ARE COPYRIGHT LAWS ENFORCED?
Hong Kong’s government is notorious for its half-hearted attempts to control software piracy. This is in large part due to Hong Kong’s desire to bring itself into the new IT-based global economy. In light of this (& other international software violations), the Software Publishers Association (SPA) supports the Special 301 provision of the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988 which authorizes the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to prepare lists of Priority Foreign Countries that deny adequate and effective protection of intellectual property rights or deny fair and equitable market access to U.S. firms and individuals relying on intellectual property protection. The lists inform the administration of nations considered priority targets for future and ongoing trade negotiations or possible trade sanctions. In March 1998, SPA notified the USTR that Hong Kong had been placed on its regulatory Watch List for Special 301 consideration, and they were so designated in May 1998: Acco
