accession to the World Trade Organization in 2001, China's laws regarding intellectual property rights were largely weak and ineffective, even though there were some laws on the books that were designed to protect these rights. Much of this ineffectiveness is attributed to the state-controlled economy that was in place that made observation and respect for domestic and international intellectual property rights dispensable. In its efforts to accede to the World Trade Organization and in response to pressure from the international community in general and the United States and European Union in particular, China has undertaken a number of significant reforms of its domestic and international regulatory framework that have been intended to harmonize its laws with those of the international community. While some observers continue to maintain that these efforts fall short of complete reform, most authorities agree that China has made significant strides in its efforts to make meaningful...
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