CHINA/IPR: AMBASSADOR'S SIXTH IPR ROUNDTABLE

UNCLAS SECTION 12 OF 14 BEIJING 00792 SIPDIS State for EAP/CM - JYamomoto and EB/IP - EFelsing State for INL - JVigil USTR for hina Office - AWinter; IPR Office - RBae; and OCG - SMcCoy Commerce for National Coordinator for IPR Enforcement Commerce for CIsrael Commerce for MAC 3204/LRigoli, ESzymanski Comere for MAC 3043/McQueen Commerce for MAC 302/SWilson, JYoung Commerce for NWinetke LOCCopyright Office - MPoor USPTO for Int'l Affars - LBoland, EWu DOJ for CCIPS - MDubose DJ for SChembtob FTC for Blumenthal FBI for LBryant DHS/ICE for IPR Center - Dfaulconer, TRandazzo DHS/CBP for IPR Rights Branch - GMacray, PPizzeck ITC for LLevine, LSchlitt SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD KIPR ECON WTRO PGOV CH SUBJECT: CHINA/IPR: AMBASSADOR'S SIXTH IPR ROUNDTABLE *********************** * Missing Section 001 * *********************** *********************** * Missing Section 002 * *********************** *********************** * Missing Section 003 * *********************** *********************** * Missing Section 004 * *********************** *********************** * Missing Section 005 * *********************** *********************** * Missing Section 006 * *********************** *********************** * Missing Section 007 * *********************** *********************** * Missing Section 008 * *********************** *********************** * Missing Section 009 * *********************** *********************** * Missing Section 010 * *********************** *********************** * Missing Section 011 * *********************** BEIJING 00000792 012 OF 014 cooperation throughout the region is the key to IPR enforcement success. ¶30. (SBU) Tom Hipelius from the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Immigration and Customs Enforcement IPR Coordination Center noted substantial improvement in cooperation with Chinese law enforcement agencies. He pointed out that, whereas written requests for meetings with Chinese counterparts went unanswered in 2001, by 2004 the two governments were carrying out joint undercover operations. He noted particular successes in the case of Vincent Ku, who was selling counterfeit Microsoft products, as well as a pharmaceutical case codenamed Ocean Crossing. DHS Customs and Border Patrol's (CBP) Steve Thomas reported 14,675 IPR seizures in 2006, noting that 81 percent of IPR border seizures were from shipments originating in China. He underscored CBP's positive working relationship with the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) and other Chinese agencies. Thomas added that CBP and GACC had signed an IPR memorandum of understanding that became effective in June, allowing for more information sharing on IPR seizures. Initial Feedback from Attendees -------------- ¶31. (SBU) Direct and indirect feedback via surveys, blogs, and web postings give a fairly comprehensive account of the success of this year's Roundtable and ongoing challenges in protecting IPR. Attendees generally ranked the roundtable as "highly valuable" to them, noting in particular the utility of a forum to educate the United States Mission on how to better support industry. Attendees also offered that recommending practical steps to support rights holders was a challenging, useful exercise that prompted follow-up in their own organizations. One association has reportedly already suggested to the Ministry of Public Security how to coordinate more closely on criminal copyright enforcement cases -- in effect, a first practical consequence of the IPR Roundtable. ¶34. (SBU) The Mission's initial analysis shows a consistent message from industry: there continues to be a compelling need for increased interagency cooperation and coordination in IPR issues, including cooperation with legislative and judicial branches. Also, many industry participants openly criticized the United States Government's WTO case, suggesting that it undercuts their efforts to improve enforcement by working with IPR officials. One trade association representative said they saw "little purpose" in visiting Beijing because of the WTO case, while others explained that their China budgets had been cut, thus precluding their attendance. This new dynamic on IPR *********************** * Missing Section 013 * *********************** *********************** * Missing Section 014 * ***********************