

Currently released so far... 12478 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy Niamey
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sapporo
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
AU
ASEC
AE
AF
AORC
AEMR
AMGT
ABUD
AFFAIRS
APER
AS
AMED
AY
AG
AR
AJ
AL
AID
AM
AODE
ABLD
AMG
AFIN
ATRN
AGAO
AFU
AN
AA
ALOW
APECO
ADM
ARF
ASEAN
APEC
AMBASSADOR
AO
ASUP
AZ
AADP
ACOA
ANET
AMCHAMS
ACABQ
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APCS
AGMT
AINF
AIT
AORL
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ACBAQ
AFGHANISTAN
ADANA
ADPM
AX
ADCO
AECL
AMEX
ACAO
ASCH
AORG
AGR
AROC
ASIG
AND
ARM
AQ
ATFN
AC
AUC
ASEX
AER
AVERY
AGRICULTURE
BL
BR
BO
BA
BD
BM
BK
BG
BU
BB
BH
BTIO
BY
BEXP
BP
BE
BRUSSELS
BF
BIDEN
BT
BX
BC
BILAT
BN
BBSR
BTIU
BWC
BMGT
CA
CASC
CVIS
CM
CH
CO
CU
CD
CWC
CI
CS
CY
CMGT
CF
CG
CR
CB
CV
CW
CE
CBW
CT
CPAS
COUNTERTERRORISM
CJAN
CODEL
CIDA
CDG
CDC
CIA
CTR
CNARC
CSW
CN
CONS
CLINTON
COE
CROS
CARICOM
CONDOLEEZZA
COUNTER
CL
COM
CICTE
CIS
CFED
COUNTRY
CJUS
CBSA
CEUDA
CLMT
CAC
COPUOS
CIC
CBE
CHR
CTM
CVR
CITEL
CLEARANCE
CACS
CAN
CITT
CARSON
CACM
CDB
CAPC
CKGR
CBC
EC
EG
EPET
ECON
ETRD
EFIN
EIND
EMIN
ENRG
EAID
EAGR
EUN
ETTC
EAIR
ENIV
ES
EU
EINV
ELAB
ECIN
EFIS
ELTN
EWWT
ECPS
ECONOMIC
ENGR
EN
EINT
EPA
ELN
ESA
EZ
ER
ET
EFTA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
EUMEM
ETRA
EXTERNAL
EI
EUR
EK
ERNG
ENGY
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ENERG
EINVEFIN
ENVR
ECA
ELECTIONS
ETC
EUREM
ENNP
EFINECONCS
EURN
ECINECONCS
EEPET
EXIM
ERD
ENVI
ETRC
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ETRO
EDU
ETRN
EAIG
ECONCS
ECONOMICS
EAP
ECONOMY
EINN
EIAR
EXBS
ECUN
EINDETRD
EREL
EUC
ESENV
ECONEFIN
ECIP
EFIM
EAIDS
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINVETC
IZ
IT
IR
IS
IN
IC
IAEA
IO
ICAO
IWC
ID
IV
ISRAEL
IAHRC
IQ
ICTR
IMF
IRS
IDP
IGAD
ICRC
ICTY
IMO
IL
INRA
INRO
ICJ
ITU
IBRD
INMARSAT
IIP
ITALY
IEFIN
IACI
ILO
INTELSAT
ILC
ITRA
IDA
INRB
IRC
INTERPOL
IA
IPR
IRAQI
ISRAELI
INTERNAL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITALIAN
IBET
INR
IEA
IZPREL
IRAJ
ITF
IF
KDEM
KU
KPAL
KNNP
KCRM
KZ
KN
KS
KJUS
KTFN
KSCA
KV
KISL
KPAO
KPKO
KIRF
KTIA
KIPR
KFLO
KFRD
KTIP
KAWC
KSUM
KCOM
KAID
KE
KTDB
KMDR
KOMC
KWBG
KDRG
KVPR
KTEX
KGIC
KWMN
KSCI
KCOR
KACT
KDDG
KHLS
KSAF
KFLU
KSEO
KMRS
KSPR
KOLY
KSEP
KVIR
KGHG
KIRC
KUNR
KIFR
KCIP
KMCA
KMPI
KBCT
KHSA
KICC
KIDE
KCRS
KMFO
KRVC
KRGY
KR
KAWK
KG
KFIN
KHIV
KBIO
KOCI
KBTR
KNEI
KPOA
KCFE
KPLS
KSTC
KHDP
KPRP
KCRCM
KLIG
KCFC
KTER
KREC
KTBT
KPRV
KSTH
KRIM
KRAD
KWAC
KWMM
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KOMS
KX
KMIG
KRCM
KVRP
KBTS
KPAONZ
KNUC
KNAR
KPWR
KNPP
KDEMAF
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KERG
KGIT
KPAI
KTLA
KFSC
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KID
KOM
KMOC
KJUST
KGCC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFTFN
KO
KNSD
KHUM
KSEC
KCMR
KCHG
KICA
KPIN
KESS
KDEV
KCGC
KWWMN
KPAK
KWNM
KWMNCS
KRFD
MOPS
MCAP
MPOS
MARR
MO
MNUC
MX
MASS
MG
MY
MU
ML
MR
MILITARY
MTCRE
MT
MEPP
MA
MDC
MP
MAR
MASSMNUC
MARAD
MAPP
MZ
MD
MI
MEETINGS
MK
MCC
MEPN
MRCRE
MAS
MIL
MASC
MC
MV
MTCR
MIK
MUCN
MEDIA
MERCOSUR
MW
MOPPS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTRE
MEPI
MQADHAFI
MAPS
NO
NATO
NL
NP
NZ
NSF
NI
NH
NG
NAFTA
NU
NASA
NR
NATOPREL
NSSP
NSG
NA
NT
NW
NK
NPT
NPA
NATIONAL
NPG
NSFO
NS
NSC
NE
NGO
NDP
NIPP
NRR
NEW
NZUS
NC
NAR
NV
NORAD
OTRA
OPCW
OVIP
OAS
OREP
OPIC
OIIP
OPRC
ODIP
OEXC
OPDC
OSCE
OIC
OSCI
OECD
OFDP
OFDA
OMIG
OPAD
OFFICIALS
OVP
OIE
OHUM
OCS
OBSP
OTR
OSAC
ON
OCII
OES
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PTER
PINS
PINR
PREF
PK
PROP
PA
PARM
PBTS
PMAR
PM
PGIV
PE
PRAM
PHUH
PHSA
PL
PNAT
PO
PLN
PAO
PSA
PHUMPGOV
PF
PEL
PBIO
POLITICS
PHUMBA
PAS
POL
PREO
PAHO
PMIL
POGOV
POV
PAK
PNR
PRL
PG
PREFA
PSI
PINL
PU
PARMS
PRGOV
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POLITICAL
PARTIES
POSTS
PROG
PORG
PTBS
PUNE
POLICY
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PP
PS
PY
PTERE
PGOF
PKFK
PSOE
PEPR
PPA
PINT
PRELP
PSEPC
PGOVE
PINF
PNG
PGOC
PFOR
PCUL
POLINT
PGGV
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PGOVLO
PHUS
PDEM
PECON
PROV
PHUMPREL
RS
RU
RELATIONS
RW
RO
RM
RP
ROOD
RICE
RUPREL
RSO
RCMP
REACTION
REPORT
REGION
RIGHTS
RF
RFE
RSP
RIGHTSPOLMIL
ROBERT
SU
SCUL
SNAR
SOCI
SF
SA
SHUM
SENV
SP
SR
SY
SANC
SC
SMIG
SZ
SARS
SW
SEVN
SO
SEN
SL
SNARCS
SNARN
SI
SG
SN
SH
SYR
SAARC
SPCE
SHI
SCRS
SENVKGHG
SYRIA
SWE
STEINBERG
SIPRS
ST
SNARIZ
SSA
SK
SPCVIS
SOFA
SIPDIS
SAN
TC
TI
TBIO
TH
TSPL
TRGY
TSPA
TPHY
TU
TW
TS
TAGS
TK
TX
TNGD
TZ
TF
TL
TV
TN
TD
TIP
TR
TP
TO
TT
TFIN
THPY
TERRORISM
TINT
TRSY
TURKEY
TBID
US
UK
UNGA
UP
UZ
UNMIK
USTR
UNO
UNSC
UN
UNESCO
UNAUS
UNHRC
UY
UG
UNHCR
UNCND
USOAS
USEU
UNICEF
UNEP
UV
UNPUOS
UNCSD
USUN
UNCHR
UNDC
USNC
UE
UNDP
UNC
USPS
USAID
UNVIE
UAE
UNFICYP
UNODC
UNCHS
UNIDROIT
UNDESCO
UNCHC
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 08MADRID520, SPECIAL 301 IPR FOLLOWUP MEETING WITH SECSTATE ROS
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08MADRID520.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
08MADRID520 | 2008-05-09 17:34 | 2010-12-21 12:00 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Madrid |
VZCZCXYZ0009
PP RUEHWEB
DE RUEHMD #0520/01 1301734
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 091734Z MAY 08
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4744
INFO RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1493
UNCLAS MADRID 000520
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR EEB/TPP/IPE, EUR/WE
STATE PASS USTR
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ETRD KIPR SP
SUBJECT: SPECIAL 301 IPR FOLLOWUP MEETING WITH SECSTATE ROS
REF: A. MADRID 477
¶B. MADRID 293
¶C. MADRID 211
¶D. 07 MADRID 2128
¶1. (SBU) Summary: The vice-minister responsible for
intellectual property rights (IPR), Francisco Ros, told
Charge on May 6 that the ending of the national election
season meant that this was the time for the new GOS to make
progress on IPR issues. He said the GOS intended to pass a
new IPR law during this legislature, and he thought the new
law could increase the visibility of the existing
interministerial anti-piracy commission. He cautioned that
the U.S. and Spanish legal systems were not compatible and
that it might not be possible to take the exact steps the USG
wanted, particularly on the 2006 Justice Ministry file
sharing Circular. Charge urged Ros to amend the Circular to
address industry concerns, and Ros emphasized that his office
understood the concerns and would see what it could do. He
agreed to set up a working group on IPR issues with Embassy
staff, and he welcomed the idea of visiting the U.S. to
discuss IPR and other issues. Although Ros complained about
the phrasing of the Special 301 report and appeared at times
to be focusing too much on philosophical questions, he also
showed a clear determination to make progress now that it is
politically possible. End Summary.
¶2. (U) Charge Llorens met on May 6 with Francisco Ros, GOS
Secretary of State (vice minister) for Telecommunications and
the Information Society within the Ministry of Industry,
Tourism, and Commerce, to discuss USG IPR concerns and follow
up on the Special 301 Watch List announcement and the
Ambassador's April 24 meeting with Ros' minister, Minister of
Industry, Tourism, and Commerce Miguel Sebastian (ref a).
Charge was accompanied by EconCouns. Ros was accompanied by
Information Society Development Director General David Cierco
Jimenez and Deputy Director General for Information Society
Services Salvador Soriano.
No Surprise on Watch List, but Disagreement over Phrasing
--------------------------------------------- ------------
¶3. (SBU) Ros said he had realized it would be difficult for
Spain to avoid Watch List placement this year. He said on
several occasions during the meeting that the election season
had made certain actions politically impossible during the
last year. Ros described some of the language in the report
as "a little excessive." In questioning whether it was
necessary or accurate to call the GOS' efforts inadequate, he
reviewed positive developments during the last year,
including a high-profile international conference his office
had organized (ref d), GOS promotion of negotiations between
ISPs and rights holders, a GOS program to reduce use of
illicit software, and significant declines in the rate of
software piracy and street piracy. He said that during the
visit two weeks ago of Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, unlike on
previous visits Ballmer had no complaints about GOS actions
against piracy. He also questioned the U.S. copyright
industry's statement that Spain has one of Europe's worst
internet piracy problems, saying that he was not aware of any
hard data that could be used to compare piracy rates between
countries. He cited an International Intellectual Property
Alliance (IIPA) report as saying that music piracy and
entertainment software piracy rates had declined, and he said
Culture Ministry data showed that the piracy rate was below
IIPA's estimate.
Next Steps and New Law
----------------------
¶4. (SBU) Looking to the future, Ros assured Charge of the
GOS' determination to address IPR concerns and said his
office wanted to see what it could do as soon as possible,
saying this was the best moment for action. He echoed
Minister Sebastian's statement that the GOS intended to pass
a new intellectual property law. The lead was with the
Culture Ministry, which had asked Ros' secretariat for
assistance. On notice and takedown and the Justice
Ministry's 2006 Circular, he cautioned that mechanisms in
U.S. law could not be transferred directly to Spanish law.
He said he had spoken to the Prosecutor General ("Fiscal
General"), who had assured him that peer-to-peer file sharing
in and of itself was not in fact illegal under Spanish law,
although judicial action was possible if it was proven that
file sharing was used illegally (i.e., to violate property
rights). He added that Spain would need to find other ways
to protect IPR. The Charge emphasized that businesses viewed
the Circular as prejudicing their legitimate efforts to
protect their property, and he urged Ros to see how the
Circular could be changed to address these concerns.
¶5. (SBU) Ros said that unauthorized downloads were a
difficult topic that posed problems for all countries, and he
acknowledged that many Spanish users did not see them as
wrong. He said his secretariat would consider whether it
could do "something in this line." He said his office would
be looking closely at France's experience. His impression
was that to date, France's announced system had not yet been
put in practice, and it was not entirely clear how or whether
the system would work. (Note: As a result of our
encouragement, Cierco and Soriano both plan to attend Embassy
Paris' June 2 copyright and counterfeit conference.)
Intragovernmental Coordination
------------------------------
¶6. (SBU) In response to Charge's comments about the
importance of improved coordination of GOS IPR efforts, Ros
noted that the existing intellectual property law had
established an interministerial anti-piracy commission under
the leadership of the Ministry of Culture. He thought that
as part of the new law it might be possible to give that
commission more visibility and media prominence. The Charge
welcomed this possibility. He stressed the value of
increased public outreach efforts by the GOS, noting that
while the French system may not be in place, President
Sarkozy has laid down a marker about the importance of IPR
protection.
Coordination with USG and Visit to U.S.
---------------------------------------
¶7. (SBU) Ros agreed to set up a working group with Embassy
staff to consider IPR issues. Post and Ros' staff are
seeking to meet within two weeks. The Charge encouraged Ros
to visit the U.S. to discuss its efforts and plans with the
USG and industry representatives. Ros was very receptive and
spoke of the possibility of going in June or early July.
Cierco noted that Spain's rapid growth in internet use meant
that it should be a potentially attractive market for U.S.
companies. Post will follow up separately on plans for a
trip.
MPA Access
----------
¶8. (SBU) Ros expressed concern at having heard from his
minister that the new Motion Picture Association (MPA)
representative in Madrid thought he did not have sufficient
access to the GOS. One of the representative's main concerns
is that he and other content provider representatives are not
members of the GOS Telecommunications and Information Society
Advisory Council (CATSI). Ros acknowledged that the CATSI's
composition was outdated and no longer realistic, but he said
it could only be changed by law and that there had not been
time to do so before the March elections. He said that the
GOS hoped to make that change, and he noted that the internet
service provider association REDTEL also did not participate
and wanted to do so. He welcomed the prospect of suggestions
from MPA or other industry groups.
Deputy Chief of Staff
---------------------
¶9. (SBU) Separately, EconCouns met on May 6 with Minister
Sebastian's deputy chief of staff, Juan Abascal, to follow up
on the meeting with the Minister and provide Abascal, who is
new in his position, with background on USG concerns.
Abascal brought up the Minister's interest in an Embassy-GOS
working group and promised to help set one up. He said First
Vice President Fernandez de la Vega's office had been heading
the effort to draft a new IPR law and had been working with
the Ministry of Culture as well as Industry and Commerce.
Comment
-------
¶10. (SBU) Comment: Although Ros appeared to us at times to
be focusing on philosophical questions and nonessential
details, we were encouraged by his determination to make
progress now that the GOS believes it is politically
possible. The drafting of a new law should offer a
significant opportunity, and we will engage with the Ministry
of Culture as well as Ros' office. The interest in raising
the profile of the interministerial piracy group is welcome.
While Ros noted several times that the Spanish and U.S. legal
systems were not compatible and so some of what we wanted
might not be possible in the way we wanted, our interest is
in addressing the problem effectively regardless of which
mechanisms are used. Interestingly, Ros did not devote much
time in the meeting to discussing the talks his ministry has
encouraged between content providers and ISPs. After several
weeks of working on process issues, the first substantive
working group meetings took place this week, and we are
seeking industry reactions. We also were pleased with Ros'
interest in visiting the U.S. and will work with Washington
agencies and industry groups to arrange a strong program that
can help advance our interests. End Comment.
Llorens