In Mexico on May 12, 2004, a bill that places intellectual property crimes involving copyright violations under the same section of criminal law as organized crime entered into effect. The law allows prosecutors and judges to use the penal code for organized crime when taking legal action against intellectual property rights pirates and their organizations, sanctioning the use of investigative techniques such as wire taps and witness protection, along with prison sentences of 8-16 years.
Jordan acceded to the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty on May 24, 2004. Jordan had acceded to the Copyright Treaty on April 27, 2004. However, a number of the Treaties' provisions still need to be implemented in Jordanian law and in accordance with the U.S.-Jordan FTA.
June
In June 2004, the Parliament of the Bahamas passed its Copyright Amendment Act 2004, which narrowed the scope of its broadcast compulsory licensing regime. The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas Copyright Act assented to the act on June 24, 2004. The Amendment will be gazetted when it is fully implemented by the Government of the Bahamas. As of April 2005, this amendment still has not been implemented.
In June 2004, the French Government launched a major initiative to fight piracy and counterfeiting. The initiative, which has been well coordinated with industry, focuses on improved domestic customs enforcement and increased international cooperation, within the EU and with third countries and involves a major public awareness campaign.
Korea acceded to the WIPO Copyright Treaty (WCT) in June 2004.
The U.S.-Morocco FTA was signed in June 2004.
In June 2004 in Lagos, Nigeria, duplicating equipment worth over $5 million was seized. The Nigerian Police and the NCC have raided enterprises producing and selling pirated software and videos, and a number of businesses have filed high-profile charges against IPR violators.
The Philippine Presidential Anti-Organized Crime Commission (PAOCC) filed a criminal complaint in June 2004 against three prominent local shopping mall operators for violation of the Intellectual Property Code of the Philippines. This is apparently the first criminal Complaint of its kind filed by a Philippine law enforcement agency.
In June 2004, The Government of Thailand initiated an intellectual property rights enforcement campaign.
Andorra became party to the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works on June 2, 2004.
On June 7, 2004, Vietnam's president issued Resolution No. 332/2004/QD-CTN on adhering to the Berne Convention on Copyright Protection for Literary and Artistic Works.
