USTR seeks entries for ‘Special 301 Report’

The US government is seeking views on which countries should be placed on its annual special report for failing to adequately protect intellectual property.

In a notice with the US Federal Register, published yesterday, January 11, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) said it was seeking feedback ahead of the publication of its “Special 301 Report” later this year.

The “Special 301 Report”, often released towards the end of April, is an annual run-down of the US’ trading partners that apparently don’t do enough to protect IP.

The report contains a “Priority Watch List” and a “Watch List” to identify the countries that are of concern. It also occasionally lists a “Priority Foreign Country”—a country about which the US has particularly serious concerns.

Last year, despite speculation to the contrary, India survived being labelled a priority country.

Foreign governments that have been previously identified in reports are invited to respond.

In a statement the USTR said it was “requesting written submissions from the public concerning foreign countries that deny adequate and effective protection of IP rights or deny fair and equitable market access to US persons who rely on IP protection.”

Interested parties are required to submit written comments by February 5 and foreign governments have until February 19.

A public meeting will be held at the USTR’s office in Washington, DC on March 1, and the deadline for submitting post-meeting comments is March 4.

The report is expected to be published the following month.