KUWAITI GOVERNOR PLEDGES IPR SUPPORT

UNCLAS KUWAIT 002451 SIPDIS DEPT PASS USTR J. BUNTIN E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KIPR ETRD KU USTR SUBJECT: KUWAITI GOVERNOR PLEDGES IPR SUPPORT REF: A. KUWAIT 01989 ¶B. STATE 123166 ¶1. SUMMARY. As part of a new push for much needed intellectual property rights (IPR) reform in Kuwait, following the release in May of the latest Special 301 review (reftels),the Ambassador met June 3 with the Governor of Hawally, where most of Kuwait's pirated goods are repeatedly produced and sold. The Ambassador voiced his concern that Kuwait's poor record on IPR protection and enforcement was tarnishing its image to investors and was possibly linked to more serious crimes, such as drug sales and terrorist financing. The Governor agreed and said he was willing to support the USG in its efforts, including meeting with the Minister of Interior to discuss ways to improve enforcement of Kuwait's copyright laws. END SUMMARY. ¶2. On June 3, 2003, the Ambassador met with the Governor of Hawally, AbdulHameed Haji AbdulRaheem, and members of his staff to discuss IPR issues in Kuwait. AbdulRaheem served for 15 years in Kuwait's Ministry of Interior before becoming governor three years ago. Hawally, one of six governorates in the country, is the site of the majority of Kuwait's sale of illegal audio visual goods, which account for 95 percent of the motion pictures and nearly 65 percent of the music sold in the country, according to latest industry estimates. The Ambassador was joined by Econoff as notetaker and a Foreign Commercial Service specialist. ¶3. The Ambassador explained to AbdulRaheem that with the release of the Special 301 review the Embassy was undertaking a new push for IPR reform in Kuwait. This effort included encouraging the GOK to pass amendments to its copyright law (as it promised to do more than a year ago) and seeking ways to assist the GOK in curbing rampant IPR violations. The Ambassador noted that copyright violations continue to pose a serious problem and are tarnishing Kuwait's image among investors, resulting in a large loss of revenue to other countries in the region. He also voiced concern over the link between IPR piracy and other crimes, including the prospect of terrorist financing, as many of the pirated goods entering Kuwait come from Indonesia, Pakistan, and other countries known for terrorist activities. ¶4. The Ambassador said he met recently with members of industry (including from Microsoft and the Motion Picture Association),who claimed that the main problem in Kuwait was one of enforcement, deriving from the fact that Kuwait's Ministry of Information has the authority but lacks the manpower or will to make adequate arrests. AbdulRaheem agreed that the police force, under the Ministry of Interior, would be more effective at making raids and leading investigations, should they be granted the legal authority to do so. ¶5. AbdulRaheem said he would be willing to meet with the Minister of Interior to discuss ways to restructure the present system so that the police might become more involved. He also pledged his support to the Ambassador in the Embassy's efforts to encourage IPR reform in Kuwait. The Ambassador, in turn, said he would ask to meet with the Ministers of Information and Interior to discuss this issue. JONES