17.08.2007
U.S. Government Files WTO Complaint Against China
The U.S. Government has asked the World Trade Organization (WTO) to rule in a complaint against China over the piracy of copyrighted movies, music, software and books. This is one of five WTO cases the United States has brought against China and the third of those in which the United States has requested a WTO dispute settlement panel.
Under the rules of the World Trade Organization, in case the parties of a trade dispute fail to settle their differences within a 60-day consultation period, the complaining party may refer the matter to a WTO dispute settlement panel. Usually, it takes a year or more to rule on a complaint.
The representatives of the United States argue among others that the threshold for prosecution is so high in China that it effectively allows the sale of pirated or counterfeited goods on a commercial scale without violators having to face criminal charges. China would also allow pirated goods that are seized to be sold once the fake labels on them are removed. The United States wants those products destroyed.
China, copyright, Piracy, Produktpiraterie, Urheberrecht, WTO
