GOF STEPS UP ANTI-COUNTERFEITING PLAN

UNCLAS PARIS 002221

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EB/TPP/IPE (CLACROSSE, JOELLEN URBAN)
DEPT PLS PASS USTR FOR JENNIFER CHOE-GROVES, JIM SANFORD
COMMERCE PLEASE PASS USPTO

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIPR ETRD ECON FR
SUBJECT: GOF STEPS UP ANTI-COUNTERFEITING PLAN


NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION


1. (U) The French Ministry of Economy, Finance and
Industry launched an anti-counterfeiting campaign on April 3
designed to persuade consumers not to buy counterfeit goods
through public service announcements on television and on
the Internet, as well as on a special website (www.non-
merci.com). A special exhibit on the risks of
counterfeiting will also tour France. The first stop of the
exhibit will be in Cannes, between April 7 and May 7.


2. (U) Inaugurated by French Industry Minister Francois
Loos, the 5 million euro campaign, financed by both the
National Intellectual Property Institute INPI and the
Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industry, features five
positive aspects of combating counterfeiting: protecting
consumer health and safety, defending jobs, fighting against
organized crime and terrorism, protecting innovation and
preserving French competitiveness.


3. (U) This campaign is part of a wider government plan,
which will include reinforcing French anti-counterfeiting
laws and regulations, especially through implementation of
the April 29 2004 EU Directive on the enforcement of
intellectual property rights. A draft bill on transposing
the directive should be presented to Prime Minister
Dominique de Villepin later the week of 3 April.


4. (U) Finally, the government will also organize a
meeting with enterprises and on-line service providers to
discuss means to prevent distribution of counterfeit
products on the web.
Stapleton