US embassy cable - 05SANTODOMINGO1897

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 001897 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR IO/T, IO/UNP, WHA/CAR, EB/TPP/IPE; USDOC FOR USPTO 
INTERNATIONAL 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: DR, EAID, ETRD, KIPR 
SUBJECT: DOMINICAN RESPONSE ON WIPO APRIL 11-13 SESSION ON 
INTELLLECTUAL PROPERTY AND DEVELOPMENT 
 
REF: STATE 56991 
 
1.  Head of the Dominican Intellectual Property Office 
Enrique Ramrez told EcoPol Counselor on April 6 that he had 
attended the WIPO General Assembly last October and voted 
with others, including the United States, to discuss the 
Brazilian and Arlgentine proposals, for which the Dominican 
Republic is listed as a co-sponsor.  He will attend the April 
11-13 meeting at WIPO. 
 
2.  Ramirez agrees with the United States view that there is 
no justification for creating new bodies at WIPO, for 
changing its mandate, or for setting formal dictates on 
economic development matters.  He received a call earlier 
this week from his counterpart in Mexico Jorge Amigo, who is 
preparing a submission much friendlier to the U.S. view that 
WIPO should continue its principal mission of explaining IPR, 
administering the various IPR unions, and assisting 
developing countries to access the benefits of IPR.  Ramrez 
promised to e-mail a copy of the Mexican proposal.  He 
accepted with thanks the Embassy,s reworking in Spanish of 
Department talking points, as well as the copy in Spanish, 
available for the first time this morning, of the U.S. 
proposal for the creation of &partnership links8 through 
WIPO to assist development. 
 
3.  ONAPI Director Enrique Ramrez was head of litigation for 
the law firm of President Fernandez until that firm became 
inactive Fernandez's election.  A young and vigorous lawyer, 
he was responsible for civil litigation.  We expect that he 
will be a moderate voice within GRULAC and will be willing to 
engage with the U.S. delegation; he is well aware of U.S. 
concerns on IPR, especially in the context of the regional 
free trade agreement CAFTA now under consideration by the 
U.S. and Dominican legislatures.  Ramrez has expressed great 
interest in visiting USPTO to get a better handle on the task 
of setting up the Dominican patent office ) perhaps on a 
&voluntary visitor8 program.  He understands the U.S. 
issues with Dominican IPR piracy and appears likely to be a 
useful ally over the next three years of the Fernndez 
administration - - and perhaps for longer, if Fernndez runs 
for the second term that is an option under the current 
version of the Constitution. 
 
4. FREETOWN MINIMIZE CONSIDERED. 
HERTELL