KUWAIT: The US Wednesday commended Kuwait government's improvement in its Intellectual Property (IP) system, and enforcing relevant laws to protect rights of Kuwaiti entrepreneurs and innovative start-up companies. The US "commends the Kuwaiti government for making significant improvements to its intellectual property protection and enforcement regime," the US Embassy in Kuwait said in a statement. These improvements, it added, were recognized in the US Trade Representative's 2020 Special 301 report published on April 29, 2020. The Report is an annual study of global intellectual property protection and enforcement systems.

The 2020 report removes Kuwait from the Priority Watch List which is a "a very important achievement," it said. However, Kuwait remains on the Watch List as it continued to expand and improve its enforcement capabilities, said the embassy. The Kuwaiti government, Led by the National Library, took concrete steps to reform its copyright regime last summer by passing the 2019 Copyright and Related Rights Law and Implementing Regulations. The report also recognizes significant and lasting initiatives by enforcement agencies in Kuwait to prevent the importation, distribution and sale of counterfeit and pirated goods.

In 2019, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry's Consumer Protection Department, Kuwait General Administration for Customs Intellectual Property Rights Unit and Ministry of Health's Drug and Food Control Department seized thousands of illicit and harmful counterfeit and pirated goods from markets, air and seaports, and illegal warehouses, noted the Embassy.

It said it continued to support the Kuwaiti government in its efforts to enhance capabilities to protect and enforce intellectual property rights, including for Kuwaiti entrepreneurs and innovative start-up companies. It called for guarding against the dangers of using counterfeit or sub-standard products, which could jeopardize health of public at a time the country was fighting coronavirus and guarantee safety of workers, while also appreciating government agencies' fight against importation, distribution and sale of fake goods. - KUNA