Keep Us Strong WikiLeaks logo

Currently released so far... 97115 / 251,287

Articles

Browse latest releases

Browse by creation date

Browse by origin

A B C D F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z

Browse by tag

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
ETRD EAGR ETTC EAID ECON EFIN ECIN EINV ELAB EAIR ENRG EPET EWWT ECPS EIND EMIN ELTN EC ETMIN EUC EZ ET ELECTIONS ENVR EU EUN EG EINT ER ECONOMICS ES EMS ENIV EEB EN ECE ECOSOC EK ENVIRONMENT EFIS EI EWT ENGRD ECPSN EXIM EIAD ERIN ECPC EDEV ENGY ECTRD EPA ESTH ECCT EINVECON ENGR ERTD EUR EAP EWWC ELTD EL EXIMOPIC EXTERNAL ETRDEC ESCAP ECO EGAD ELNT ECONOMIC ENV ETRN EIAR EUMEM ENRGPARMOTRASENVKGHGPGOVECONTSPLEAID EREL ECOM ECONETRDEAGRJA ETCC ETRG ECONOMY EMED ETR ENERG EITC EFINOECD EURM EENG ERA EXPORT ENRD ECONEINVETRDEFINELABETRDKTDBPGOVOPIC EGEN EBRD EVIN ETRAD ECOWAS EFTA ECONETRDBESPAR EGOVSY EPIN EID ECONENRG EDRC ESENV ETT EB ENER ELTNSNAR ECHEVARRIA ETRC EPIT EDUC ESA EFI ENRGY ESCI EE EAIDXMXAXBXFFR EETC ECIP EIAID EIVN EBEXP ESTN EING EGOV ETRA EPETEIND ELAN ETRDGK EAIDRW ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS EPEC ENVI ELN EAG EPCS EPRT EPTED ETRB EUM EAIDS EFIC EFINECONEAIDUNGAGM EAIDAR ESF EIDN ELAM EDU EV EAIDAF ECN EDA EXBS EINTECPS ENRGTRGYETRDBEXPBTIOSZ EPREL EAC EINVEFIN ETA EAGER EINDIR ECA ECLAC ELAP EITI EUCOM ECONEFINETRDPGOVEAGRPTERKTFNKCRMEAID EARG ELDIN EINVKSCA ENNP EFINECONCS EFINTS ECCP ETC EAIRASECCASCID EINN ETRP EAIDNI EFQ ECOQKPKO EGPHUM EBUD ECONEINVEFINPGOVIZ ENERGY ELB EINDETRD EMI ECONEFIN EIB EURN ETRDEINVTINTCS EIN EFIM ETIO ELAINE EMN EATO EWTR EIPR EINVETC ETTD ETDR EIQ ECONCS EPPD ENRGIZ EISL ESPINOSA ELEC EAIG ESLCO EUREM ENTG ERD EINVECONSENVCSJA EEPET EUNCH ECINECONCS ETRO ETRDECONWTOCS ECUN EFND EPECO EAIRECONRP ERGR ETRDPGOV ECPN ENRGMO EPWR EET EAIS EAGRE EDUARDO EAGRRP EAIDPHUMPRELUG EICN ECONQH EVN EGHG ELBR EINF EAIDHO EENV ETEX ERNG ED
KMDR KPAO KPKO KJUS KCRM KGHG KFRD KWMN KDEM KTFN KHIV KGIC KIDE KSCA KNNP KHUM KIPR KSUM KISL KIRF KCOR KRCM KPAL KWBG KN KS KOMC KSEP KFLU KPWR KTIA KSEO KMPI KHLS KICC KSTH KMCA KVPR KPRM KE KU KZ KFLO KSAF KTIP KTEX KBCT KOCI KOLY KOR KAWC KACT KUNR KTDB KSTC KLIG KSKN KNN KCFE KCIP KGHA KHDP KPOW KUNC KDRL KV KPREL KCRS KPOL KRVC KRIM KGIT KWIR KT KIRC KOMO KRFD KUWAIT KG KFIN KSCI KTFIN KFTN KGOV KPRV KSAC KGIV KCRIM KPIR KSOC KBIO KW KGLB KMWN KPO KFSC KSEAO KSTCPL KSI KPRP KREC KFPC KUNH KCSA KMRS KNDP KR KICCPUR KPPAO KCSY KTBT KCIS KNEP KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KNNB KGCC KINR KPOP KMFO KENV KNAR KVIR KDRG KDMR KFCE KNAO KDEN KGCN KICA KIMMITT KMCC KLFU KMSG KSEC KUM KCUL KMNP KSMT KCOM KOMCSG KSPR KPMI KRAD KIND KCRP KAUST KWAWC KTER KCHG KRDP KPAS KITA KTSC KPAOPREL KWGB KIRP KJUST KMIG KLAB KTFR KSEI KSTT KAPO KSTS KLSO KWNN KPOA KHSA KNPP KPAONZ KBTS KWWW KY KJRE KPAOKMDRKE KCRCM KSCS KWMNCI KESO KWUN KPLS KIIP KEDEM KPAOY KRIF KGICKS KREF KTRD KFRDSOCIRO KTAO KJU KWMNPHUMPRELKPAOZW KEN KO KNEI KEMR KKIV KEAI KWAC KRCIM KWCI KFIU KWIC KCORR KOMS KNNO KPAI KBWG KTTB KTBD KTIALG KILS KFEM KTDM KESS KNUC KPA KOMCCO KCEM KRCS KWBGSY KNPPIS KNNPMNUC KWN KERG KLTN KALM KCCP KSUMPHUM KREL KGH KLIP KTLA KAWK KWMM KVRP KVRC KAID KSLG KDEMK KX KIF KNPR KCFC KFTFN KTFM KPDD KCERS KMOC KDEMAF KMEPI KEMS KDRM KEPREL KBTR KEDU KNP KIRL KNNR KMPT KISLPINR KTPN KA KJUSTH KPIN KDEV KTDD KAKA KFRP KWNM KTSD KINL KJUSKUNR KWWMN KECF KWBC KPRO KVBL KOM KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG KEDM KFLD KLPM KRGY KNNF KICR KIFR KM KWMNCS KAWS KLAP KPAK KDDG KCGC KID KNSD KMPF KPFO KDP KCMR KRMS KNPT KNNNP KTIAPARM KDTB KNUP KPGOV KNAP KNNC KUK KSRE KREISLER KIVP KQ KTIAEUN KPALAOIS KRM KISLAO KWM KFLOA
PHUM PINR PTER PGOV PREL PREF PL PM PHSA PE PARM PINS PK PUNE PO PALESTINIAN PU PBTS PROP PTBS POL POLI PA PGOVZI POLMIL POLITICAL PARTIES POLM PD POLITICS POLICY PAS PMIL PINT PNAT PV PKO PPOL PERSONS PING PBIO PH PETR PARMS PRES PCON PETERS PRELBR PT PLAB PP PAK PDEM PKPA PSOCI PF PLO PTERM PJUS PSOE PELOSI PROPERTY PGOVPREL PARP PRL PNIR PHUMKPAL PG PREZ PGIC PBOV PAO PKK PROV PHSAK PHUMPREL PROTECTION PGOVBL PSI PRELPK PGOVENRG PUM PRELKPKO PATTY PSOC PRIVATIZATION PRELSP PGOVEAIDUKNOSWGMHUCANLLHFRSPITNZ PMIG PREC PAIGH PROG PSHA PARK PETER POG PHUS PPREL PS PTERPREL PRELPGOV POV PKPO PGOVECON POUS PGOVPRELPHUMPREFSMIGELABEAIDKCRMKWMN PWBG PMAR PREM PAR PNR PRELPGOVEAIDECONEINVBEXPSCULOIIPBTIO PARMIR PGOVGM PHUH PARTM PN PRE PTE PY POLUN PPEL PDOV PGOVSOCI PIRF PGOVPM PBST PRELEVU PGOR PBTSRU PRM PRELKPAOIZ PGVO PERL PGOC PAGR PMIN PHUMR PVIP PPD PGV PRAM PINL PKPAL PTERE PGOF PINO PHAS PODC PRHUM PHUMA PREO PPA PEPFAR PGO PRGOV PAC PRESL PORG PKFK PEPR PRELP PREFA PNG PGOVPHUMKPAO PRELECON PINOCHET PFOR PGOVLO PHUMBA PRELC PREK PHUME PHJM POLINT PGOVPZ PGOVKCRM PGOVE PHALANAGE PARTY PECON PEACE PROCESS PLN PRELSW PAHO PEDRO PRELA PASS PPAO PGPV PNUM PCUL PGGV PSA PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA PGIV PRFE POGOV PEL PBT PAMQ PINF PSEPC POSTS PHUMPGOV PVOV PHSAPREL PROLIFERATION PENA PRELTBIOBA PIN PRELL PGOVPTER PHAM PHYTRP PTEL PTERPGOV PHARM PROTESTS PRELAF PKBL PRELKPAO PKNP PARMP PHUML PFOV PERM PUOS PRELGOV PHUMPTER PARAGRAPH PERURENA PBTSEWWT PCI PETROL PINSO PINSCE PQL PEREZ PBS

Browse by classification

Community resources

courage is contagious

Viewing cable 09ANKARA1843, CANCELLED TRADEMARK CASES STILL UNRESOLVED

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.
To understand the justification used for the classification of each cable, please use this WikiSource article as reference.

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. #09ANKARA1843.
Reference ID Created Released Classification Origin
09ANKARA1843 2009-12-29 08:21 2011-08-24 01:00 UNCLASSIFIED Embassy Ankara
VZCZCXRO6938
RR RUEHDA
DE RUEHAK #1843/01 3630821
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 290821Z DEC 09
FM AMEMBASSY ANKARA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1573
INFO RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC
RUEATRS/TREASURY DEPT WASHDC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUCPCIM/CIMS NTDB WASHDC
RUEHIT/AMCONSUL ISTANBUL 6693
RUEHDA/AMCONSUL ADANA 4347
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ANKARA 001843 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR EUR/SE, EEB/TPP/BTA, EEB/TPP/IPE 
DEPT PLEASE PASS USTR FOR MMWOREY, JCHOE-GROVES 
COMMERCE FOR ITA/MAC CRUSNAK, KNAJDI 
COMMERCE FOR ITA/USFCS/OIO/CEENIS/RMILLER/MCOSTA 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: EINV ETRD KTDB KIPR USTR TU
SUBJECT: CANCELLED TRADEMARK CASES STILL UNRESOLVED 
 
REF: A) 08 ANKARA 2175, B) 08 ANKARA 2191, C) ANKARA 15, D) 
ANKARA 48, E) ANKARA 117 
 
This cable is sensitive but unclassified.  Please protect 
accordingly. 
 
1. (SBU) Summary:  As reported in reftels, the temporary 
suspension in 2008 of the criminal provisions of Decree 556 
(Trademark Law) led to the cancellation of as many as 9,000 
IPR cases and the possible re-entry of millions of units of 
seized counterfeit goods into the Turkish market.  Previously, 
Ministry of Justice officials promised that these cases would 
be considered under the "unfair competition" provision of the 
commercial code.  However, some recent lower and appeals court 
rulings have found no legal basis for criminal prosecution and 
have ordered that the seized counterfeit goods be returned to 
defendants.  Although the Ministry of Justice could intervene 
and issue new guidance to the courts, this seems unlikely.  If 
the counterfeit goods re-enter the market, the new trademark 
law would give the companies the right to re-seize the goods 
if counterfeiters decided to sell them again, but would entail 
enormous costs to injured companies to re-open court cases, as 
well as requiring law enforcement to duplicate seizures, 
presumably against more savvy criminal operations.  End 
summary. 
 
2. (SBU) On July 5, 2008, the Constitutional Court struck down 
the provisions of the "Protection of Trademarks" law (Decree 
556) that made trademark violations a crime. A new amendment 
to re-criminalize trademark violations was passed in January 
2009, but was not retroactive, causing the cancellation of up 
to 9,000 pending IPR cases (see reftels for further detail). 
At the time, the Ministry of Justice promised that the 
canceled cases would be considered under the "unfair 
competition" provision of the commercial code.  Unfortunately, 
recent lower court rulings found no legal basis for criminal 
prosecution and ordered that confiscated goods should be 
returned to the former defendants.  Reportedly, many of the 
defendants were dealing in such large volumes - tens of 
thousands of units - that it was strongly likely that they 
were organized crime elements engaged in manufacture as well 
as distribution, rather than just small-time sellers. 
 
3. (SBU) Representatives of several companies affected by the 
recent rulings met with ECON and FCS staff on December 10, 
2009 to identify potential courses of action to stop the 
counterfeit goods from re-entering the market.  Many of the 
companies have appealed the decisions to return the goods, but 
the first wave of Court of Appeals decisions indicates that 
the rulings of the lower courts will be upheld.  Thirteen 
international brands have identified 5,374 cases that have 
been or may be impacted, representing more than 2.6 million 
units of counterfeit goods which would return to defendants. 
 
4. (SBU) The courts have ordered the destruction of products 
in some cases, such as cosmetics and perfumes, on the basis of 
public health concerns.   This would not apply to textiles or 
footwear products, and as it is only a crime to sell 
counterfeit goods (possession is not criminal), the police 
cannot simply re-seize the goods absent an actual attempt to 
market them.  The companies claim that the Minister of Justice 
could make an extraordinary appeal and issue guidance to the 
courts, but this seldom-used option is unlikely, and would be 
dependent upon a series of strict conditions that this 
situation does not appear to meet.  Another option would be 
for the GOT to criminalize possession of a sufficiently large 
number of counterfeit goods (similar to antinarcotics laws 
that presume the intent to distribute).  The companies are 
investigating that option, but such a legislative fix is 
unlikely to happen quickly enough to help. 
 
5. (SBU) Companies affected by these cases are left with few 
options except to prepare for the counterfeit goods to re- 
enter the market.  The new trademark law would give them the 
right to re-seize any goods which counterfeiters attempt to 
sell again on the market, and they could then be tried under 
the new code.  The associated legal costs are likely to be 
enormous, however, and goods returned to smaller street 
vendors are probably not going to justify this extra expense 
and effort. 
 
6. (SBU) Comment:  The position of the Turkish courts is 
 
ANKARA 00001843  002 OF 002 
 
 
legally correct - in the absence of a crime, the state has no 
legal right to deprive individuals of property.  As the only 
reason there is no crime is because of the GOT's own inability 
to fix a technical legal problem by a known deadline, however, 
the GOT should be more willing to work out an equitable 
solution that does not allow counterfeit goods back onto the 
market.  Post will continue to raise this issue with GOT 
interlocutors, especially as we begin discussions with them on 
this year's Special 301 process. End comment.