ID
151659
Etiquetas
EFIN, KIPR, KNNP, IR, SP
Fecha
2008-04-29 08:24:00
RefID
08MADRID477
Origen
Embassy Madrid
Clasificación
CONFIDENTIAL
Destino
08MADRID286
08MADRID465
Encabezado
VZCZCXRO0426
RR RUEHAG RUEHBC RUEHDE RUEHDIR RUEHKUK RUEHROV
DE RUEHMD #0477/01 1200824
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 290824Z APR 08
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 4682
INFO RUCNMEM/EU MEMBER STATES COLLECTIVE
RUCNIRA/IRAN COLLECTIVE
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
Contenido
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000477
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
@ELIMINADO@
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/29/2013
TAGS: EFIN, KIPR, KNNP, IR, SP
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR RAISES IPR, IRAN CONCERNS WITH NEW
TRADE MINISTER
REF: A. MADRID 465
B. MADRID 286
Classified By: Ambassador Eduardo Aguirre for reasons 1.4(b) and (d)
1. (C) Summary: On April 24, Ambassador Aguirre informed new
GOS trade minister Sebastian of Spain,s placement on the
Special 301 Watch List. Sebastian expressed disappointment
but vowed to work with the USG and set as a goal getting
Spain off the Watch List by 2009. @ELIMINADO@ Although we will
need to continue explaining USG concerns on a wide range of
issues to the new minister and his staff, we expect him to be
an activist who will be responsive to our concerns. End
Summary.
2. (U) Ambassador Aguirre, accompanied by DCM and econcouns,
paid an introductory call on new Minister of Industry,
Tourism, and Commerce Miguel Sebastian on April 24.
Sebastian was accompanied by his chief of staff and deputy
chief of staff. Sebastian is a former head of the presidency
economic office who is close to President Zapatero. He has
little experience with IPR or Iran but is likely to be
responsive to USG concerns. Post is sending biographic
information septel.
IPR
---
3. (SBU) The Ambassador informed Sebastian that Spain would
be on the 2008 Special 301 Watch List that would be announced
the following day, and he explained the Special 301 process
to the Minister. He emphasized that the primary USG concern
was over Internet downloads. He noted the Justice
Ministry,s 2006 circular that had given many Spaniards the
incorrect impression that downloading of copyrighted material
was legal. He also cited encorcement problems with
prosecutors and especially judges.
4. (SBU) The Ambassador said he had explained USG IPR
concerns to three trade ministers, two culture ministers, one
justice minister, and Sebastian,s successor as head of the
presidency economic office, but that the problems continued.
He added that one important difference between Spain and
France (note: which is not on the Watch List) was the
leadership shown by the French government that we have not
seen in Spain. He noted that the Motion Picture Association
(MPA) was so concerned about Spain that it was opening an
office here and that its representative had expressed
concerns about his lack of access to GOS policymakers. He
also pointed out that Sebastian had said earlier in the
meeting that Spain was moving away from an economy based on
construction; if Spain could not protect intellectual
property, the government,s effort to move the economy into
new industries would not work.
5. (SBU) Sebastian expressed disappointment with the decision
but acknowledged the seriousness of Spain,s IPR problem. He
noted that, even if there were no direct economic sanctions
associated with Watch List placement, it was something that
investors certainly would take into account. He added that
Spain,s cultural sector was also concerned over deficiencies
in IP protection. He said the GOS wanted to pass a new
intellectual property law during this term. He did not want
to blame only internet service providers for illegal
downloads, but he emphasized that they would have to
cooperate. He said that the same mentality that led many
Spaniards to drink and drive or to ride motorcycles without
helmets led many to view favorably illicit downloads.
Sebastian promised that his ministry would work with the USG,
and he set a goal of getting Spain off the Watch List by 2009.
@ELIMINADO@
Comment
-------
10. (C) Sebastian has replaced nearly all of his ministry,s
senior staff except the secretary of state dealing with
intellectual property, Francisco Ros. Although we will need
to continue explaining to Sebastian and his advisors USG
concerns on a wide range of issues, we expect that he will be
an active and responsive minister. One sign of his interest
in quick action came when he noted that the first year of a
government was the best time to get things done. He showed
determination to improve Spain,s intellectual property
protection, and we will work with his ministry to follow up
on this and other issues.
AGUIRRE;"
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