VZCZCXYZ0004
RR RUEHWEB

DE RUEHAM #1695/01 2101057
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 291057Z JUL 09
FM AMEMBASSY AMMAN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 5617
INFO RUEHGB/AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD 6274
RUEHLB/AMEMBASSY BEIRUT 3078
RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO 4086
RUEHDM/AMEMBASSY DAMASCUS 4209
RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH 2188
RUEHTV/AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV 1810
RUEHJI/AMCONSUL JEDDAH 0894
RUEHJM/AMCONSUL JERUSALEM 5594
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

UNCLAS AMMAN 001695 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ELA, INL/AAE, AND EEB 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USTR (GROVES, FRANCESKI) 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO USPTO (LEIFMAN, REVES) 
STATE PLEASE PASS TO LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR SNAR JO
SUBJECT:  THE JORDAN INSTITUTION FOR STANDARDS AND METROLOGY 
ADVANCES IPR PROTECTION IN JORDAN 
 
REFS: A) AMMAN 946 
  B) AMMAN 545 
 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  The Ambassador visited the new facilities of the 
Jordan Institution for Standards and Metrology (JISM) on July 16 
where he commended JISM's activism and restated U.S. support for 
JISM's efforts through the award of INCLE funding for equipment. 
Though hampered by a weak legal framework, JISM is keen on enhancing 
its lead role in ensuring IPR protection in Jordan and has seized 
tens of thousands of counterfeit items through May 2009.  JISM 
credits USG support for its advances in promoting IPR protection and 
JISM's results affirm that a little USG support can go a long way. 
End summary. 
 
U.S. Assistance Key to JISM's Success 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶2. (SBU) The Jordan Institution for Standards and Metrology (JISM) 
is Jordan's national standards body and is mandated to conduct 
market surveillance to safeguard consumer health and safety, ensure 
environmental protection and prevent the sale of fraudulent, 
counterfeit or deceptive products.  Therefore, JISM is a key player 
in protecting intellectual property right in Jordan.  The Ambassador 
visited JISM's new facilities in Amman on July 16 and met with 
Director General Dr. Yaseen Khayyat and other JISM personnel.  The 
discussions focused on JISM's role in protecting IPR, by working 
with Jordan Customs at the borders and other GOJ bodies within the 
country to ensure quality control standards are met.  Khayyat 
emphasized that JISM's success in IPR protection is in great measure 
a result of U.S. assistance through many training programs offered 
by the USG, such as through USPTO, EXBS and other USG-funded IPR 
enforcement programs for JISM.  JISM is also slated to receive a 
portion of allocated INCLE funds for its market surveillance 
division. 
 
JISM Busts Fake Label-making Operation 
-------------------------------------- 
 
¶3. (SBU) Khayyat shared with the Ambassador a success story from 
March 2009 when an anti-counterfeiting inspection team from JISM 
investigated several printing shops in Amman.  Among the sites 
inspected was Lujayn Printing House where packaging materials and 
labels bearing counterfeit trademarks such as "HP" were discovered 
and confiscated immediately.  JISM inspectors suspected that a 
certain computer was used to design those packages and that other 
fraudulent labels might be on it.  Khayyat credited USG-provided 
training with encouraging inspectors to think outside of the box, 
focusing on the computer and saved documents and not just the phony 
packaging before them.  As a result, the inspectors seized the 
computer and confirmed later that it contained ready-made designs 
for packages and labels bearing counterfeit labels for fraudulent 
HP, Mercedes and BMW items.  Investigation results were transferred 
to the General Prosecutor's office soon thereafter to pursue 
criminal case against the print shop--the case is still pending. 
This case led to the discovery of counterfeit printing cartridges 
bearing the fraudulent HP label at several stores that were 
confiscated and destroyed.  Note:  Interestingly, in this case there 
were no reports of counterfeit medicinal packaging, possibly due to 
the latest government requirements for Jordan Food and Drug 
Administration (JFDA) approval before the printing of pharmaceutical 
labels (ref B).  End note. 
 
Still Waiting for the JISM Law 
------------------------------ 
 
¶4. (SBU) Despite recent successes, Khayyat told the Ambassador that 
the main challenge still facing JISM is the lack of a new JISM law 
(refs A and B).  New amendments to the law, which went to Parliament 
in December 2008 are still waiting to be reviewed and placed on the 
parliamentary agenda, having not made the slate for the current 
extraordinary session of parliament.  Khayyat complained that if 
these amendments were not passed by the next parliament session, 
expected to start in October, it would be difficult for JISM to 
carry out its work.  The amendments would grant JISM "ex officio" 
authority to investigate matters related to IPR infringement inside 
Jordanian markets, impound counterfeit merchandise, send 
 
perpetrators to court, order closure of stores, and grant JISM 
employees judicial police status.  Note:  Currently, JISM uses its 
authority for affirming quality standards to enforce IPR protection, 
as it lacks the necessary authority to enforce IPR protections.  End 
note. 
 
A Copyright Law with Teeth 
-------------------------- 
 
¶5. (SBU) Likewise, National Library (NL) Director General Mamoun 
Talhouni is also eager for a stronger legal mechanism with which to 
enhance IPR protection.  The NL plays a key role in enforcing 
copyright and IPR protections but it lacks robust legal authorities. 
 Amendments to the copyright law that would grant the NL explicit 
authority to enforce Jordanian IPR protections have been pending 
with the GOJ's Legislative Opinion Bureau since December 2008 and 
have not been forwarded to parliament for deliberation.  These 
amendments would also mandate stronger penalties for violators. 
Unlike JISM, the NL lacks the authority to destroy seized items--a 
fact the new law is expected to change.  Talhouni told EconOffs that 
the NL had to fill several leased warehouses to capacity with seized 
items and is now forced to store them in the new National Library 
building's parking garage. 
 
Strengthening IPR Protection 
---------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) Despite legal framework difficulties, Khayyat told the 
Ambassador that Jordanian interagency cooperation on market 
surveillance was going well.  He noted that Jordan's General 
Intelligence Directorate (GID) and the Anti-Corruption Commission 
are actively providing JISM with leads regarding counterfeit 
products.  JISM pursues those leads, conducts raids, and then 
confiscates and destroys counterfeit items.  Through May 2009, JISM 
has confiscated through market surveillance 9,616 pieces of Nokia 
phone accessories, 32,380 dry batteries, 6,407 cosmetics items, 283 
Reebok and Vans counterfeit products, and 64 pieces of fake HP 
printer cartridges in addition to counterfeit elevator springs, 
vehicle spare parts, candies, cooking pans, electric shavers and 
energy-saving lights. 
 
JISM's Border Role 
------------------ 
 
¶7. (SBU) Khayyat also highlighted JISM's critical role at the 
borders, in cooperation with Jordan Customs and other agencies.  He 
said that they had several success stories, which would not have 
been possible if JISM did not have a robust presence at the 
crossings.  Through May of 2009, JISM seized at the borders 7,300 
pieces of counterfeit HP and Panasonic printer cartridges; 4,121 
fake Calvin Klein, Gap, Gucci, Dior and other items of clothing and 
accessories; 30 packages of cosmetics; phone accessories, speakers, 
and mechanical items. 
 
JISM and USG Support 
-------------------- 
 
¶8. (SBU) During the Ambassador's visit, Khayyat proudly showed off 
the new state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories achieved after 
four years of effort and not so veiled attempts from other 
ministries and GOJ departments to seize and inhabit JISM's new 
facilities.  In praising the USG's support for JISM, Khayyat noted 
that the building that JISM occupied previously was donated by USAID 
back in the 1970's and he hoped that close cooperation between the 
USG and JISM would continue.  Comment:  JISM's efforts on IPR have 
been commendable, given its lack of a solid legal framework.  JISM's 
affirmation of the utility of USG assistance through training and 
other means on IPR enforcement is a good example of where a little 
training and support can go a long way.  End comment. 
 
Visit Amman's Classified Website at 
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/amman 
 
MANDEL