfeit without the need for a court order. Greater cooperation between Canadian Customs and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police would enhance IPR enforcement, as would the provision of additional resources and training to customs officers and domestic law enforcement personnel. The United States will continue to monitor Canada's progress in providing an adequate and effective IPR protection regime that is consistent with its international obligations and its advanced level of economic development, including improved border enforcement, near term ratification and implementation of the WIPO Internet Treaties, and efforts to stop unauthorized camcording of films in movie theaters.
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