VZCZCXRO5158
RR RUEHROV
DE RUEHDS #2149/01 2200445
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 070445Z AUG 08
FM AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1573
INFO RUCNIAD/IGAD COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ADDIS ABABA 002149 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV EAGR ET
SUBJECT: GOE REAFFIRMS PROTECTION OF COPYRIGHTS 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
 
¶1. (U) The Ethiopian Government (GoE) destroyed close to half a 
million pirated copies of locally produced music CDs, software, 
Ethiopian-produced DVD films and foreign-produced pornographic films 
on 27 July 2008 at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa in the presence of 
senior government officials, artists, producers and residents.  Most 
of the pirated material was piled up and crushed, but a small 
portion of it was burned in a ceremonial bonfire.  Minister of 
Information Berhan Hailu said that the GoE was making strides to 
better protect copyrighted material because of the detrimental 
effect pirated goods were having on the economy.  Ethiopian 
Audiovisual Association (EAA) chairperson Equbai Berhe said the 
illegal copies, which were worth millions of dollars, have been 
creating socio-economic problems.  Ato Esayas Asmelash, the 
Copyright Protection Team Leader at the Federal Corruption and 
Anti-Ethics Commission (FCAEC), told post's economic officers that a 
coordinated effort launched by the government has been taking 
various measures to stop illegal piracy of Ethiopian artists' 
intellectual property.  The government's priority right now is to 
create awareness of the problems created by pirated materials and 
the public destruction of these materials on 27 July was a welcome 
initial push in these efforts.  End Summary. 
 
BACKGROUND 
---------- 
 
¶2. (U) Though the Copyright and Neighboring Rights Protection 
Proclamation, which protects the rights of copyright owners and 
associated beneficiaries, was enacted in June 2004, until recently 
the GoE has made no serious effort to enforce these rights.  The 
GoE's first actions were in mid-July 2008 when police began a 
round-up of pirated materials to include in the ceremonial 
destruction on 27 July.  Ato Esayas, the Copyright Protection Team 
Leader at the FCAEC, told post's economic officers that a 
coordinated effort launched by the government in tandem with the EAA 
has now taken various measures to stop the illegal copying activity. 
 These efforts include: developing a workable strategy of awareness 
creation and follow-up, creating awareness among different 
stakeholders (such as the police, courts, and Ministry of Justice), 
and establishing a "collective management society."  Esayas also 
said that in the past, the government's efforts had been 
disorganized, but now an Ethiopian Intellectual Property Rights 
Council (EIPRC) has been created to implement the government's 
strategies.  Until now, the Ministry of Trade had licensed DVD 
rental stores to operate without consulting the copyright holders of 
the materials to be rented.  Thus, the rental stores were free to 
rent both original and pirated films with the Ministry of Trade's 
unknowing concurrence. 
 
¶3. (U) Ato Esayas confirmed that the recent crack-down on pirated 
materials did not include foreign copyrighted material, with the 
exception of pornography.  The Ministry of Culture and Tourism was 
responsible for ensuring that all foreign-produced pornography was 
included in the material destroyed on 27 July on indecency, rather 
than IPR, grounds.  Esayas noted that Ethiopia was not a signatory 
to any of the international treaties and agreements dealing with 
copyright issues and until the time that they became a signatory, 
foreign-produced material would not be included in the government's 
crack-down.  Esayas did indicate that the Ethiopian government's 
plan was eventually to sign these treaties, though it was not 
currently a priority of the EIPRC. 
 
¶4. (U) Organizations present at the destruction ceremony on 27 July 
included: Federal Police, EAA, EIPO, EIPRC, Ministry of Culture and 
Tourism, Ministry of Information, the Addis Ababa Mayor's Office, 
and others.  To date, no arrests have been made for violation of 
copyright and piracy issues.  Esayas indicated that the primary 
reason for the lack of arrests is the general lack of awareness. 
Most law enforcement officials have not been informed that their 
duties include enforcement of copyright issues.  The ceremony on 27 
July was designed to change that.  Additionally, the current 
standards for punishment of copyright crimes are being reviewed.  At 
present, the maximum imprisonment term for violation of copyright 
issues is two years in a federal prison.  The EIPRC is pushing the 
Ministry of Justice to increase this term to five years with the 
hopes that the increased time will act as a deterrent to copyright 
criminals. 
 
CHALLENGES TO THE GOVERNMENT'S PLANS 
------------------------------------ 
¶5. (U) The biggest obstacle the government feels it has in enforcing 
copyright protection is awareness.  To be successful the government 
will need to improve awareness from the lowest beat cop to the 
highest ministerial official.  From the producer of copyrighted 
material's perspective, the major challenge in helping to protect 
copyrighted material is the creation of a national copyright symbol. 
 This symbol needs to be easily identifiable and difficult to 
counterfeit so that it can be placed on original materials of all 
types and make the identification of pirated materials easier for 
law enforcement personnel. 
 
 
ADDIS ABAB 00002149  002 OF 002 
 
 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶6. (U) The mid-July police raid on pirated electronic media and 
their July 27 destruction are fantastic examples of GoE responses to 
protect citizens' rights as well as of strong collaboration between 
the GoE and a private sector association.  Ensuring the protection 
of intellectual property rights is necessary for enhancing 
investment and economic development in Ethiopia.  The government 
seems to be on the right track by implementing measures to protect 
Ethiopian-produced materials, but will need to recognize 
international treaties and agreements which protect foreign-produced 
materials before they can be taken seriously by investors in 
foreign-produced materials.  A concerted effort on the part of 
several government entities and stakeholders will be necessary for 
the government's current efforts to take hold.  Applauding this 
positive GoE step presents a good opportunity for USG officials to 
broach the broader issue of IPR protection, and specifically the 
protection of the intellectual property rights of foreign works, 
with senior GoE officials.  Post will closely follow this issue for 
further developments.  End comment. 
 
MALAC