CYPRUS: IPR WORKSHOP ON APRIL 9 BRINGS TOGETHER GOVERNMENT

UNCLAS NICOSIA 000283 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR EUR/SE AND EEB/TPP/IPE (JURBAN) DEPT PLS PASS TO USTR, USPTO AND LOC E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KIPR CY SUBJECT: CYPRUS: IPR WORKSHOP ON APRIL 9 BRINGS TOGETHER GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTORS AGAINST PIRACY REF: NICOSIA 154 (U) This cable is sensitive but unclassified. Please protect accordingly. ¶1. (U) Summary: On April 9, more than 50 GOC officials and Cypriot business representatives discussed ways to improve local enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPR) at an all-day workshop organized by the Economic/Commercial section and the Cyprus American Business Association. International speakers included a U.S. Department of Justice speaker from Sofia, Bulgaria, and private sector representatives from the film, music, and satellite TV business from Brussels, London, and Athens, respectively. Local speakers represented the Police and Ministry of Commerce as well as the software, merchandise and entertainment sectors. The workshop resulted in specific recommendations on improving IPR legislation, as well as making the best use of existing laws. It also generated increased cooperation among Cypriot IPR enforcement authorities (Police, Customs, and the Ministry of Commerce) and investigated ways the private sector could do more to help itself. Septel will discuss a separate workshop on IPR held on April 10 in the area administered by Turkish Cypriots. Both workshops were funded partly by the FY09 Business Facilitation Incentive Fund (BFIF) Program. End summary. Workshop Promotes Stronger IPR Enforcement -------------- ¶2. (U) On April 9, the Economic/Commercial section and the Cyprus American Business Association organized a one-day workshop on IPR issues in the Government-controlled area of Cyprus. The workshop attracted over 50 participants from the Police, Customs, Ministry of Commerce, Parliament, and private sector. The workshop offered a forum for constructive dialog between government authorities and industry representatives and helped identify practical ways to improve IPR enforcement. (A full review of Cyprus' IPR practices is provided in Post's recent Special 301 submission, per reftel.) The workshop also generated some positive publicity and highlighted the fact that piracy hurts Cypriot companies and the Cypriot consumer as much as anyone else. The Embassy organized similar workshops three times previously, last in March 2007. ¶3. (U) During the introductory portion of the workshop, the U.S. Ambassador, the President of the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and Cyprus's Official Receiver and Registrar all delivered brief opening remarks highlighting the benefits of strong IPR enforcement. This was followed by substantive presentations from several speakers. Matthew Lamberti, Intellectual Property Law Enforcement Coordinator for Eastern Europe for the United States Department of Justice (based in Sofia, Bulgaria) provided the keynote address. Other speakers included representatives from the Motion Picture Association (MPA),the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI),a Greek satellite TV provider, the Cyprus Police, the Ministry of Commerce's Consumer Protection Service (CPS),and Microsoft. Participants engaged in a lively and constructive discussion afterwards, facilitated by a round-table seating arrangement. ¶4. (SBU) Participants reported that despite significant progress on IPR enforcement in Cyprus -- including introduction of EU-compatible legislation, an excellent track record from Customs, and increased Police raids -- problems remained. The level of piracy of CD, DVDs, and software, while declining, remained significant. Furthermore, Cyprus seems to be struggling with a rising wave of internet piracy, fuelled by increasing numbers of Cypriots obtaining access to broadband services. ¶5. (SBU) The police spearhead IPR enforcement efforts on the island. A 2006 amendment to Cyprus' main anti-piracy legislation (Law 59 of 1976) helped Cyprus harmonize fully with EU directives 2001/84/EC and 2004/48/EC. The current law provides deterrent penalties of up to four years in prison and/or a fine of up to USD 77,000. ¶6. (SBU) Under Cypriot legislation, the burden of proof lies with the legitimate rights owner to prove their ownership of each art work fixed on a particular CD or DVD. Similarly, Cypriot law does not allow the sampling of evidence. In cases involving the seizure of hundreds or thousands of pirated items (particularly, CDs and DVDs),the authorities' task of establishing authenticity remains very arduous as every single track must be checked and documented. ¶7. (SBU) In July 2006, the House Legal Affairs Committee rejected Police-initiated amendments that would have reversed the burden of proof and allowed sampling of evidence in IPR cases (i.e., defendants would be required to demonstrate that their goods were legitimate rather than the Police having to show they were counterfeit). Workshop participants recognized that reversal of the burden of proof remained politically sensitive. At the moderator's suggestion, they concurred that it made more sense to pursue a reversal of the burden of proof only in commeria caes eg. invovig more than 0 nits. Saplngmay be eaie to push trough the leisature;th 204 EU CoprihtDirectvecontains povsions allwig his, althug E membe sats are notobigd toadpt it. ¶8. (BU) In reen months, egetably, heMP has cut unin to 1 outries in E urope ncudng Cyprus Geee, andTukey. In Cprs,this deciio has resute i abolihig he positin f a ocl xpert assstngthe poic with examinngevdence nd estifyngbeore the cur. Stakeholdrsare curretl considerng ays offiling this vod o restreth prosecutngablity oflocal authoritis. PratialAchievemets -------------- . (SBU Ohe outcoesfrm he worshp include - Achievedclser coopeatonbetwee te inistry of Cmmrces CS nd thePoic on IP cse. Specifcaly the CS il try toasis the plie n processngth backlg f onfiscte pracy itmsby using hereent Unai Cmmercil raties law wic benfis rom anauomtic reversal of the burden of proof. -- Examined the possibility of allowing Cypriot authorities to use more creatively confiscated proceeds from piracy. IFPI already provided sample legislation to Cypriot authorities immediately after the workshop. -- Focused on the growing problem of internet piracy, as more Cypriots get broadband internet access. Internet piracy will clearly attract more attention globally over the next few years. Inviting Internet Service providers and credit card company representatives to future IPR workshops will be helpful in this regard. -- Challenged the wisdom as well as the legality of the rather common practice of newspapers and magazines in Cyprus (and Greece) giving away free copies of recent (less than two years old) audiovisual works. -- Raised public consciousness of IPR enforcement issues both among the workshop participants and the wider society through media coverage of the event. -- Re-examined the problem of piracy/counterfeiting across the Green Line, separating (but since 2003, allowing travel and limited trade between) the two parts of Cyprus. Consideration was given to an awareness campaign for tourists/expats and making a few confiscations of illicit goods from persons traveling from the north to the south of the island. ¶10. (SBU) Additionally, on the margins of the event: -- The U.S. Department of Justice speaker provided information on the biggest pirate websites in Cyprus to the head of anti-piracy operations at the Cyprus Police, including a site which is one of the 200 most popular sites in the world. -- The MPA provided the leading Cypriot cinema chain owner with anti-piracy trailers to start showing at theaters before films. ¶11. (SBU) Comment: By broad consensus of those present, this was a very successful event. It brought together people and organizations with similar interests from within Cyprus and in the region who rarely meet to exchange information. The most significant outcome was the decision of a Cypriot MP to introduce new legislation for sampling optical discs. Post will follow up on the various suggestions and ideas that came out of this workshop and will report accordingly. End Comment. URBANCIC