CHINA . . . INTELLECTUAL PIRATES ARE NO LONGER COOL

Facing the threat of tough U.S. sanctions, the Chinese government is urging its citizens to stop buying pirated intellectual products, the sale of which robs American producers of more than $1 billion a year. The move by the government came after copyright talks between the two countries broke down last week. U.S Trade Representative Mickey Kantor had warned that $2.8 billion of Chinese exports to the United States could be hit with punitive tariffs if Beijing does not halt piracy of U.S. software, movies and music. Chinese officials said today that in addition to the new public information campaign, it will make changes this year in its copyright laws to give greater protection to owners of foreign copyrights.