SAUDI COMMERCE MINISTRY EAGER FOR DATA EXCLUSIVITY

UNCLAS RIYADH 001634 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE PASS TO USTR FOR CHRIS WILSON, JASON BUNTIN STATE PASS TO DOC FOR STEVEN GARRETT, TOM SAMS, CHERIE LOUSTANAU, MICHAEL ROGERS, AND ANDREA CORNWELL STATE FOR NEA/ARP, EB/TPP (BTA AND IPE),E FOR U/S ROBERT HORMATS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ETRD KIPR ECON EINV PREL SA SUBJECT: SAUDI COMMERCE MINISTRY EAGER FOR DATA EXCLUSIVITY BEST PRACTICES REF: A. RIYADH 524 ¶B. RIYADH 1366 ¶C. RIYADH 1422 ¶D. RIYADH 1493 ¶E. RIYADH 1544 ¶F. RIYADH 1550 ¶G. RIYADH 1572 ¶H. RIYADH 1626 ¶1. (SBU) Saudi intellectual property rights (IPR) Committee chairman Mohammad Al-Aiyash told Econoffs December 16 the Ministry of Commerce and Industry is eager for a second workshop on data exclusivity (DE) protection. The first workshop held in Riyadh in June was considered a success by Saudi agencies including the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA) and King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology (KACST) Patent Office. Al-Aiyash noted they already have a law protecting DE but that they need additional training to implement the law at an operational level. He said his government wanted to learn best practices for DE protection from the United States, European Union, and other countries so that KACST and SFDA can develop a robust mechanism for implementation of their existing law. He also reiterated that DE assistance to Saudi Arabia would inform ongoing discussions on a Gulf Cooperation Council DE law. Al-Aiyash welcomed private sector assistance in organizing the DE workshop, likely early in the Spring 2010. ¶2. (SBU) Comment: The Saudi government has made it very clear there is an open door for DE-related training with both the USG and the private sector, which they want to use to shape Saudi implementation of its DE protection. This is a clear indication of Saudi Arabia's willingness to form a constructive partnership on patent-related issues; we recommend both parties capitalize on this opportunity. End comment. ZIADEH