Date: 05 Oct 92 19:05:29 EDT
From: Gordon Meyer <72307.1502@COMPUSERVE.COM>
Subject: File 4--Intl. Piracy

Congress Urged to Strengthen International Intellectual Property Laws

 Foreign copyright piracy of computer software, as well as movies,
 books, and music and audio recordings costs U.S. firms between $12
 billion and $15 billion in trade losses each year, says the
 International Intellectual Property Alliance.

 The Alliance told a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on patents,
 copyrights and trademarks that losses in Mexico alone -- which were
 not included in the international study -- topped $150 million
 annually.

 Eric Smith, director of the Alliance, said that although Mexico has
 new intellectual property laws, "the situation in Mexico is still
 quite serious."

 He urged Congress to increase U.S. anti-piracy teams to crack down on
 foreign copying operations and aid to foreign nations to help them
 write tougher laws and enforce them.

 Countries where piracy is particularly prevalent include Italy,
 Taiwan, Eastern Europe, Russia, China, Paraguay, Peru, El Salvador,
 Guatemala and Honduras. Brazil and Venezuela are considered problem
 nations especially for software piracy.

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