

Currently released so far... 12689 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
2011/05/01
2011/05/02
2011/05/03
2011/05/04
2011/05/05
2011/05/06
2011/05/07
2011/05/08
2011/05/09
2011/05/10
2011/05/11
2011/05/12
2011/05/13
2011/05/14
2011/05/15
2011/05/16
2011/05/17
2011/05/18
2011/05/19
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AF
ASEC
AR
AEMR
AMGT
AE
AU
AID
AORC
APER
AS
AM
AFIN
AMED
AJ
AGR
ACOA
ANET
ASIG
ABLD
AL
AA
APECO
AGAO
AY
AGMT
APEC
AINF
AG
ACS
AECL
AFFAIRS
ABUD
ASUP
ADANA
AADP
AMCHAMS
ARF
ASEAN
ADPM
ATRN
ALOW
APCS
ADCO
ACAO
AORG
AROC
AO
AODE
ACABQ
AX
AMEX
AFGHANISTAN
AZ
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AMBASSADOR
ACBAQ
AFSI
AFSN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
ASCH
AFU
AMG
ATPDEA
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
AORL
ADM
AN
AIT
BU
BR
BL
BO
BA
BB
BG
BM
BBSR
BH
BEXP
BK
BD
BTIO
BT
BE
BY
BF
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BILAT
BIDEN
BC
BMGT
BWC
BN
BTIU
CH
CG
CF
CU
CE
CVIS
CASC
CO
CS
CA
CIDA
CBW
CW
CMGT
CI
CODEL
CY
CPAS
CJAN
CD
CWC
CDG
CIA
CL
CROS
CAPC
CTR
CT
CR
CBSA
CEUDA
COM
CFED
CV
CACS
CARSON
CLINTON
CN
CONS
CM
CAC
CIC
COPUOS
CDC
CONDOLEEZZA
CICTE
COUNTER
COUNTRY
CBE
CKGR
CHR
CVR
COUNTERTERRORISM
CITEL
CLEARANCE
COE
CARICOM
CB
CSW
CITT
CACM
CDB
CJUS
CTM
CAN
CLMT
CBC
CNARC
CIS
EG
EZ
EUN
ECON
ETRD
ECPS
EFIN
ENRG
ETTC
EPET
EINV
EAID
EAIR
EWWT
EU
EAGR
EC
ELAB
EIND
EN
EMIN
ESENV
ENNP
EFIS
ELTN
ET
ECIN
EFTA
ES
EINT
EI
ENGR
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENVI
ETRDECONWTOCS
ECINECONCS
ELN
ELECTIONS
ENVR
EXTERNAL
EXIM
ETRO
ENIV
ESA
ER
EK
EUR
EFINECONCS
EUMEM
EUREM
EPA
ERNG
ENERG
ECA
ETRC
EINVEFIN
ETC
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
ECONOMIC
EXBS
ECUN
ENGY
ECONOMICS
EIAR
EINDETRD
ECONEFIN
EURN
EDU
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
EREL
EINVETC
ECONCS
ETRA
EAIG
EUC
ERD
ETRN
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EEPET
EUNCH
IS
IZ
IR
IC
IO
IN
ID
IGAD
IT
ILC
IAEA
ITU
ICAO
IMO
IBRD
IMF
ICJ
IAHRC
ITF
INRA
INRO
IWC
IQ
IV
ICRC
ICTY
INRB
IEFIN
ILO
ITRA
ITALY
IBET
ISRAELI
IL
INTELSAT
IRC
IDP
ICTR
IRAQI
IPR
IIP
INMARSAT
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
INTERNAL
IRS
IA
INTERPOL
IEA
INR
IZPREL
IRAJ
IF
ITPHUM
ISRAEL
IACI
INDO
IDA
ISLAMISTS
KSPR
KNNP
KWBG
KAWK
KISL
KPAO
KN
KS
KIPR
KCRM
KDEM
KIRF
KJUS
KHLS
KSCA
KOMC
KAWC
KV
KFRD
KWMN
KTIP
KPWR
KSUM
KGHG
KTIA
KTFN
KIRC
KCOR
KACT
KMDR
KGIC
KOLY
KUNR
KIDE
KMPI
KPKO
KCFE
KVPR
KRAD
KPAL
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KTEX
KTDB
KFSC
KZ
KSEP
KFLU
KE
KU
KPLS
KRVC
KRIM
KSTH
KG
KFLO
KPOA
KICC
KDDG
KPRV
KTBT
KBCT
KSAF
KMOC
KDRG
KBIO
KREC
KSTC
KVRP
KBTR
KMIG
KENV
KNSD
KCGC
KWAC
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KWMM
KPRP
KNEI
KPAI
KO
KVIR
KX
KMCA
KCRS
KMFO
KID
KCIP
KNAR
KR
KCRCM
KBTS
KSEO
KHDP
KFIN
KOCI
KGIT
KNUP
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KSCI
KTLA
KHIV
KCSY
KTRD
KMRS
KNPP
KJUST
KCMR
KTER
KRCM
KCFC
KSAC
KCHG
KREL
KFTFN
KCOM
KLIG
KDEMAF
KAID
KGCC
KICA
KHUM
KSEC
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KWWMN
KOM
KWNM
KRFD
KRGY
KIFR
KWMNCS
KPAK
KOMS
KHSA
MPOS
MOPS
MARR
MTCR
MNUC
MASS
MX
MCAP
MAR
MTRE
MASC
MK
MG
MTCRE
MI
MD
MA
MO
MY
MU
ML
MRCRE
MAS
MEDIA
MC
MR
MIL
MW
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MP
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MEPN
MEPI
MEETINGS
MERCOSUR
MT
MCC
MIK
MAPS
MV
MILITARY
MDC
MEPP
MASSMNUC
MUCN
MQADHAFI
NATO
NG
NL
NZ
NT
NW
NO
NU
NS
NPT
NASA
NI
NK
NSG
NE
NORAD
NAFTA
NP
NATIONAL
NSSP
NSF
NA
NGO
NV
NR
NDP
NIPP
NZUS
NH
NC
NEW
NRR
NAR
NATOPREL
NPG
NSC
NPA
NSFO
OPDC
OPRC
OEXC
OTRA
ODIP
OIIP
OVIP
OPIC
OPCW
OAS
OREP
OSCE
OSCI
OES
OFDP
OECD
OCS
OIC
OPAD
OVP
OHUM
OFFICIALS
OIE
OTR
OMIG
OSAC
OBSP
OFDA
ON
OCII
PREL
PGOV
PARM
PINR
PTER
PHUM
PK
PREF
PM
PHSA
PA
PINS
PE
PBTS
PCI
PO
PL
POGOV
PAK
PEL
PGIV
PROP
PP
PBIO
POL
POLITICS
POLICY
PINL
PBT
PMIL
POV
PTBS
PG
POSTS
PALESTINIAN
PROV
PNAT
PINF
PRL
PAS
PDOV
PRAM
PREO
PAHO
PHUMPGOV
PAO
PREFA
PSI
POLITICAL
PAIGH
PARMS
PROG
PTERE
PRGOV
PORG
PS
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PMAR
PRELP
PNG
PFOR
PUNE
PGOVLO
PHUMBA
PSEPC
PNR
POLINT
PGOVE
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PDEM
PECON
PGOC
PY
PLN
PHUH
PF
PHUS
PU
PARTIES
PCUL
PGGV
PSA
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RW
REACTION
RCMP
RSO
RO
RP
ROOD
RM
ROBERT
RICE
REGION
RSP
RF
RIGHTS
RIGHTSPOLMIL
RUPREL
RELATIONS
RFE
REPORT
SY
SP
SOCI
SMIG
SNAR
SCUL
SC
SU
SO
SI
SENV
SZ
SW
SA
SR
SF
SEVN
SN
STEINBERG
SEN
SG
SYR
SWE
SK
SH
SNARCS
SAARC
SNARIZ
SPCE
SARS
SNARN
SCRS
SYRIA
SL
SENVKGHG
SAN
ST
SIPDIS
SSA
SPCVIS
SOFA
SANC
SHI
SHUM
SIPRS
TSPA
TSPL
TU
TBIO
TRGY
TPHY
TS
TP
TW
TBID
TI
TF
TZ
TD
TT
TN
TNGD
TC
TX
TH
TL
TIP
THPY
TV
TK
TERRORISM
TO
TRSY
TURKEY
TINT
TFIN
TAGS
TR
US
UNSC
UNGA
UK
UP
UNCHC
UN
UNMIK
UNCSD
UY
USTR
USOAS
UNHRC
UNFCYP
UG
UNAUS
UNESCO
UNIDROIT
UNO
UV
UNHCR
USUN
UZ
USNC
UNCHR
UNCND
UNEP
USEU
USPS
USAID
UE
UNVIE
UAE
UNDP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNFICYP
UNDESCO
UNC
UNPUOS
UNDC
UNICEF
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 06SAOPAULO1206, FAVORABLE TRENDS IN FIGHTING IPR PIRACY IN SAO PAULO REF: SAO PAULO 675 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY Summary
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.
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. #06SAOPAULO1206.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
06SAOPAULO1206 | 2006-11-21 17:22 | 2010-12-16 06:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Consulate Sao Paulo |
VZCZCXRO5423
RR RUEHRG
DE RUEHSO #1206/01 3251722
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 211722Z NOV 06
FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6076
INFO RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA 7146
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 2629
RUEHMN/AMEMBASSY MONTEVIDEO 2214
RUEHBU/AMEMBASSY BUENOS AIRES 2538
RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO 1919
RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ 3123
RUEHPE/AMEMBASSY LIMA 1074
RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS 0414
RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA 1458
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 3238
RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 7608
RUEHAC/AMEMBASSY ASUNCION 2849
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RUEAWJC/DEPT OF JUSTICE WASHDC
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 04 SAO PAULO 001206
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
DEPT FOR WHA/BSC AND EB/TPP/IPE
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR SCRONIN
STATE PASS EXIMBANK
STATE PASS OPIC FOR MORONESE, RIVERA, MERVENNE
NSC FOR FEARS
USDOC FOR 4332/ITA/MAC/OLAC USDOC FOR 3134/USFCS/OIO USDOC ALSO PASS PTO/OLIA TREASURY FOR OASIA, DAS LEE AND JHOEK DOJ FOR CMERRIAM AID/W FOR LAC/AA
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KIPR ETRD ECON KJUS BR
SUBJECT: FAVORABLE TRENDS IN FIGHTING IPR PIRACY IN SAO PAULO REF: SAO PAULO 675 SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED; PLEASE PROTECT ACCORDINGLY Summary
¶1. (U) Econoff met recently with Marcio Vaz Guimaraes de Souza Netto, the head of the Sao Paulo State Interagency Council to Combat Piracy, to discuss recent activities of the organization and new developments in the fight against piracy. The Council has been reaching out to law enforcement in other states in an effort to consolidate forces. It has also undertaken initiatives to educate and sensitize the public to the problem. The divisions charged with confiscating pirated goods have seized approximately USD 18 million of merchandise as of September 2006, the result of nearly double the number of operations since 2002. The city of Sao Paulo significantly reinforced its own anti-piracy fight with the signing of a new law that will cancel a business license should an establishment or street vendor be found participating in the sale of counterfeit goods. Those involved in the sale of pirated goods and their customers are becoming more sophisticated, and the flood of contraband coming across the border with Paraguay remains a major concern. End Summary.
Background on the Council
¶2. (U) The Interagency Council to Combat Piracy of Sao Paulo State (reftel) was created (at Post's urging) in January 2006 to present a more unified and organized effort to combat piracy. According to Souza, piracy today in Sao Paulo State is surpassing drug profits and has become a sophisticated industry, with vendors specializing in certain high end brands. Within the governmental structure, the Council is part of the State's Department of Investigations on Organized Crime. The Council is composed of officials from seven state offices: Executive Office; Department of Justice; Department of Labor; Department of Culture; Department of Finance; Department of Science, Technology and Economic Development; Department of Public Health; and, the State Attorney General's Office. Since January 2006, when the Council was officially organized and recognized by state law, it has coordinated its efforts with state law enforcement agencies and its counterpart on the federal level, the National Council to Combat Piracy (CNCP). Council Coordinates with Other States
¶3. (U) Souza believes that it is now time for the Council to build upon its present momentum and work with other anti-piracy groups. In addition to the federal CNCP, there is an inter-institutional committee in Rio Grande do Sul State, a regional group associated with the federation of industries (FIRJAN) in Rio de Janeiro State, and a recently formed group in Minas Gerais state. After the governors of Brazil's southern states met in early June with U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gutierrez to discuss IPR issues, the Sao Paulo SIPDIS Council convened a meeting on June 28 with Attorneys General from the southern states of Sao Paulo, Rio Grande do Sul and Mato Grosso do Sul to discuss joint initiatives in combating piracy.
¶4. (U) Souza further explained that the Council now takes a three-pronged approach to the problem of piracy: education, law enforcement and prevention. In coordination with the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and the Brazilian Software Association (ABES), the Council has organized a series of one-day anti-piracy training seminars for public-sector workers in 11 cities from October to December, with training beginning in January 2007 for customs agents in ports in the states of Rio, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Sul, Parana, Sao Paulo, Amazonas, Ceara, and Para. Participants will be trained on the recognition of fraudulent merchandise and provide a complete review of existing laws and penalties. Working with other state offices, the Council is involved in community projects to educate the public and create a less accepting populace. Examples are the Community Integration Centers (CICs) located within the neighborhoods and the Workers Posts (Postos de Atendimento ao Trabalhador - PAT), which are sponsored by the state Labor Department and approach the problem of piracy as it affects the local labor market. Paraguay Effect on Piracy in Brazil
¶5. (U) Souza stated that although Sao Paulo does not border Paraguay, the piracy industry along the border with Paraguay has become a major problem for Sao Paulo State, with a large number of goods coming into Brazil via this route. For example, according to the Paraguayan Ministry of Industry and Commerce, 378 million blank videotapes will be imported this year into Paraguay, yet only 3 - 5 million will actually be used in Paraguay. This implies that the other 372 million will be used elsewhere, most probably for the illegal tape industry in Brazil. There is usually a link between piracy and organized crime, with drugs, arms and piracy co-existing in the Tri-border region. The Council realizes that this is a sensitive and very dangerous combination, requiring carefully planned operations for the seizure of goods. Souza also stated that the cost of these operations increases with the number of officers involved and the time to investigate a case, which impacts on the State's ability to carry out all investigations needed. Recent Trends in Piracy
¶6. (U) Pirated goods have a more sophisticated clientele today, and many dealers are specializing in certain brand names, such as Louis Vuitton. According to Brazilian law, in order to have piracy charges brought against an individual, the company must have a representative located here in Brazil who is willing to participate in the legal process. Unfortunately, two of the most popular pirated brands in Brazil, Polo Sport and Ralph Lauren, do not have representatives here. This results in seized merchandise being stockpiled for later destruction, with no criminal charges brought against the individuals involved. Compounding this issue are several brand name representatives who desire only that the pirated goods be seized from the point of sale and have no interest in prosecuting the illegal merchandisers. On the pharmaceutical side, Souza is seeing more incidence of fake medications in the Brazilian pirated market, which poses serious public safety issues since the medication is prepared without monitoring to ensure compliance with sanitary regulations.
¶7. (U) The investigative and law enforcement arms for combating piracy are organized under the Department of Investigations of Organized Crime (DEIC). Within the DEIC there is the Division of Investigations (DIG) which houses four offices with a total of 36 investigative teams working in the following areas: Material Property, Falsification, Fraud, and Electronic Property. As of September 2006, these teams were responsible for USD 18 million for the seizure of pirated goods in Sao Paulo State for this calendar year. In dollar value, the top seven pirated items are: purses (3.8 million), watches (2.8 million), clothing (2.5 million), tennis shoes (2 million), toys (1.3 million), blank DVDs (1.3 million), and musical CDs (1 million).
Recent State Legislation on Combating Piracy
¶8. (U) Assisting with the law enforcement process are two recent state laws (No.12.279 and 12.294) which allow for the cancellation of the license of any commercial establishment that acquires, stocks, or exports contraband or fake products. Another recent law (No. 11/929/05) allows for the cancellation of licenses of gas stations involved in the sale of illegal gasoline products. This new legislation has been responsible for the closing of 248 gas stations and 6 gasoline distributorships. Souza stated, however, that more legislative changes are needed. Under existing law, it takes approximately eight months for cases to wind through the legal process. In order for an individual to be charged, each individual item seized must be listed by the officer, and all items must be warehoused for the trial. Legislation has been introduced to allow the investigator to list confiscated property by weight, rather than individual itemization, thus eliminating this time consuming procedure. Under this proposed bill, items would not need to be warehoused, but could be destroyed, especially products that may post potential health concerns. Search warrants require the presence of a federal district attorney when police enter the property. Recent Anti-Piracy Law Passed by the City of Sao Paulo
¶9. (U) The city of Sao Paulo has also recently passed new and harder-hitting legislation. Decree No. 47.801, signed by the mayor on October 29, permits law enforcement authorities to cancel licenses of both shops and street vendors found selling pirated, illegally imported, or counterfeit goods. This law was developed in response to the rising demands of the audio, video, fashion, toy, shoe, and perfume industries. According to the Association for the Defense of Intellectual Property (Adepi), the audiovisual sector in Brazil had losses of USD 198 million last year due to piracy. Previously, police would conduct raids and seize pirated goods that were found, but the business would continue to operate. It would quickly absorb its losses, restock, and continue to sell. This facilitated the creation of "contraband mafias," according to leading daily newspaper "O Estado de Sao Paulo." Galeria Page, a downtown shopping mall with many shops of pirated goods, has remained in business for over 40 years despite numerous seizures of goods. The new law gives authorities the power to cancel the offender's license, thereby shutting down the business.
¶10. (U) According to Decree 47.801, those who have already had their licenses withheld under federal or state law and are charged under the municipal law will not be able to renew their licenses for 10 years, and this will apply to all partners in the business. The challenge for the city is in the numbers: 6,000 street vendors and 30,000 establishments in Sao Paulo, and only 600 inspectors to enforce this law. This is a daunting task considering that these 600 workers already have the responsibility of enforcing present laws. Many observers have expressed concern that this new law, instead of taking a bite out of illegal commerce, will probably increase corruption, as more of these public workers will find an opportunity to be paid off and allow these illegal businesses operating freedom. Favorable Trends in IPR coordination and Legislation
¶11. (SBU) Comment: The Interagency Council to Combat Piracy in Sao Paulo State has made positive steps in the past year to confront the issue of piracy. The Council considers piracy to be a global issue affecting all countries. A recent national survey sponsored by Fecomercio in Rio de Janeiro reported that 42% of those surveyed had bought pirated goods this year, which in raw numbers would mean approximately 78 million Brazilians. Of those surveyed, 66% are aware of the negative consequences generated by illegal commerce, 70% associate it with organized crime, and 79% believe that these sales hurt formal commerce, in addition to manufacturers and artists. This survey highlights the extent of the problem, the urgent need to continue efforts to educate the public, and the necessity for stronger governmental and legal intervention. Recent state legislation has enhanced the government's ability to deter piracy activity, and future legislation is being introduced that would make searching, processing, and itemizing of seized goods easier. In addition, the city of Sao Paulo has now come forth with stronger legislation to combat piracy, adding much needed muscle to law enforcement efforts. While Souza stressed that interest in combating piracy remains strong and the Council is active, much remains to be done to educate a highly accepting public that is still unaware of or unconcerned about the real damage done by piracy to the economy and the labor market. We look forward to working with Governor-elect Jose Serra, who has been a strong advocate in fighting IPR piracy while Mayor of Sao Paulo, as well as with current Mayor Gilberto Kassab, in expanding our cooperation on IPR issues. End Comment.
¶12. (U) This cable was cleared by Embassy Brasilia. McMullen