ETHIOPIA: VISITING EXPERT OFFERS ADVICE ON

UNCLAS ADDIS ABABA 002474 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE FOR AF/E AND AF/EPS STATE PLEASE PASS TO USPTO:LISA MALVASO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECIN ECON EINV ET SUBJECT: ETHIOPIA: VISITING EXPERT OFFERS ADVICE ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS REF: ADDIS ABABA 2006 ¶1. SUMMARY: During a private visit, the president of the National Intellectual Property Institute (NIPLI) Dr. James Chandler stressed the importance of intellectual property rights (IPR) in Ethiopia's future global competitiveness and development to the Government of Ethiopia. GOE officials, including the Prime Minister's Chief Economic Advisor appeared to welcome Chandler's recommendation that Ethiopian trademark and patent laws be brought into conformity with global standards in order to foster foreign direct investment and provide an additional source of revenue for the GOE. END SUMMARY. ¶2. Dr. James Chandler, president of NIPLI, visited Ethiopia as a private citizen invited by the Ethiopian Intellectual Property Office (EIPO). EIPO is part of the Ethiopian Science and Technology Agency, which falls under the GOE's Ministry of Capacity Building. Chandler is an academic expert in IPR who has provided training and advice in multiple countries including Russia and China. Chandler's association with EIPO stems from hosting EIPO's head Ato Getachew when Getachew was in the US for USG-funded IPR training at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). During his visit, Chandler and ECONOFF met with Newaye-Kristos Gebre-Ab, Chief Economic Advisor to Prime Minister Meles Zenawi. POL/ECON FSN attended a seminar Chandler gave at EIPO. -------------- CHANDLER TO NEWAYE-- IPR IS ESSENTIAL FOR DEVELOPMENT -------------- ¶3. In his meeting with Minister Newaye, Chandler stressed the importance of IPR as a tool for development. He told Newaye that Ethiopia, with its large base of human capital, had the potential to host large factories like those in China. He cautioned that without a strong IPR regime that conforms to international standards, companies will not be willing to make substantial investments in Ethiopia. Chandler pointed out that intellectual property is a good, and that ownership of the ideas is worth money to the creator. Chandler further pointed out that patents, trademarks and copyrights can be a source of revenue for the government. He stated that DuPont alone has nearly 50,000 patents. Chandler stated that if Ethiopia charged equivalent fees to the USPTO's (approximately 400 USD),that would be 20 million USD in revenue from one company alone. ¶4. In response from a question from the Minister, Chandler stated that while Ethiopia has trademark and patent laws they do not conform with global standards. The Minister asked if there were any potential disadvantages to aligning Ethiopian law with global standards. Chandler replied that only good can come from offering entities the same level of protection they find in other countries. The Minister agreed that he could see no harm coming from Ethiopia having the global standards as Ethiopia is not at a high enough level of development to freeride by copying protected materials. ¶5. In his seminar at EIPO, Chandler reiterated the same points. As quoted in report from the state-run Ethiopian News Agency, Chandler stated &There is no reason the economic prosperity happening in other countries could not happen in Ethiopia...It is important for Ethiopia to think about it and see the benefits that can be harvested from IPR laws.8 ¶6. COMMENT: The joint announcement in June 2007 (reftel) of a licensing, distribution and marketing agreement between EIPO and Seattle-based Starbucks underscored the significance and economic benefits of trademark and patent law to the GOE. Chandler's visit, while that of a private citizen, raised the importance of IPR with a high-ranking GOE official and received press coverage. Minister Newaye seemed open to the idea of bringing Ethiopia's IPR laws in line with global standards and was interested in the concept of IPR as a driver of development. Additionally, Chandler's visit at the behest of an official who received USG-funded training shows a tangible result of USG interest in Ethiopia's IPR programs. Chandler's visit has, at the least, provided food for thought for Ethiopian IPR officials. END COMMENT. YAMAMOTO