Our sources indicate that a new Criminal Code entered into effect on January 1, 1998, broadening protection against violations of all manner of intellectual property rights, and introducing substantial penalties, including fines and imprisonment.

Among the more interesting provisions of the Code are prohibitions on intentional misleading advertising, repeated instances of false marking with respect to trademarks or appellations of origin, theft of trade secrets and the illegal use or disclosure thereof and the "unlawful access to computer information, and creation, use and dissemination of programs harmful to computers".

It is hoped that the new Code will provide greater disincentives to those who might otherwise violate intellectual property rights.