THE USPTO GIPA PROGRAM ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 STATE 170201

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

COMMERCE PASS USPTO FOR BARBARA MCCAFFREY
POSTS PLEASE PASS TO FCS OFFICERS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD AORC ASEC KIPR OTRA
SUBJECT: THE USPTO GIPA PROGRAM ON INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY
RIGHTS ENFORCEMENT FOR JUDGES, 4-7 MARCH 2008



1. SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUEST. The USPTO will hold the
Global IP Academy Program on IPR Enforcement for Judges
from 4-7 March 2008 at USPTO headquarters in Alexandria,
Virginia, just outside of Washington, D.C. Posts are
requested to inform host government officials of this
program (see PARA 2) and are invited to nominate
participants (see PARA 6). Nominations of participants
are due no later than 21 January 2008.


2. Action Request: Posts are requested to send
invitations and communications about the program to the
national courts, heads of intellectual property offices or
other relevant government offices in-country for this
training opportunity. Posts are requested to nominate
candidates for the program by Monday, 21 January 2008.
See PARA 5 for eligible participants, PARA 6 for
nomination process and PARA 10 for contact information.
Posts will be the sole liaison with nominees. Posts may
emphasize that this program is specifically tailored for
criminal, civil and administrative judges that adjudicate
intellectual property cases:


A. GIPA programs are the USG's most thorough introduction
to the U.S. IP system. The information provided through
the program is fairly technical and is geared to
government officials on a national level.


B. Participants must be judges or magistrates of their
respective governments, or of the agencies that are
responsible for patent, trademark, copyright enforcement
matters. (See PARA 5.)


C. Officials from countries whose TRIPS obligations were
due by January 1, 2000, are particularly encouraged to
attend.


3. The Program: The Global Intellectual Property Academy
provides intellectual property (IP) training to leaders of
industrial property offices, patent and trademark
examiners, and other IP Experts as well as judges and
prosecutors. The subject of the program will be legal
issues surrounding adjudicating civil, criminal, and
administrative enforcement of IP rights at both trial and
appellate levels.


4. Visa Issues: The Global Intellectual Property Academy
is not a student exchange program and the USPTO will not
issue DS 2019s. Training is contingent upon government
officials applying for and receiving a visa in a timely
manner.


5. Eligible Participants: Nominations of participants
are due Monday, 21 January 2008. The program is offered
in English without interpretation/translation. Only
judges who have direct legal and/or policy
responsibilities in the area of IP enforcement are
eligible. Training is contingent upon government
officials applying for and receiving a visa in a timely
manner.


6. Nomination Process: Posts are requested to nominate
candidates for the program by Monday, 21 January 2008.
The nominations must include the name and title of the
candidate along with an English resume or curriculum vitae
(CV) or a short job description of the nominee's
responsibilities. Nominations without a resume or CV will
NOT be considered. The nominations should be submitted to
the person listed in Para 10, and the subject line of the
nominations documents should include the following
EN2008MAR_JUDGES (name of nominating country)
Example: EN2008MAR_JUDGES (MEXICO). This will assure
that the nomination is processed for the correct program.


7. Acceptance Letters: Posts will be notified of the
status of nominations the week of 28 January 2008 via
email. Notification will be sent electronically to post.
Post will be the sole liaison with nominees. Detailed Post
instructions will be included with the nominee status
notification. Registration forms are due back to the
USPTO by COB Monday, 11 February 2008. Specific day-by-
day itinerary will be provided upon request and after the
selection process is completed. Training is contingent
upon government officials applying for and receiving a
visa in a timely manner.


8. Financial Arrangements: Limited funding (authorized

STATE 00170201 002 OF 002


per diem, visa application fees and USA ground
transportation to and from the airport/hotel) is
authorized for nominees on a case-by-case basis, and only
upon request. All other expenses are the responsibility
of the sponsor or traveler. Nominees, post or sponsors
are requested to provide round trip airfare to/from the
USA. Fund cites will be distributed, via cable,
authorizing expenses for funded nominees after the USPTO
pre-approves the expenses to be charged. Please send the
estimated charges for pre-approval by email to
BARBARA.MCCAFFREY@USPTO.GOV OR FAX to 571-273-0166.
Funding is not guaranteed. Posts are responsible for
arranging and providing authorized expenses for funded
nominees.


9. Travel and Accommodations: Hotel information will be
provided with the Post instructions. All funded travel
must be arranged in accordance with the Federal Travel
Regulations. No exceptions. USPTO will secure hotel
reservations for all nominees; however, self-funded
participants must guarantee their hotel reservations.
Post or host governments are responsible for travel and
related expenses for officials from countries not eligible
for funding.


10. USPTO Contact: Please submit all nominations to
Barbara McCaffrey, Director Operations, Global
Intellectual Property Academy at
Barbara.Mccaffrey@uspto.gov or call
571 272 8694 or fax 571 273 0166. All
questions/communications with USPTO must include in the
subject line:
EN2008MAR_JUDGES (name of nominating country)
Example: EN2008MAR_JUDGES (MEXICO)


11. Posts' assistance with this program is greatly
appreciated.
RICE