US embassy cable - 02ROME4495

UNCLAS ROME 004495 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
 
STATE FOR EUR/SE AND EB/IPC 
STATE PASS USTR FOR BURCKY 
STATE PASS USPTO FOR HUTHER, PAUGH, SANTAMAURO, BOLAND 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIPR, ECON, ETRD, EUN 
SUBJECT: ITALIAN RESPONSE TO DEMARCHE ON SUBSTANTIVE PATENT 
LAW TREATY 
 
REF: A. ROME 3961 
 
     B. STATE 149859 
 
THIS MESSAGE IS SENSITIVE.  NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
1. (U) ECONOFF MET ON 12 SEPTEMBER WITH COUNSELOR GIULIO 
PRIGIONI, THE NEWLY-APPOINTED ITALIAN REPRESENTATIVE TO WIPO 
(REF.A) TO DISCUSS REF POINTS (REF. B). 
 
2. (SBU) THE GOI AGREES WITH THE USG POSITION THAT THE 
STANDING COMMITTEE ON THE LAW OF PATENTS SHOULD REMAIN 
FOCUSED AND PRODUCTIVE, PRIGIONI ASSURED.  HOWEVER, THE GOI 
IS NOT YET PREPARED TO GO PUBLIC THIS VIEW SINCE DISCUSSIONS 
ARE STILL IN THEIR EARLY PHASE AND A JURIDICAL BASIS FOR AN 
AGREEMENT HAS YET TO BE IDENTIFIED. 
 
3. (U) THE GOI, MOREOVER, DOES NOT/NOT SUPPORT THE CREATION 
OF A SEPARATE GROUP TO PURSUE PATENT HARMONIZATION 
DISCUSSIONS. PRIGIONI NOTED THAT, IN THE GOI VIEW, THE 
CREATION OF A SEPARATE GROUP WOULD CREATE THE IMPRESSION OF A 
DEAL BEING STRUCK BEHIND CLOSED DOORS, POTENTIALLY 
UNDERMINING THE LEGITIMACY OF AN AGREEMENT.  HE PROPOSED 
INSTEAD THAT BILATERAL EXCHANGES BE USED TO SUPPLEMENT 
STANDING COMMITTEE DISCUSSIONS. 
SEMBLER 
 
                       UNCLASSIFIED 
 
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 2002ROME04495 - Classification: UNCLASSIFIED