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