FINLAND
Finland will be added to the Watch List in 2009. The United States is concerned about the lack of product patent protection for certain pharmaceutical products. U.S. industry has expressed concern that the regulatory framework in Finland regarding process patents filed prior to 1995 and pending in 1996 will deny adequate protection to many of the top-selling U.S. pharmaceutical products currently on the Finnish market. The United States will continue to encourage Finland to resolve this issue.
GREECE
Greece will remain on the Watch List in 2009. Greece made some progress last year, including establishing the Interministerial Coordinating Committee on IPR. This committee led by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a National Action Plan for IPR in February 2009 to address IPR protection and enforcement. We encourage Greece to continue its efforts to implement its National Action Plan for IPR and to include private stakeholders in its discussions and efforts. The U.S. copyright industries report that Greek law enforcement officials improved cooperation with the private sector in 2008. IPR enforcement in Greece, however, remains weak and uneven. The United States continues to urge Greece to improve its IPR enforcement regime, including undertaking sustained enforcement actions against street vendors, more effective raids and seizures, investigations and legal actions against on-line infringers, increased prosecutions, deterrent-level penalties, and strengthened border enforcement. An emerging problem for the Greek Government to address is the rise in Internet piracy. The United States will continue to work cooperatively with Greece on the measures outlined in its National Action Plan to improve IPR protection and enforcement.
GUATEMALA
Guatemala will remain on the Watch List in 2009. Through the implementation of Guatemala's IPR obligations under the CAFTA-DR, Guatemala's laws provide for stronger IPR protection and enforcement. Nevertheless, IPR enforcement remains a problem. The United States encourages the Government of Guatemala to provide higher priority to and greater resources for combating piracy and counterfeiting in order to ensure effective and consistent IPR enforcement. In this regard, the United States urges the Government of Guatemala to extend its efforts to pursue raids and prosecutions, not just against small-scale sellers, but also against manufacturers of pirated and counterfeit goods. The United States will continue to monitor Guatemala's compliance with its IPR obligations under CAFTA-DR.
HUNGARY
Hungary will remain on the Watch List in 2009. Hungary's National Board Against Counterfeiting and Piracy, established in January 2008, has promoted collaboration on IPR issues between the Government and the private sector, and issued a two-year IPR strategy to combat counterfeiting and piracy. The United States urges Hungary to take concrete steps to implement its IPR strategy and to improve its IPR enforcement regime. Further improvements are needed to ensure that prosecutors follow through with cases against IP infringers, and that
26
