Antigua Threatens to Retaliate by Allowing Piracy Following a Trade Dispute with the United States

Antigua has threatened to allow copyright infringement on goods such as films, music and other “soft targets” from the U.S. in response to the alleged intransigence of the U.S. in settling a trade dispute between the two countries. The dispute arose in 2003 when Antigua claimed and successfully argued before the World Trade Organization (“WTO”), that the U.S. had unlawfully blocked online gambling operators in Antigua from accessing the U.S. market, despite the U.S. permitting domestic online wagering on horse racing.

After the U.S. failed to implement the recommendations and rulings of the WTO, Antigua requested authorization from the WTO to suspend its obligations with respect to the U.S. under the Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights Agreement. In December 2007 a WTO arbitrator determined that Antigua was permitted to retaliate in this manner, at a level not exceeding US$21 million annually.

For additional information, visit:

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117982630.html?categoryid=1338&cs=1

For a summary of the dispute before the WTO, visit:

http://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/dispu_e/cases_e/ds285_e.htm

Volume VI

Antigua Threatens to Retaliate by Allowing Piracy Following a Trade Dispute with the United States