Taipei, Jan 17, SPA - Taiwan Saturday welcomed a US decision toremove the island from the so-called Special 301 watch list ofcountries failing to protect intellectual property rights, reported dpa. "This shows our efforts to stamp out violation of intellectualproperty rights have borne fruit," said Wang Mei-hua, director of theIntellectual Property Office under the Economics Ministry. She said the government will do all it can to uphold protection ofIPRs in Taiwan. Her comment came after US Trade Representative's Office (USTR)announced Friday the removal of Taiwan from its watch list, whichwarns countries of possible trade sanction retaliation if they failto protect intellectual property. US trade spokesman Sean Spicer said in Washington Taiwan has comea long way over the past eight years to improve serious IPRinfringements on the island. "In 2001, USTR called Taiwan 'a haven for pirates.' Today, Taiwanhas strengthened its enforcement, strengthened its laws, anddemonstrated a commitment to becoming a haven for innovation andcreativity," said Spicer in a statement. He said the decision to remove Taiwan from the list is the resultof an out-of-cycle review announced in the 2008 Special 301 reportissued in April last year. The review concluded that Taiwan made further progress inimproving its overall intellectual property rights enforcementclimate in 2008. Measures adopted by the island includedestablishment of a special intellectual property court,further efforts to improve implementation of the action plan forprotection on school campuses, and progress toward passage ofamendments to the copyright law. He, however, said the United States would continue to monitorTaiwan's efforts in upholding intellectual property protection,including enactment of pending legislation to fight internet piracy,and tightening customs and border checks against import and export ofpirated products.--SPA www.spa.gov.sa/626782