ID: 244979
Date: 2010-01-22 15:43:00
Origin: 10MADRID67
Source: Embassy Madrid
Classification: CONFIDENTIAL
Dunno:
Destination: VZCZCXRO5406
RR RUEHDBU RUEHFL RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHNP RUEHROV RUEHSL RUEHSR
DE RUEHMD #0067/01 0221543
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 221543Z JAN 10
FM AMEMBASSY MADRID
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 1721
INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE
RUEHLA/AMCONSUL BARCELONA 4302
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 MADRID 000067

SIPDIS

FOR EUR/WE AND EEB/IPE, STATE PASS USTR FOR D.WEINER,
COMMERCE FOR 4212/D.CLAVERT

E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/21/2020
TAGS: PREL, KIPR, AF, IR, XM, SP
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR SOLOMONT’S JANUARY 21, 2010, MEETING
WITH SPANISH OPPOSITION LEADER MARIANO RAJOY

MADRID 00000067 001.2 OF 002

Classified By: Ambassador Alan D. Solomont, Reasons 1.4(b)(d).

1. (C) Summary. The Ambassador called January 21, 2010, on
opposition party leader Mariano Rajoy and Rajoy,s Chief of
Cabinet, Jorge Moragas. They discussed Afghanistan, Iran,

IPR, the Spanish economy, and Latin America. End summary.

Afghanistan

2. XXXXXXXXXXXX

IPR

4. (C) The Ambassador described his strong commitment to
helping U.S. business compete in Spain, noting that the IPR
situation is a major concern, especially for the U.S. music
and film industries. He noted MPAA head Dan Glickman called
him the day before to register concerns about Spain. The
Ambassador said that at a recent movie premiere in Madrid,
Warner Brothers’ executives reported sales of new release
DVDs were down 80 percent. Rajoy, whose party has in recent
weeks objected to a GOS legislative proposal that would
authorize shutting down websites that promote piracy, said
this is a great debate in Spain and there are diverse
opinions, including a vocal community of internet users. He
said the PP is asking for appropriate judicial safeguards for
shutting down websites and is working to find the appropriate
balance between IPR protection and freedom of expression. He
noted the issue is not only important economically but
politically. Nevertheless, he assured the Ambassador that
the PP wants to play a constructive role and promised to keep
an eye on the issue.

XXXXXXXXXXXX

Comment

8. (C) XXXXXXXXXXXX Likewise, on IPR we took Rajoy’s message to be
that while the PP understands the need for Spain to do more,
it is going to extract whatever political benefit it can from
the debate over exactly what mechanism Spain uses to shut
down pirating websites.
SOLOMONT