US embassy cable - 04AMMAN8404

UNCLAS AMMAN 008404 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE PASS TO USTR - E. SAUMS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON, ETRD, KIPR, KPAO, KTIA, JO, WTRO 
SUBJECT: JORDAN CAUTIOUSLY RECEPTIVE TO "STOP" INITIATIVE 
 
REF: A. STATE 214134 
 
     B. AMMAN 6508 
     C. AMMAN 2574 
 
SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED. FOR USG USE ONLY. 
 
1.  (SBU)  SUMMARY:  Embassy October 7 delivered reftel 
information on the "Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy" 
(STOP) to Mahmoun Talhouni, Director General of the National 
Library, who oversees Jordan's IPR Enforcement Unit.  Embassy 
also delivered the reftel non-paper to The Ministry of 
Industry and Trade office on WTO and Trade Policy.  Charge 
will raise "STOP" with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of 
Industry and Trade Mohammad Halaiqa at the next available 
opportunity.  Early indications are that the GOJ is receptive 
to this IPR initiative by its FTA trade partner and largest 
export market, but cautious about what the next strategic 
steps might be in Jordan.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  (SBU)  National Library's Talhouni listened intently to a 
brief summary of the STOP initiative and indicated an 
interest in seeking out opportunities to advance IPR in 
Jordan.  But he lamented the lack of public support for IPR 
enforcement from the private sector and noted that more 
public awareness was needed across the board.  He was 
especially interested in private sector initiatives. 
 
Caution Until Copyright Law Passes in December 
--------------------------------------------- - 
 
3.  (SBU)  Turning to pending amendments to the temporary 
Copyright Law under review by parliament, Talhouni said that 
he thought this law would be at the top of the agenda when 
parliament resumed in December, given that an 
article-by-article review considered half the bill in July, 
just before recess (Ref B).  The amendments track closely 
with those the U.S. proposed last year to seek closer 
adherence to its Free Trade Agreement obligations (Ref C). 
 
4.  (SBU) The press had put the spotlight on him during the 
last debate, Talhouni complained, and he was "all alone" when 
critics said his enforcement unit abused it powers.  Those 
who benefit most from IPR protections (e.g. the private 
audiotape and DVD distributors) had done nothing to advance 
their interests in the public sphere, he said.  For now, his 
approach was to be low key, and avoid doing anything to 
provoke a reaction to the copyright law amendments.  He 
indicated being more amenable to proactive measures, 
especially to promote public awareness of IPR, once the law 
had passed.  He was strongly in favor of more private sector 
participation in these activities, including more action by 
distributors to fulfill requirements in criminal complaints. 
 
5.  (SBU)  Embassy expects a more detailed response to the 
STOP initiative once GOJ interlocutors have had time to 
digest the particulars. 
HALE