Sharing Information to Resolve IPR Issues

UNCLAS GUANGZHOU 000159

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

State for EAP/CM - JYamomoto; EEB - AColeman, JBoger
State for EAP/PD; ECA/PE/C/CU - Barrosse; INL - JVigil
USTR for China Office - AWinter; IPR Office - RBae
USTR for OCG - SMcCoy
Commerce for National Coordinator for IPR Enforcement
Commerce for CIsrael
Commerce for MAC 3204/ESzymanski
Commerce for MAC 3043/McQueen
Commerce for MAC 3042/SWilson, JYoung
Commerce for NWinetke
LOC/Copyright Office - MPoor
USPTO for Int'l Affairs - LBoland, EWu

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO SCUL KIPR PGOV PINR WTRO ECON CH
SUBJECT: Sharing Information to Resolve IPR Issues


1.(SBU) Summary and Comment. Two returned IVLP participants
expressed the hope and expectation that most IPR issues could be
resolved quickly with genuine working-level interaction between
Chinese and American experts. Both professors were struck with the
candor of their American counterparts and the Americans' willingness
to engage in an open and non-judgmental discussion of IPR issues.
As a result of the professors' participation in this program, we
were able to work with them to obtain Jinan University's last minute
agreement to host a joint U.S.-China IPR Program on March 4 after
local governmental cooperation fell through. In the longer term,
Jinan University plans to organize scholarly exchanges with U.S.
universities on IPR issues; South China University of Technology has
also informed us that it will change its IPR-related curriculum.
End Summary and Comment.

Expanding Academic Contacts
--------------


2. (U) Professor Xu Xuan, Deputy Dean and Professor at the
Intellectual Property School of Jinan University's Law School, and a
recent participant in the International Visitor Leadership program,
was instrumental in helping us organize an impromptu intellectual
property seminar at the school on March 4. Over eighty persons
signed up to attend the seminar, including numerous U.S. and Chinese
IP experts, officials and students. The program had been previously
scheduled as a joint event with the Guangdong Provincial IP Office,
but funding and other disagreements led to its cancellation at the
last minute. Without Professor Xu's willingness to host the
program, the program probably would have been postponed, and an
important opportunity to cooperate on IP issues lost.


4. (U) Additionally, Professor Xu Xuan told PAS of her plans to
expand Jinan University's scholarly exchange opportunities with U.S.
universities that have IPR research centers. This could culminate
in a semester or year-long professional exchange between schools.
She also expects to cooperate with American professors on research
projects related to IPR issues in China.


Class Is In Session
--------------


4. (U) While in the U.S., Professor Guan Yunhong of South China
University of Technology focused on learning about IPR curriculums
being used at American universities. Upon returning to China, he
drafted a report comparing IPR courses at Chinese and American
institutions. Professor Guan intends to use his contacts and
experiences to develop an IPR curriculum for the Law School at South
China University of Technology. Before Professor Guan's
participation in this program, the school had planned an
undergraduate program in IPR for 40 students. Since his return and
dissemination of the report, the school has doubled the intended
size of the program.

America the Beautiful
--------------


5. (U) The two professors were surprised how open and willing their
American interlocutors were in addressing difficult issues in short
hour-long meetings. They said that if Chinese and American experts
were to engage in direct and frank talks, many IPR issues between
the two countries could be resolved quickly. Professor Xu remarked
that "You would assume that America would hide its resources and
keep them secret, but instead they are open and willing to share
with everyone. That is what makes America great. There's a reason
it's called 'Beautiful Country,' because America and Americans
really are 'Beautiful.'" (Note: The Chinese characters for America
translate as Beautiful Country. End Note.)

GOLDBERG