The World Trade Organization has decided that the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda can ignore the US copyrights in films, television and music.
The move follows a long court battle where the puritans of the former British colony of Virginia have been accused of unfair trade practices.
The US government after consulting its bible had decided that gambling was the root of all evil and forbade its citizens from gambling online.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, this effected the economies of Antigua and Barbuda which depended on the online trade. It also broke international trade law, but as far as the US was concerned it was a lot bigger and it had the Lord on its side. It offered the two countries $500,000 to go away and perhaps build a small church or two.
After ignoring the WTO orders to change its laws, the body was faced with the problem of bringing one of its largest members to heel.
What it came up with was a fairly novel punishment. Since the US is obsessed with copyrights and patents, it will allow Antigua and Barbuda to ignore any US copyrights.
The deal is a bit less than the $3.44 billion a year Antigua and Barbuda wanted.
However it does mean that Antigua and Barbuda will again become the pirate capitals of the Caribbean.
The move follows a long court battle where the puritans of the former British colony of Virginia have been accused of unfair trade practices.
The US government after consulting its bible had decided that gambling was the root of all evil and forbade its citizens from gambling online.
According to the Hollywood Reporter, this effected the economies of Antigua and Barbuda which depended on the online trade. It also broke international trade law, but as far as the US was concerned it was a lot bigger and it had the Lord on its side. It offered the two countries $500,000 to go away and perhaps build a small church or two.
After ignoring the WTO orders to change its laws, the body was faced with the problem of bringing one of its largest members to heel.
What it came up with was a fairly novel punishment. Since the US is obsessed with copyrights and patents, it will allow Antigua and Barbuda to ignore any US copyrights.
The deal is a bit less than the $3.44 billion a year Antigua and Barbuda wanted.
However it does mean that Antigua and Barbuda will again become the pirate capitals of the Caribbean.
