Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09RIYADH789
2009-06-15 06:07:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Riyadh
Cable title:
PRO-ACTIVE DEPUTY MINISTER OF CULTURE AND
how-toVZCZCXRO8480 PP RUEHDE RUEHDH RUEHDIR DE RUEHRH #0789 1660607 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 150607Z JUN 09 FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0975 INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUEKDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 000789
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, INR/NESA, INR/B
PASS TO USTR FOR JASON BUNTIN
U.S. DEPT OF COMMERCE FOR STEVEN GARRETT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2019
TAGS: ECON EINV ETRD PREL KIPR SA
SUBJECT: PRO-ACTIVE DEPUTY MINISTER OF CULTURE AND
INFORMATION IN TWO KEY IPR POSITIONS
REF: RIYADH 0083
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David Rundell for reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d)
C O N F I D E N T I A L RIYADH 000789
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, INR/NESA, INR/B
PASS TO USTR FOR JASON BUNTIN
U.S. DEPT OF COMMERCE FOR STEVEN GARRETT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2019
TAGS: ECON EINV ETRD PREL KIPR SA
SUBJECT: PRO-ACTIVE DEPUTY MINISTER OF CULTURE AND
INFORMATION IN TWO KEY IPR POSITIONS
REF: RIYADH 0083
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David Rundell for reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d)
1. (SBU) The June 9 edition of the Saudi Gazette reported
that Minister of Culture and Information, Dr. Abdulaziz
Al-Khoja, appointed Deputy Minister Abdulrama Bin Abdulaziz
Al-Hazzaa as the official spokesman of the Ministry of
Culture and Information (MOCI). A Microsoft representative
who met with Hazzaa June 10 told EconCouns that Khoja also
appointed Hazzaa to chair the Violations Review Committee
(VRC) for intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement.
Hazzaa's appointment had been idling in the minister's inbox
for some time, the Microsoft respresentative said.
2. (C) The Microsoft representative added that MOCI Director
General of Copyrights Obaidallah Obaidallah, regarded by Post
and industry as an obstacle to progress on IPR issues, has
accepted a one-year detail with the Royal Court, which could
potentially be extended.
3. (C) Comment: The appointment of Hazzaa to two
high-profile positions and the secondment of Obaidallah
should facilitate enhanced U.S.-Saudi Arabia cooperation on
IPR awareness and enforcement. Hazzaa has been a pro-active
interlocutor (reftel),going so far as to personally lead
raids on shops selling pirated movies and CDs in person.
These appointments occurred just days after CDA Ambassador
Erdman met with Khoja to urge a crackdown on computer
software piracy (septel). End Comment.
ERDMAN
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, INR/NESA, INR/B
PASS TO USTR FOR JASON BUNTIN
U.S. DEPT OF COMMERCE FOR STEVEN GARRETT
E.O. 12958: DECL: 06/14/2019
TAGS: ECON EINV ETRD PREL KIPR SA
SUBJECT: PRO-ACTIVE DEPUTY MINISTER OF CULTURE AND
INFORMATION IN TWO KEY IPR POSITIONS
REF: RIYADH 0083
Classified By: Deputy Chief of Mission David Rundell for reasons 1.4 (b
) and (d)
1. (SBU) The June 9 edition of the Saudi Gazette reported
that Minister of Culture and Information, Dr. Abdulaziz
Al-Khoja, appointed Deputy Minister Abdulrama Bin Abdulaziz
Al-Hazzaa as the official spokesman of the Ministry of
Culture and Information (MOCI). A Microsoft representative
who met with Hazzaa June 10 told EconCouns that Khoja also
appointed Hazzaa to chair the Violations Review Committee
(VRC) for intellectual property rights (IPR) enforcement.
Hazzaa's appointment had been idling in the minister's inbox
for some time, the Microsoft respresentative said.
2. (C) The Microsoft representative added that MOCI Director
General of Copyrights Obaidallah Obaidallah, regarded by Post
and industry as an obstacle to progress on IPR issues, has
accepted a one-year detail with the Royal Court, which could
potentially be extended.
3. (C) Comment: The appointment of Hazzaa to two
high-profile positions and the secondment of Obaidallah
should facilitate enhanced U.S.-Saudi Arabia cooperation on
IPR awareness and enforcement. Hazzaa has been a pro-active
interlocutor (reftel),going so far as to personally lead
raids on shops selling pirated movies and CDs in person.
These appointments occurred just days after CDA Ambassador
Erdman met with Khoja to urge a crackdown on computer
software piracy (septel). End Comment.
ERDMAN