Page Two	E-mail PagePrint Version

WASHINGTON, DC - 01/22/04 - The Bush Administration, seeking to crack down on piracy of American movies, records and computer programs, has branded South Korea as among the worst offenders in failing to protect US copyrights, according to the Associated Press.
 
US Trade Representative Robert Zoellick announced the addition of South Korea to list of countries that are subject to special monitoring and consultation aimed at ensuring they address copyright piracy issues.
 
The action had the support of American companies, which contend that piracy in South Korea cost US copyright owners $572 million in 2002.

"Online piracy of recorded music is rampant in Korea and has had a devastating impact on our industry already," said Neil Turkewitz, executive vice president for international affairs at the Recording Industry Association of America.

Turkewitz said South Korea has failed to enact modern copyright laws even though the country has the highest percentage in the world of homes with high-speed internet access.

South Korean officials in Seoul said they would review the US requests.

"We will continue our efforts to protect copyrights," the Foreign Affairs and Trade Ministry said in a statement responding to the charge.

The ministry also said South Korea has strengthened laws and launched a vigorous campaign to crack down on copyright piracy. The US government's decision "failed to reflect our efforts to protect copyrights," it said.
 
If negotiations with South Korea fail to produce results, the administration's next step would mean elevating the country to top offender designation, raising the threat of US economic penalties.
 
For example, the US has in place $75 million in annual trade sanctions against Ukraine for copyright piracy.
 
"The Administration is committed to protecting American creativity and intellectual property, one of the most dynamic sectors of our economy," Zoellick said.

The Administration said a special review completed last month found that the growth of online music piracy in South Korea was harming US and other foreign music companies, as well as South Korean recording companies.

The review found continued piracy of American motion pictures in South Korea that US trade officials estimated were costing millions of dollars in lost revenue for the US and South Korean companies that hold the copyrights to the movies.

"The pirating of US intellectual property robs Americans and hurts those countries whose economies rely on innovation, technology and investment," Zoellick said in a statement.

The administration said it had been encouraged by some steps by South Korea, including the granting of police authority to inspection teams responsible for investigating the piracy of computer software.

But the US complaint said the South Korean government had failed to move on two of the highest priorities: submitting legislation to improve the protection of sound recordings and resolving film piracy issues related to the Korea Media Rating Board.
 
The administration is required by Congress to conduct an annual review of copyright right problems around the world.
 
The charge makes South Korea the 12th country or trade bloc already on Washington's priority list because of US allegations the nations are not doing enough to halt the piracy of intellectual property.

Also on the list are Argentina, the Bahamas, Brazil, the European Union, India, Taiwan, Indonesia, Lebanon, the Philippines, Poland, and Russia. 

Go back, or read the latest Page Two stories:

MEXICO LIFTS CALIFORNIA LETTUCE BAN

MEXICO CITY, Mexico – 10/20/06 – The weeks-old ban on California lettuce shipments to Mexico has been lifted after US Department of Agriculture tests for the E. coli bacteria proved negative; California is the country’s leading producer of lettuce with an estimated 70-75% of the total US production of iceberg lettuce and between 80-85% of the leaf lettuce.