The United States has again published the annual list of countries that the US government will keep an eye on for copyright violations. China and Russia are featured in the report this year.
According to Bush and his followers, the twelve countries on the ‘watch list’ with the highest priority have failed to protect the copyrights of American films, music and other material. The US will keep a close eye on these countries, which could even lead to economic sanctions if the country decides there is a trade dispute to be brought before the WTO. The US government is also concerned about 31 other countries, but the level of violation in those countries is considered less serious.
The lists are part of the ‘Special 301 Report’ that the US publishes every year. According to that report, China should make extra efforts to curb piracy as Chinese companies themselves are also more threatened by copyright infringement as their innovation increases. Last month, the US filed two complaints with the WTO over China’s lax attitude towards pirates. The report goes on to say that Russia can count on extra vigilant American eye as it follows through on its commitment to improve copyright protection. That agreement with the US was seen last year as crucial for Russia’s accession to the WTO. Part of the agreement was that the online doors of music store Allofmp3.com would be closed before the deadline of June 1, 2007, on which the stricter copyright legislation must come into effect.