infoJustice

On December 30, Spain’s new Popular Party government announced the implementation of the “Sinde Law,” which allows a government agency to order the takedown of websites based on allegations of intellectual property infringement by rightholders.  The government will also be able to take action against service providers doing business with the sites.  The former government led by Prime Minister Zapatero did not pass the bill, raising the ire of the United States.

Last week, the Spanish newspaper El Pais reported on a leaked letter from U.S. Ambassador Alan Solomont to the Zapatero government, in which he threatens “retaliatory actions” if the country did not pass the Sinde Law. 

In the December 12, Solomon writes “I encourage the Government of Spain to implement the law regulating Sinde of immediately to safeguard the reputation of Spain as an innovative country that does what it says it will and as a country that breeds confidence.” He points out that Spain is on the Special 301 Watch List, and threatens to “degrade” the country to the “Priority Watch List,” as one of the world’s “the worst violators of global intellectual property rights” if the bill does not pass.

Sources:

• Antonio Fraguas for El Pais. “EE UU afeó a Zapatero la decisión de no aprobar la ‘ley Sinde’.” January 4, 2012.
• Dominic Rushe for the Guardian. “US Pressured Spain to Implement Online Piracy Law.” January 5, 2012.