VZCZCXRO1421
PP RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHROV
DE RUEHRH #0040 0071454
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 071454Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY RIYADH
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9775
INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE
RUEHZM/GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL COLLECTIVE
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

UNCLAS RIYADH 000040 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARP AND EEB 
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR JASON BUNTIN 
USDOC FOR TYLER HOFFMAN 
 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD EINV KIPR SA
SUBJECT: MINISTRY OF CULTURE CONTINUES TO MOVE ON IPR 
VIOLATORS 
 
REF: A. RIYADH 08 1435 
     ¶B. RIYADH 08 1807 
 
¶1. (SBU)  On Wednesday, January 7, the English-language 
newspaper Saudi Gazette reported that the Ministry of Culture 
and Information had closed a cafe in Riyadh's al-Dhabab 
district for accessing coded satellite television channels 
without possessing a commercial subscription. 
 
¶2. (SBU) In a telcon the same day, MOCI Director General for 
Copyrights Obaidallah al-Obaidallah confirmed to econoff that 
not only was that cafe closed down, the Saudi government was 
closing down two other cafes in Riyadh for IPR infringement. 
Obaidallah said additional cafes in Jeddah and Dammam were 
under  investigation.  In all three cases, the Arab Radio and 
Television Association (ART) filed claims against the cafes 
with MOCI, whose investigative arm then ordered the closure. 
Obaidallah said he expected all cases to be settled directly 
between the business owners and the ART, who has already 
dropped the charges against one cafe after its owner paid for 
a full subscription. 
 
¶3. (SBU) Comment:  The MOCI is putting additional muscle 
behind its IPR enforcement vision.  Closing businesses 
subsequent to allegations of satellite TV piracy is a new 
step in an IPR enforcement campaign that, in recent months, 
has increased the number and intensity of investigations of 
shops and warehouses producing pirated media.  In August, the 
MOCI sent letters to the owners of residential compounds 
advising them to ensure their satellite TV signals were 
legally licensed (ref A).  MOCI also continues to promote a 
deterrent effect on IPR violations by publicizing the results 
of these raids; articles such as those appearing in the Saudi 
Gazette are a tangible result of this that is relatively new 
but becoming more frequent.  Post will continue to engage 
with SAG entities to encourage further progress on IPR 
enforcement. End comment. 
 
FRAKER