Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04ABUDHABI577
2004-03-06 06:51:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Cable title:
UAE AUTHORITIES COLLABORATE WITH ABU DHABI TV TO
how-tonull Diana T Fritz 03/15/2007 03:08:44 PM From DB/Inbox: Search Results Cable Text: UNCLASSIFIED SIPDIS TELEGRAM March 06, 2004 To: No Action Addressee Action: Unknown From: AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI (ABU DHABI 577 - ROUTINE) TAGS: PREL, ETRD, KIPR Captions: None Subject: UAE AUTHORITIES COLLABORATE WITH ABU DHABI TV TO BUST IPR VIOLATORS Ref: None _________________________________________________________________ UNCLAS ABU DHABI 00577 SIPDIS CXABU: ACTION: ECON INFO: AMB DCM POL P/M Laser1: INFO: FCS DISSEMINATION: ECON CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: DCM: ALBRIGHT DRAFTED: ECON:CMCRUMPLER CLEARED: ECON:JOHN VZCZCADI320 RR RUEHC RUCNWTO RUCPDOC DE RUEHAD #0577 0660651 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 060651Z MAR 04 FM AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3386 INFO RUCNWTO/WORLD TRADE ORGANIZATION COLLECTIVE RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000577
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPR AND EB/IPC FOR WILSON
STATE PASS USTR - PECK AND BUNTIN
STATE PASS LOC - STEPP
USDOC FOR USPTO - URBAN, LASHLEY-JOHNSON
USDOC FOR KSCHLEGELMILCH
E.O. 12958: DECL: NA
TAGS: PREL KIPR ETRD TC
SUBJECT: UAE AUTHORITIES COLLABORATE WITH ABU DHABI TV TO
BUST IPR VIOLATORS
REFS: ABU DHABI 490 AND PREVIOUS
UNCLAS ABU DHABI 000577
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPR AND EB/IPC FOR WILSON
STATE PASS USTR - PECK AND BUNTIN
STATE PASS LOC - STEPP
USDOC FOR USPTO - URBAN, LASHLEY-JOHNSON
USDOC FOR KSCHLEGELMILCH
E.O. 12958: DECL: NA
TAGS: PREL KIPR ETRD TC
SUBJECT: UAE AUTHORITIES COLLABORATE WITH ABU DHABI TV TO
BUST IPR VIOLATORS
REFS: ABU DHABI 490 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) The UAE Ministry of Information enlisted Abu Dhabi
TV last week to film an undercover sting operation that
seized dozens of CDs and copyrighted software at a computer
store in Abu Dhabi. The Ministry of Information conducted
the raid -- touted as the first "camera ambush" in the Arab
world -- after surveilling the shop for several weeks, and
based on a tip-off from the Arabian Anti-Counterfeiting
Alliance (AAA) that the company was dealing in pirated
software.
2. (U) According to press reports, a representative of the
Ministry's Censorship Department (equipped with a hidden
microphone supplied by Abu Dhabi TV) entered the store
pretending to be an ordinary customer. Another Ministry
official watched the shop attendant sell pirated software
to the "customer," and then signaled to the camera team to
enter the shop and record the incident. Local police
arrested the shop owner and seized PCs loaded with pirated
software and several CDs of illegally copied software.
3. (U) Commenting on the raid, Chief Executive of AAA
Scott Butler said, "This raid signifies the UAE's
continuing campaign against violators of intellectual
property rights and its resolve to track down distributors
trading in pirated software as well as end-users breaking
the law." Under the Copyright Law of 2002, counterfeiters
in the UAE face two to nine months imprisonment and a fine
ranging from USD $2,700 to $55,000. The penalty is doubled
for repeat offenders according to the number of copyrights
violated.
4. (SBU) Comment: The UAEG stands at the forefront of
protecting intellectual property rights (IPR) in the region
(see ref). This report is further anecdotal evidence that
the UAEG vigorously is enforcing copyright, trademark and
patent laws passed in 2002 and even enlisting the local TV
station to collect evidence against IPR violators to be
used in court. According to figures collected by the
Business Software Alliance, the UAEG has trimmed the
incidence of software piracy from 86 percent in 1994 to 36
percent in 2002 -- the lowest in the region. End comment.
Wahba
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
STATE FOR NEA/ARP, NEA/PPR AND EB/IPC FOR WILSON
STATE PASS USTR - PECK AND BUNTIN
STATE PASS LOC - STEPP
USDOC FOR USPTO - URBAN, LASHLEY-JOHNSON
USDOC FOR KSCHLEGELMILCH
E.O. 12958: DECL: NA
TAGS: PREL KIPR ETRD TC
SUBJECT: UAE AUTHORITIES COLLABORATE WITH ABU DHABI TV TO
BUST IPR VIOLATORS
REFS: ABU DHABI 490 AND PREVIOUS
1. (U) The UAE Ministry of Information enlisted Abu Dhabi
TV last week to film an undercover sting operation that
seized dozens of CDs and copyrighted software at a computer
store in Abu Dhabi. The Ministry of Information conducted
the raid -- touted as the first "camera ambush" in the Arab
world -- after surveilling the shop for several weeks, and
based on a tip-off from the Arabian Anti-Counterfeiting
Alliance (AAA) that the company was dealing in pirated
software.
2. (U) According to press reports, a representative of the
Ministry's Censorship Department (equipped with a hidden
microphone supplied by Abu Dhabi TV) entered the store
pretending to be an ordinary customer. Another Ministry
official watched the shop attendant sell pirated software
to the "customer," and then signaled to the camera team to
enter the shop and record the incident. Local police
arrested the shop owner and seized PCs loaded with pirated
software and several CDs of illegally copied software.
3. (U) Commenting on the raid, Chief Executive of AAA
Scott Butler said, "This raid signifies the UAE's
continuing campaign against violators of intellectual
property rights and its resolve to track down distributors
trading in pirated software as well as end-users breaking
the law." Under the Copyright Law of 2002, counterfeiters
in the UAE face two to nine months imprisonment and a fine
ranging from USD $2,700 to $55,000. The penalty is doubled
for repeat offenders according to the number of copyrights
violated.
4. (SBU) Comment: The UAEG stands at the forefront of
protecting intellectual property rights (IPR) in the region
(see ref). This report is further anecdotal evidence that
the UAEG vigorously is enforcing copyright, trademark and
patent laws passed in 2002 and even enlisting the local TV
station to collect evidence against IPR violators to be
used in court. According to figures collected by the
Business Software Alliance, the UAEG has trimmed the
incidence of software piracy from 86 percent in 1994 to 36
percent in 2002 -- the lowest in the region. End comment.
Wahba