AfterDawn: Tech news

Antigua to legalize US movie and music piracy?

Written by Andre Yoskowitz @ 22 Mar 2008 6:00 User comments (29)

Antigua to legalize US movie and music piracy? In an effort to get back at the US for its interference with the small country's internet gambling operations, Antigua is threatening to make US movie and music piracy legal, unless its grievances are "properly addressed and losses compensated for."
In 2003, Antigua initially claimed that the US "unlawfully prevented its online gambling operators from accessing American markets although the US allowed domestic online bets for sporting events like horse racing." At the time the country claimed $3.4 billion USD in losses and made a case with the World Trade Organization. It won the case but was only awarded $21 million USD.

Out of retaliation, Antigua is now threatening to allow (make legal)"virtually everything from pharmaceuticals to music, anything with IP protection that can be duplicated," added Mark E. Mendel, who represents Antigua in the affair.

"It is not our preferred option to punish the MPAA or others for the U.S. government's intransigence, but the U.S. has refused to negotiate fairly,"
he said.



Mendel added that Antigua has been trying to work out a deal that would allow online gambling between the nations but that the US is being unreasonable and "using every possible appeal, counterattack and side attack it could think of. We've been through five separate full-blown WTO proceedings on this and have won every step of the way."

In December 2007, the WTO ruled that "Antigua could exact damages by ignoring IP agreements with the U.S. should a negotiated settlement fail." The US has yet to respond to the dispute.

We will certainly keep you updated on any developments.

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29 user comments

122.3.2008 18:23

My interest have been highly peaked. Does this mean that if we were to acquire pirated materials or download them from an ip originating from this country we would technically be in the clear because it is legal there?

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 22 Mar 2008 @ 6:32

222.3.2008 18:43

Wow, threatening with copyright infringement... Almost comical. I wonder how the MPAA, RIAA, etc. will try to get the government to do.

322.3.2008 18:58

You Go Girl !!!!!

422.3.2008 19:03

Good news for SlySoft, seeing as there based in Antigua. They won't be having the same trouble DVDXCopy had here in the states.

522.3.2008 19:05

wow...didnt read the whole thing yet but lol. That must suck for the us though. Weird that US mov/music piracy is legal.

622.3.2008 19:37

So would this mean If I hosted pirates files on a server based in Antigua it would be legal :-D

722.3.2008 20:07

Originally posted by IM1:
So would this mean If I hosted pirates files on a server based in Antigua it would be legal :-D
yes if you only traffic inside that country if u upload something from there example to US it would become illegal to that who receives it but basicly u can't get anything from it course US laws doesn't matter in that country only receiver gets consequences, in the simple it would mean that u r sailing on the clear waters my friend

822.3.2008 20:47

Quote:
Originally posted by IM1:
So would this mean If I hosted pirates files on a server based in Antigua it would be legal :-D
yes if you only traffic inside that country if u upload something from there example to US it would become illegal to that who receives it but basicly u can't get anything from it course US laws doesn't matter in that country only receiver gets consequences, in the simple it would mean that u r sailing on the clear waters my friend
Nice! Hopefully then antigua will legalize it then :-)
Anyone know any good dedicated servers down there? lol

922.3.2008 23:14
tripplite
Inactive

idiots...they're going over the edge....

1022.3.2008 23:17

Don't get too excited folks, if this happens before next Jan 20th Bush/Cheney will probably invade. And if either Clinton or Obama win in November Bush/Cheney will probably refuse to leave office.

1123.3.2008 01:39

ha ha, i dont think theres anything the usa can do about Antigua, unless were going to treat it like bush did iraq... this has global incident written all over it

1223.3.2008 04:10

Originally posted by 21Q:
My interest have been highly peaked. Does this mean that if we were to acquire pirated materials or download them from an ip originating from this country we would technically be in the clear because it is legal there?
Yes it piqued my interest as well. (Sorry - just a pet peeve of mine. :D)

1323.3.2008 06:14

there are more ways to crush a tiny fly than swatting it with anti copyright demands - the fools on Antigua should think about what they are doing. This is bad news for slysoft - it focuses attention on the tiny little island and there is no way it can survive without the US economically or without the large american tourist market. this isn´t another Cuba - there will be no large powerful Soviet Union to sustain them in their defiance.

1423.3.2008 08:23

Quote:
Yes it piqued my interest as well. (Sorry - just a pet peeve of mine. :D)
Ah...The pedantic French lovers are here! Better get the OEDs out!:)

1523.3.2008 09:40
duckNrun
Inactive

WOW I'd really like to be able to read this article but the dang Antigua flag is covering up most of the first part of the article no matter how I zoom in or out....

bad graphics guys.

:-(

1623.3.2008 09:50

Originally posted by domie:
there are more ways to crush a tiny fly than swatting it with anti copyright demands - the fools on Antigua should think about what they are doing. This is bad news for slysoft - it focuses attention on the tiny little island and there is no way it can survive without the US economically or without the large american tourist market. this isn´t another Cuba - there will be no large powerful Soviet Union to sustain them in their defiance.

ah that would be the Cuba that's had no aid from soviets since early 90's? hrmmm isn't there an oil rich south American country now supporting Cuba? USA has more enemies than it realises.
good on you Antigua !

1723.3.2008 10:40

Quote:
there are more ways to crush a tiny fly than swatting it with anti copyright demands - the fools on Antigua should think about what they are doing. This is bad news for slysoft - it focuses attention on the tiny little island and there is no way it can survive without the US economically or without the large american tourist market. this isn´t another Cuba - there will be no large powerful Soviet Union to sustain them in their defiance.
hey domie, are you just saying or do yu really have some real information about antigua's economy?, if so, could you elaborate a little bit more and tell us around how much of antigua's income come from the us??

Quote:
On the regional front, Antigua and Barbuda is a member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). CARICOM members are in the process of establishing a Common Single Market and Economy (CSME) that will include not only a fully functioning common market, but also the harmonisation of macroeconomic policies and eventual monetary integration. The new regional trade arrangements are expected to be finally in place by 2005 alongside those of the FTAA and WTO. The ACS, established as a mechanism for consultation, co-operation and concerted action, brings together all the countries of the Caribbean Basin (the sovereign states of Central America, CARICOM, Cuba, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela). The country also belongs to the group of 15 ACP states that make up the Caribbean forum (Cariforum).
it looks like they have the right friends to survive, at least having chavez and castro with them, you know, if the US trys to mess with antigua, you can bet they're going to take advantage of the situation
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 23 Mar 2008 @ 10:52

1823.3.2008 13:38

Anarchy FTW!

1923.3.2008 16:22

Originally posted by duckNrun:
WOW I'd really like to be able to read this article but the dang Antigua flag is covering up most of the first part of the article no matter how I zoom in or out....

bad graphics guys.

:-(
ill edit the graphic now, but out of curiosity, what is your resolution?

2023.3.2008 16:25

Originally posted by duckNrun:
WOW I'd really like to be able to read this article but the dang Antigua flag is covering up most of the first part of the article no matter how I zoom in or out....

bad graphics guys.

:-(
the flag is supposed to cover half of the first part of the article u know? damn with these stupid guys, get brains

2124.3.2008 15:20
atomicxl
Inactive

Haha, I hope it works. Maybe we can finally get legal HD movie downloads here in the US. It might force hollywood's hand.

2224.3.2008 15:49

Quote:
Haha, I hope it works. Maybe we can finally get legal HD movie downloads here in the US. It might force hollywood's hand.

No... It might be easier to get illegal downloads. But, It would still be a copyright violation for an American to download the stuff.
This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 24 Mar 2008 @ 3:54

2329.3.2008 15:41

Slysoft will definetly benefit since they are headquartered in St.Johns

2429.3.2008 23:36
duckNrun
Inactive

1024x768 rez.

And sorry if I came off brash I really didn't mean it that way. And if dude was right and the flag IS suppose to cover part of the article then I guess the concept WAS, and still is, lost on me- although after posting I realized what was up. After posting my comment I copied/pasted the article to try to read under the flag. Upon doing so I realized that the only thing under the flag was the remaining letters from the first word on the line. While this was presumed to be the case for some of the lines I didn't realize it was the case for all the lines. My initial thought was that there were more words on each line than one and I was missing out on the opening paragraph of the article.

All in all I enjoy the site, enjoy the articles, and enjoy your contributions. One of only a handful of sites I visit daily.

cheers!

2529.3.2008 23:48
duckNrun
Inactive

Quote:
Quote:
Haha, I hope it works. Maybe we can finally get legal HD movie downloads here in the US. It might force hollywood's hand.

No... It might be easier to get illegal downloads. But, It would still be a copyright violation for an American to download the stuff.
Yes and no and then yes and no again.

For instance using a site like Allof where you are purchasing a copyrighted product that was legally sold in said country and 'importing' it to the US does not violate copyright law as it is written now. Current copyright law still gives a nod to other countries soveirgn rights to make their own laws regarding copyright and does not penalize a person for legally purchasing a copyrighted product for personal and private use in another country even if that item would violate US copyright law.

Of course nothing is really settled as to legality until someone sues and the loser appeals and appeals and appeals.

2630.3.2008 10:14
RNR1995
Inactive

Unfortunately for Antigua the US Government passed laws that FORBID credit card companies from paying ANY gambling debts. Now I am sure it won't take a rocket scientist to figure out how to get around that. What really infuriates me is that we have gambling in every state of the Union. Lotteries or Casinos are all controlled by the state, but have a little friendly game somewhere they don't condone and bam, your busted. Hypocrites is what out Government is made of, hypocrites!

2730.3.2008 20:15

If you want to get rid of the Flag Graphic, download Microsoft Powertoys and use the toggleimages.exe program.. here is the link for XP Powertoys:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/downl...ppowertoys.mspx

2830.3.2008 20:19

In an effort to get back at the US for its interference with the small country's internet gambling operations, Antigua is threatening to make US movie and music piracy legal, unless its grievances are "properly addressed and losses compensated for."

In 2003, Antigua initially claimed that the US "unlawfully prevented its online gambling operators from accessing American markets although the US allowed domestic online bets for sporting events like horse racing." At the time the country claimed $3.4 billion USD in losses and made a case with the World Trade Organization. It won the case but was only awarded $21 million USD.

"Out of retaliation, Antigua is now threatening to allow (make legal)"virtually everything from pharmaceuticals to music, anything with IP protection that can be duplicated," added Mark E. Mendel, who represents Antigua in the affair.

"It is not our preferred option to punish the MPAA or others for the U.S. government's intransigence, but the U.S. has refused to negotiate fairly," he said.

"It is not our preferred option to punish the MPAA or others for the U.S. government's intransigence, but the U.S. has refused to negotiate fairly," he said.

Mendel added that Antigua has been trying to work out a deal that would allow online gambling between the nations but that the US is being unreasonable and "using every possible appeal, counterattack and side attack it could think of. We've been through five separate full-blown WTO proceedings on this and have won every step of the way."

In December 2007, the WTO ruled that "Antigua could exact damages by ignoring IP agreements with the U.S. should a negotiated settlement fail." The US has yet to respond to the dispute.

We will certainly keep you updated on any developments.

This message has been edited since its posting. Latest edit was made on 30 Mar 2008 @ 8:22

2931.3.2008 02:15

A new home for Demonoid?

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