US embassy cable - 05KINGSTON1581

UNCLAS KINGSTON 001581 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR IIP/G/WHA CBARONE; INFO WHA/PDA APRUITT; RBANKS; INFO 
EB/TPP/IPE AADAMO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: OIIP, KPAO, JM 
SUBJECT: Request for speaker on intellectual property rights 
issues 
 
1.  SUMMARY:  Post seeks speaker to discuss intellectual 
property rights (IPR) issues with Jamaicans, including "fair 
use" by librarians and educators; video, film and music 
piracy; detection and law enforcement; and pending patent 
legislation.  END SUMMARY. 
 
2.  Proposed program dates: August 29 to September 9, 2005 
(three program days). 
 
3.  MPP Strategic Goal: Economic Prosperity and Security. 
 
4.  Program purpose:  To raise Jamaican public awareness of 
IPR issues.  Three intellectual property acts were passed in 
1999.   The private, print oriented Jamaica Copyright 
Licensing Agency (JAMCOPY) was established in 1998.  The 
Jamaica Intellectual Property Office (JIPO), an agency of 
the Ministry of Commerce, Science and Technology, was 
established in 2001.  While still under consideration by a 
Parliamentary Council, new patent laws have been pushed off 
the legislative calendar by more pressing anti-crime issues. 
Legislation is expected to go to the House of 
Representatives in the next year or so. 
 
Jamaicans are very proud of their unique cultural products, 
often expressing outrage when they are "faked."  On the 
other hand, students - and their teachers - will make 
multiple copies of a textbook without considering it wrong. 
The piracy of musical product is blatant and widespread.  A 
message that IPR "works both ways," pointing out how 
developing countries such as Jamaica can use intellectual 
property for their own benefit, with examples of the 
economic damage of poor IPR enforcement, could be 
particularly effective.  In that respect a major Jamaican 
IPR concern is enforcement of existing laws.  Only five 
police officers are assigned to address breaches of the 
current legislation.  Customs officers need training to 
detect counterfeit goods.  Identifying solutions in light of 
limited resources would be positive. 
 
5.  Audience: Representatives of GOJ agencies; private 
sector representatives; librarians and book publishers; 
educators; customs and law enforcement officers; print and 
broadcast journalists. 
 
6.  Proposed topics and nature of events: A workshop with 
JIPO and invited stakeholders on public education and 
enforcement issues; a National Library of Jamaica 
presentation and dialogue with librarians and educators; 
breakfast meeting and address to chamber of commerce on IPR 
benefits for local business and trade; meetings with law 
enforcement officials; media interviews. 
 
7.  Type of specialist required:  An expert from an 
organization such as the International Intellectual Property 
Institute who is able to focus on core IPR issues and how 
they affect us all, while being able to address more 
specific local and regional concerns raised by different 
stakeholders. 
 
8.  Language: English. 
 
9.  Funding specifics:  I Bucks. 
 
10.  Post program officer: Glenn Guimond, PAO, tel: (876) 
935-6053; fax: (876) 929-3637; email: guimondg@state.gov. 
Back-up program officers: Emma Lewis, PAA, tel: (876) 935- 
6009; fax: (876) 929-3637; email: lewisec@state.gov; and 
Myrna Lewis, IRC Director, tel: (876) 935-6016; fax: (876) 
929-3637; email: lewismi@state.gov.  Tighe