Taipei, Jan. 13 (CNA) President Chen Shui-bian vowed to step up the crackdown on intellectual property rights (IPR) piracy and expressed the hope Monday that the United States will provide information to help Taiwan prosecute offenders.
The president made the remarks when he received James Sensenbrenner, chairman of U.S. House Judiciary Committee, at the Presidential Office.
Chen welcomed Sensenbrenner, who last came to Taiwan as chairman of the House Committee on Science in 2000, for his long-term concern and support of Taiwan.
The president said that Sensenbrenner has contributed a great deal to judicial exchanges and cooperation between the two nations, helping the visit of ROC Judiciary Yuan President Weng Yueh-sheng and Justice Minister Chen Ding-nan's visit to the U.S. last year, and Antonio Scalia, the U.S. Supreme Court justice's visit to Taiwan in September.
The president said that he knew the U.S. government, congress and the people are concerned about Taiwan's protection of the IPR, adding that it "will be his responsibility" to protect the IPR as the national leader.
Sensenbrenner noted that the IPR protection and the rampant piracy in Taiwan has seriously affected bilateral trade relations, and hindered the talks on signing a free trade agreement between the two nations.
He said that piracy in Taiwan, as a member of the World Trade Organization, will no longer be a problem between Taipei and Washington, but will be an international issue.
He suggested that Taiwan vigorously implement the law, severely punish those who infringe on IPRs, and plug the distribution channels of pirated products to strengthen IPR protection.
Both President Chen and Sensenbrenner agreed that intellectual property is a major source for economic development, saying that those who steal new technology from others are "thieves and pirates," and are "uncivilized and criminal."