A report by the US Trade Representative says Kiev had failed to fight internet piracy¹ and the use of illegal software. 

 

Such software was even being used by government agencies, it adds. Ukraine has been warned it could lose trade benefits if it fails to act. 

 

The report also raises grave concerns about the alleged² misappropriation of trade secrets in China.

 

This is threat to both US companies and national security, it adds.

 

In the USTR's annual 2013 Special 301 Special Report, Ukraine is, uniquely, dubbed³ a "Priority Foreign Country" - the USTR's rarely used, bottom-tier judgement of how countries around the world are protecting US patents, copyrights and other forms of intellectual property rights (IPR).

 

"I regret that the government of Ukraine has earned the first new Priority Foreign Country designation in 11 years due to its severely⁴ deteriorating⁵ climate for IPR protection and market access, and call upon that government to reverse recent backsliding and swiftly resolve the problems identified today," said acting⁶ US Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis in a statement.

 

"Rogue⁷" groups with links to the Ukrainian government collect music royalties⁸, falsely claiming they are authorised to do so, the report says. There is no remedial action by the government, which itself is a leading user of unauthorised software, it adds.

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