The EUCCK IPR Committee and the World Customs Organization (WCO) joined together to address the growing problems of counterfeiting and piracy through global cooperation, bringing together representatives of Customs, the private sector, legal services agencies, international and regional organizations on April 18, 2006 for the monthly IPR Committee meeting at the Hyatt Hotel, Seoul. During his keynote speech, WCO Secretary General Michel Danet stated counterfeiting and piracy is a growing problem around the world in both scope and magnitude, affecting companies, consumers and governments in unprecedented levels. IPR violating activities effect not only the economy, but also the health and security of consumers who are placed in jeopardy as the counterfeiters have turned their attention to medicines, automobile and aircraft parts, tobacco goods, cosmetics, perfumery, domestic appliances, children's toys, and foodstuffs.   Supreme Prosecutors Office Meeting on "Criminal --- Investigations and Crackdowns"     The EUCCK Intellectual Property Rights Committee is hosting a special luncheon meeting on “Criminal Investigation & Crackdown Operations Against IPR Violations in Korea” with Mr. Beum Jung Suh, director of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Supreme Prosecutor's Office (SPO) to discuss exchange ideas and comments on the IPR-related investigation practice of Korean prosecutors and anti-counterfeiting raid results and seized items on May 16, 2006 at the Lotte Hotel, Sogongdong.   EUCCK-German Patent & Trademark Office Discuss --- Current and Future Trends in IPR     The EUCCK IPR Committee and Dr. J?rgen Schade German Patent & Trademark Office president with his delegation met to discuss the current situation of the European intellectual propety rights and its future trend, evaluation of the developments in the Korean copyright protection in comparison to Europe and the problems in and cases of the Korean copyright protectionon April 28, 2006 at the EUCCK office in Seoul.   Customs Protection and Enforcement of IPR     The International Conference Customs Protection and Enforcement of IPR hosted by the Korea Customs Service invited 39 member countries from Asia and Europe on April 19, 2006 to discuss Intellectual Property Rights Violations, one of the biggest concerns that businesses and governments are facing in today's global economy.   EUCCK Mission to Brussels     The IPR Committee and the other sectorial committees of the EUCCK will go to Brussels from April 17th to April 20th to have meetings with European Commission DG Trade, the Union of EU Industries, the Korean Embassy and the European Parliament on various trade issues including "Intellectual Property Rights and Transversal issues."   April Network Event: "Night of IPR & Luxury"     The April Network Event with the theme of "Intellectual Property Rights & Luxury Brands" sponsored by companies including the EUCCK IPR Committee members-Burberry Korea and GUCCI Korea was held at the Park Hyatt Hotel on April 27th.   Korea’s Border Control of IPR Infringement     by Dr. Hyung Jin Kim Customs and International Trade Team Woo Yun Kang Jeong & Han EUCCK IPR Committee Legal Counsel One of the biggest problems that Korean authorities face today is the difficulty in controlling IPR infringing products once they are in the domestic distribution channel after customs clearance.     ECCT Focus on IPR Issues     Intellectual Property crimes is a serious concern for the European business community in Taiwan and addressing weak IPR protection and enforcement is one top priorities for the European Chamber of Commerce in Taipei, whose members include world renowned car manufacturers, luxury goods makers, media firms and drug companies.     British American Tobacco Korea Joins IPR Committee     The EUCCK IPR Committee welcomes British American Tobacco (BAT) Korea as a new board member. BAT is the world's second largest tobacco company with business in 180 countries with over 300 brands and has a global market share of 15 percent.     Korea Customs Service:"Undertaking Greater --- Responsibility to Control Borders"     Mr. Kim, Ki Young, the newly appointed Clearance Facilitation Bureau director general of the Korea Customs Service attended the Intellectual Property Rights Committee Meeting held at the Hyatt Hotel in April 18 to share his views on growing problem of IPR infringement and the Korean government's efforts to enhance IPR protection.     KIPO Amends Patent Fee Rule     As of May 1, KIPO (Commissioner: JUN, Sang Woo) will be changing the accumulative fee system for annual patent registration. The fee will be reduced to ease customers' cost burden and increase their convenience. Additional fees for claim articles during application for preferential examination will be repealed. Patent fee rule will be amended to simplify the issuance of a handy patent (registration) certificate, and to document the procedure for fee reductions and the procedure for payment of the annual registration fee. These changes are being made as KIPO becomes the first among central administrative bodies to function as an entrepreneurial liability operation agency.   “KIPO’s legal aid for IPRs wins positive responses”     In case of disputes related to intellectual property, KIPO's (Commissioner: JUN, Sang Woo) legal aid for IPRs has provided practical support to the socially/economically underprivileged.   KIPO opens 2006 Korea Patent Technology Transfer --- Exhibition     According to the announcement of April 19, KIPO is opening ‘2006 Korea Patent Technology Transfer Exhibition', a 3-day exhibition from May 10 to 12. This exhibition is opened to gather information for demands about competitive patent technologies and promote technology commercialization.     Counterfeiters making it all, be it eggs or drugs   Korean P2P king ready to launch paid service   NK Reliant on Fake Cigarettes for Funds   Researchers Get Patent for Blood Pressure Lowering --- ‘Chonggukchang’   Bitter Advice for Korean Venture Firms   GSM Patents Upset Cell Phone Manufactures   Huge jump reported in fake 10,000 won notes     USTR: "Improvement still needed in China and Russia"   WIPO:"Launch of New Funding Mechanism for --- Indigenous and Local Communities"   WIPO:"World IP Day 2006 Focuses on the Power of --- Ideas"   EC:"Counterfeiting and piracy-Commission proposes --- criminal law provisions"   EC:"Commission welcomes changes to EU law to allow --- export of patented medicine"     M'sia's Image Improved Through Effective Anti-piracy --- Efforts   LVMH 'wins fake China goods case'   Microsoft's Gates Sees Vietnam Outsourcing Potential   China, Russia top blacklist in annual US trade review   U.N. body embraces indigenous ideas   Next step in pirating: Faking a company   China still failing to enforce intellectual property rights   Microsoft adds more nag screens to fight OS piracy   Food Piracy' CIA Praises EU Proposal Against --- Counterfeiting   EU executive proposes new measures to combat --- counterfeiting and piracy   Brussels seeks a minimum sentence for goods forgery   EU draft law to recommend jail for pirating goods   US says Malaysia must step up anti-piracy efforts   US not ruled out WTO complaint over China   Carrefour JV to compensate for selling LV fakes in --- China   Cover Story WCO's Global Initiative for IPR Protection IPR Committee News - Supreme Prosecutors Office Meeting on "Criminal Investigations and Crackdowns" - EUCCK-German Patent & Trademark Office Discuss Current and Future Trends in IPR - Customs Protection and Enforcement of IPR European Business Organization - ECCT Focus on IPR Issues Member Profile - British American Tobacco Korea Joins IPR Committee Counterpart - Korea Customs Service:"Undertaking Greater Responsibility to Control Borders" Government Flash - KIPO Amends Patent Fee Rule - "KIPO's legal aid for IPRs wins positive responses” - KIPO opens 2006 Korea Patent Technology Transfer Exhibition IPR News - Counterfeiters making it all, be it eggs or drugs - NK Reliant on Fake Cigarettes for Funds - Researchers Get Patent for Blood Pressure Lowering ‘Chonggukchang' News in Brief - USTR: "Improvement still needed in China and Russia" - WIPO:"Launch of New Funding Mechanism for Indigenous and Local Communities" - WIPO:"World IP Day 2006 Focuses on the Power of Ideas" - EC:"Counterfeiting and piracy-Commission proposes criminal law provisions" - EC:"Commission welcomes changes to EU law to allow export of patented medicine" IP World News - M'sia's Image Improved Through Effective Anti-piracy Efforts - LVMH 'wins fake China goods case' - Microsoft's Gates Sees Vietnam Outsourcing Potential - China, Russia top blacklist in annual US trade review - U.N. body embraces indigenous ideas Did You Know? - IPR Theft Cause $200-$250B a year in revenue and roughly 750,000 jobs to date - LAO People's Democratic Republic and Honduras Accede to WIPO'S PCT   This Newsletter will be free of charge only for the Intellectual Property Rights Committee member companies and for selected EU-officials. Others can subscribe this monthly E-newsletter and the IPR Committee Internet service with an annual fee of 350,000 KRW. You can subscribe by contacting Jane Chungmin Yoo of EUCCK at eucsc@eucck.org. Please give us your comments about IPR E-newsletter by e-mail eucsc@eucck.org.       IPR Theft Cause $200-$250B a year in revenue and --- roughly 750,000 jobs to date     Intellectual Property (IP) theft costs foreign companies between $200-$250B a year in revenue and roughly 750,000 jobs to date. Counterfeit goods make up an estimated 5%-7% of world trade, resulting in lost economic opportunities domestically and abroad.   LAO People's Democratic Republic and Honduras --- Accede to WIPO’S PCT     The Lao People's Democratic Republic and Honduras became the 129th and 130th contracting states of the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) when they deposited their instruments of accession at WIPO on March 14, 2006 and March 20, 2006, respectively. The Treaty will enter into force for the Lao People's Democratic Republic on June 14, 2006, and for Honduras on June 20, 2006.