Anonymous ID: f1d2fa April 25, 2019, 3:32 p.m. No.6314070   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>4155 >>4200 >>4342 >>4398

Trump Administration Identifies 36 Countries That Fail to Guard Intellectual Property, Emphasises China

 

The Trump administration placed three dozen countries on an annual list of trading partners that “present the most significant concerns” regarding the lack of intellectual property (IP) rights protections. Among the worst, placed on the “Priority Watch List,” are Algeria, Argentina, Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Kuwait, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, and Venezuela, according to a 2019 report by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), an agency that represents the United States in foreign trade talks. “This Report provides an opportunity to call out foreign countries and expose the laws, policies, and practices that fail to provide adequate and effective IP protection and enforcement for U.S. inventors, creators, brands, manufacturers, and service providers,” states the report released April 25. IP theft costs the U.S. economy upward of $225 billion and as much as $600 billion a year in counterfeit goods, pirated software, and theft of trade secrets, according to the 2017 IP Commission Report prepared by the National Bureau of Asian Research, a Seattle-based think tank with strong ties to major U.S. corporations.

 

China While listing the issues of each of the 11 priority countries, the USTR report has a heavy emphasis on China, mentioning the country 154 times. Of the $500 billion or more in global imports of counterfeit and pirated goods in 2016, half came from Chinatwo thirds if Hong Kong is included, according to estimations in the March report by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. Despite a government reorganization and proposed revisions to IP laws and regulations, “China failed to make fundamental structural changes to strengthen IP protection and enforcement,” the report stated.

 

China also is lacking in opening its market to foreign investment, allowing the market “a decisive role in allocating resources,” and “avoiding government interference in private sector technology transfer decisions,” it said. “For U.S. persons who rely on IP protection in what is already a very difficult business environment, severe challenges persist because of gaps in the scope of IP protection, stalled legal reforms, and weak enforcement channels. “High-profile statements in support of IP and innovation by Chinese government officials are no substitute for real structural changes to address shortcomings in China’s IP system, which cannot be excused by the country’s stage of economic development.” The countries singled out by USTR “will be the subject of increased bilateral engagement with USTR to address IP concerns,” according to an April 25 USTR release. “For such countries that fail to address U.S. concerns, USTR will take appropriate actions, such as enforcement actions under Section 301 of the Trade Act or pursuant to World Trade Organization or other trade agreement dispute settlement procedures, necessary to combat unfair trade practices and to ensure that trading partners follow through with their international commitments,” it says.

 

https://www.theepochtimes.com/trump-admin-identifies-36-countries-that-fail-to-guard-intellectual-property-emphasises-china_2894521.html

 

USTR Releases Annual Special 301 Report on Intellectual Property Protection and Review of Notorious Markets for Piracy and Counterfeiting

https://ustr.gov/about-us/policy-offices/press-office/press-releases/2019/april/ustr-releases-annual-special-301

 

https://www.oecd.org/industry/global-trade-in-fake-goods-worth-nearly-half-a-trillion-dollars-a-year.htm

 

https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c5700.html

Anonymous ID: f1d2fa April 25, 2019, 3:49 p.m. No.6314251   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>4274

Fort Bragg cuts power to base in unannounced exercise

 

April 25 (UPI) – Officials at the Fort Bragg military base in North Carolina cut power to thousands of residents overnight as part of an unannounced exercise to prepare for cyberattacks, the military installation said Thursday. The training exercise at Fort Bragg, which is home to more than 50,000 active duty personnel and their families in central North Carolina, began around 10 p.m. Wednesday. In a Facebook post around 11 a.m., the military base said it would be back to normal operating status within 3 hours to 5 hours.

 

"Fort Bragg has to train for any possible threats to the installation in order to remain mission capable," the post said. "This exercise was not announced in order to replicate likely real-world reactions by everyone directly associated with the installation."

 

The base said the exercise was meant to identify vulnerabilities in security and deployment posture. Army officials initially offered no explanation for the early-morning power outages, which affected residences, businesses, traffic signals and restaurants. The Womack Army Medical Center said it was operating on reduced capacity and canceled some appointments at the facility.

 

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/04/25/Fort-Bragg-cuts-power-to-base-in-unannounced-exercise/9661556212614/

Anonymous ID: f1d2fa April 25, 2019, 3:54 p.m. No.6314298   🗄️.is 🔗kun   >>4342 >>4398

Public defender withdraws from Parkland shooter over life insurance payment

 

April 25 (UPI) – Because confessed Parkland shooter Nikolas Cruz is entitled to $430,000 from a life insurance policy, he no longer needs a public defender, South Florida attorneys say. The Broward Public Defender's Office filed a notice late Wednesday with a request to withdraw from the case. Cruz's death penalty trial was set for next January but will now be delayed because of the request. Assistant public defender Gordon Weekes said, "We have to withdraw."

 

Cruz is charged with numerous counts of murder in the Parkland high school attack that killed 17 people in February 2018. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty. Weekes said he'd been unaware of the insurance payment, and cannot represent Cruz because he's no longer indigent.

 

"My blood is boiling," Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed in the attack, posted on Facebook. "This will only cause more delay. I am furiously mad right now." Cruz and his younger brother are entitled to a $864,929 policy from their mother, who died in November 2017. It's possible Cruz might not see any of the money because victims' families won a judgment against him in civil court. Even if he did receive the entire amount, experts say it might not be enough. "That money goes pretty fast," attorney David Bogenschutz said about the cost of a defense in capital cases.

 

https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2019/04/25/Public-defender-withdraws-from-Parkland-shooter-over-life-insurance-payment/4501556203119/