US embassy cable - 02AMMAN2954

UNCLAS AMMAN 002954 
 
SIPDIS 
 
IIP/G/NEA (BDURANT); NEA/PPD (JBAROODY, CBOURGEOIS, 
JGAFFNEY); NEA/ARN (SZIADEH) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP,  OEXC,  SCUL,  JO 
SUBJECT: DVC Program on "The Protection of Webs Sites on the 
Internet": Program Evaluation 
 
1.   Summary: In cooperation with the National 
Center for Intellectual Property (NCIP), PAS Amman conducted 
the third DVC program of a series on IPR on Monday, June 3 
at 1400 GMT.  Audience consisted of over sixty lawyers, 
judges, businessmen, and academicians who displayed great 
interest in the topic of discussion. 
 
2.   Description of Activity: The 90 minute session took 
place in the Public Affair's Auditorium. 
 
3.   Date: June 3, 2002; Third Quarter FY-2002 
 
4. Justification and Objectives: The DVC program helped 
introduce a number of issues of large concern to the 
different professions in our audience, such as law 
enforcement in protecting web sites and the advantages of 
protecting web sites.  Mr. Christopher Merriam underlined 
the legitimacy of downloading programs and other material 
from the internet.  He also emphasised that "IPR fosters the 
growth of industries" in particular the music and games 
industries which also widely advertise on line. 
 
5. MPP Goal: This program supported the MPP goals on 
economic reform and promoting understanding and appreciation 
of U.S society and values. 
 
6. Result/impact: Good.  The Jordanian audience seemed 
pleased with the discussion directed by the four panelists 
in the program, Mr. Christopher Merriam, Mr. Stevan 
Mitchell, Ms. Maria Luisa Simpson and Mr. Robert Hunter. 
They felt that it explained a lot of their queries and 
helped clarify certain issues of copyright legitimacy to 
them.  However, the panelists' talks were rather longwinded, 
which led the audience to become fairly bored and restless, 
as this session is intended to be interactive. 
 
Mr. Mitchell who was the first to speak introduced the 
Interactive Digital Software Association (IDSA) and its role 
as a trade association.  He mentioned that IDSA is the 
private publisher of over thirty games and explained its 
role in protecting its' customers' web sites on the internet 
and in preventing copyright infringement.  Mr. Hunter spoke 
about E-businesses such as Napster, which was deactivated. 
He compared the downloading of music from it as similar to 
stealing a CD from a music store but mentioned that no one 
was ever prosecuted for using it.  Ms. Simpson spoke of 
copyright law in the United States and justified the 
rationale behind its evolution.  However, she mentioned that 
she could not comment further on the implementation of 
copyright law in Jordan because each country has its 
legislators who decide what laws best fit its economy with 
regards to its nature. 
Mr. Merriam also touched on the seriousness of copyright 
infringement and counterfeiting under U.S. law and mentioned 
that counterfeiting is a felony for which a ten year prison 
sentence can be ruled, as well as a $2 million fine. 
A member of the audience amused by the high technology 
discussed throughout the course of the program, commented on 
the existence of "cyber cops" saying that "Jordan doesn't 
have standard regular cops, let alone cyber cops!"  He also 
went on to say that much of what was discussed in the 
program was invaluable but unfamiliar to most Jordanians. 
Him being a U.S. graduate and a regular visitor of IT fairs 
in the U.S. and Europe, found that the program unveiled many 
new topics related to copyright laws and approaches to the 
protection of web sites on the internet. 
 
7. Comments: Three ISDN lines were used to make the 
connection.  These ISDN lines yielded a very good picture, 
resolution and sound.  The connection was not obstructed at 
all during the program. 
 
8. Quality of Support: Excellent.  PAS Amman appreciates the 
support of IIP/G/NEA and NEA/PPD.  Many thanks go to Ms. 
Inga McMichael for her continuous support.  We look forward 
to future cooperation and success on the last DVC program of 
this quarterly series on IPR.  GNEHM