VZCZCXRO7189
OO RUEHGH
DE RUEHIN #0606 0750718
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 160718Z MAR 07
FM AIT TAIPEI
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4486
INFO RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC PRIORITY
RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING 6480
RUEHGZ/AMCONSUL GUANGZHOU 0064
RUEHHK/AMCONSUL HONG KONG 7725
RUEHGH/AMCONSUL SHANGHAI 0890
UNCLAS TAIPEI 000606
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE PASS AIT/W AND USTR
STATE FOR EAP/TC, EAP/MLS,
USTR FOR BOLLYKY, ALTBACH AND STRATFORD
USDOC FOR 4431/ITA/MAC/AP/OPB/TAIWAN/JDUTTON
USDOC FOR USPTO GIN AND BROWNING AND SNYDOR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ECON ETRD KIPR TW
SUBJECT: AIT REQUESTS AUSTR STRATFORD WRITE MINISTER OF ED
TO PUSH FOR IPR ACTION - EVEN TIPO ASKS FOR HELP
REF: TAIPEI 135
1. (SBU) This is an action request. Please see paragraph 3.
2. (SBU) With little movement on the IPR front from the
Ministry of Education, contacts at the Taiwan Intellectual
Property Office now openly share their frustrations with AIT
about their difficulties in getting the MOE to take
meaningful action on IPR issues. At the March 6 digital
video conference with USTR and other agencies on compulsory
licensing, Margaret Chan, Secretary General of TIPO openly
stated that "We have worked as hard as you" to engage MOE on
this issue. At that meeting she asked for help from the USG
to arrange capacity-building events for university computer
center staff on IPR issues. TIPO has repeatedly asked AIT to
push MOE as well and said that a letter from USTR reinforcing
USG concerns would be helpful. Today another TIPO contact
called and asked specifically for USTR to send a letter to
the Minister of Education copying the Premier, Vice Premier,
and the Minister of Economic Affairs. They have come to the
conclusion that only high-level pressure is likely to trigger
action. AIT recommends copying the Minister of Economic
Affairs and mentioning the letter to Vice-Premier Tsai.
3. (SBU) AIT recommends that a letter under the signature
of Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Tim Stratford be sent
to Education Minister Tu as soon as possible. The letter
should recap their December meeting, reinforce USG concerns,
and remind that IPR is central to the TIFA process. Here is
a draft letter for AUSTR's consideration:
BEGIN DRAFT TEXT
Tu Cheng-sheng
Minister of Education
5 Chungshan S. Road
Taipei 100
TAIWAN
Dr. Minister Tu:
Thank you for taking time to meet with me during my visit to
Taipei in December. I very much appreciated the opportunity
to discuss intellectual property rights on university
campuses and on TANet. The U.S. - Taiwan intellectual
property rights dialogue is an important part of our Trade
Investment Framework Agreement talks and central to our
overall economic relationship.
As we discussed, protecting intellectual property rights in
schools and universities is important, not only to protect
the rights-holders of today, but also to ensure we instill in
our young people a respect for IPR. This serves as a
foundation for all of our efforts to build a society that
values ideas and creativity.
As the Ministry of Education continues to tackle the IPR
issue, I encourage you to appoint a senior-level official to
take responsibility for IPR protection and establish a task
force under his or her leadership to make progress on IPR
protection. Rights-holders tell me because universities and
schools exercise a great deal of autonomy, it is important
for the Ministry to demonstrate a commitment at the highest
level to address IPR problems. This task force could include
university presidents, scholars in the IPR field, technology
experts, and rights-holders.
In closing, let me again express my appreciation for your
interest in this issue which is central to the U.S.-Taiwan
bilateral relationship. I look forward to working with you
and your staff as we tackle this difficult issue.
Sincerely,
Timothy Stratford
cc: Chen Ruey-long, Minister of Economic Affairs
Tsai, Lien-sheng, Director General, Taiwan Intellectual
SIPDIS
Property Office
Daniel K. Moore, American Institute in Taiwan
END DRAFT TEXT
YOUNG