April 28, 2022
AAP Welcomes 2022 USTR Special 301 Report Addressing Copyright Protection and Enforcement Issues in Key Markets
The Association of American Publishers (AAP) welcomes the release of the 2022 Special 301 Report by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR). The Special 301 Report serves the critical function of identifying continuing impediments to the ability of U.S. copyright owners to compete successfully in foreign markets, including markets of importance to the U.S. publishing industry.
China remains on the Priority Watch List, with the Report again noting the prevalence of online piracy and the significant obstacles to releasing legitimate content into the market, given China’s stringent content review requirements. While Canada has made progress with respect to the certain IP and enforcement issues, per its obligations under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement, the country continues on the Watch List, given the U.S government’s continuing concerns with the “ambiguous education-related exception added to the copyright law in 2012,” and “high levels of online piracy.”
“AAP is grateful for the work of USTR and its interagency colleagues highlighting areas of concern for U.S. rights holders, including publishers, through the Special 301 process. These efforts promote the importance of a robust copyright protection and adequate enforcement framework – essential to publishers’ continued ability to deliver engaging content that informs, educates, and entertains,” said Lui Simpson, Senior Vice President for Global Policy at AAP.
The 2022 Special 301 Report is available here.