VZCZCXYZ0043
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHSF #0801/01 1801232
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291232Z JUN 07
FM AMEMBASSY SOFIA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 3919

UNCLAS SOFIA 000801 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
COMMERCE PASS USPTO BARBARA MACCAFFREY 
 
E.O. 12958:  N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR AORC BU
SUBJECT: THE UNITED STATES PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE (USPTO) GIPA 
ENFORCEMENT OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS COPYRIGHT PROGRAM, 
AUGUST 6-9, 2007, ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA 
 
REF: A) SECSTATE 83242 
 
¶1. (U) Post nominates Mr. Georgi Damyanov and Mr. Bisser Yankov, of 
the Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, Copyright Directorate, for USPTO 
GIPA training scheduled for August 6-9, 2007(per reftel).  Mr. 
Damyanov has been Head of the Copyright Directorate at the Ministry 
of Culture since 2002.  Before that, he worked as head of the 
Distribution Department at the Copyright Agency and was the director 
of the Musicator and Equipex companies.  In his present capacity, 
Damyanov is responsible for overseeing the process of formulating, 
coordinating and implementing the government policies on copyright 
issues.  His directorate takes the lead in IPR enforcement with 
regard to copyright legislation: conducts inspections, imposes fines 
and issues expert opinions against copyright violators. 
 
¶2. (U) Mr. Bisser Yankov has been with the Copyright Directorate at 
the Ministry of Culture since 2002.  In his capacity as a senior 
legal adviser, Yankov is responsible for arguing copyright cases in 
court, drawing up statements against copyright infringements, etc. 
Yankov serves as a secretary of Working Group 18 which has 
introduced the EU copyright regulations in Bulgaria, and is a 
representative for the Ministry in the international IPR 
organizations.  In 2003-2005, Mr. Yankov has been Ministry's point 
of contact for the EU PHARE-funded project for building a national 
IPR database network. 
 
¶3. (U) Post believes in the strong professional skills of the two 
nominations under this program.  The Bulgarian candidate(s) are 
unlikely to travel without funding assistance.  Post respectfully 
requests USPTO funding for per diem, visa charges, lodging, and U.S. 
ground transportation.  We greatly appreciate USPTO's efforts with 
this program. 
 
¶4. (U) Nominees' contact information: 
 
--Mr. Georgi Damyanov 
Copyright Directorate, 
Bulgarian Ministry of Culture, Director 
17, Stambolyiski Blvd., 1040 Sofia, Bulgaria 
Tel. (359-2) 940-0821 
Fax. (359-2) 980-5388 
E-mail: G.Damyanov@mc.government.bg 
 
Work Experience: 
--2002-Present Copyright Directorate, Ministry of Culture, Sofia, 
Bulgaria, Director. 
--1994-2002 Equipex company, Director 
--1991-1993 Musicator company, Director 
--1975-1990 Distribution Department, Copyright Agency, Director 
 
Education: 
--1975-1980 "St. Kliment Ohridski" Sofia University, Law degree, 
Specialization in Copyright Law 
 
Seminars and Trainings: 
--August 2004 IPR law enforcement training, State Department, 
Washington D.C. 
--November 2003 Introduction to Public Administration, Institute for 
Public Administration and EU Integration, Sofia, Bulgaria 
 
--Mr. Bisser Yankov 
Copyright Directorate, 
Ministry of Culture, Senior Legal Adviser 
17, Stamboliyski Blvd., 1040 Sofia, Bulgaria 
Tel. (359-2) 940-0812 
Fax. (359-2) 980-5388 
E-mail: B.Yankov@mc.government.bg 
 
Work Experience: 
--1997-2000 Legal Internship 
--2002-Present Copyright Directorate, Ministry of Culture, Sofia, 
Bulgaria, Senior Legal Adviser 
 
Education: 
--1994-1999 "St. Kliment Ohridski" Sofia University, 
Law degree, Specialization in International Public Law 
 
Seminars and Trainings: 
--Jun-July 2002 DL-101 Introduction to IPR, Distant Learning 
Training, WIPO 
--November 2002 TRIPS-related IPR Law Enforcement, USPTO 
--2003 Introduction to Public Administration, Institute for Public 
Administration and EU Integration, Sofia, Bulgaria 
--June 2003 WIPOnet project, WIPO, Geneva 
--November 2003 Copyright training, WIPO Geneva, Patent Office 
London 
--June 2004 USPTO training 
 
--Embassy Sofia Point of Contact (POC) will be Economic Specialist 
Danko Tonev.  Contact information for Mr. Tonev follows: (Office) 
 
 
359-2-937-5212, (Fax) 359-2-937-5320, and (E-mail) 
tonevdt@state.gov. 
BEYRLE