BAHAMAS SPECIAL 301 NOTIFICATION DELIVERED

UNCLAS NASSAU 000727 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR WHA/CAR WBENT E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR BF SUBJECT: BAHAMAS SPECIAL 301 NOTIFICATION DELIVERED REF: SECSTATE 66941 ¶1. Political-Economic Chief informed Ministry of Foreign Affairs Permanent Secretary Patricia Rodgers on April 28 that The Bahamas would appear on the 2006 Special 301 Watch List (reftel). Dr. Rodgers noted that the placement of The Bahamas on the Watch List was unchanged from 2005, as were the reasons for its placement, namely its compulsory licensing regime. ¶2. Pol-Econoff delivered reftel talking points to The Bahamas' intellectual property advisor, Mark Palchick, on April 28. Mr. Palchick complained about what he saw as a continued lack of cooperation from the Motion Picture Association of America in negotiating licenses. He reiterated The Bahamas' commitment to the protection of intellectual property and predicted that the GCOB will take steps in 2006 that will merit its removal from the Watch List in 2007. HARDT