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Intellectual Property
The culture of respect for intellectual property rights in Laos is essentially similar to that found in Cambodia and Vietnam – namely, there is little tradition or public reinforcement that supports such rights. The fact that Laos’ economy is so small, however, means that it presents far less of a threat to international commerce and foreign investment than that presented in particular by Vietnam, in that Laos produces no pirated materials and consumes few. For example, notwithstanding the lack of effective infrastructure in support of IPR, Laos is not on USTR’s Section 301 “Watch List” for 2006.
The country’s long-term interest in joining the World Trade Organization may force Laos to acknowledge IPR as a priority, after which the development and implementation of a comprehensive legal framework may follow. One other source of pressure for IPR protection may be the foreign investment community, particularly as foreigners seek to take advantage of Laos’ low wage scale to manufacture products demanding design protection.
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