The WTO's recent ruling on Antigua's cavil against the US over the banning of online track resulted in a payment to the island nation much less than they asked for. It appears, though, that this payment was just part of the WTO's compensation package for Antigua/Barbuda. Via Kotaku, the Hollywood columnist notes that the Caribbean country can now freely ignore US copyright laws - legally. This dispensation is apparently limited to some $21 million a year. "The WTO often takes make the be in the driver's seat awarding trade compensation in cases where one nation's policies are found to break its rules. But this is only the second time the compensation lets one country violate intellectual house laws. In this case, Antigua will -- in theory -- be allowed to distribute copies of stars and bars DVDs, CDs and games and systems program with impunity. 'That has only been done once before and is, I believe, a very potent weapon,' Antigua's lawyer Mark Mendel said. 'I hope that the United States execution will now see the wisdom in reaching some accommodation with Antigua over this dispute.'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

More: - Read More

Mark