IPR LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING A SUCCESS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ISLAMABAD 003714 SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR SCA/PB AND EEB/TPP/IPE STATE PASS TO USTR DHARTWICK/TGARDE/JVIGIL JUSTICE PASS TO OPDAT BTRUEBELL/POLESEN COMMERCE FOR ITA/MAC/OSA/LDROKER/ASTERN/KRUDD COMMERCE PASS TO CLDP/TMORITZ SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD EFIN EINV KIPR PGOV PK SUBJECT: IPR LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAINING A SUCCESS REF: ISLAMABAD 2577 ¶1. SUMMARY: August 13-18, ECON presented the "Intellectual Property Rights and Cyber Investigative Techniques & Resources" law enforcement training program in Islamabad for Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officers, provincial police, Ministry of Interior (MoI) officials, and academics on tools for conducting IPR violation investigations. Trainers represented the FBI, DoJ, Microsoft Corporation, and International Federation of the Phonographic Industry/Motion Picture Industry of America (IFPI/MPAA). The focus of the training was on the FIA's newly inaugurated IPR Unit consisting of 15 officers from throughout Pakistan. The course included an overview of IPR violation investigations plus hands-on computer based training into the techniques of cyber forensics. All attendees were highly motivated and deeply involved in the five day course which increases Pakistan's capacity to conduct more effective IPR violation investigations. INL provided the training funds. END SUMMMARY. Interagency effort makes a better training program - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶2. (U) Providing five days of training for over thirty people in Islamabad was an inter-agency effort led by the Embassy's Economic section under an FY 06 agreement between INL and OPDAT at the Department of Justice. Plans for the training were in the works for well over a year. The main trainer for program content was Supervisory Special Agent Kiffa Shirley of the FBI's Cyber Division, who coordinated a total of seven instructors from the FBI, DoJ, Microsoft Corporation, the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI - represents the worldwide recording industry),and the Motion Picture Association of America (MPAA). Shirley selected the course content to fit the needs of the officers from FIA's newly formed IPR unit in close cooperation with the Embassy's Economic section. Diverse student body encourages multiplier effect - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶3. (U) We selected students from a wide range of institutions to promote awareness and interest in IPR protection throughout Pakistan. 31 students received graduation certificates. The FIA provided 15 students from across Pakistan, including Karachi, Lahore, and Peshawar, who form the newly inaugurated IPR Units located in each province. The Ministry of Interior sent six police officers from Sindh and Punjab plus three participants from the National Crisis Management Cell (NCMC),a cyber group at MoI that works on many issues, including border and IPR problems. In addition, we invited four professors nominated by the Higher Education Commission; two from the COMSATS Institute of Technology, one from Quaid-e-Azam University, and one from the University of Karachi. The higher education professors intend to use what they learned during the course in their teaching curriculum, which will provide a multiplier effect. What the class learned - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶4. (U) Our goal was to make this training session as interactive as possible. In addition to receiving an overview of national IPR legislation and its relationship with Pakistan's international IPR commitments, participants received hands-on computer training (thanks to donated space with sufficient computers for each participant) on digital investigation techniques, computer forensics, digital evidence, on-line piracy, and internet investigative tools. Computer training was supplemented by case studies in computer forensics and modules on counterfeit investigation methodology. The links between organized crime and IPR ISLAMABAD 00003714 002 OF 002 piracy were also detailed. The FBI walked participants through its three year investigation that led to curbing more than $4.5 billion in illegal DVD sales, convincing the audience that IPR enforcement is just as complex and produces the same tangible results as other criminal law enforcement cases. IFPI/MPAA showed how enforcement and the private sector work together to pursue IPR violations. Participants commented on the quality and usefulness of the course content. Combating Organized Crime - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶5. (SBU) During the organized crime portion of the course, FIA expressed interest in training on how to ensure that they collect evidence that can withstand court challenges. In Pakistan, much of the IPR crimes are connected to organized crime, which can easily finance good defense lawyers. FIA is interested in ensuring that its cases at prosecution are airtight. As several of the presenters mentioned, organized crime has realized it can make a much larger profit margin on counterfeit and pirated goods than on drug trafficking with significantly less risk - especially when there is little IPR enforcement. More Funding Requested - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - ¶6. (SBU) ECON applied for further funding of IPR enforcement efforts earlier this year (reftel). With a successful, multi-agency, public/private sector training program already completed, we have a number of ideas for further training to be funded from the additional $150,000 requested from INL to increase IPR enforcement capacity building in Pakistan. We would like to focus on hands-on training for prosecution of IPR cases and to include customs personnel so that Pakistan can improve detection of pirated and counterfeit goods at the border and prosecution of these cases. We are also looking organize a seminar on the relationship between IPR and innovation. Given the success of this seminar, we now have commitments from Pakistani institutions to provide in-kind contributions of space and computer resources. Comment - - - - - - - ¶7. (SBU) The success of this training was due on large part to the wide range of trainers, the combination of law enforcement and industry perspectives, and one of the most engaged group of participants this post has seen. We also highlighted the importance of sharing what they've learned with their colleagues. Our Pakistani counterparts were extremely appreciative of the time, effort and commitment of the trainers to come to Pakistan, particularly in light of recent security concerns. We were appreciative of the cooperation of our colleagues from DOJ and FBI as well as the participation of the private sector. Thanks to good press coverage due to the Charge's participation in the opening and closing ceremonies and TV interviews by the trainers, we were able to not just provide hands-on tools for law enforcement professionals but also raise the profile of intellectual property rights protection in Pakistan. We look forward to organizing more of these programs in the near future. BODDE