CAFTA: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DELIVERS QUARTERLY

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001861 SIPDIS DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, WHA/EPSC, EB/TPP/IPE; DEPT PASS USTR; USDOC FOR USPTO (BOLAND); DEPT PASS LIBRARY OF CONGRESS FOR COPYRIGHT OFFICE; WHITE HOUSE FOR USTR FOR REGINA VARGO, A MALITO, B PECK E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: DR ETRD KIPR SUBJECT: CAFTA: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DELIVERS QUARTERLY REPORT ON BROADCAST PIRACY ENFORCEMENT ¶1. On April 4 the Dominican Minister of Industry and Commerce signed off on the January 2005 report on enforcement measures against broadcast piracy agreed in the side letter to the regional free trade agreement (CAFTA) and his staff delivered the text to the Embassy on April 5. Embassy is faxing the text to USTR and sending originals to WHA/CAR for copying and distribution. ¶2. Minister Javier Garcia signed the cover letter transmitting the report to Regina Vargo of USTR. Following are measures summarized in the report and supported by accompanying documentation: -- Attorney General's Office Preliminary investigation of cases 18-1104 against Channel 20, Case 19-1104 against Channel 6, Case 20-1104 against Channel 5 Telemicro,and Case 20-1104 against Channel 15. Each case cites plaintiff as "Paramount Pictures, Twentieth Century Fox FIlm and Tristar Pictures, Warner Brothers." -- Copyright Office Creation of a section for complaints, reconciliation and anti-piracy; workshop given to staff by Telecoms Institute (INDOTEL) concerning cable retransmission; issuance of Resolution 03-05 of January 25 imposing a fine on a cable company for failing to register with the copyright office; issuance of Decision 01-05 of (no date given) convoking the firm "Tecnicos de Cables por television" for discussion in view of reconciliation with the firm Redes Telvisivas Satelital. -- Telecommunications Institute (INDOTEL) INDOTEL management confirm their availability to examine any cases of IP infractions presented to them. The current INDOTEL board has issued no resolutions or decisions, since plaintiffs in cases currently active have preferred to go directly to the Attorney General's Office. HERTELL