VZCZCXYZ0000
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHDG #0003 0021818
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 021818Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY SANTO DOMINGO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2047
INFO RUEHZA/WHA CENTRAL AMERICAN COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ JAN 0474
RUEHPU/AMEMBASSY PORT AU PRINCE PRIORITY 4907
RUEAWJA/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC PRIORITY 1775

UNCLAS SANTO DOMINGO 000003 
 
SIPDIS 
 
LA PAZ FOR A/DCM 
DOJ FOR OPDAT (ROBERT LIPMAN) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KIPR ECON PREL DR
SUBJECT: IPR WORKSHOP LEADS TO RESULTS 
 
¶1. Summary: On December 10-11, Embassy Santo Domingo hosted 
an intellectual property rights (IPR) workshop that was well 
attended by Dominican government officials as well as 
representatives from the private sector, including Dominican 
music and film artists who spoke of the importance of IPR in 
their industries.  Led by the Department of Justice,s Office 
of Overseas Prosecutorial Development, Assistance, and 
Training (DOJ/OPDAT), the workshop focused on strengthening 
practical skills involved in investigating IPR crimes, such 
as conducting searches and interviewing suspects.  This 
training was a continuation of an earlier workshop that was 
held in April 2007 where DOJ assisted Dominican law 
enforcement officials to develop a manual on investigating 
and prosecuting IPR crimes.  DOJ is interested in organizing 
a follow-on program for Dominican judges in 2009.  As a 
direct result of the workshop, the Attorney General,s office 
has seized pirated software and is speaking out on the need 
to combat piracy.  End Summary. 
 
¶2. The Embassy organized the workshop in coordination with 
the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Office of Foreign Trade 
(DICOEX), as part of our trade capacity building assistance 
under CAFTA-DR.  Although the DR strengthened its IPR laws to 
meet its obligations under the treaty, enforcement continues 
to be weak as noted in the Special 301 report where the DR is 
included on the watch list.  Therefore, Post was pleased to 
see an impressive turnout at the workshop of a wide array of 
Dominican government officials from the Chief of Police who 
spoke at the opening, to judges, prosecutors, and members of 
the police responsible for IPR crimes.  In addition, 
representatives from the private sector enthusiastically 
supported the workshop and contributed to the discussions of 
how to address the problem of piracy in the DR. 
 
¶3.  The attendance of several prominent Dominican artists, 
who were brought in as surprise guests, including well know 
meringue stars Rubby Perez and Sergio Vargas and actor/film 
producer Carlos Alfredo Fatule, was the highlight of the 
workshop.  Participants listened aptly as the artists spoke 
about how piracy has affected them personally and how it is 
hurting Dominican culture.  The artists and representatives 
from the Dominican Society of Record Producers expressed 
interest in working with the Embassy and Dominican officials 
to do whatever they can to increase awareness of the 
importance of protecting IPR. 
 
¶4.  In addition to providing much needed training for law 
enforcement professionals, the workshop also served as an 
import tool to bring together Dominican government officials 
that do not often communicate let alone coordinate with one 
another.  DOJ helped participants from the police and 
prosecutors office draft an action plan to target street 
piracy in a few upper middle class neighborhoods as a 
starting point.  There is evidence that the plan is already 
being implemented as the media reported on December 30 that 
the District Attorney,s Office for the National District, 
which includes Santo Domingo, confiscated pirated software in 
several areas throughout the city.  The Coordinator of the 
IPR Office, Johnny Nunez Arroyo, who participated in the 
workshop, told the media that piracy is a fundamental problem 
and hurts the image of the country.  An Embassy officer who 
works closely with the police noted that it is encouraging to 
see the Dominicans developing a strategy instead of just 
shooting from the hip.  Embassy officers will work with our 
contacts in the government to urge implementation of the plan 
and continued attention to IPR crimes. 
FANNIN