[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Con. Res. 230 Enrolled Bill (ENR)]


        H.Con.Res.230
                                     Agreed to December 22, 2005        

                       One Hundred Ninth Congress

                                 of the

                        United States of America


                          AT THE FIRST SESSION

          Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday,
            the fourth day of January, two thousand and five


                          Concurrent Resolution

Whereas the protection of intellectual property is critical to the 
  Nation's economic competitiveness in the 21st century;

Whereas Russia remains on the Special 301 Priority Watch List compiled 
  by the United States Trade Representative (USTR), and the Congress is 
  gravely concerned about the failure of the Russian Federation to live 
  up to international standards in the protection of intellectual 
  property rights, a core American asset;

Whereas the Congress wants to ensure that the Russian Federation 
  redoubles its efforts to adopt and enforce aggressive laws, policies, 
  and practices in the fight against piracy and counterfeiting;

Whereas the Congress is particularly concerned that the Russian 
  Federation is, in the words of Senate Concurrent Resolution 28, a 
  place where ``piracy that is open and notorious is permitted to 
  operate without meaningful hindrance from the government'';

Whereas, according to USTR, enforcement of intellectual property rights 
  in Russia ``remains weak and caused substantial losses for the U.S. 
  copyright, trademark, and patent industries in the last year. Piracy 
  in all copyright sectors continues unabated, and the U.S. copyright 
  industry estimated losses of $1.7 billion in 2004.'';

Whereas the Russian Federation must understand that failure to 
  adequately protect and enforce intellectual property rights will have 
  political and economic ramifications for its relationship with the 
  United States;

Whereas accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) represents an 
  agreement to conform one's practices to the rule of law, and to 
  international standards in the WTO Agreement on Trade Related Aspects 
  of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS);

Whereas notwithstanding some recent legislative improvements, Russia's 
  regime to protect intellectual property rights does not conform with 
  TRIPS standards;

Whereas the United States can ill afford deterioration of the world 
  trading system by permitting the entry of a country into the WTO that 
  has not demonstrated its willingness and ability to conform its 
  practices to the requirements of the TRIPS; and

Whereas the leaders of the G-8, including President Putin of the 
  Russian Federation, recently pledged to reduce intellectual property 
  piracy through more effective enforcement: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved by the House of Representatives (the Senate concurring), 
That it is the sense of the Congress that--
        (1) the Russian Federation should provide adequate and 
    effective protection of intellectual property rights, or it risks 
    losing its eligibility to participate in the Generalized System of 
    Preferences (GSP) program; and
        (2) as part of its effort to accede to the World Trade 
    Organization, the Russian Federation must ensure that intellectual 
    property is securely protected in law and in practice, by 
    demonstrating that the country is willing and able to meet its 
    international obligations in this respect.
  Attest:

                                 Clerk of the House of Representatives.

  Attest:

                                               Secretary of the Senate.