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."

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.

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."

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.