SENIOR Crown Counsel Melvin Douglas is to take part in a US-sponsored programme to learn more about strategies for the protection of intellectual property rights, especially Government trademarks and copyright materials.

Bermuda's US Consul General Gregory Slayton nominated Mr. Douglas to participate in the United States Visiting Scholars Programme.

The US Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) provides free international property rights enforcement training to foreign government officials in a two-week programme. Classes are held at the Academy on the Enforcement of Intellectual Property Rights, in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside Washington, DC.

The programme seeks to foster a better understanding of intellectual property obligations and participants interact with US Government officials responsible for civil, criminal and administrative enforcement of intellectual property rights, as well as private sector representatives.

Participants from over 30 foreign countries have attended this training since 1985. Past participants include foreign judges, prosecutors, customs officials, police and others involved in enforcing intellectual property rights.

Consul General Slayton said he would continue to nominate Bermudians for US programmes under his new and expanding public diplomacy plan.