ECUADOR COMMEMMORATES WORLD IP DAY WITH IP AWARENESS

UNCLAS QUITO 000374

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON KIPR ETRD EC
SUBJECT: ECUADOR COMMEMMORATES WORLD IP DAY WITH IP AWARENESS
EVENTS


1. (U) In celebration of World Intellectual Property Day (April 26),
the Embassy collaborated on several events in Ecuador. Economic,
Public Affairs, and Foreign Commercial Service staff obtained
promotional materials from WIPO and helped organize and support an
IPR awareness roundtable held by the American Chamber of Commerce.
The event took place in Quito on April 29, since countrywide
elections were held on April 26.


2. (U) Speakers at the well-attended roundtable included the former
head of Ecuador's Intellectual Property Institute (IEPI) and current
IP negotiator in Ecuador's trade talks with the EU, and a famous
Ecuadorian song-writer, "Damiano." The former IEPI head discussed
the importance of IPR protection in developing countries and
emphasized how IPR can benefit Ecuadorians in many industries. He
also noted that Ecuador's requested geographical indications in the
Andean Community-EU trade talks - Montecristi hats (panama hats) and
a special type of cacao that only grows in Ecuador - could bring
major benefits to the country. Damiano, whose songs are often
played at football games and on telenovelas (without royalty
payments),complained that the culture of non-payment of royalties
to artists in Ecuador has caused a decline in the development of
local artists and musicians. He noted that ten years ago there were
16 CD production companies in Ecuador, and now there are none.


3. (U) In addition to the IPR roundtable, the Embassy obtained WIPO
promotional posters and comic books on copyright protection (in
Spanish) for dissemination in movie theaters in the major cities of
Quito and Guayaquil. The comic books are particularly effective in
reaching young audiences and explaining the importance of copyright
protection.


4. (SBU) Embassy officials also met with the current President of
IEPI to encourage the GOE to promote World IP Day, and suggested
possible activities. In response, IEPI held IPR awareness events in
the cities of Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca between April 20 and 23,
calling it "World IP Week." Using WIPO promotional materials that
the Embassy brought to their attention, IEPI advertised and held
roundtables and panels with experts on authors' rights, traditional
knowledge, and trademarks and patents, among others. Speakers
included government officials, lawyers, and experts in biodiversity.



5. (U) On May 18, Quito's leading economic newspaper ran a lengthy
article reporting on joint efforts by a law firm, IEPI, the Attorney
General's office, and the police to combat trademark piracy. On May
20, the same paper published a second lengthy article reporting on
software piracy, drawing on data from the Business Software
Alliance.


6. (SBU) Comment: In a country where IPR enforcement is weak and
piracy widespread, it was encouraging to see a relatively concerted
effort by a number of IPR supporters, including the new head of
Ecuador's Intellectual Property Institute, to emphasize World IP Day
and promote IPR awareness.

HODGES