WTO

China to Appeal WTO Ruling on Foreign Media Imports

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 18, 2009 - 10:55am.
Beijing - China is preparing an appeal of a recent World Trade Organization ruling that found the country is unfairly restricting the import of foreign intellectual property like books and movies, the Associated Press reported.
tags: Law | Policy | Music | Movies | China | Copyright | Books | WTO | USTR |

WTO: China Unfairly Limiting Foreign Entertainment Imports

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on August 12, 2009 - 8:17pm.
Hong Kong - China has been found in violation of international free trade rules by the World Trade Organization (WTO), which said it was unfairly limiting imports of foreign intellectual property like movies and books, The New York Times reported.
tags: Law | Policy | Music | Movies | China | Copyright | WTO | USTR | Ron Kirk |

Zookz Shutters Unlimited Download Service, Returns Fees

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 22, 2009 - 9:34am.
St. John's, Antigua - Zookz, a recently launched unlimited music and video download service based on the island nation of Antigua, has shut down and refunded membership fees after being disavowed by the Antiguan government, NewTeeVee reported.

Antiguan Govt. Disavows Zookz Unlimited Download Service

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 20, 2009 - 11:40am.
San Francisco - Zookz, an unlimited music and video download service that recently launched from the island nation of Antigua, is "not operating under the authority or with the knowledge of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda," and is not authorized by the government "or by the World Trade Organization," according to an official statement published by CNET News.com. The site, which offers steep discounts on industry standard pricing, has stated that it is not subject to U.S. copyright laws. A Zookz attorney told CNET the company doesn't need any such authorizations, due to a recent WTO ruling in a dispute between the U.S. and Antigua.

tags: Video | Music | Copyright | WTO | Antigua | Zookz |

EU Finds U.S. Web Gambling Ban Violated WTO Rules

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 26, 2009 - 9:27am.
Washington - The European Commission has found that current U.S. law is in violation of World Trade Organization rules, after an investigation into the effects that U.S. law had on European online gambling services when Congress banned online gambling in 2006. The report concludes that, while WTO proceedings against the U.S. would be justified, the EU should first take the issue up with the U.S. government, "with a view to finding a negotiated solution."

WTO Issues Split Ruling in U.S. Piracy Dispute With China

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 20, 2009 - 11:40am.
Washington - The U.S. Trade Representative claimed victory over China in a dispute over piracy and counterfeiting of U.S. goods at the World Trade Organization (WTO), although the split ruling also China declaring itself the victor.
tags: Law | Policy | Piracy | Music | Movies | China | Copyright | WTO | USTR |

Lawmaker to Push for Repeal of U.S. Web Gambling Ban

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on March 6, 2009 - 9:27am.
Washington - Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, this week reiterated his plans to introduce a bill that would repeal the U.S. ban on Internet gambling. "I'm going to be pushing it," Frank told reporters on Thursday, according to Reuters, after a spokesman for the lawmaker said in late February that a bill would be introduced within a month.

U.S. Claims Victory Over China in WTO Piracy Dispute

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on January 27, 2009 - 12:41pm.

Washington - The U.S. Trade Representative is claiming victory over China in a World Trade Organization dispute over the country's protection of intellectual property, and the unauthorized sale of copyrighted and counterfeit goods in the country. "Today, a WTO panel found that a number of deficiencies in China's IPR (Intellectual Property Rights) regime are incompatible with its WTO obligations," acting U.S. Trade Representative Peter Allgeier said in a statement. "Having achieved this significant legal ruling, we will engage vigorously with China on appropriate corrective actions to ensure that U.S. rights holders obtain the benefits of this decision."

tags: Law | Policy | Music | Movies | China | Copyright | WTO | 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.

WTO Launches Investigation of Piracy in China

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on September 27, 2007 - 10:45am.

Geneva - The World Trade Organization (WTO) has opened a formal investigation into whether China is doing enough to protect intellectual property, which could eventually authorize U.S. trade sanctions against China worth billions, the Associated Press reported.

tags: Law | Policy | Piracy | China | Copyright | WTO |

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.

U.S. Alleges Chinese Trade Barriers on American Digital Music, Movies

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on July 19, 2007 - 1:29pm.

Geneva - The U.S. Trade Representative said that China discriminates against the release of American music and movies in the country, and may include the allegations in its complaint against China filed with the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Associated Press reported.

'Net Gambling Trade Group Sues AG Gonzales, FTC Over U.S. Ban

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on June 7, 2007 - 2:30pm.

Washington - A new trade group called the Interactive Media Entertainment & Gaming Association (iMEGA) this week filed suit against Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and Federal Reserve, seeking to halt enforcement of the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, The Gambling Newswire reported.

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.

House Bill Would Allow Americans to Legally Gamble Online

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 26, 2007 - 10:52am.

Washington - Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, on Thursday introduced legislation intended to repeal the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, which outlawed most forms of Internet gambling in the U.S.

China Bristles at U.S. WTO Piracy Cases

Authored by Mark Hefflinger on April 24, 2007 - 10:08am.

Beijing - China has warned that U.S. complaints to the World Trade Organization (WTO) regarding the nation's control on piracy will harm relations between the two nations, Reuters reported.

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. 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.