Bulgaria is no longer listed among U.S. trading partners that are considered to be inadequately protecting intellectual property rights, according to the latest Special 301 Report released by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
The report, published under the administration of President Donald Trump, highlights Bulgaria’s removal from the Watch List for 2026. The USTR attributed this decision to substantial enforcement measures and progress in criminal prosecutions related to intellectual property violations over the past year.
According to the 2026 Special 301 Report, Bulgarian authorities undertook decisive actions in January 2026. Law enforcement officials seized the five most popular Bulgarian piracy domains, executed search and seizure warrants at 30 different locations, and arrested several individuals connected to intellectual property crimes.
The USTR’s annual Special 301 Report evaluates the global state of intellectual property protection and enforcement among U.S. trading partners. Placement on the Watch List signals concerns about a country’s IP regime, while removal is seen as recognition of meaningful improvements.
The report specifically noted, “Bulgaria is removed from the Watch List this year due to significant enforcement actions and progress in criminal prosecutions during the past year.”
The enforcement efforts in Bulgaria included coordinated operations targeting online piracy, which has been a persistent issue in the region. The seizure of high-traffic piracy domains and the execution of numerous search and seizure warrants marked a notable escalation in Bulgaria’s approach to combating intellectual property infringement.
The arrests made during these operations further underscored the country’s commitment to addressing criminal activity in the intellectual property sphere.
Bulgaria’s removal from the Watch List is expected to positively influence its trade relations with the United States and may serve as a model for other nations seeking to improve their standing in the USTR’s annual review.
Bulgaria Removed from U.S. Intellectual Property Watch List Following Enforcement Gains The United States Trade Representative has officially removed Bulgaria from its Special 301 Watch List, recognizing the country’s recent progress in enforcing intellectual property rights. The decision follows a series... Read the full IIPLA article: https://iipla.org/news/bulgaria-removed-from-u-s-intellectual-property-watch-list-following-enforcement-gains