Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 143912 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
AORC AS AF AM AJ ASEC AU AMGT APER ACOA ASEAN AG AFFAIRS AR AFIN ABUD AO AEMR ADANA AMED AADP AINF ARF ADB ACS AE AID AL AC AGR ABLD AMCHAMS AECL AINT AND ASIG AUC APECO AFGHANISTAN AY ARABL ACAO ANET AFSN AZ AFLU ALOW ASSK AFSI ACABQ AMB APEC AIDS AA ATRN AMTC AVIATION AESC ASSEMBLY ADPM ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG AGOA ASUP AFPREL ARNOLD ADCO AN ACOTA AODE AROC AMCHAM AT ACKM ASCH AORCUNGA AVIANFLU AVIAN AIT ASECPHUM ATRA AGENDA AIN AFINM APCS AGENGA ABDALLAH ALOWAR AFL AMBASSADOR ARSO AGMT ASPA AOREC AGAO ARR AOMS ASC ALIREZA AORD AORG ASECVE ABER ARABBL ADM AMER ALVAREZ AORCO ARM APERTH AINR AGRI ALZUGUREN ANGEL ACDA AEMED ARC AMGMT AEMRASECCASCKFLOMARRPRELPINRAMGTJMXL ASECAFINGMGRIZOREPTU ABMC AIAG ALJAZEERA ASR ASECARP ALAMI APRM ASECM AMPR AEGR AUSTRALIAGROUP ASE AMGTHA ARNOLDFREDERICK AIDAC AOPC ANTITERRORISM ASEG AMIA ASEX AEMRBC AFOR ABT AMERICA AGENCIES AGS ADRC ASJA AEAID ANARCHISTS AME AEC ALNEA AMGE AMEDCASCKFLO AK ANTONIO ASO AFINIZ ASEDC AOWC ACCOUNT ACTION AMG AFPK AOCR AMEDI AGIT ASOC ACOAAMGT AMLB AZE AORCYM AORL AGRICULTURE ACEC AGUILAR ASCC AFSA ASES ADIP ASED ASCE ASFC ASECTH AFGHAN ANTXON APRC AFAF AFARI ASECEFINKCRMKPAOPTERKHLSAEMRNS AX ALAB ASECAF ASA ASECAFIN ASIC AFZAL AMGTATK ALBE AMT AORCEUNPREFPRELSMIGBN AGUIRRE AAA ABLG ARCH AGRIC AIHRC ADEL AMEX ALI AQ ATFN AORCD ARAS AINFCY AFDB ACBAQ AFDIN AOPR AREP ALEXANDER ALANAZI ABDULRAHMEN ABDULHADI ATRD AEIR AOIC ABLDG AFR ASEK AER ALOUNI AMCT AVERY ASECCASC ARG APR AMAT AEMRS AFU ATPDEA ALL ASECE ANDREW
EAIR ECON ETRD EAGR EAID EFIN ETTC ENRG EMIN ECPS EG EPET EINV ELAB EU ECONOMICS EC EZ EUN EN ECIN EWWT EXTERNAL ENIV ES ESA ELN EFIS EIND EPA ELTN EXIM ET EINT EI ER EAIDAF ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECTRD EUR ECOWAS ECUN EBRD ECONOMIC ENGR ECONOMY EFND ELECTIONS EPECO EUMEM ETMIN EXBS EAIRECONRP ERTD EAP ERGR EUREM EFI EIB ENGY ELNTECON EAIDXMXAXBXFFR ECOSOC EEB EINF ETRN ENGRD ESTH ENRC EXPORT EK ENRGMO ECO EGAD EXIMOPIC ETRDPGOV EURM ETRA ENERG ECLAC EINO ENVIRONMENT EFIC ECIP ETRDAORC ENRD EMED EIAR ECPN ELAP ETCC EAC ENEG ESCAP EWWC ELTD ELA EIVN ELF ETR EFTA EMAIL EL EMS EID ELNT ECPSN ERIN ETT EETC ELAN ECHEVARRIA EPWR EVIN ENVR ENRGJM ELBR EUC EARG EAPC EICN EEC EREL EAIS ELBA EPETUN EWWY ETRDGK EV EDU EFN EVN EAIDETRD ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ ETEX ESCI EAIDHO EENV ETRC ESOC EINDQTRD EINVA EFLU EGEN ECE EAGRBN EON EFINECONCS EIAD ECPC ENV ETDR EAGER ETRDKIPR EWT EDEV ECCP ECCT EARI EINVECON ED ETRDEC EMINETRD EADM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID ETAD ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA EMINECINECONSENVTBIONS ESSO ETRG ELAM ECA EENG EITC ENG ERA EPSC ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EIPR ELABPGOVBN EURFOR ETRAD EUE EISNLN ECONETRDBESPAR ELAINE EGOVSY EAUD EAGRECONEINVPGOVBN EINVETRD EPIN ECONENRG EDRC ESENV EB ENER ELTNSNAR EURN ECONPGOVBN ETTF ENVT EPIT ESOCI EFINOECD ERD EDUC EUM ETEL EUEAID ENRGY ETD EAGRE EAR EAIDMG EE EET ETER ERICKSON EIAID EX EAG EBEXP ESTN EAIDAORC EING EGOV EEOC EAGRRP EVENTS ENRGKNNPMNUCPARMPRELNPTIAEAJMXL ETRDEMIN EPETEIND EAIDRW ENVI ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC EDUARDO EGAR EPCS EPRT EAIDPHUMPRELUG EPTED ETRB EPETPGOV ECONQH EAIDS EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR EAGRBTIOBEXPETRDBN ESF EINR ELABPHUMSMIGKCRMBN EIDN ETRK ESTRADA EXEC EAIO EGHG ECN EDA ECOS EPREL EINVKSCA ENNP ELABV ETA EWWTPRELPGOVMASSMARRBN EUCOM EAIDASEC ENR END EP ERNG ESPS EITI EINTECPS EAVI ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID ELTRN EADI ELDIN ELND ECRM EINVEFIN EAOD EFINTS EINDIR ENRGKNNP ETRDEIQ ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD EAIT ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ EWWI ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEAIR ECONEFIN EHUM EFNI EOXC EISNAR ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM EMW ETIO ETRDGR EMN EXO EATO EWTR ELIN EAGREAIDPGOVPRELBN EINVETC ETTD EIQ ECONCS EPPD ESS EUEAGR ENRGIZ EISL EUNJ EIDE ENRGSD ELAD ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO ENTG ETRDECD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS
KPKO KIPR KWBG KPAL KDEM KTFN KNNP KGIC KTIA KCRM KDRG KWMN KJUS KIDE KSUM KTIP KFRD KMCA KMDR KCIP KTDB KPAO KPWR KOMC KU KIRF KCOR KHLS KISL KSCA KGHG KS KSTH KSEP KE KPAI KWAC KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KPRP KVPR KAWC KUNR KZ KPLS KN KSTC KMFO KID KNAR KCFE KRIM KFLO KCSA KG KFSC KSCI KFLU KMIG KRVC KV KVRP KMPI KNEI KAPO KOLY KGIT KSAF KIRC KNSD KBIO KHIV KHDP KBTR KHUM KSAC KACT KRAD KPRV KTEX KPIR KDMR KMPF KPFO KICA KWMM KICC KR KCOM KAID KINR KBCT KOCI KCRS KTER KSPR KDP KFIN KCMR KMOC KUWAIT KIPRZ KSEO KLIG KWIR KISM KLEG KTBD KCUM KMSG KMWN KREL KPREL KAWK KIMT KCSY KESS KWPA KNPT KTBT KCROM KPOW KFTN KPKP KICR KGHA KOMS KJUST KREC KOC KFPC KGLB KMRS KTFIN KCRCM KWNM KHGH KRFD KY KGCC KFEM KVIR KRCM KEMR KIIP KPOA KREF KJRE KRKO KOGL KSCS KGOV KCRIM KEM KCUL KRIF KCEM KITA KCRN KCIS KSEAO KWMEN KEANE KNNC KNAP KEDEM KNEP KHPD KPSC KIRP KUNC KALM KCCP KDEN KSEC KAYLA KIMMITT KO KNUC KSIA KLFU KLAB KTDD KIRCOEXC KECF KIPRETRDKCRM KNDP KIRCHOFF KJAN KFRDSOCIRO KWMNSMIG KEAI KKPO KPOL KRD KWMNPREL KATRINA KBWG KW KPPD KTIAEUN KDHS KRV KBTS KWCI KICT KPALAOIS KPMI KWN KTDM KWM KLHS KLBO KDEMK KT KIDS KWWW KLIP KPRM KSKN KTTB KTRD KNPP KOR KGKG KNN KTIAIC KSRE KDRL KVCORR KDEMGT KOMO KSTCC KMAC KSOC KMCC KCHG KSEPCVIS KGIV KPO KSEI KSTCPL KSI KRMS KFLOA KIND KPPAO KCM KRFR KICCPUR KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KFAM KWWMN KENV KGH KPOP KFCE KNAO KTIAPARM KWMNKDEM KDRM KNNNP KEVIN KEMPI KWIM KGCN KUM KMGT KKOR KSMT KISLSCUL KNRV KPRO KOMCSG KLPM KDTB KFGM KCRP KAUST KNNPPARM KUNH KWAWC KSPA KTSC KUS KSOCI KCMA KTFR KPAOPREL KNNPCH KWGB KSTT KNUP KPGOV KUK KMNP KPAS KHMN KPAD KSTS KCORR KI KLSO KWNN KNP KPTD KESO KMPP KEMS KPAONZ KPOV KTLA KPAOKMDRKE KNMP KWMNCI KWUN KRDP KWKN KPAOY KEIM KGICKS KIPT KREISLER KTAO KJU KLTN KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KQ KWPR KSCT KGHGHIV KEDU KRCIM KFIU KWIC KNNO KILS KTIALG KNNA KMCAJO KINP KRM KLFLO KPA KOMCCO KKIV KHSA KDM KRCS KWBGSY KISLAO KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KCRI KX KWWT KPAM KVRC KERG KK KSUMPHUM KACP KSLG KIF KIVP KHOURY KNPR KUNRAORC KCOG KCFC KWMJN KFTFN KTFM KPDD KMPIO KCERS KDUM KDEMAF KMEPI KHSL KEPREL KAWX KIRL KNNR KOMH KMPT KISLPINR KADM KPER KTPN KSCAECON KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KCSI KNRG KAKA KFRP KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KQM KQRDQ KWBC KMRD KVBL KOM KMPL KEDM KFLD KPRD KRGY KNNF KPROG KIFR KPOKO KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KHIB KOEM KDDG KCGC
PGOV PREL PK PTER PINR PO PHUM PARM PREF PINF PRL PM PINS PROP PALESTINIAN PE PBTS PNAT PHSA PL PA PSEPC POSTS POLITICS POLICY POL PU PAHO PHUMPGOV PGOG PARALYMPIC PGOC PNR PREFA PMIL POLITICAL PROV PRUM PBIO PAK POV POLG PAR POLM PHUMPREL PKO PUNE PROG PEL PROPERTY PKAO PRE PSOE PHAS PNUM PGOVE PY PIRF PRES POWELL PP PREM PCON PGOVPTER PGOVPREL PODC PTBS PTEL PGOVTI PHSAPREL PD PG PRC PVOV PLO PRELL PEPFAR PREK PEREZ PINT POLI PPOL PARTIES PT PRELUN PH PENA PIN PGPV PKST PROTESTS PHSAK PRM PROLIFERATION PGOVBL PAS PUM PMIG PGIC PTERPGOV PSHA PHM PHARM PRELHA PELOSI PGOVKCMABN PQM PETER PJUS PKK POUS PTE PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PERM PRELGOV PAO PNIR PARMP PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PHYTRP PHUML PFOV PDEM PUOS PN PRESIDENT PERURENA PRIVATIZATION PHUH PIF POG PERL PKPA PREI PTERKU PSEC PRELKSUMXABN PETROL PRIL POLUN PPD PRELUNSC PREZ PCUL PREO PGOVZI POLMIL PERSONS PREFL PASS PV PETERS PING PQL PETR PARMS PNUC PS PARLIAMENT PINSCE PROTECTION PLAB PGV PBS PGOVENRGCVISMASSEAIDOPRCEWWTBN PKNP PSOCI PSI PTERM PLUM PF PVIP PARP PHUMQHA PRELNP PHIM PRELBR PUBLIC PHUMKPAL PHAM PUAS PBOV PRELTBIOBA PGOVU PHUMPINS PICES PGOVENRG PRELKPKO PHU PHUMKCRS POGV PATTY PSOC PRELSP PREC PSO PAIGH PKPO PARK PRELPLS PRELPK PHUS PPREL PTERPREL PROL PDA PRELPGOV PRELAF PAGE PGOVGM PGOVECON PHUMIZNL PMAR PGOVAF PMDL PKBL PARN PARMIR PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PDD PRELKPAO PKMN PRELEZ PHUMPRELPGOV PARTM PGOVEAGRKMCAKNARBN PPEL PGOVPRELPINRBN PGOVSOCI PWBG PGOVEAID PGOVPM PBST PKEAID PRAM PRELEVU PHUMA PGOR PPA PINSO PROVE PRELKPAOIZ PPAO PHUMPRELBN PGVO PHUMPTER PAGR PMIN PBTSEWWT PHUMR PDOV PINO PARAGRAPH PACE PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOVAU PGOF PBTSRU PRGOV PRHUM PCI PGO PRELEUN PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PMR PRTER PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PRELNL PINOCHET PAARM PKPAO PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA POPDC PRELC PHUME PER PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PAUL PHALANAGE PARTY PPEF PECON PEACE PROCESS PPGOV PLN PRELSW PHUMS PRF PEDRO PHUMKDEM PUNR PVPR PATRICK PGOVKMCAPHUMBN PRELA PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PBT PAMQ

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09ALGIERS302, E-BARBARY COAST: PROFITS AND PIRACY IN THE

If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs

Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
  • The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
  • The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
  • The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #09ALGIERS302.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09ALGIERS302 2009-03-29 16:33 2011-08-26 00:00 UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Embassy Algiers
VZCZCXRO3116
PP RUEHTRO
DE RUEHAS #0302/01 0881633
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291633Z MAR 09
FM AMEMBASSY ALGIERS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 7250
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHBP/AMEMBASSY BAMAKO 0924
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 1192
RUEHNK/AMEMBASSY NOUAKCHOTT 6711
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 3092
RUEHRB/AMEMBASSY RABAT 2716
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI
RUEHTU/AMEMBASSY TUNIS 7580
RUEHCL/AMCONSUL CASABLANCA 3651
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ALGIERS 000302 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE PASS TO USTR PBURKHEAD 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ETRD KIPR EINV ECON TSPL AG
SUBJECT: E-BARBARY COAST: PROFITS AND PIRACY IN THE 
ALGERIAN SOFTWARE MARKET 
 
REF: A. ALGIERS 228 
     B. 08 ALGIERS 190 
 
1.  THIS CABLE CONTAINS BUSINESS PROPRIETARY INFORMATION. 
NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION. 
 
2. (SBU) SUMMARY:  Algeria was the second-leading growth 
market for Microsoft in 2008, and even as the global 
recession appears to be dampening sales, it might maintain 
its position relative to other markets in 2009.  Nonetheless, 
Algeria ranks among the ten worst locations worldwide for 
software piracy, and Microsoft loses some USD 20 million per 
year to pirated software.  Microsoft's country manager 
recently told us that he was encouraged that parts of the GOA 
are finally accepting the value of IPR protection and the 
economic threat posed by software piracy.  He also hoped that 
public awareness campaigns by his company and by the GOA will 
have the effect of both spurring further government action 
against piracy and reducing the rate of piracy in Algeria by 
even a few percentage points.  He admitted, however, that the 
GOA remains disorganized regarding IPR protection, and 
recommends that the USG take more forceful action on the 
issue.  He told us he believed that, following the 
presidential election in April, the government will try to 
improve Algeria's standing in various world rankings, and 
thus might be embarrassed enough to act if listed on the 
Special 301 Priority Watch List.  He also acknowledged that 
such a ranking would also risk backlash and nationalist 
entrenchment by the GOA, but ultimately, he opined in regard 
to IPR enforcement, "things really cannot get much worse for 
us here."  END SUMMARY. 
 
CHASING BOUNTY AND FIGHTING E-PIRATES IN ALGERIA 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
3. (SBU) Samir Said, country manager for Microsoft Algeria, 
told us during the course of several recent meetings that, 
with 70-percent growth year-on-year, Algeria represented the 
second-leading growth market worldwide for his company in 
2008, behind only Russia.  Even though his business unit has 
experienced a noticeable slowdown over the last few months, 
he believes it may be able to maintain its position in 2009 
relative to other markets also suffering from the global 
recession.  Contrary to government pronouncements, Said 
insisted that the worldwide recession has affected Algeria. 
New orders are down sharply, and he attributed this to GOA 
agencies having less to spend on major projects as government 
revenues decline with falling oil prices.  Accordingly, 
private businesses that rely heavily on government contracts 
are also slowing their software and services expenditures. 
But even with the economic contraction, Microsoft continues 
to expand operations, having doubled its staff in the last 
two years, and currently negotiating new office space to 
double its physical presence as well.  Said expects that his 
unit's growth rate should remain relatively strong for 2009, 
possibly surpassing all other markets on the continent and in 
the region including Nigeria, his unit's closest competitor, 
but where he said the company faces particular challenges on 
IPR issues. 
 
4. (SBU) Even with an outstanding record and potential for 
growth, Said complained that Microsoft loses some USD 20 
million per year to software piracy, more than 20 percent of 
the company's total potential market-share according to a 
recent industry study.  Said noted that several industry 
studies indicate Algeria has an 84-percent piracy rate, 
placing it within a grouping of the ten worst locations 
worldwide for piracy, and probably the third-worst in Africa. 
 Said told us that some 80 percent of small- and medium-sized 
enterprises (SME) in Algeria continue to use the company's 
software in an illegal manner.  He is redoubling his 
company's efforts to convince the larger of these firms to 
purchase adequate licensing, and has been implementing a 
company rule that all Microsoft vendors must be certified as 
IPR compliant or risk losing contracts for services such as 
travel bookings and public relations. 
 
5. (SBU) Said told us that at least 50 percent of the 
government's operations also remain non-compliant with IPR 
rules.  He believed, however, that the GOA's non-compliance 
 
ALGIERS 00000302  002 OF 003 
 
 
is now less a matter of willful violation than poor 
procurement practices.  He noted that the GOA generally 
obtains the wrong kind of licensing.  Government agencies 
continue to purchase multiple single copies of software 
licensed through Microsoft distributors rather than obtaining 
organizational licensing that could be applied to all 
computers in a given agency.  This practice is not only more 
expensive for the government to achieve IPR compliance, it 
increases the likelihood that IT managers and employees will 
use pirated software because agencies do not purchase enough 
one-off packages for all users.  Said told us he hoped to 
change this practice through better marketing strategies 
aimed at government procurement officers. 
 
NEW, BUT LIMITED, RESPECT FOR IPR PROTECTION 
-------------------------------------------- 
 
6. (SBU) The Microsoft executive told us that the Algerian 
government is moving very slowly toward full implementation 
of the IPR laws on the books, even after a 2005 decree by the 
prime minister that IPR protection is a government priority. 
Said noted that, like all things bureaucratic in Algeria, the 
effort is disorganized and left to each government organ to 
implement.  "Algerian leaders seem to assume that if they 
give an order out loud, it will happen, but rarely is the 
bureaucracy capable of reacting," Said lamented.  He did 
concede that anti-piracy offices have opened in agencies 
charged with IPR protection.  He was encouraged particularly 
by new attention paid to the issue by officials at the 
Algerian copyright office (ONDA), who he said seem now to 
recognize the value of IPR protection and the economic threat 
posed by optical media piracy.  ONDA, he said, will host a 
public awareness conference in April in conjunction with the 
Business Software Alliance (BSA) to commemorate International 
IPR Day. 
 
7. (SBU) Microsoft, Said added, has been running print and 
radio public service announcements encouraging respect for 
IPR.  The company and enforcement officers from ONDA are also 
developing a strategy to confront businesses operating in 
violation of IPR laws.  Microsoft successfully negotiated two 
licensing agreements with Algerian companies that manufacture 
computers for the domestic market.  The state-owned firm 
Alfatron manufactures computers in Oran, and the 
privately-held company Condor recently launched a factory in 
Setif.  Both companies will install certified copies of 
Microsoft's operating system at the factory, and their 
machines will bear the Microsoft certification seal.  The 
companies' expected combined market-share for consumer-level 
computer sales is 80 percent, and 20 percent for business 
sales. 
 
8. (SBU) Microsoft's country manager also told us that he has 
been working with the Ministry of Post, Information and 
Telecommunications on Algeria's "e-strategy."  The government 
sought Microsoft's advice and incorporated some ideas into 
its Web-published strategy.  While Said fears the government 
took on too many priorities -- essentially an e-strategy for 
every sector and public policy issue -- he is planning a 
conference to be co-hosted by the ministry that would 
publicly explore information, technology and communications 
(ITC) options for the government and the nation.  He hopes 
these efforts will also further enhance IPR awareness and 
enforcement efforts. 
 
SPECIAL 301 
----------- 
 
9. (SBU) Microsoft's Said was at once hopeful that the GOA 
may finally be taking IPR protection seriously, and skeptical 
that much tangible action could be attained during an 
election year.  He indicated his frustration with the GOA's 
lack of leadership on the issue, noting that even a 
five-percent reduction in the software piracy rate in Algeria 
could result in a doubling of his company's revenues here. 
Upon several days of reflection after our initial meeting on 
March 23, Said told us that in his opinion the USG should 
take more forceful action regarding Algerian IPR protection 
because, he believes, President Bouteflika will want to 
improve Algeria's standings in various international rankings 
 
ALGIERS 00000302  003 OF 003 
 
 
as part of his third-term legacy.  Said was not aware whether 
Microsoft or the BSA submitted comments for the current 
Special 301 review.  He acknowledged that if the USG were to 
add Algeria to the more stringent Priority Watch List, the 
GOA might react negatively by taking a more nationalistic 
tack and reducing cooperation with foreign entities and 
companies like his.  But, returning to the USD 20 million his 
company loses annually to piracy, Said concluded that, as far 
as IPR enforcement is concerned, "things really cannot get 
much worse for us here." 
PEARCE