BOLIVIA'S NATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

UNCLAS LA PAZ 000837

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/IPE AADAMO AND WHA/AND LPETRONI
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR BHARMAN
STATE PASS TO USPTO
COMMERCE FOR JANGLIN
TREASURY FOR SGOOCH

SENSITIVE, SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIPR EINV ECON BL
SUBJECT: BOLIVIA'S NATIONAL INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
SERVICE IN "REVOLUTION"



1. (SBU) Summary: The acting director of Bolivia's
National Intellectual Property Service recently told us
the organization is in "revolution." Structure, scope,
and staffing are under review, as are various units'
efficiency. Significant changes could put at risk the
organization's USAID-supported institutionalization
process and undermine advances in staff expertise,
professionalization, and customer service. The
director's technical expertise and interest in
intellectual property rights (IPR) issues are far from
clear, and prospects for improved IPR protection are
not bright. End summary.


2. (SBU) Claudia Solares, Acting Director of Bolivia's
National Intellectual Property Service (SENAPI),told
us March 17 that the organization is undergoing a
"revolution." The body's structure and scope,
implemented under its former director as part of a
USAID-supported institutionalization process, are under
review, as are staff recruitment and hiring processes.
Individual units, meanwhile, are being evaluated for
expertise and efficiency. Solares told us she hoped to
centralize intellectual property rights (IPR) issues in
a single body and expand SENAPI's influence in GOB-wide
IPR debates.


3. (SBU) Employees hired under the institutionalization
process, Solares said, will remain until she and others
complete evaluations of their job descriptions.
Solares commented that she recognized employees'
technical expertise but wanted to be sure SENAPI staff
were hired in accordance with approved employment
standards. These, like everything else, are under
review.


4. (SBU) Significant changes could put at risk the
organization's USAID-supported institutionalization
process and undermine advances in staff expertise,
professionalization, and customer service. In early
2003, USAID-supported consultants and staff began a
broad evaluation of SENAPI's legal framework and
suggested ways to improve customer service. Many of
these recommendations were implemented, with SENAPI
creating a patent database and significantly improving
staff expertise. Employees made use of USAID-provided
computer equipment to modernize SENAPI's operations and
improve the speed with which they evaluated patent
applications. These efforts resulted in a
substantially more professional organization, which
could be weakened if professional staff hired on merit
are replaced by politically connected individuals.


5. (SBU) Comment: Solares seemed overwhelmed,
unfamiliar with SENAPI's history and lacking in
recommendations and technical expertise. The
effectiveness of her leadership and the new
administration's interest in intellectual property
rights issues are far from clear, and prospects for
improved IPR protection are not bright. End comment.

GREENLEE