Ambassador
Ambassador's Speech
REMARKS AT AMCHAM IPR "MENTES INNOVADORAS" AWARDS
December 15, 2008
Thank you, Rolando, for hosting this second annual event and welcoming me. I was very pleased to be here last year and equally pleased that AmCham is continuing this important initiative. It is a pleasure to see President Aramburu here once again, as well as Secretary Ladenheim. I am also happy to see last year's award winner, Celia Lerman here. I remember she won a prize for her paper on software protection in Argentina.
First, I want to express my appreciation for the American Chamber of Commerce in Argentina, for creating and organizing this award, and to all the event sponsors, especially those who have offered prizes to the winner.
This contest serves as an excellent model on many levels.
First, it is an excellent example of public/private cooperation, with the AmCham and INPI working together closely on something of mutual interest: the protection of intellectual property.
Second, the contest emphasizes creativity - both that of the participants, and that of Argentines in general.
The impact of that creativity depends on how well it is protected. Protection encourages creativity. And through that creativity, we are all able to enjoy breakthroughs in science, medicine, and the arts.
In my experience in Argentina, there is much creativity here, in business, the sciences, and culture.
Protecting that creativity generates opportunities for employment. We have seen this in Argentina, where service sectors that depend on attracting young, creative talent -- such as music, software, and the vibrant Argentine film and television industry -- have demonstrated their significant growth potential.
Recently I was made aware of one example of the importance of protection: a worldwide 2008 study by the Business Software Alliance found that software piracy led to 370 million dollars in company losses in Argentina alone. And even more than the money lost in sales, the Business Software Alliance's study showed that most of the benefits from reducing piracy accrue to local businesses, not foreign ones. Some of that lost revenue would certainly have been used to hire additional Argentine software programmers and other workers, for example.
Third and finally, I think it’s fantastic that this contest focuses on inviting young people to participate.
You, the participants, are the most important part of this event. Not only is your hard work in preparing your entries laudable, but more importantly, you and your generation will define how well intellectual property will be protected in Argentina in the future.
You and your generation will be the primary beneficiaries of improved protection today. Increased protection will provide opportunities for Argentine creativity to flourish, and increase the Argentina's competitiveness - and create jobs.
Once again, my thanks to all the participants and sponsors of this contest, and my congratulations to the winners.
I hope that you continue to utilize your creativity to its fullest and wish you the best in your endeavors.
