USTR

Antigua Threatens to OK Piracy if U.S. Ignores Gambling Dispute

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 19, 2008 - 10:57am.

Los Angeles - The government of Antigua is threatening to legalize piracy of U.S. music and movies -- with World Trade Organization approval -- should the U.S. fail to end a running dispute over the legality of Internet gambling, Variety reports.

tags: Gambling | Music | Movies | MPAA | WTO | Antigua | USTR |

EU Accepts U.S. Compensation Deal for Web Gambling

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on December 17, 2007 - 9:36am.

Washington - The European Union has accepted a compensation package the U.S. has offered, in response to its withdrawal from World Trade Organization (WTO) agreements on gambling and betting services. "A bilateral agreement was signed in Geneva, which provides EU service suppliers with new trade opportunities in the U.S. postal and courier, research and development, storage and warehouse sectors," the Commission said. "The U.S. also made concessions in the testing and analysis services sector."

Lawmakers Seek Alteration of U.S. Ban on 'Net Gambling

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on November 20, 2007 - 9:47am.
Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.)

Washington - In a letter to the U.S. Trade Representative sent on Monday, six lawmakers -- including House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman John Conyers -- said the U.S. should consider altering its ban on Internet gambling instead of paying compensation to countries who say the U.S. is violating trade agreements, Reuters reported.

U.S. Heads Initiative for New Global Anti-Piracy Treaty

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on October 25, 2007 - 11:12am.
Washington - The U.S. Trade Representative has announced plans to establish a new global Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement, but initial partners in the effort do not include two countries the U.S. considers to be major havens for piracy, China and Russia.

U.S. Asks WTO to Mediate Piracy Dispute With China

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 14, 2007 - 11:09am.

Washington - The U.S. Trade Representative on Monday lodged a request for a formal case against China at the World Trade Organization's (WTO) Dispute Settlement Body, after months of criticizing the country's handling of piracy of U.S. intellectual property.

China, Russia Top U.S. "Priority Watch List" of Piracy Havens

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 30, 2007 - 10:20am.

Washington - The Bush administration on Monday announced its latest list of countries placed on a "priority watch list" for piracy by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, giving special attention given once again to China and Russia.

U.S. Files Piracy Cases Against China at World Trade Organization

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 10, 2007 - 12:39pm.

Geneva - The U.S. on Tuesday filed two complaints against China with the World Trade Organization (WTO), saying the country provides "inadequate protection" against piracy of U.S. movies, music, games, books, software and other goods.

tags: Games | Law | Policy | Piracy | Music | Movies | China | Copyright | WTO | USTR |

U.S. Copyright Owners Want Canada Added to List of Piracy Havens

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on February 15, 2007 - 11:51am.

Washington - The International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA), which represents U.S. software, music, movie and video game firms, has asked the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) to add Canada to the U.S. "priority watch list" of countries considered havens for piracy, which includes China, Russia and Venezuela.

U.S. Dealt Setback in WTO 'Net Gambling Dispute With Antigua

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 26, 2007 - 9:20am.

Washington - A World Trade Organization (WTO) panel has dealt the U.S. a setback in a case that sets U.S. interests in prohibiting Internet gambling against the financial interests of the island nation of Antigua and Barbuda, where many Web gambling firms have operations, Reuters reported.