FURTHER SAUDI GOVERNMENT PROGRESS ON ENFORCING

UNCLAS RIYADH 000208 SENSITIVE SIPDIS DEPT FOR NEA/ARP, EB/TPP/BTA, E FOR U/S ROBERT HORMATS AND SARA YUN 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 E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KIPR ETRD ECON PREL SA SUBJECT: FURTHER SAUDI GOVERNMENT PROGRESS ON ENFORCING COPYRIGHT PROTECTION REF: A. 09 RIYADH 1202 ¶B. 09 RIYADH 1366 ¶C. 09 RIYADH 1425 ¶D. 09 RIYADH 1493 ¶E. 09 RIYADH 1543 ¶F. 09 RIYADH 1550 ¶G. 09 RIYADH 1572 ¶H. 09 RIYADH 1626 ¶I. RIYADH 75 ¶J. RIYADH 131 ¶1. (SBU) On February 17, Deputy Minister of Culture and Information (MOCI) Abdul Rahman Al-Hazzaa hosted a meeting with the Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance and Microsoft, who presented initial mock ups of an extensive public relations campaign to increase public awareness of the issue of piracy in Saudi Arabia. This initiative is the first product of a partnership formed by rights holders and MOCI, with the facilitation of the U.S. Embassy, which is developing a program to raise public awareness, improve training for MOCI inspectors, and increase cooperation on enforcement. Rights holders have agreed that they will help MOCI meet the costs of these initiatives, recognizing that MOCI lacks the resources on its own. This partnership includes the major Saudi producers and distributors of music and video, and, through AAA, publishers and most major software producers. ¶2. (SBU) Al-Hazzaa welcomed industry's partnership, and was very excited by the draft materials for television, radio and print ads, as well as innovative approaches to link up with social networking sites. Al-Hazzaa asked industry to complete draft materials by the end of March, and promised that he would get the Minister of Culture to attend the launching of the program. He also committed to lobby the Minister to make time available on Saudi Government television channels for free. ¶3. (SBU) Industry representatives noted that, according to a survey completed four years ago, 50 percent of businesses did not believe they would ever face legal action for selling pirated software or videos. Industry estimates that sales of pirated videos and software costs up to 3,000 jobs per year. They believe that this public awareness campaign will help curtail one third of the market for pirated products by making unknowing customers more aware that very cheap products are likely not real. They also believe it will have a significant impact on increasing the perception of risk among small business sellers that they will face legal action. ¶4. (SBU) Al-Hazzaa also said that next week, MOCI expects to refer its second case of a suspected copyright pirate to the Board of Grievances, the Kingdom's highest commercial court. Al-Hazzaa reiterated MOCI's intention to increase enforcement efforts, including seizures, fines, and where appropriate, recommending imprisonment, to improve the business environment for legitimate companies. SMITH