Third IP Cross-Retaliation Strike Against USA at WTO

For the third time, a successful complainant against the USA at the WTO has won the right to cross-retaliate by limited suspension of intellectual property obligations.

This time, it's Brazil and the dispute involved cotton. Before, it was Ecuador and bananas and then Antigua and internet gambling. Here's the full story and an anlaysis from the must read IP Watch site.

In this case, Brazil claims that "“the value [of the award] is significant, being the second-largest amount ever authorised in the history of the WTO.” However, the USA "was “pleased that the arbitrators awarded Brazil far below the amount of countermeasures it asked for” and “grateful that the arbitrators denied Brazil’s request for unlimited ability to suspend concessions on intellectual property or services.”

HK

From Bananas to Brazil

Reuters reports that Brazil, having just won a trade-dispute over cotton against the USA, may follow the Antigua lead and cross retaliate on copyright protected U.S. films or computer games.

This technique started with Ecuador and bananas in 2000, and got really serious with Antigua and online gambling in 2007.

This could get really interesting.

And its also interesting that countries like Antigua, Israel, New Zealand and Brazil can challenge American copyright interests and the American government itself.

That seems to be something that the Canadian Government, still a G-8 member, does not wish to do.

HK