The U.S. Trade Representative Office Holds a Two-day Session of the Russian-US Working Group on the Protection of Intellectual Property

The session will hear a report on the progress of the reform of Russias intellectual property rights legislation.

WASHINGTON (PRWEB) October 26, 2004 -- The United States Trade Representative Office opened a two-day session of the Russian-US working group on the protection of intellectual property.

The session will hear a report on the progress of the reform of Russias intellectual property rights legislation.

The participants in the meeting will discuss issues connected with the United States Strategy Targeting Organized Piracy (STOP!) initiative, legal regulation of optical discs production, control of optical discs exports, the protection of confidential information in the field of medicines production and the improvement of Russias civil and criminal legislation.

The session will also focus on the establishment of a consultative council on intellectual property in Russia and more intensive training of customs officers, policemen, trade inspection officers and judges, whose work is connected with the protection of intellectual property rights.

The session is expected to wind up with the adoption of a decision on elaborating a single system of indices to be applied while evaluating measures to protect intellectual property right within the framework of Russia-US bilateral cooperation. Head of Russia' s Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks Boris Simonov was authorized by the Russian Education and Science Minister to act as the head of Russias delegation at the Russian-US working group.

The working group includes, on the Russian side, representatives of the Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, the Customs Service, the Foreign Ministry, the Federal Health Care and Social Development Service, the Prosecutor's Office, the Federal Service for Compliance with Law in the Sphere of Mass Media and Cultural Heritage Protection.

If you are interested in covering this event, Mr. Simonov will be available for interviews on Wednesday, October 27. To confirm time and place please contact:

Irina Khvorostyanaya, RIA Novosti" Washington Deputy Bureau Chief, 202-489-3678, 202-328-3238.

russnovo@erols.com

khvorost1@yandex.ru

CONTACTS IN RUSSIA

The Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks of the Russian Federation

Tel. 7 (095) 240-5074, 7 (095) 240-4564, 7 (095) 140-5074

Fax: 7 (095) 956-4374

E-mail: press@rupto.ru

SIMONOV Boris

Born in August 1953.

In 1975 -- graduated (with the equivalent of first-class degree) from the day department of the power plant engineering faculty of the Moscow power engineering institute (MEI) and became a post-graduate student of this institute.

In 1980 -- defended his candidates, and in 2003 -- his doctors, thesis.

Until 1991, worked at the MEI; rose in his career from an engineer at a research and development department to assistant professor at the faculty of dynamics and durability of machinery.

In 1991, was placed in charge of the ZAO ENTEK which developed and introduced technical solutions in modernising thermomechanical equipment at thermal power plants.

From 1998 to 2003 -- held the post of general director of the Innovation Agency non-commercial partnership. The agencys objective was to create conditions and render services for commercialising the results of intellectual and research activity of scientific organisations and innovation companies.

In 1998 -- became Prize Winner of the Russian governments prize for the introduction of new machinery and equipment.

From 2003 till his appointment as chief of the Federal Service for Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks, Boris Simonov held the post of chief of the innovation development department at the Russian Federations ministry of industry, science and technologies

Awarded the Badge of Honour Order.

Married, with two sons born in 1976 and 1983.

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