Cablegate: Karbala: Persians Pirating Publications

VZCZCXRO4270
PP RUEHBC RUEHDA RUEHDE RUEHIHL RUEHKUK
DE RUEHGB #3149 2731717
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 291717Z SEP 08
FM AMEMBASSY BAGHDAD
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9708
INFO RUCNRAQ/IRAQ COLLECTIVE PRIORITY

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 003149

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

NEA-I ECON PLEASE PASS TO USTR

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL ECON KIPR IQ IZ
SUBJECT: KARBALA: PERSIANS PIRATING PUBLICATIONS

This is a PRT Karbala Reporting Cable

1. (SBU) A QRF project to provide a number of badly needed
English engineering books to the Provincial Engineering
Department illustrates Iran's violation of intellectual
property rights. Of the 175 titles delivered by a local
supplier to the PRT for inspection, all were counterfeits.
Although all initially appeared to be the genuine article
with the proper hardcover and credentials, the pages were of
inferior photocopy-quality upon closer inspection, and in
addition, each features a frontispiece in Farsi describing
the contents. The insert identifies the producer as
"Norpardazan" of the Asfand Publications of Mashhad, Iran.
One of the volumes titled "Engineering Mechanics: Statics" by
J.L. Meriam and L.G. Kraige, fifth edition, published by John
Wiley and Sons and currently retailing USD25 in the United
States, was listed for 32,000 Iranian riyals, or
approximately $3.60.

2. (SBU) The supplier referred to us by the Engineering
Department naturally disavowed knowingly providing us with a
pirated publication while charging us the full-freight fare.
We insisted to the Engineering Department that the PRT would
only deal with genuine vendors, and will not pay for any of
the 175 knockoffs. The PRT will closely examine all the
other books to be provided by a new vendor. We will report
again should any more Persian counterfeits appear.
CROCKER

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