WTO Finally Realizes Copyright is at Odds with Free Trade

Something about international trade policy has always struck me as odd: organizations like the WTO and trade representatives from America have insisted that global copyright regimes mirror America's. However, the WTO seeks to lower trade barriers and it seems quite obvious that government created monopoly is not conducive to free trade.

Even more, I find it cultural destructive to force other nations to adopt American legal status quo which is neither in line with our Constitution or their interests. That is why some recent news has left me scratching my head.

First, South Korea has extended their copyright term from 50 years past the death of the creator to 70 years. This now matches America (something the Gower's Report in the UK recommend against). Yet, surprisingly, not even the publishers wanted this to occur - the government did. They are paying the publishers in S. Korea $173 million to appease them.

Today, news came that the WTO is finally acting against incumbent America. The dispute between Antigua and the United States over Internet gambling has been resolved by the WTO by rewarding Antigua $21 million. Instead of treating copyright as a natural right, the WTO is rewarding Antigua by allowing them to ignore American copyrights for the decided value. While it will be hard to determine the value of each flouted copyright, it is at least refreshing to see copyright treated as a privilege, not right.