The US Congressional International Anti-Piracy Caucus has added Switzerland and Italy on its 2012 watchlist of countries with 'copyright piracy problems.' They join China, Russia and Ukraine. "The lack of enforcement of intellectual property rights in these countries causes grave harm to American creators and to our economy as a whole," says the report. Switzerland and Italy make their first appearance on the list.

Piracy in Italy continues to hurt both Italian and American creators, according to the Caucus. "To date, there has not been a sufficient legislative framework for addressing the problem, or clear leadership in developing one. Italy's Regulatory Communications Authority (AGCOM) was unable to pass much-needed reforms to combat piracy, leaving rights holders without the tools to efficiently and effectively enforce their rights. Without substantial reforms, the piracy problem will continue unabated in Italy and the widespread perception will endure that illegal downloading is not harmful."

Switzerland's copyright law is inadequate, the report points out, "making it a home for rogue sites whose clear purpose is to facilitate and enable massive unauthorized making available of pirated material. It must be updated to provide for meaningful enforcement efforts against digital piracy."

Until these changes are made, Switzerland will continue to be a magnet for rogue sites, says the Caucus report. "Switzerland must ensure basic accountability for enterprises that profit from widespread infringement and clarify that copying from illegal sources is illegal. In doing so, Switzerland will fulfill its obligations under the World Intellectual Property Organisation's Internet Treaties and other international copyright norms."

To add insult to injury, WIPO is headquartered in Geneva.

Story filed 05.10.12