Once an electrician while a student at the Leningrad Polytechnic Institute, Open World alumnus Pyotr Borisovich Shelisch has made tremendous strides in his career path, rising to become the Deputy Head of the Russian Federation State Duma Committee on Industry, Construction and High Technology and a member of the Duma's Yabloko faction. And until his withdrawal on September 19, Shelisch was also a candidate in the St. Petersburg, Russia gubernatorial race.

A year prior to the elections, in May 2002, the Open World Program brought Mr. Shelisch and three other Duma deputies to the United States to examine intellectual property issues. They were hosted by the Coalition for Intellectual Property Rights (CIPR), a private-public partnership that works to advance intellectual property rights protection and reform in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Baltic states. Over the years, Mr. Shelisch has been a leader in the Duma, securing legislation on counterfeit products, telecommunication services and natural monopolies, such as electricity and water networks. His distinguished resume includes positions as Chairman of the Leningrad Consumers Club, Vice President of the Consumers Societies Federation of the USSR and Chairman of the Consumers Union of Russia. He has also authored more than 100 scientific publications.

Mr. Shelisch and his three fellow deputies visited Washington, DC, to take part in an intense week of meetings focused on intellectual property rights protection, legislation and enforcement. The delegates met with senior officials from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the U.S. Customs, and the Federal Trade Commission's Bureau of Consumer Protection, as well as with U.S. Members of Congress and members of the International Intellectual Property Alliance and other industry groups.

The delegates participated in the annual International Trademark Association (INTA) meeting, which brought thousands of intellectual property experts and practitioners from around the world to Washington to exchange ideas on trademark protection. For the first time, INTA organized a session on counterfeiting, famous mark protection, domain names disputes and registration issues in Russia and other countries of the former Soviet Union.

Said CIPR President Peter B. Necarsulmer, "I have the utmost respect for Mr. Shelisch. He has been a big supporter of trademark protection in Russia, working with CIPR over the years to draft many significant and meaningful laws against counterfeit products. I had the pleasure of speaking with him at length about trademark protection while he was in Washington last year. There is no doubt that he will continue to fight for positive legislation focusing on intellectual property."

Commenting on his Open World experience, Mr. Shelisch said, "Participation in the Open World Program with my fellow Duma deputies helped unite us in our efforts toward strengthening intellectual property legislation. Since the visit, the Duma has passed important amendments to Russia's trademark law with a broad definition of counterfeits, including fake labels and packaging. My colleagues and I also put aside previous disagreements following the Open World Program and submitted a joint set of amendments to the Civil and Criminal Procedure Codes. I am happy to have had the opportunity to take part in the program, share our experience in developing intellectual property legislation, and learn the successes — and the mistakes — of the U.S. side."

Published by The PBN Company for the Open World Leadership Center, whose Open World Program has hosted nearly 9,000 citizens from Russia, Lithuania, Ukraine, and Uzbekistan since its inception in 1999. The Center is an independent legislative branch agency that works cooperatively with the U.S. Department of State and other U.S. executive and judicial branch agencies. For additional information, please visit the Open World Leadership Center's website at www.openworld.gov or contact the office at +1 202-707-8943.