DEMARCHE DELIVERED: COSTA RICA REMAINS ON 301

UNCLAS SAN JOSE 000336 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT FOR EEB/TPP/MTA/IPC RWALLACE, PLEASE PASS TO USTR AMALITO/DOLIVER/TGARDE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: CS ECON ETRD KIPR PREL SUBJECT: DEMARCHE DELIVERED: COSTA RICA REMAINS ON 301 WATCH LIST REF: STATE 43145 ¶1. AUSTR Everett Eissenstat, accompanied by Charge Peter Brennan, FCO, and EconOff, delivered Reftel demarche to the GOCR's Minister of Foreign Trade (COMEX),Marco Vinicio Ruiz, on April 24, 2008. ¶2. Minister Ruiz and attending COMEX officials were not surprised by the news (that Costa Rica remains on the Watch List). One COMEX official acknowledged the status as fair as Costa Rica made virtually no progress in IP legislation or enforcement over the past year. ¶3. COMMENT: Costa Rica's planned implementation of CAFTA by October 1 should significantly advance IPR legislation and protection. Enforcement will remain the GOCR's distinct challenge for the next cycle of Special 301 reporting, however. The one glimmer of good news: During her meeting with AUSTR Eissenstat on April 24, VP and Justice Minister Laura Chinchilla acknowledged the need for increased IP enforcement and said the GOCR was seriously considering creating a dedicated prosecutor unit for that purpose. BRENNAN