On February 28, 2014, the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) issued a press release announcing the removal of Israel from the Special 301 Report Watch List, which identifies countries that neglect to sufficiently protect intellectual property rights.

The notice explains that, “USTR has created a “Priority Watch List” and a “Watch List” under the Special 301 provisions.  Placement of a trading partner on the Priority Watch List or the Watch List indicates that particular problems exist in that country with respect to IPR protection, or enforcement, or market access for persons relying on IPR.  The removal of a trading partner’s status from Priority Watch List to Watch List signifies that the partner has made progress towards resolving problems that exist with respect to these issues, and similarly for the removal of a trading partner’s status from the Watch List to no longer being listed in the Special 301 Report. “

Israel successfully passed and implemented a patent legislation satisfying the remaining obligations agreed to in a Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. and Israel in 2010.

The press release can be accessed online here.