Request for speaker on intellectual property rights

UNCLAS KINGSTON 001581

SIPDIS

FOR IIP/G/WHA CBARONE; INFO WHA/PDA APRUITT; RBANKS; INFO
EB/TPP/IPE AADAMO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO JM
SUBJECT: Request for speaker on intellectual property rights
issues


1. SUMMARY: Post seeks speaker to discuss intellectual
property rights (IPR) issues with Jamaicans, including "fair
use" by librarians and educators; video, film and music
piracy; detection and law enforcement; and pending patent
legislation. END SUMMARY.


2. Proposed program dates: August 29 to September 9, 2005
(three program days).


3. MPP Strategic Goal: Economic Prosperity and Security.


4. Program purpose: To raise Jamaican public awareness of
IPR issues. Three intellectual property acts were passed in

1999. The private, print oriented Jamaica Copyright
Licensing Agency (JAMCOPY) was established in 1998. The
Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO),an agency of
the Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology, was
established in 2001. While still under consideration by a
Parliamentary Council, new patent laws have been pushed off
the legislative calendar by more pressing anti-crime issues.
Legislation is expected to go to the House of
Representatives in the next year or so.

Jamaicans are very proud of their unique cultural products,
often expressing outrage when they are "faked." On the
other hand, students - and their teachers - will make
multiple copies of a textbook without considering it wrong.
The piracy of musical product is blatant and widespread. A
message that IPR "works both ways," pointing out how
developing countries such as Jamaica can use intellectual
property for their own benefit, with examples of the
economic damage of poor IPR enforcement, could be
particularly effective. In that respect a major Jamaican
IPR concern is enforcement of existing laws. Only five
police officers are assigned to address breaches of the
current legislation. Customs officers need training to
detect counterfeit goods. Identifying solutions in light of
limited resources would be positive.


5. Audience: Representatives of GOJ agencies; private
sector representatives; librarians and book publishers;
educators; customs and law enforcement officers; print and
broadcast journalists.


6. Proposed topics and nature of events: A workshop with
JIPO and invited stakeholders on public education and
enforcement issues; a National Library of Jamaica
presentation and dialogue with librarians and educators;
breakfast meeting and address to chamber of commerce on IPR
benefits for local business and trade; meetings with law
enforcement officials; media interviews.


7. Type of specialist required: An expert from an
organization such as the International Intellectual Property
Institute who is able to focus on core IPR issues and how
they affect us all, while being able to address more
specific local and regional concerns raised by different
stakeholders.


8. Language: English.


9. Funding specifics: I Bucks.


10. Post program officer: Glenn Guimond, PAO, tel: (876)
935-6053; fax: (876) 929-3637; email: guimondg@state.gov.
Back-up program officers: Emma Lewis, PAA, tel: (876) 935-
6009; fax: (876) 929-3637; email: lewisec@state.gov; and
Myrna Lewis, IRC Director, tel: (876) 935-6016; fax: (876)
929-3637; email: lewismi@state.gov. Tighe