Cablegate: Evaluation of Speaker Timothy Trainer On

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

131025Z May 05

ACTION EAP-00

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FM AMEMBASSY HANOI
TO SECSTATE WASHDC 7627
INFO AMCONSUL HO CHI MINH CITY

UNCLAS HANOI 001122

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR EAP/PD FOR ASESHADRI; IIP/G/EAP FOR SPRIETO;
IIP/T/ES FOR RTAYLOR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: OIIP KPAO VM
SUBJECT: EVALUATION OF SPEAKER TIMOTHY TRAINER ON
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS, TRACKER 23377

A. DATES: April 25-29, 2005

B. AUDIENCES/VENUES: During a full week of programming in
three economic centers across Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City,
Danang and Hanoi), Tim Trainer reached out to a wide range
of audiences, including government officials, economic and
market management enforcers, customs officials, young
entrepreneurs, software businesspeople, lawyers, writers,
artists, publishers, lecturers, students and economic
reporters. Institutions that welcomed Mr. Trainer included
the National Office of Intellectual Property, Vietnam
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Vietnam Software
Association, Ho Chi Minh City Bar Association, the Danang
College of Economics and Business, Hanoi Open University,
private businesses and many other agencies.

Working closely with post's Economic Section, PAS arranged
for Mr. Trainer to be the luncheon keynote speaker at an
IPR Seminar hosted by the Ambassador, addressing over 50
participants in government and the private sector. In
addition, PAS prepared a live feed of one presentation via
digital videoconferencing to Hanoi Open University,
reaching additional lecturers and faculty there. A
recorded videotape of that session will also be used for
future educational outreach events.

C. EVALUATION/POSSIBLE IMPACT: Outstanding. Mr. Trainer
gave in-depth and authoritative analyses of intellectual
property rights (IPR) enforcement to audiences here. He
argued that early, effective implementation of an IPR
regime is a much quicker path to economic development than
taking short-cuts afforded by piracy and ignoring
international standards. He explained that IPR is not an
insolated issue but rather embedded in broader questions of
transparency and rule of law, key elements of the Vietnam
Mission's MPP goals. Mr. Trainer was frank in discussions
with businessmen, reminding them that the actor best
situated to combat piracy is the company itself. Audiences
appreciated his insight on how government and businesses
could work together to protect IPR for Vietnamese
businesses. By asking participants to imagine themselves
as an entrepreneur looking to start a business, he
effectively conveyed the importance of IPR protection at
each stage of business development.

The speaker was creative and adapted each of his talks to
his specific audience, whether it was in a formal workshop
with government officials, a classroom setting, a luncheon
presentation or an informal dinner with businessmen. He
urged local businesses to be educated about existing rights
and regulations, and then take a more proactive approach to
protecting their copyrights. As Vietnam is a recent
signatory to the Berne Convention on IPR and is on the path
to becoming a member of the World Trade Organization, IPR
has become one of the hottest topics here. Mr. Trainer's
timely and persuasive presentations stirred discussion and
positive debate about the next steps that must be taken by
key players in government and the private sector. Improved
understanding of the issue will form a powerful advocacy
group of policymakers who can search for ways to implement
IPR laws more effectively.

Mr. Trainer received positive coverage of his interviews
with leading Vietnamese newspapers, the Phap Luat (Legal
issues) newspaper and the Tien Phong on-line journal.
Highlighting Mr. Trainer's insights on the benefits of IPR
protection to economic growth, the key role of the
government to IPR law enforcements, as well as the
proactive role of businesses in protecting their IP assets,
the articles increased awareness of IPR issues among
readers.

E. QUALITY OF U.S. SUPPORT AND IIP OFFICES INVOLVED:
Outstanding. Post highly appreciated IIP offices for their
excellent cooperation in bringing Mr. Trainer to Vietnam
for the successful program. Post would like to especially
thank Richard Taylor for his invaluable assistance. Post
would like to get more speakers of Mr. Trainer's expertise
and professionalism for future U.S. speakers' programs.

MARINE

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