What's More Important To Congress, Protecting Intellectual Property Or Banning Online Gambling?
from the tough-choices dept
The US might be getting a whole lot more than it bargained for when it casually passed a ban on online gambling by slipping the measure into a port security bill. It's doubtful that the bill will have its desired effect, rather the practice will continue on shadier, less-regulated sites. Another problem, as several people have pointed out is that the bill may be in violation of WTO agreements. You can't ban a foreign good or service that's legally sold domestically, and since the bill carves out a clear exception for things like state lotteries and horse betting, that's a problem. In fact, the WTO already ruled on this question, during a dispute between the US and the tiny island nation of Antigua. But in itself, flouting the WTO is not the big problem. See, Antigua, having won the dispute, has a right to exact penalties against the US. But what could Antigua do to really hurt the US? Tariffs and other restrictions wouldn't work, because the US would hardly notice, and they'd just damage Antiguans anyway. But the country does have on eway to make the US take notice. As a retaliatory measure under the WTO, it could refuse to recognize US intellectual property. It could make itself a haven for pirated software and drugs. If the US thought that Allofmp3.com was a thorn in its side, imagine an Antiguan-based allofsoftware.com. It would create quite a stir, and make many industry players quite upset at the US government. It all doesn't seem quite worth it, as Radley Balko put it in the above article, "because (Congressman) Bob Goodlatte thinks card playin' is fer' the devil."Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
but i'm not familar with the WTO, our role and whatnot in it. can we drop from it? if we do, what would happen?
but if that's more harmful than allofsoftware.com it'd be great, because then we'd have the entire business industry forcing the government to actually work for the masses!!!!!11!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Go for it
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
A goverenment for the people...
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Not that I agree with congress..
That all said... yes the whole congressional system needs an overhaul, lobbyists need to be throw out and I hope this whole preaching morality bs (ie anti-gambling legislation these turkeys just passed) blows up in their face.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Not that I agree with congress..
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
another sea land?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
two cents worth
My pillar of integrity..
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
business opportunity
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
This bill will Destroy Antigua
That's what was keeping the country afloat.
Not to mention the number of large firms with a high employment number that have been forced to close because of this. A lot of people are now out of jobs worldwide, and especially in the UK.
The WTO categorically ruled that the United States was in breach of its responsibilities under several treaties, the US said f*** you. Although it has used this same WTO to force others to accept its edicts and to force acceptance of US written Copyright agreements, manage and control Trade etc. Globalisation is fantastic, and everyone should engage in Free Trade, except the United States when it wants to protect it's domestic industries.
In short, there is one law for the United States of America, and another law for the rest of the world. THe US is clearly in breach of it's agreements and obligations under the same WTO that affords it successful trade negotiations, but there's nothing the WTO can do about it, and the rest of the world must simply sit and suck it up.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: This bill will Destroy Antigua
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
once again...
Then they wonder why there is so much anti US sentiment.
Our congress/senate have basically put up a...
TAXPAYERS FOR SALE!!!
sign and businesses just started writing checks.
We need to vote out all the incumbents (at least 90%).
(me) ATTENTION CONGRESS AND SENATE MEMBERS
(gov) what the f**k do YOU want!!!
(me punching each in the face) POW
(me) DO I HAVE YOUR ATTENTION NOW!!!
(gov) y, y, ye, yes
(me) quit selling us out to the corporates!
(gov) ye,..yes sir!
(me) GOOD... now get back to work you maggots!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
No. I've been in Antigua for over 4 years. All the tech & gaming companies moved to Costa Rica because the Antiguan govt grows more corrupt and greedy every year. And believe me, they already don't respect Copyrights. Fake DVD's are sold on tables in the middle of town, and the "Cable" that people subscribe to is just an almagamation of stolen satellite signals resold by a local crooks and croney's.
Despite all this...the real estate market here is booming. If you want to make some money, invest in property on the island.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
no more liberty
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Lets Revolt!!
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
In 2004 the people of Antigua booted out the ruling ALP government for only the second time in almost thirty years (forty is you count Antigua's period of Associated statehood). Now the current UPP government isn't perfect, but to accused them of being worse than the ALP -- as doubledoh effectly does -- is just plain outlandish. No serious observer of Antigua believes that.
The companies that moved to Costa Rica and elsewhere, most of them anyway, did so before 2004.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
I should have said: '...first time in its history of being an independent country, and only the second time in almost forty years (it became an Associated State of the UK in 1967)'
[ link to this | view in chronology ]