Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07SANTIAGO170
2007-02-01 12:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Santiago
Cable title:  

MEDIA REACTION - JUDICIAL RULING ON PIRACY

Tags:  KMDR KPAO OPRC CI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0016
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSG #0170 0321257
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 011257Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 0842
UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000170 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, WHA/EPSC
STATE FOR INR/IAA, PM, INL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC CI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - JUDICIAL RULING ON PIRACY

UNCLAS SANTIAGO 000170

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE FOR R/MR, I/PP, WHA/BSC, WHA/PDA, WHA/EPSC
STATE FOR INR/IAA, PM, INL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR KPAO OPRC CI
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION - JUDICIAL RULING ON PIRACY


1. On January 31, conservative, influential newspaper-of-record "El
Mercurio" (circ. 129,000) carried an editorial entitled, "Piracy and
Tax Crimes." Quotes:


2. "The Supreme Court upheld the Tax Revenue System's (SII, in
Spanish) reasoning and sentenced a salesman not just for piracy, but
also for the sale and tax evasion of illegal products....


3. "The protection of IPR is an efficient mechanism to encourage
innovation, whereby society gives creators a temporary
monopoly...because the benefits from innovation, invention, and
creation contribute to development.... The question that
economists...are asking themselves is whether the extension of the
protection of these rights is appropriate and whether there are
other alternatives to encourage innovation but at a lower social
cost. Exceedingly long protection periods prolong the inefficiency
of monopolies.... In some technological areas, the cost of
permits...has turned into a barrier for the entry of new companies
with innovative ideas....


4. "But this...doesn't mean Chile must evade its formal commitments
regarding IPR. Chile is already on the list of those who do not
respect IPR in the United States and the European Union, and the
absence of an effective control could lead to commercial sanctions
in the future. A stroll through some streets in the city
demonstrates that law exists on paper, but there is limited
adherence to them. In this context, the Supreme Court's stricter
decision and the will of the SII to punish the trade of illegally
copied products is a good precedent for our commercial partners."

KELLY