The United States of America and the Republic of China (hereafter “ROC”) have maintained copyright relations pursuant to the 1948 Treaty of Friendship, Commerce and Navigation, signed at Nonking November 4, 1946. Article IX of the treaty guaranteed, inter alia,
effective protection in the enjoyment of rights with respect to [the contracting parties'] literary and artistic works, upon compliance with the applicable laws and regulations, if any, respecting registration and other formalities which are or may thereafter be enforced by the constituted authorities; unauthorized reproduction, sale, diffusion or use of such literary and artistic works shall be prohibited, and effective remedy therefore, shall be provided by civil action.