JORDAN CAUTIOUSLY RECEPTIVE TO "STOP" INITIATIVE

UNCLAS AMMAN 008404 SIPDIS SENSITIVE STATE PASS TO USTR - E. SAUMS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR KPAO KTIA JO WTRO SUBJECT: JORDAN CAUTIOUSLY RECEPTIVE TO "STOP" INITIATIVE REF: A. STATE 214134 ¶B. AMMAN 6508 ¶C. AMMAN 2574 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. FOR USG USE ONLY. ¶1. (SBU) SUMMARY: Embassy October 7 delivered reftel information on the "Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy" (STOP) to Mahmoun Talhouni, Director General of the National Library, who oversees Jordan's IPR Enforcement Unit. Embassy also delivered the reftel non-paper to The Ministry of Industry and Trade office on WTO and Trade Policy. Charge will raise "STOP" with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Industry and Trade Mohammad Halaiqa at the next available opportunity. Early indications are that the GOJ is receptive to this IPR initiative by its FTA trade partner and largest export market, but cautious about what the next strategic steps might be in Jordan. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (SBU) National Library's Talhouni listened intently to a brief summary of the STOP initiative and indicated an interest in seeking out opportunities to advance IPR in Jordan. But he lamented the lack of public support for IPR enforcement from the private sector and noted that more public awareness was needed across the board. He was especially interested in private sector initiatives. Caution Until Copyright Law Passes in December -------------- - ¶3. (SBU) Turning to pending amendments to the temporary Copyright Law under review by parliament, Talhouni said that he thought this law would be at the top of the agenda when parliament resumed in December, given that an article-by-article review considered half the bill in July, just before recess (Ref B). The amendments track closely with those the U.S. proposed last year to seek closer adherence to its Free Trade Agreement obligations (Ref C). ¶4. (SBU) The press had put the spotlight on him during the last debate, Talhouni complained, and he was "all alone" when critics said his enforcement unit abused it powers. Those who benefit most from IPR protections (e.g. the private audiotape and DVD distributors) had done nothing to advance their interests in the public sphere, he said. For now, his approach was to be low key, and avoid doing anything to provoke a reaction to the copyright law amendments. He indicated being more amenable to proactive measures, especially to promote public awareness of IPR, once the law had passed. He was strongly in favor of more private sector participation in these activities, including more action by distributors to fulfill requirements in criminal complaints. ¶5. (SBU) Embassy expects a more detailed response to the STOP initiative once GOJ interlocutors have had time to digest the particulars. HALE