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