THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO) GIPA

UNCLAS SOFIA 000801 SIPDIS SIPDIS COMMERCE PASS USPTO BARBARA MACCAFFREY E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR AORC BU SUBJECT: THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO) GIPA ENFORCEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS COPYRIGHT PROGRAM, AUGUST 6-9, 2007, ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA REF: A) SECSTATE 83242 ¶1. (U) Post nominates Mr. Georgi Damyanov and Mr. Bisser Yankov, of the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, Copyright Directorate, for USPTO GIPA training scheduled for August 6-9, 2007(per reftel). Mr. Damyanov has been Head of the Copyright Directorate at the Ministry of Culture since 2002. Before that, he worked as head of the Distribution Department at the Copyright Agency and was the director of the Musicator and Equipex companies. In his present capacity, Damyanov is responsible for overseeing the process of formulating, coordinating and implementing the government policies on copyright issues. His directorate takes the lead in IPR enforcement with regard to copyright legislation: conducts inspections, imposes fines and issues expert opinions against copyright violators. ¶2. (U) Mr. Bisser Yankov has been with the Copyright Directorate at the Ministry of Culture since 2002. In his capacity as a senior legal adviser, Yankov is responsible for arguing copyright cases in court, drawing up statements against copyright infringements, etc. Yankov serves as a secretary of Working Group 18 which has introduced the EU copyright regulations in Bulgaria, and is a representative for the Ministry in the international IPR organizations. In 2003-2005, Mr. Yankov has been Ministry's point of contact for the EU PHARE-funded project for building a national IPR database network. ¶3. (U) Post believes in the strong professional skills of the two nominations under this program. The Bulgarian candidate(s) are unlikely to travel without funding assistance. Post respectfully requests USPTO funding for per diem, visa charges, lodging, and U.S. ground transportation. We greatly appreciate USPTO's efforts with this program. ¶4. (U) Nominees' contact information: --Mr. Georgi Damyanov Copyright Directorate, Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, Director 17, Stambolyiski Blvd., 1040 Sofia, Bulgaria Tel. (359-2) 940-0821 Fax. (359-2) 980-5388 E-mail: G.Damyanov@mc.government.bg Work Experience: --2002-Present Copyright Directorate, Ministry of Culture, Sofia, Bulgaria, Director. --1994-2002 Equipex company, Director --1991-1993 Musicator company, Director --1975-1990 Distribution Department, Copyright Agency, Director Education: --1975-1980 "St. Kliment Ohridski" Sofia University, Law degree, Specialization in Copyright Law Seminars and Trainings: --August 2004 IPR law enforcement training, State Department, Washington D.C. --November 2003 Introduction to Public Administration, Institute for Public Administration and EU Integration, Sofia, Bulgaria --Mr. Bisser Yankov Copyright Directorate, Ministry of Culture, Senior Legal Adviser 17, Stamboliyski Blvd., 1040 Sofia, Bulgaria Tel. (359-2) 940-0812 Fax. (359-2) 980-5388 E-mail: B.Yankov@mc.government.bg Work Experience: --1997-2000 Legal Internship --2002-Present Copyright Directorate, Ministry of Culture, Sofia, Bulgaria, Senior Legal Adviser Education: --1994-1999 "St. Kliment Ohridski" Sofia University, Law degree, Specialization in International Public Law Seminars and Trainings: --Jun-July 2002 DL-101 Introduction to IPR, Distant Learning Training, WIPO --November 2002 TRIPS-related IPR Law Enforcement, USPTO --2003 Introduction to Public Administration, Institute for Public Administration and EU Integration, Sofia, Bulgaria --June 2003 WIPOnet project, WIPO, Geneva --November 2003 Copyright training, WIPO Geneva, Patent Office London --June 2004 USPTO training --Embassy Sofia Point of Contact (POC) will be Economic Specialist Danko Tonev. Contact information for Mr. Tonev follows: (Office) 359-2-937-5212, (Fax) 359-2-937-5320, and (E-mail) tonevdt@state.gov. BEYRLE