US Software Publishers Support Ratification of NAFTA
Major Trade Group Endorses Agreement

October 5, 1993 (Washington, D.C.) - The Software Publishers Association
(SPA) has come out in favor of the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA), Executive Director Ken Wasch announced today. The SPA is the
principal trade association of the personal computer software industry,
with a membership of over 1,000 large and small companies that develop and
market business, consumer, and education software products.

"NAFTA will result in significant new protection for copyrighted computer
software in Mexico, while cementing improvements Mexico has made
unilaterally to open its economy," said Wasch. "It would encourage further
expansion of the Mexican market, and establish a framework for
safeguarding software from piracy in other parts of the world."

Mexico is the third largest and fastest-growing market for US exports,
according to the office of the US Trade Representative, and it promises to
be an increasingly important market for software. A recent SPA survey of
15 companies reported that combined sales of their software in Mexico
topped $10 million in the first quarter 1993 alone. The passage of NAFTA
would eliminate many restrictions on the sale of US products, including
software.

The SPA is encouraged by the NAFTA requirements that will ensure that
Mexican law will protect software publishers from the potential for
widespread piracy. According to Wasch, NAFTA will do just that by
requiring Mexico to:

(1) Continue protecting computer programs as literary works;

(2) Protect databases and other compilations in machine readable or other
form by virtue of their selection or arrangement;

(3) Provide businesses with a minimum of 50 years of copyright protection
for works made by employees in the course of their jobs;

(4) Give software publishers the exclusive right to distribute copyrighted
software, including the right to prohibit unauthorized rental and
importation.

NAFTA would also, under some circumstances, entitle copyright owners to a
highly effective weapon against software piracy -- the preliminary
injunction. This court order, which forbids the marketing of allegedly
infringing products soon after an infringement suit is brought, is often
granted by US courts, but has traditionally been refused by Mexican
courts. Under NAFTA, Mexican courts would be required to grant copyright
owners preliminary injunctions under conditions similar to those under US
law.

"In recent years, Mexico has significantly improved copyright protection
for computer software," said Wasch. For example, in 1991, Mexico updated
its copyright law, and now computer programs enjoy copyright protection as
literary works, just as they do in the US. "NAFTA should be ratified to
cement these legal changes, and prevent a return to the protectionist
environment of the past," Wasch concluded.

The advantages for software owners are not limited to Mexico. Canada would
also be required to make changes in its copyright law, including granting
software owners a rental right, which would prevent unauthorized lending
of software, which can contribute to piracy.

According to Ilene Rosenthal, general counsel of the SPA, "NAFTA should
also be ratified to maintain US credibility in ongoing international
negotiations in intellectual property and overseas trade. The intellectual
property provisions of NAFTA embody many of the principles software
publishers consider vital to protect and enforce their rights, including
national treatment for foreign works and customs procedure for blocking
imports of unauthorized software." NAFTA would provide the US with a
stronger negotiating position with international competitors, such as the
European Community and Japan.

The Software Publishers Association is the principal trade association of
the PC software industry. Its 1,000 members represent the leading
publishers in the business, consumer, and education markets. The SPA has
offices in Washington, DC, and Paris, France.

Software Publishers Association
1730 M St, Northwest, Suite 700, Washington, D.C. 20036
202-452-1600,  Fax: 202-223-8756

 ============================================================
 From the  'New Product Information'  Electronic News Service
 ============================================================
 This information was processed from data provided by the
 above mentioned company. For additional details, contact 
 the company at the address or telephone number indicated.
 OmniPage Pro is now used for converting all printed input! 
 ============================================================
 All submissions for this service should be addressed to:
 BAKER ENTERPRISES,  20 Ferro Dr,  Sewell, NJ  08080  U.S.A.
 Email: RBakerPC (AOL/Delphi), rbakerpc@delphi.com (Internet)
 ============================================================
