Cook Islands News reported that Mr Hagan, chairman of the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) working committee, has said that the government has accepted an offer from the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) to help draft the legislation, a process he expects to have been completed by June 2006.

"The new laws will be harmonised with international agreements and will mean that the laws will meet all international requirements," Mr Hagan was quoted as saying in the report.

Once completed, the draft legislation will be made available by the Ministry of Justice comment for comment from stakeholders and other interested parties. The final draft will go to Crown Law before being submitted to parliament.

The news that the Cook Islands is forging ahead with updated IP laws comes after it was reported last month that a local politician is facing legal action for allegedly selling pirated copies of 'King Kong,' directed by Peter Jackson, of 'Lord of the Rings' fame, only four days after the movie's premiere.

It is understood that United International Pictures is preparing possible legal action against the culprit, although legal experts have said that the scam is not technically illegal in the Cook Islands as IP laws do not currently extend to digital media such as DVDs.