IPR SEMINAR RAISES AWARENESS, BUILDS BRIDGES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MUSCAT 000103 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR NEA/ARPI, EB/TPP/MTA/IPC STATE ALSO NEA/PPD (R.SMITH) COMMERCE FOR USPTO/DPOGODA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD EIND PREL KIPR KMPI KPAO MU SUBJECT: IPR SEMINAR RAISES AWARENESS, BUILDS BRIDGES REF: DUBAI 326 -------------- SUMMARY -------------- ¶1. The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO),with MEPI funding, held a successful intellectual property rights (IPR) seminar for Arab prosecutors in Muscat from January 22-24. Following a similar program for judges in Dubai (reftel),the event drew over 45 participants from the MEPI region. The seminar brought together public and private sector representatives to highlight the importance of IPR protection to both economic growth and public safety. In a side conversation with Econoff, a leading Omani IPR expert expressed his government's continued desire to receive technical assistance, especially in areas focused on IPR investigative techniques. Our aggressive public diplomacy efforts paid off with extensive press coverage throughout the 3-day event. End Summary. -------------- BRINGING PROSECUTORS TOGETHER -------------- ¶2. From January 22 to 24, the USPTO, in conjunction with MEPI, sponsored a prosecutorial seminar on the enforcement of IPR to over 45 participants from Algeria, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. The seminar used feature presentations, panel discussions, and case studies to address the various types of intellectual property, the importance of intellectual property rights enforcement to economic growth and the safety of public health, the drafting of criminal intellectual property rights laws and regulations, the techniques used to investigate and prosecute intellectual property rights crimes, and best practices on intellectual property rights protection. ¶3. In their opening remarks, the Ambassador and Omani Supreme Court President Shaykh Ishaq bin Ahmad al-Busaidi emphasized the importance of protecting intellectual property rights. Shaykh Ishaq stressed that the government of Oman has made great efforts to protect intellectual property, and has worked to enact international regulations to meet its obligations. He said that Oman has worked closely with the USG to raise awareness of IPR enforcement in Oman, and thanked the USG for our extensive training and outreach efforts in the Sultanate. ¶4. In addition to presentations from the USPTO and the U.S. Department of Justice, an official from Oman's Office of Public Prosecution provided a comprehensive overview of Oman's legal framework for the protection of intellectual property. During his presentation, the official made reference to the fact that Oman was free of criminal IPR violations, as the system did not register any IPR criminal cases in either 2004 or 2005. -------------- PRIVATE SECTOR LENDS A HELPING HAND -------------- ¶5. Private sector representatives from General Motors, Procter and Gamble, the Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance, and the Business Software Alliance, were also on-hand to discuss how their organizations are working with governments to assist in joint efforts to promote the enforcement of intellectual property rights. Alexey Kislitsyn, Brand Protection Group Manager for Procter and Gamble, noted to Econoff that his company enjoys a good working relationship with authorities in the region, and that Procter and Gamble provides considerable investigative assistance to governments in their efforts to enforce IPR. Warren Hayday, Investigative Manager for General Motors Global Security Division, echoed similar comments in GM's regional efforts to detect and curtail the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit automotive parts. -------------- OMAN RECEPTIVE TO TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE -------------- ¶6. In continuing Oman's efforts to combat IPR violations, Yahya bin Issa al-Riyami, Director of Intellectual Property for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, expressed to Econoff Oman's continued interest in receiving technical assistance to support its enforcement capabilities. Al-Riyami noted that seminars such as these are helpful in raising awareness of the benefits of IPR enforcement, and requested that Oman be kept informed of future assistance opportunities, especially in the area of IPR investigative techniques. BALTIMORE