US embassy cable - 05SANTODOMINGO1861

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001861 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR WHA/CAR, WHA/EPSC, EB/TPP/IPE; DEPT PASS USTR; 
USDOC FOR USPTO (BOLAND); DEPT PASS LIBRARY OF CONGRESS FOR 
COPYRIGHT OFFICE; WHITE HOUSE FOR USTR FOR REGINA VARGO, A 
MALITO, B PECK 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: DR, ETRD, KIPR 
SUBJECT: CAFTA: DOMINICAN REPUBLIC DELIVERS QUARTERLY 
REPORT ON BROADCAST PIRACY ENFORCEMENT 
 
1.  On April 4 the Dominican Minister of Industry and 
Commerce signed off on the January 2005 report on enforcement 
measures against broadcast piracy agreed in the side letter 
to the regional free trade agreement (CAFTA) and his staff 
delivered the text to the Embassy on April 5.  Embassy is 
faxing the text to USTR and sending originals to WHA/CAR for 
copying and distribution. 
 
2.  Minister Javier Garcia signed the cover letter 
transmitting the report to Regina Vargo of USTR.  Following 
are measures summarized in the report and supported by 
accompanying documentation: 
 
-- Attorney General's Office 
 
Preliminary investigation of cases 18-1104 against Channel 
20, Case 19-1104 against Channel 6, Case 20-1104 against 
Channel 5 Telemicro,and Case 20-1104 against Channel 15. 
Each case cites plaintiff as "Paramount Pictures, Twentieth 
Century Fox FIlm and Tristar Pictures, Warner Brothers." 
 
-- Copyright Office 
 
Creation of a section for complaints, reconciliation and 
anti-piracy; workshop given to staff by Telecoms Institute 
(INDOTEL) concerning cable retransmission; issuance of 
Resolution 03-05 of January 25 imposing a fine on a cable 
company for failing to register with the copyright office; 
issuance of Decision 01-05 of (no date given) convoking the 
firm "Tecnicos de Cables por television" for discussion in 
view of reconciliation with the firm Redes Telvisivas 
Satelital. 
 
-- Telecommunications Institute (INDOTEL) 
 
INDOTEL management confirm their availability to examine any 
cases of IP infractions presented to them.  The current 
INDOTEL board has issued no resolutions or decisions, since 
plaintiffs in cases currently active have preferred to go 
directly to the Attorney General's Office. 
 
HERTELL