Philippines: 301 Special Out-of-Cycle Review on

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 MANILA 000008 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR EAP/MTS, EAP/EP DEPARTMENT FOR EEB/TPP/MTA/IPC STATE PASS USTR FOR BWEISEL, RBAE AND BKLEIN STATE ALSO PASS USAID BANGKOK FOR USPTO JENNIFER NESS USDOC FOR 4430/ITA/MAC USDOC PASS USPTO E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KIPR ETRD EAGR RP SUBJECT: Philippines: 301 Special Out-of-Cycle Review on Intellectual Property Rights Protection ¶1. (SBU) Summary. On December 17, U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) officials held a digital video conference with the Government of the Republic of the Philippines (GRP) to discuss intellectual property rights protection and enforcement as part of the 301 Special Out-of-Cycle Review (OCR) of the Philippines. The delegations discussed a variety of issues including legislative developments, proposed special IP courts and procedural rules, increased IPR enforcement actions, and the growing challenge of peer-to-peer piracy. End Summary. Out-of-Cycle Review on IPR Protection in the Philippines -------------- ¶2. (U) In April 2009, USTR announced that the Philippines would undergo an OCR to assess progress on specific concerns regarding illegal camcording, slow implementation of the WIPO Internet treaties, and potential intellectual property (IP) ramifications of the 2008 Cheaper Medicines Act. Meetings on these issues were scheduled for November in Manila, but were postponed because of intervening events. On December 17, U.S. and Philippine delegations met via digital video conference, led by Assistant USTR Barbara Weisel and Director for Intellectual Property and Innovation Rachel Bae for the United States, and Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) Senior Undersecretary Thomas Aquino and Intellectual Property Office (IPO) Director General Adrian Cristobal, Jr. for the Philippines. Other attendees included the Chairman of the Optical Media Board, representatives from the Philippine National Police (PNP),National Bureau of Investigation, Bureau of Customs, and Department of Interior and Local Government. The U.S. delegation included the Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO),the Department of Commerce, the State Department, and the U.S. Copyright Office. Legislative Progress but Most Timelines Unclear -------------- ¶3. (U) Cristobal reported that the Technology Transfer Bill is awaiting final signature by President Macapagal-Arroyo. Citing this as a victory for IPR, Cristobal thanked the USPTO and other USG agencies that helped the Philippine government to develop this bill, which was modeled after the U.S. Bayh-Dole Act to provide for the commercialization of government-funded research and development. ¶4. (SBU) The Philippine delegation would not speculate on timelines for the passage of other IP-related bills, but Cristobal pointed to the January - March window as a historically productive time for legislation. Cristobal noted that the Anti-Camcording Bill is moving more quickly than expected due to its strong domestic constituency in the movie theatre and film industries. The bill passed the House and is pending second reading in the Senate. He also said the implementing legislation for the WIPO Internet treaties passed the House on second reading, but the Senate version is still pending in committee level. Cristobal reported that there is a strong push for passage of these treaties from both legislative authors, Senator Angara and Congressman Rodriguez. In another update, Cristobal mentioned that the Anti-Cable Television Piracy Bill was approved on third reading in the House and is pending a second reading in the Senate. Pointing to more long-term legislative efforts, Cristobal shared that the IPO recently formed an IP caucus of House members. Judicial Reform: Moving Forward with IP Courts, Special Procedures -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Cristobal reported that Supreme Court Chief Justice Reynato Puno formed a special judicial committee last week to review draft IP rules submitted in October 2009. Cristobal predicted adoption of the rules in early 2010, describing the IP courts as "an idea whose time has come," with a broad constituency and receptive Chief Justice. ¶6. (U) Cristobal claimed that the rules would streamline and increase transparency of the IP judicial process by creating two or three specialized courts in the National Capital Region with national jurisdiction. The reforms would address the confiscation of items, prohibit certain pleadings, and allow courts to tap the IPO for technical and legal expertise. Cristobal provided a speculative timeframe of Q3 implementation, cautioning that the IPO plays only an "active supporting role." Before full implementation, the new IP courts would need to reduce non-IP dockets to achieve a 50-50 mix of IP and non-IP cases. IP courts would have civil and criminal jurisdiction and would operate within existing budgets. MANILA 00000008 002 OF 003 ¶7. (SBU) Cristobal also noted success for IP rights holders through quasi-judicial mechanisms, such as the administrative process of the IPO's Bureau of Legal Affairs (BLA). The BLA resolved 10 cases during the first nine months of 2009 with an average case turnaround time of 19 months and some early success stories. According to Cristobal, BLA will also offer IP owners mediation in 2010, but noted that funding restraints limit the BLA's capacity to assume a greater workload. IPR Enforcement Actions Increase In Spite of Uncertain Budgets -------------- ¶8. (U) Responding to concerns about lack of political will to fund IPR enforcement, Cristobal acknowledged that the OMB's request for additional funding is pending with the Office of the President, adding that resources are being channeled to social programs in the wake of several natural disasters earlier in the year. Cristobal pointed out that enforcement actions had increased in spite of budgetary constraints, highlighting the 100% increase in actions by the PNP after the Chief of Police issued a nationwide directive on IP enforcement and signed a MoU with the IPO. Cristobal added that the five billion pesos of goods seized in 2009 was 40% more than last year and a 500% increase from 2005, when the IPO was established. ¶9. (U) Of 4,158 enforcement actions, there were 360 raids (60 of which were in notorious areas such as Quiapo, Manila) and 405 search warrants issued. OMB attorney Cyrus Valenzuela remarked that the OMB is also working closely with the government's Philippines Anti-Piracy Team and industry association Business Software Alliance to pursue enforcement through inspection orders, which do not require judicial approval or IP rights holders' involvement. Clash of Views on Copyright Protection -------------- ¶10. (SBU) Cristobal recognized a long-standing issue between the International Intellectual Property Association (IIPA) and the IPO regarding the process of obtaining search warrants, reiterating his disagreement with the IIPA in their characterization of search warrants as "difficult to obtain" in the Philippines. He stated that the IIPA was basing its assessment on a comparison of seven years ago, when search warrants were easily granted but were often quashed at a later stage in the judicial process. Cristobal added that he would welcome a dialogue with IIPA on this point. ¶11. (U) Questioned as to whether the IPO had good cooperation from other IP entities, Cristobal noted a general hesitancy on the part of U.S. pharmaceutical and publishing interests to support Philippine efforts. He went on to express concern that U.S. publishers were "quite slow" in responding to the Filipinas Copyright Licensing Society (FILCOLS) initiative, established last year. The U.S. delegation flagged concerns that reprographic rights organizations such as FILCOLS were not up to international standards or accepted practices, licensing fees were a fraction of those in other markets, and U.S. publishers were concerned that their interests were not being "represented proportionately." Cristobal responded that empirical evidence can help resolve such issues, adding that FILCOLS is a member of the International Federation of Reproductive Rights Organizations (IFRRO),and that legitimate distinctions between developed and developing countries exist. Cristobal observed that, if the U.S. publishers decide they will not participate in FILCOLS, there is nothing the Philippine government can do. Hot Spots: Pharmaceuticals, Camcording and Digital Piracy -------------- ¶12. (SBU) USPTO asked whether the USG would have an opportunity to review the draft patent examination handbook before adoption; Cristobal agreed to provide such an opportunity. Cristobal acknowledged that the process of updating the data protection provisions had been slow but he hoped to complete the revision by early 2010. Of specific concern to the U.S. pharmaceutical industry, these rules will shape implementation of the Cheaper Medicines Act. ¶13. (U) On mobile devices/peer-to-peer (P2P) piracy, Cristobal admitted progress has not been as constant as in other issue areas, and that there were few arrests despite numerous raids. A MANILA 00000008 003 OF 003 representative from the OMB explained that there is no Philippine law outlining jurisdiction over illegal downloading, and the OMB would like USG technical assistance to outline a legal basis for asserting its jurisdiction on peer-to-peer and other digital piracy. USTR indicated it would raise the issue with U.S. industry representatives. Cristobal also sought collaboration with the United States to address illegal camcording. The End of Cristobal's Tenure and Next Steps for IPR Protection -------------- ¶14. (U) Noting Cristobal's upcoming departure after his term expires on December 31, 2009, USTR officials communicated their appreciation of Cristobal's leadership in the Philippines and in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Working Group on Intellectual Property. Cristobal confirmed that he intends to return to the private sector, adding, "I like to think that what I have done has been institutionalized." Members of the Philippine delegation recognized USG assistance at several points in the conference, including USPTO training of judges, support for the technology transfer bill, support for a 12-member Philippine delegation to a recent signal piracy conference, and other capacity-building activities. ¶15. (SBU) The Philippine delegation seeks continued collaboration with the USG, with Cristobal and Aquino expressing their hope that USG officials might raise intellectual property issues in meetings with senior Philippine officials. USTR informed GRP officials that the Special 301 Subcommittee would meet next week to exchange views, after which a decision on the Philippine OCR would be made early next year. ¶16. (U) USTR cleared this cable. Kenney