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Antigua petitions WTO for piracy right

25 August 2007 7:12 by Rich "vurbal" Fiscus | 11 comments

The island country of Antigua believes they have the right, under international law, to violate United States intellectual property laws.

Although Antigua is better known internationally for their beaches and tourist resorts, online casinos have become a large and important part of the national economy. It's the country's second largest employer.

The complaint stems from U.S. laws that make even online gambling illegal in most parts of the country. Antigua claims this violates their rights as a member of the WTO (World Trade Organization) because it harms their economy.

The WTO has already ruled against the U.S. in the matter, and the ruling was later held up on appeal.

There are really two questions raised, and either by itself could have a serious affect on world trade. The first is what impact membership in the WTO can really have on national or local laws in member states.

In the United States, for example, treaty ratification only requires the President's signature and a 2/3 majority in the Senate. This doesn't meet the requirements for passage of a law.

The other issue is WTO authority. If they back down from the U.S. the authority of any action against other members, and therefore the legitimacy of the organization as anything more than a figurehead, is automatically in question.

�This is all new territory,� said Simon Lester, who worked in the appeals unit of the W.T.O. before helping to found WorldTradeLaw.net, which provides legal analysis of trade law disputes.

Mr. Lester expects Hollywood, the music industry and software makers like Microsoft to press Washington to work things out with Antigua.

�But the question,� he said, �is whether that would be enough to make Congress do something.�

Source: New York Times

Permalink to this article

Antigua gets WTO sanction to pirate US goods (21 December 2007)

China to block American films from their cinemas (17 December 2007)

Chinese official estimates 3-5 generations to clean up IP enforcement (19 October 2007)

WTO aspirations may finally convince Russians to better police piracy (18 October 2007)

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Discuss this article!
ALAND (Member) 25 August 2007 11:11
I think we all know what company resides in Antigua, if this is passed what effect do you think it would have. [ + quote]
jemaric (Junior Member) 25 August 2007 12:16
the point is someone needs to follow the courts ruling [ + quote]
diabolic (Newbie) 25 August 2007 13:55
I'm sure no one wants anything to happen to our sly little company. [ + quote]
DXR88 (Member) 25 August 2007 14:24
Leave the island alone. D4ME Global domination shcem [ + quote]
blivetNC (Senior Member) 26 August 2007 19:14
Fight Fox, Fight on! [ + quote]
Mr-Movies (Member) 28 August 2007 9:15
International law is a joke you only follow it when you want to what really can they do, not allow any trade like the US does with Cuba and the EU does to the US limiting most products to be sold in Europe and these are only a few examples. [ + quote]
RNR1995 (Inactive) 31 August 2007 10:08
They have already passed laws here making sure your credit card will not pay offshore gambling debts. Anyone who thinks we are free is disillusioned we are not free at all, as a matter of fact I think we are quite monitored and controlled. Does any normal citizen think the US should be in Iraq? Doubt it. What about all of our government hypocrisies and outright theft? Nothing ever happens to these people Power protects power [ + quote]
RNR1995 (Inactive) 31 August 2007 10:08
They have already passed laws here making sure your credit card will not pay offshore gambling debts. Anyone who thinks we are free is disillusioned we are not free at all, as a matter of fact I think we are quite monitored and controlled. Does any normal citizen think the US should be in Iraq? Doubt it. What about all of our government hypocrisies and outright theft? Nothing ever happens to these people Power protects power [ + quote]
DXR88 (Member) 31 August 2007 11:24
We Have More freedom Than most countries. Survalince or not. And as for Iraq that would have done been over with if bush didnt try to change the point of being there. first they Had WMD then they had chimical weapons,hell i have chimical weapons called toilet bowl cleaner and bleach mixed to gether. then it was lets free the people from there religion, not to smart huh. Now we want to pull out i dont think we should leave its to late to leave we need to clean up the shit we started before we leave. if we lose are eyes over seas they will have WMD plants next go around [ + quote]
hermes_vb (Senior Member) 31 August 2007 21:42
*Originally posted by ALAND:* I think we all know what company resides in Antigua, if this is passed what effect do you think it would have. They could really stick it to them if they decided to offer the program for free and ask for donations... [ + quote]
borhan9 (AfterDawn Addict) 1 September 2007 13:16
Making a ruling and following a ruling is different and some people choose not to follow the law. [ + quote]