Taiwan recognizes the importance of the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) and is committed to full compliance with international standards. President Chen Shui-bian has repeatedly stressed the government's commitment to safeguarding intellectual property rights. "We'll faithfully fulfill our obligations as a member of the World Trade Organization and continue cracking down on commercial piracy and improving the protection of intellectual property rights," Chen has said.

Taiwan has revised and implemented laws and regulations to conform to the IPR agreement under the World Trade Organization and meet the standards of related international conventions. Additionally, the Intellectual Protection Office is soon to submit a revised draft of the Optical Media Law to the Cabinet for approval. Under the revision, violators of intellectual property rights will be subject to much higher fines than before and much longer jail terms. (This is detailed in the 2002 Performance Report on Intellectual Property Rights Protection)

In 2002, law-enforcement officials, demonstrating Taiwan's commitment to the protection of intellectual property rights, seized US$289 million worth of pirated products, substantially more than the year before. (See Prosecution of IPR Infringement Cases)

These efforts, which are already strong and significant, are being expanded. Premier Yu Shyi-kun has called for a wide range of substantive measures to end IPR violations, including the establishment of a task force focusing on customs inspections to stamp out exports of pirated CDs and other illicit products. In addition, Taiwan is establishing an IPR Protection Police Corps to focus on enforcement of the country's increasingly tough IPR laws. 

Taiwan, whose own creativity industry is becoming an ever-larger part of the economy, is determined to ensuring the intellectual property rights of all are fully protected.