Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
04AMMAN8404
2004-10-07 16:09:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Amman
Cable title:  

JORDAN CAUTIOUSLY RECEPTIVE TO "STOP" INITIATIVE

Tags:  ECON ETRD KIPR KPAO KTIA JO WTRO 
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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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.

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