JIPA Rolls Out Plans for Intellectual Property

UNCLAS AMMAN 003863

SIPDIS

STATE PASS USPTO for URBAN
STATE PASS USTR for SAUMS
USDOC for 4520/ITA/MAC/ONE/PTHANOS
STATE PASS USAID

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIPR ETRD EINV JO
SUBJECT: JIPA Rolls Out Plans for Intellectual Property
Week



1. (U) The Jordanian Intellectual Property Association
(JIPA) announced at a June 25 fund-raising breakfast plans
for its upcoming Intellectual Property Week (IP Week) to be
held in Amman, Jordan on August 11-14, 2003. The weeklong
workshop is the first of its kind in the region and JIPA
hopes to make it an annual event. Amongst other donors,
the USAID-funded AMIR program financed the launch event.
In addition to providing programmatic details, IP Week
organizers solicited participants to sponsor events during
the conference.


2. (U) Academics, policy-makers, and industry leaders will
gather at IP Week to address a variety of issues including:
protection and enforcement; intellectual assets as a
vehicle for economic growth and business expansion;
knowledge management; compliance with international trade
treaties. Invited speakers include Jordanian government
officials, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, World
Intellectual Property Organization, USAID, and the
International Intellectual Property Institute. IP Week will
also showcase the key sectors of audiovisual products,
anti-counterfeiting, books and publications, information
technology and pharmaceuticals by holding a sideline
exhibition of products and services.


3. (U) A brainchild of JIPA chairman Murad Bushnaq, IP
week should serve to highlight Jordan's place at the front
of the regional pack in the IPR protection arena. The
event, which will build on the buzz created by the World
Economic Forum Extraordinary Meeting at the Dead Sea June
21-23 (reported septels),may also signal to potential
investors in IP-sensitive sectors that Jordan can provide a
hospitable investment and operating environment.
Organizers at the June 25 breakfast said they were already
receiving expressions of interest from companies throughout
the region, Europe, and the U.S., and expected a strong
turnout for IP Week events.
GNEHM