Intellectual property: US points finger at Riyadh

Saudi Arabia has again been included on a priority watch list by US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer. Washington says this is due to its lax attitude to the protection of intellectual property rights. In a report issued on 30 April, the kingdom was listed among ten priority countries. Among the criticisms levelled at Saudi Arabia are its failure to take action against pirate satellite company BeoutQ, a lack of effective protection for pharmaceutical products and long-standing concerns about counterfeit goods.