Global Internet Copyright Treaty
Enters Into Force
An international treaty negotiated in 1996 to protect
authors' copyrights on the Internet came into force March 6.
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Copyright Treaty (WCT) is one of a pair of treaties negotiated by 160 countries to protect against Internet piracy. The second pact, the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty (WPPT), covers sound recordings and will come into force on May 20.
The treaties become law three months after they are ratified by 30 countries. Gabon became the 30th country to join the WCT in December 2001. Honduras became the 30th country to join the WPPT on February 20, 2002.
The 30 parties to the WCT are: Argentina, Belarus, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Croatia, Czech Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Gabon, Georgia, Hungary, Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Republic of Moldova, Romania, Saint Lucia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine and the United States. Complete text
Complete Text
Policy Texts
March 6, 2002
Global Internet Copyright Treaty Enters Into Force
November 2
Text: Justice Dept., Microsoft Reach Settlement on Antitrust Lawsuit
October 2
Internet Ad Blitz Targeted by Federal Trade Commission
August 31
Text: U.S. Small Business Internet Use Reaches 57 Percent
July 10
Text: Internet Survey Shows U.S. Public Favors Online Regulation
May 3
Estonia, S. Korea Top List of E-Ready Among Mid-Income Economies
April 24
Text: Federal Trade Commission Announcement of econsumer.gov
Text: FCC Decision on Deutsche Telekom Merger with Two U.S. Firms
April 23
Text: U.S., European Business Groups Work to Establish Online Trust
March 8
Census Bureau Surveys Online Business
February 12
Article: Leadership Key to E-commerce Expansion in Developing World
January 31, 2001
Text: Christmas 2000 Improved for Online Shoppers, FTC Finds
January 30, 2001
Article: Information Technologies (IT) Boost U.S. Economy
January 11, 2001
Fact Sheet: FCC Approves Merger of Time Warner and AOL
December 8, 2000
Text: USTR Barshefsky welcomes support for liberal trade principles
October 23
Text: USTR Barshefsky on Networked Economy Initiative
October 20
Text: State's Larson on Information Technology and Development
October 12
Text: FCC Transfers More Airwaves Spectrum for Commercial Use
September 27
Text: Commerce Department Official on Future U.S. Growth
August 22
Excerpts: Survey Measures Nations Preparedness for Digital Economy
August 14
Text: U.S. Business Urged to Invest in Africa's Communications
Text: U.S., Chile Announce Programs to Promote Electronic Commerce
August 10
Text: U.S. and Argentina Expand E-Commerce Cooperation
August 03
Text: FCC Report on Deployment of Telecom Services in U.S.
August 01
Article: IT Offers Potential Wealth to Developing Countries
Text: U.S.-EU Agree on Data Privacy, Commerce Says
July 26
Text: U.S., Mexico Sign Agreement for Satellite Digital Audio Service
July 25
Article: U.S. Commerce Official Discusses E-Commerce and the European Union
July 20
Text: Dickinson on Internet Piracy of Music, Software
June 30
Transcript: Clinton on Signing Electronic Signatures
June 07
Text: Barshefsky on Trade in Information Technology
Text: Commerce's Daley on Joint U.S.-Jordan E-Commerce Statement
Article: Telcom Conference Sets Stage for New Communications Systems
June 05
Text: Vice President Gore Releases Report on the Digital Economy of the 21st Century
June 01
Text: Daley on E-commerce Growth Between U.S. and EU
Fact Sheet: Gore Announces Jordan's Participation in Internet Initiative
May 31
Fact Sheet: U.S.-EU Data Privacy Accord
May 23
Texts: Daley and Pitofsky Clash over Internet Privacy
May 18
Byliner: Commerce Dept General Counsel Pincus on E-Commerce
Byliner: Federal Trade Comm'sn's Bernstein on E-commerce Fraud
Byliner: GIIC's Charles on a Global Framework for E-commerce
Byliner: Clark on Internet Development in Poland
Byliner: Amazon.com's VP on Global, Electronic Retailing
February 09
Text: FCC Chairman Comments on Telecommunications Progress
December 22, 1999
Article: Holiday Shoppers Buy into Internet Retailing
November 29
Text: Gore Initiative on Facilitating Electronic Commerce
November 27
Radio Address of the President to the Nation
October 28
Role of Standards in the Growth of Global Economic Commerce
October 25
ITU on Promoting E-commerce in Developing Countries
September 30
Software Industry Creates Jobs, Income for Americas, Says Study
Top of Page
Reports
Risk E-Business:
Seizing the Opportunity of Global E-Readiness
McConnell International, August 2000
Digital Economy 2000
U.S. Department of Commerce, June 5, 2000
A Five-year Extension of The Internet Tax "Moratorium"
Would Further Erode The Tax Base of States And Localities
Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Links
Yahoo Full Coverage Electronic Commerce
Link: The Internet Tax Freedom Home Page
Dept. of Commerce, Secretariat for Electronic Commerce
Federal Trade Commission, Bureau of Consumer Protection E-Commerce and the Internet
Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce
National Conference of Commissioners on Uniform State Laws
Business Laws -- Electronic Transactions
The Center for Electronic Business & Commerce
Stanford Graduate School of Business, Stanford University
Updated February 12, 2000
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