AIT REQUESTS AUSTR STRATFORD WRITE MINISTER OF ED

UNCLAS TAIPEI 000606 SIPDIS SIPDIS STATE PASS AIT/W AND USTR STATE FOR EAP/TC, EAP/MLS, USTR FOR BOLLYKY, ALTBACH AND STRATFORD USDOC FOR 4431/ITA/MAC/AP/OPB/TAIWAN/JDUTTON USDOC FOR USPTO GIN AND BROWNING AND SNYDOR E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR TW SUBJECT: AIT REQUESTS AUSTR STRATFORD WRITE MINISTER OF ED TO PUSH FOR IPR ACTION - EVEN TIPO ASKS FOR HELP REF: TAIPEI 135 ¶1. (SBU) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3. ¶2. (SBU) With little movement on the IPR front from the Ministry of Education, contacts at the Taiwan Intellectual Property Office now openly share their frustrations with AIT about their difficulties in getting the MOE to take meaningful action on IPR issues. At the March 6 digital video conference with USTR and other agencies on compulsory licensing, Margaret Chan, Secretary General of TIPO openly stated that "We have worked as hard as you" to engage MOE on this issue. At that meeting she asked for help from the USG to arrange capacity-building events for university computer center staff on IPR issues. TIPO has repeatedly asked AIT to push MOE as well and said that a letter from USTR reinforcing USG concerns would be helpful. Today another TIPO contact called and asked specifically for USTR to send a letter to the Minister of Education copying the Premier, Vice Premier, and the Minister of Economic Affairs. They have come to the conclusion that only high-level pressure is likely to trigger action. AIT recommends copying the Minister of Economic Affairs and mentioning the letter to Vice-Premier Tsai. ¶3. (SBU) AIT recommends that a letter under the signature of Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Tim Stratford be sent to Education Minister Tu as soon as possible. The letter should recap their December meeting, reinforce USG concerns, and remind that IPR is central to the TIFA process. Here is a draft letter for AUSTR's consideration: BEGIN DRAFT TEXT Tu Cheng-sheng Minister of Education 5 Chungshan S. Road Taipei 100 TAIWAN Dr. Minister Tu: Thank you for taking time to meet with me during my visit to Taipei in December. I very much appreciated the opportunity to discuss intellectual property rights on university campuses and on TANet. The U.S. - Taiwan intellectual property rights dialogue is an important part of our Trade Investment Framework Agreement talks and central to our overall economic relationship. As we discussed, protecting intellectual property rights in schools and universities is important, not only to protect the rights-holders of today, but also to ensure we instill in our young people a respect for IPR. This serves as a foundation for all of our efforts to build a society that values ideas and creativity. As the Ministry of Education continues to tackle the IPR issue, I encourage you to appoint a senior-level official to take responsibility for IPR protection and establish a task force under his or her leadership to make progress on IPR protection. Rights-holders tell me because universities and schools exercise a great deal of autonomy, it is important for the Ministry to demonstrate a commitment at the highest level to address IPR problems. This task force could include university presidents, scholars in the IPR field, technology experts, and rights-holders. In closing, let me again express my appreciation for your interest in this issue which is central to the U.S.-Taiwan bilateral relationship. I look forward to working with you and your staff as we tackle this difficult issue. Sincerely, Timothy Stratford cc: Chen Ruey-long, Minister of Economic Affairs Tsai, Lien-sheng, Director General, Taiwan Intellectual SIPDIS Property Office Daniel K. Moore, American Institute in Taiwan END DRAFT TEXT YOUNG