26 April 1997
Source: http://www.usia.gov/
Unites States Information Agency
24 April 1997
(USTR Barshefsky says TVO helps IPR enforcement) (650) Washington -- Secretary of Commerce William Daley and U.S. Trade Representative Charlene Barshefsky welcomed the decision by three U.S. software trade associations -- Business Software Alliance, Interactive Digital Software Association, and Software Publishers Association -- to use the U.S. Information Technology Office established by the Commerce Department and U.S. industry as their joint Software Title Verification Office in China. "The development of a Title Verification Office (TVO) in China is an important step toward insuring that the production, distribution, and sale of IPR products in China is accountable to the rightful owners -- copyright holders," Barshefsky said. "The TVO system amounts to another step in increased IPR enforcement and gaining legitimate market access in China." The U.S. Information Technology Office (USITO) was officially opened in October 1995 in Beijing to help U.S. information technologies firms do business in China, according to the release. The USITO is a joint endeavor between the U.S. Department of Commerce and three trade associations -- the American Electronics Association, the Software Publishers Association, and the Telecommunications Industry Association. Following is the text of the release: (begin text) WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Underscoring the Clinton Administrations commitment to helping U.S. software companies do business in China, Commerce Secretary William M. Daley and U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Charlene Barshefsky today welcomed the decision by three U.S. software trade associations -- Business Software Alliance, Interactive Digital Software Assn., and Software Publishers Assn. -- to use the U.S. Information Technology Office established by the Commerce Department and U.S. industry as their joint Software Title Verification Office in China. "I commend the efforts of the software industry and our government in working together to protect U.S. intellectual property rights and increase sales of legitimate U.S. software in China," Secretary Daley said. "Software is a critical U.S. industry that employs hundreds of thousands of high-wage, high-skill workers and supplies approximately 75 percent of the worldwide prepackaged software market. We will continue to do all we can to increase sales of legitimate software in China, a vital market for our software industry." "Our 1995 and 1996 Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) accords are critical in bringing China into compliance with international IPR standards," said Ambassador Barshefsky. "The development of a Title Verification Office (TVO) in China is an important step toward insuring that the production, distribution, and sale of IPR products in China is accountable to the rightful owners -- copyright holders. The TVO system amounts to another step in increased IPR enforcement and gaining legitimate market access in China." The establishment of the TVO was mandated by the June 1996 IPR Accord negotiated with China by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The Software Title Verification Office will channel requests for title verification from the National Copyright Administration of China (NCAC) to U.S. software suppliers that hold the copyrights. The NCAC will not issue a certificate to the entity to reproduce, produce, or publish any foreign computer software unless they receive confirmation from the copyright holders granting permission to do so. The TVO will operate as a one-stop shop for Chinese authorities to receive quick and accurate information on legitimate right holders of intellectual property. China has made progress in creating an effective system to protect intellectual property rights. According to the Chinese Government (and supported by U.S. industry figures), a total of 39 illegal production facilities have been closed since June 1996. In addition, China has arrested more than 250 "major criminals" involved in IPR piracy and the production of pornographic materials. The 22 legitimate factories throughout China have turned their attention to domestic production while piracy of foreign sound recordings, in particular, has dropped dramatically. (end text)