USTR Asks for Comments on Kuwait IPR as Part of Out-of-Cycle Review

The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative is asking for comments on Kuwaiti intellectual property rights protections, as part of its out-of-cycle review on the country. USTR said it would conduct the review when it published its Special 301 report for 2014 in late April (see 14050101). The agency designated Kuwait a “Watch List” country, which is two steps below the most severe USTR classification of an IPR violator. The review will focus mostly on copyright legislation and IPR enforcement. The Special 301 report advised Kuwait to amend its copyright legislation to meet international standards and continue its enforcement regime on copyright piracy and trademark infringement. Comments are due by Oct. 15, and should be submitted via www.regulations.gov, docket number USTR-2014-0019.