ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING USAID CONTRACTOR

UNCLAS CANBERRA 000247

SIPDIS
SENSITIVE

STATE FOR L; STATE PLEASE PASS USAID/OFFICE OF GENERAL
COUNSEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREK KIPR AS
SUBJECT: ALLEGATIONS CONCERNING USAID CONTRACTOR


1. (SBU) Post has been contacted by Peter Farrell, General
Manager of Australian Medicines Handbook Pty Ltd (AMH),
concerning what he calls an "apparent case of intellectual
property theft." Farrell alleges that PHRplus, now called
HealthSystems 20/20, which he describes as "an agency of
USAID", plagiarized their "Australian Medicines Handbook"
almost in its entirety in writing the Jordan National Drug
Formulary 2006.


2. (SBU) Farrell said he has attempted to contact Ann Lion
Coleman, whom he describes as the Project Director for
HealthSystems 20/20, but has received no response. He has
sent two emails to "Hotline, OIG (USAID)" (copying Embassy
Canberra),on February 23, 2009, and again on March 12 after
not receiving a response from the first.


3. (SBU) Farrell says he prefers to resolve this issue
through negotiation, but is prepared if necessary to "pursue
it with the utmost vigour through the U.S. and Australian
courts.'


4. (SBU) Post has told Farrell by email that we received his
email, and that we would alert State and USAID to his
concerns. Post plans to take no further action on this
unless instructed to do so. POC at Embassy Canberra is
Wendell Albright, albrightwi@state.gov, 612 6214 5824. Post
will forward emails from Farrell upon request and
identification of the appropriate person to send them to.

CLUNE