VZCZCXRO9225
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHAM #4599 3220956
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 180956Z NOV 07
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0929
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS AMMAN 004599 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR AND USAID 
STATE FOR EB/TPP/IPE, NEA/ELA, AND NEA/PI 
COMMERCE PLEASE PASS TO USPTO 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR PGOV JO IPR
SUBJECT: USPTO PROGRAM IN JORDAN BUILDS IPR AWARENESS AND NETWORKS 
AMONG EIGHT MIDDLE EASTERN COUNTRIES 
 
REF: STATE 138058 
 
¶1.  The United States Patent and Trademark Office's (USPTO) Global 
Intellectual Property Academy (GIPA) conducted successful training 
on Law and Policy for Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and 
Enforcement from November 5-8 in Jordan with the assistance of the 
Embassy and USAID.  Over 100 representatives from Jordan, Iraq, 
Lebanon, Yemen, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Egypt, and the UAE attended 
the course.  The training provided valuable information and 
opportunities to share knowledge on successful strategies and 
mechanisms to boost intellectual property rights (IPR) protection in 
the Middle East. 
 
¶2.  The opening of the seminar received positive and substantive 
coverage in Jordan's print media.  Local newspaper reports with 
photos appeared as lead economic articles, and covered opening 
remarks by Jordanian Minister of Industry and Trade Salem 
Khaza'aleh, who noted his government's commitment to protect IPR and 
unify efforts through the creation of an IPR umbrella organization 
in Jordan.  Senior Jordanian officials from the National Library, 
Jordan Food and Drug Administration, Customs Department, and 
Ministry of Industry and Trade also presented keynote speeches on 
their agencies' organization and efforts in the various IPR fields. 
Private sector companies, including Microsoft and Nokia, also 
participated in a product symposium to help officials distinguish 
between counterfeit and authentic goods. 
 
¶3.  Participants lauded the regional networking opportunities 
provided by the conference, particularly the kick-off reception at 
the Ambassador's residence.  The event introduced the head of the 
Jordanian National Library to the head of the Iraqi copyright 
office, who had previously exchanged written correspondence about 
possible training opportunities, but had never met.  They agreed to 
revisit and explore potential areas of bilateral cooperation in 
building Iraqi capacity in copyrights. 
 
¶4.  On November 7 on the margins of the training, USPTO Dean of 
Training Robert Stoll met with ten masters-level students at the 
University of Jordan on IPR.  The students asked probing questions, 
and the discussion really caught fire around issues of music piracy, 
public education, and judicial capacity.  Post thanks Dean Stoll and 
all the USPTO and USTR officials, particularly the conference's lead 
organizer Ben Hardman, for being stellar lecturers, good listeners, 
and accessible experts. 
 
Visit Amman's Classified Web Site at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman/ 
 
HALE