Identifier	Created	Classification	Origin
08SANJOSE336	2008-04-30 20:44:00	UNCLASSIFIED	Embassy San Jose

Cable title:

DEMARCHE DELIVERED: COSTA RICA REMAINS ON 301

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VZCZCXYZ0008
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSJ #0336 1212044
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 302044Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY SAN JOSE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9651
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

					  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