SYDNEY (AFP) — Asia Pacific leaders are to press the fight against intellectual piracy, officials said Friday, tackling counterfeit and pirated goods and safeguarding copyrights.
The 21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation members include China, which has a copyright dispute with the United States, as well as Russia, whose bid to join the World Trade Organisation has been stymied by counterfeiting concerns.
According to the latest draft of the APEC joint statement to be issued at the end of Sunday's summit here, the leaders would agree to "continue to strengthen protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights in the region."
The leaders would also agree to "continued efforts by APEC economies to combat the sale of counterfeit and pirated goods at markets involved in this activity and to address this challenge."
Washington filed a complaint with the WTO against China in April, alleging China's legal regime for protecting and enforcing copyright and trademark protections was unfairly deficient.
Chinese-made counterfeit goods -- from software and DVDs to luxury leather goods and watches -- are widely available in the US market.
US President George W. Bush told a news conference on Wednesday ahead of a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao that Washington expected its trading partners to protect intellectual property rights and other foundations of a "knowledge-based" economy.
APEC accounts for nearly half of global trade, 56 percent of world economic output and 41 percent of its population.
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