Intellectual Property Training Program Funded

Media Note
Office of the Spokeman
Washington, DC
October 11, 2006


As part of United States efforts to promote the rule of law and the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) worldwide, the State Department approved thirteen projects totaling $3 million in anticrime funds enabling U.S. law enforcement agencies and diplomatic missions to collaborate in the delivery of international enforcement training and technical assistance programs on intellectual property rights protection.

Training and technical assistance in the investigation and prosecution of intellectual property crime will be provided to foreign law enforcement partners in nations across the Pacific Rim, Latin America, Eastern Europe and Africa . Outreach will also be undertaken to rights holders in China on best methods for reporting infringements. The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs and the Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs selected the projects after conferring with industry, other Federal agencies, our overseas missions, and Congress.

The thirteen projects are:

1. Brazil   $130,000
   Training for Brazilian judges and prosecutors on the overall framework of IPR enforcement.  
   
   
2. CAFTA-DR   $582,288
   A two-year program on IPR crime for law enforcement officials of nations that are signatories to the Central American Free Trade Agreement (CAFTA-DR).  
   
   
3. Colombia   $69,000
   Training for Colombian judges and prosecutors as they strengthen their IPR enforcement regime.  
   
   
4. India   $265,000
   A two-year program of IPR training for Indian customs and border officials. 
   
   
5. India   $100,000
   Train-the-trainer workshops for Indian prosecutors and judges.  
   
   
6. Paraguay   $334,000
   The third year of a comprehensive U.S. effort to assist Paraguay in establishing an IPR Data Statistics Center and a special IPR investigative unit.
   
   
7. Nigeria   $179,000
   Train-the-trainer assistance focused on Nigerian prosecutors.
   
   
8. South Africa   $116,802
   IPR enforcement training for South African judges and prosecutors.  
   
   
9. Ukraine   $150,000
   Technical assistance to enhance the forensic capabilities of Ukrainian law enforcement agencies engaged in combating optical media piracy.
   
   
10. ASEAN   $726,910
    Regional IPR enforcement training over a two-year period for the border and customs officials of nations of the Association of Southeast Asia Nations (ASEAN).
    
    
11. Indonesia   $100,000
    Assistance to special units of the Indonesia National Police and Ministry of Industry as they implement new optical disc piracy regulations.
    
    
12. PRC   $100,000
    A joint U.S.-People's Republic of China (PRC) seminar to educate U.S. and Chinese rights holders on best practices for reporting IPR violations.
    
    
13. Russia   $147,000
    Joint U.S.-Russia law enforcement training for Russian customs inspectors.

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