VZCZCXRO7673
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR
DE RUEHKU #0668 1641428
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 121428Z JUN 08
FM AMEMBASSY KUWAIT
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 1652
INFO RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS KUWAIT 000668 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP; STATE PASS TO USTR FOR JBUNTIN 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIPR ECON ETRD KU
SUBJECT: KUWAIT CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HOLDS FIRST NATIONAL 
CONFERENCE ON IPR PROTECTION 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary:  The Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and 
Industry (KCCI) hosted a two-day national conference on 
Protection of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) on June 9 
and 10.  The conference included seminars and roundtable 
discussions that brought together IPR experts from the 
private and public sectors.  This event attracted significant 
media coverage, particularly the opening ceremony which the 
Ambassador attended.  Improving IPR protection to foster 
greater innovation and entrepreneurship in Kuwait was the 
main theme of this event.  Although most government officials 
spoke about progress made by the GOK in IPR protection, many 
private sector experts and practitioners lamented the 
country's inconsistent and often ineffective enforcement 
standards.  End Summary. 
 
¶2.  (U) Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI) U/S Rasheed 
al-Tabtabaie was the key-note speaker at the opening 
ceremony.  He highlighted recent progress made by MOCI in 
stepping up IPR enforcement.  He also emphasized that MOCI, 
the Ministry of Information and the Public Authority for 
Industry (PAI) are all working on amendments to laws that 
would impose stricter penalties and provide greater 
protection for IPR in Kuwait.  Although he did not specify a 
timeframe, Tabtabaie expressed confidence that these laws 
would be in effect soon.  He also praised Customs officials 
for increasing their efforts along with the MOCI enforcement 
teams.  KCCI was represented at the opening ceremony by its 
treasurer, Salah al-Marzouq, who pointed out that Kuwait has 
been protecting IPR since it gained independence in 1961 and 
that Kuwait has been a member of WIPO since 1988. 
 
¶3.  (U) Ministry of Interior U/S LTG Ahmed al-Rojaib spoke 
about MOI enforcement efforts, pointing out that as of April 
2008 MOI has recorded more than 289,000 seizures of 
counterfeit items including computer software, CDs, DVDs, 
books, clothing and electronic and electrical products. 
Business Software Alliance (BSA) Chairman Jawad Al-Redha, in 
contrast, argued that despite GOK efforts, piracy is growing 
in Kuwait and in the GCC.  He urged the GOK to implement 
stricter penalties for violators to ensure that the work of 
Kuwaiti artists and innovators is protected and fostered.  He 
highlighted BSA's collaboration with governments in the GCC 
to spread awareness among the general public about IPR 
protection and the detrimental effects of piracy on local 
economies. 
 
¶4.  (U) Other sessions included government officials from the 
Ministry of Justice, MOCI Trade Office, Ministry of 
Information, and the Kuwait National Library.  Lack of public 
awareness was cited as the primary reason for growing piracy 
in Kuwait.  Ministry of Justice officials presented a working 
paper on the need for public awareness campaigns through 
media outreach programs on IPR.  The working paper explained 
that Kuwaitis need to understand the protections available to 
them.  Both public and private sector experts agreed to work 
together to raise IPR awareness through collaborative PR 
campaigns. 
 
Comment 
------ 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Although this conference did not produce any 
substantive results or solve specific problems with IPR 
protection in Kuwait, it notably raised the profile of IPR 
issues in Kuwait.  The conference followed a brunch session 
on IPR hosted by the American Kuwaiti Alliance (AKA) in May. 
Embassy Econoff participated in the AKA panel and spoke on 
the current state of IP protection in Kuwait and the role of 
the USG in protecting IPR.  KCCI, the largest and only 
official chamber in Kuwait, was able to bring together 
high-level government officials and private sector leaders on 
this topic and attract considerable media reaction.  Whether 
this conference will lead to public awareness campaigns on 
IPR or speed up the passage on new IP laws remains to be 
seen, but it represents a step in the right direction. 
 
********************************************* * 
For more reporting from Embassy Kuwait, visit: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/?cable s 
 
Visit Kuwait's Classified Website: 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/kuwait/ 
********************************************* * 
JONES