Premier Called on Strengthening IPR Enforcement at a Cabinet-level Meeting

INTELLECTUL PROPERTY OFFICE 
March 20, 2003

Concerns much on the nation's intellectual property rights enforcement development, Premier Yu called for the third IPR Enforcement Progress Meeting in the morning of March 20, 2003 to review current progress and implementation on the issues addressed in the previous meeting by the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Government Information Office. 

The following is the highlight on current progress accomplished by the relevant ministries:

1. Ministry of Finance: Since the enactment of "Inspection Mechanism on Export Optical Disks" on March 6, more than 320,376 pieces of likelihood of infringements have been confiscated by customs offices in Taipei and Keelung. The Ministry emphasized that it will further enhance cooperation with other international customs authorities to form a solid network to jointly combating exportation of pirated optical disks. 
    

2. Ministry of Justice: One of the largest raids in history was conducted islandwide on all photocopy centers adjacent to campuses on March 7. 52 illegal photocopy centers were found along with 866 illegal reproductions of textbooks and 24 photocopiers.
    

3. Ministry of Interior: Since March 7, the Ministry has instructed all police offices to enhance enforcements on distribution of illegal optical disks via night markets, Internet and flyer. The following is the result as of March 18:
    
   a) Distribution via Internet: The police stations islandwide have accomplished 26.6% of its goal with an estimated infringement amount totaled NT$18,693,900 dollars.
    
   b) Distribution via flyer: The taskforce has accomplished 20% of its goal with an estimated infringement amount totaled NT$276,800 dollars.
    
   c) Distribution via night markets: There were 194 infringements over pirated optical disks raided. 79 infringers were arrested along with infringing goods where estimated worth totaling of NT$450 millions. 
    
   d) Total count on officers involved in enforcement actions: 5,978.
    
   e) Pirated optical disk warehouses and illegal optical disks factories were also cracked down in Tainan, Taipei and Taichung. Approximately 250,000 pieces of pirated optical disks were confiscated along with over 40 burners. The estimated infringement amount was NT$450 millions.

To stimulate the morale of enforcement officers, the Ministry of Economic Affairs and the Central Personnel Administration are proposing the Draft of Reward up to NT$ 2 millions for enforcement officers during the meeting. 

The Premier has made the following instructions after reviewing the progresses presented by ministries:

1. Upon any discovery of false declaration disguising the fact of exporting pirated optical disks, the customs shall concurrently provide relevant information to the prosecutors, the police and the investigators for further investigation. The National Police Administration of Ministry of Interior shall set up contact point to work closely with the customs;
    

2. To assist the customs on investigating exportation of pirated optical disks, the Ministry of Economic Affairs shall coordinate with the interest groups to provide a contact list of those; and
    

3. To enhance the process of investigation on serious IPR infringements, the Amendment to the "Telecommunication Protection and Monitoring Act", drafted by the Ministry of Justice, shall be forwarded to the Legislative Yuan before mid-May.

In addition, in response to the unexpected development where the enforcement ability is challenged as gangsters catch illegal optical disks for particular ones, the Premier also has instructed the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Interior to promptly investigate and respond.

Premier Yu concluded the meeting by acknowledging and appreciating the constant efforts that ministers have inputted to IPR enforcement. He also emphasized that, as our nation has become a member of the World Trade Organization, it is our obligation to comply with international norms. Hence, effective and adequate enforcement has become the most important task of the government in IPR protection. The Premier has called for not only cooperation and constant progress review among relevant agencies, but also has encouraged the nationals to forward tip-offs on underground infringers so as to eliminate any infringements, thus developing a healthy IPR protection environment.