U.S. ends property rights investigation against Pakistan

U.S. ends property rights investigation against Pakistan    The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative said it would end an industry-led investigation into intellectual property rights violations in Pakistan.
   The alleged violations threatened Pakistan’s participation in a U.S. duty-free import program, known as the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP). In 2004, duty-free treatment was provided to $94 million of Pakistan’s imports.
   “Pakistan’s concerted efforts since April 2005, particularly its enforcement actions, have resulted in concrete results, including destruction of pirated optical disks, plant closures, arrests, and confiscations of imported disks,” said U.S. Trade Representative Rob Portman in a statement Tuesday.
   In 2001, the International Intellectual Property Alliance, an association representing U.S. copyright-based industries, filed a petition with the USTR requesting a review of Pakistan’s GSP eligibility due to intellectual property rights concerns.
   In November 2005, the USTR held public hearings regarding the issues raised in the petition. The alliance recommended that the USTR’s country practice review for Pakistan be closed in recognition of improvements in the country’s efforts to protect copyrighted materials.