Arias decree establishes
property rights commission


Facing conflicting demands over intellectual property rights, the Arias administration has set up a commission of ministers to advise the executive branch. The commission was the topic of an executive decree signed by the president, Óscar Arias Sánchez, and a number of ministers.

The decree outlines a commission that is mostly advisory. The main jobs are to suggest alternatives to the copyright piracy that goes on in Costa Rica and to recommend mechanisms to protect intellectual rights.

Costa Rica has agreed to two international treaties on copyright protection as well as the free trade treaty with the United States. Still the concept of ownership of an intangible right does not sit well with some Costa Ricans. Radio and television stations, for example, want to be able to play popular music and use it in commercials without paying for the right. Arias quietly adjusted the country's treaty obligations so they could do this.

The response was swift from the organizations that represent foreign music and videotape interests. Costa Rican artists, members of the Asociacion de Interpretes y Ejecutantes Musicales de Costa Rica, aware that their rights to their own music and performances were in jeopardy, protested Dec. 16 at Casa Presidencial.

Of particular concern is a decree by Arias published Oct. 19 in which specified what government agency has the right to collect fees from those who play music commercially. The artists believe that this right belongs to the associations of artists and musicians in Costa Rica. The exceptions specified to a long-running treaty, the so-called Convention of Rome, seems to remove protection for artists and musicians.

In addition a bill is working its way through the Asamblea Legislativa that would allow the television and radio stations to play copyrighted material without making payments. The bill is believed to have reached the floor.

The Arias administration has said that the purpose of the changes in the treaty and the proposed legislation is to enhance the cultural atmosphere by allowing the free playing of music.

At the same time municipal police and the Fuerza Pública conduct raids every day to confiscate pirated music disks that frequently are sold on the street. Internet theft of photos and articles is rampant.

In addition, by specifying exceptions to the Convention of Rome, Costa Rican literary and musical products lose their protection elsewhere in the world.

Presumably the role of the new commission will be to consider these issues and suggest changes. Most of the country's ministries will be represented on the commission.

Defensora protest resumes
today in Barrio México


Look for a resumption today of the protests against the naming of Ofelia Taitelbaum as defensora de los habitantes.  The protest today is supposed to be non-partisan, and participants have been asked not to wear or carry political party signs and insignias. However, the protests are very much political in that the new defensora was named while she was a sitting legislative deputy, and the protestors are agitating as much against her Partido Liberación Nacional as against her as an individual.

The protest will be at the Defensoría do los Habitantes in Barrio México starting at 7 a.m. Opponents to Ms. Taitelbaum took a break over Christmas, but now they promise an indefinite protest.

The appointment is complete with a vote of the full legislature, so it is uncertain what the protestors expect to accomplish.

Tennis tourney starting


The Copa de Café, begins today with some 128 tennis players seeking titles at the Costa Rica Country Club. This is a major event for young tennis players from much of the world, and many famous players have participated here over the years. This is the 46th year. The matches run until Saturday.