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Techies Lament Collapse Of Trade Talks
by Winter Casey
Members of the business and technology community were dismayed that World Trade Organization negotiations for a new global trade deal have collapsed.
The Association for Competitive Technology, Information Technology Association of America, AeA, International Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Council for International Business and Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development all voiced disappointment.
"Our members are dismayed by this breakdown because it leaves standing very real barriers to the IT industry's ability to compete on the global stage," ITAA Senior Vice President Joe Tasker said in a statement. "While the parties work to revive negotiations, we hope they will take a very hard look at their positions and recommit to a significant and comprehensive pact.
He added, "Although we are dissatisfied with the outcome, U.S. Trade Representative Susan Schwab should be commended for her commitment to market access during the negotiations."
WTO officials said negotiations would not lead to an international trade liberalization agreement by the end of 2006. WTO Director-General Pascal Lamy did not say when the negotiations would resume. He said internal work within countries is needed.
Successful talks from the "Doha round" -- so named because they began in Doha, Qatar, in 2001 -- would help ensure growth for the IT industry and U.S. innovation, according to ITAA. The organization would like to see WTO countries commit to opening tech markets, allowing the duty-free flow of software, and eliminating customs duties and non-tariff barriers.
Rob Mulligan, a senior vice president of AeA, said: "International trade is vitally important to the high-tech industry and our members strongly support the Doha negotiations. We hope that WTO members will take this opportunity to step back and reconsider the potential benefits of a successful round for our industry and the global economy at large."
ICANN Paper Seeks International Internet
J. Beckwith Burr and Marilyn Cade, insiders at the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers, this week released a paper calling for the U.S. government to end its oversight of the Internet.
"The time has come for the United States to internationalize its retained authority over the Internet's authoritative root and, in so doing, rededicate itself to private-sector management of the [domain-name system] and the advisory role of governments in ICANN's technical coordination tasks," the paper said.
Commerce Department oversight of the Internet-addressing system is set to expire Sept. 30. In 1998, Commerce issued a policy statement outlining the vision for the system's transition to private control. Public comments have been submitted on ICANN's progress, and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration is meeting on the issue Wednesday.
The paper calls for the creation of an international working group to monitor changes to the Internet's authoritative root. The authors also call for ICANN to publish, for public comment, an evaluation of its transparency and accountability mechanisms. It also suggests support for the role of governments to advise ICANN.
According to the paper, the U.S. government should commit not to "use government authority for the purpose of directing, approving or disproving changes in the Internet's authoritative root" and "direct VeriSign to implement" recommendations for root changes 14 days after receipt.
The Internet Governance Forum will meet in Athens from Oct. 30 to Nov. 2.
Meanwhile, on July 13 a global policy for the allocation of address space for the next generation of the Internet was proposed to ICANN. The new system is known as Internet protocol version 6, or IPv6.
U.S. Court Refuses To Rule On British Web Site
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a decision that declined to assert jurisdiction in a dispute over an Internet address bearing the name of a famous golf course.
Pebble Beach Company, a firm that owns the course in California, had filed a lawsuit against Michael Caddy, a small-business owner in England, "for intentional infringement and dilution" of its trademark over the Web address pebblebeach-uk.com.
Judge Stephen Trott wrote the appeals court's opinion, which agreed with a lower court that a foreign business operating online and catering to American customers overseas cannot be sued in U.S. courts. The court determined that the actions of Caddy, a dual U.S. and British citizen who owns a bed and breakfast in England that overlooks a pebbly beach, were not expressly aimed at California, so he "is not subject to the personal jurisdiction of the district court."
In other European news, the European Commission this month launched a study to craft recommendations for technology and communications standards within the European Union.
U.S., Brazilian Officials Discuss Tech Issues
The first Joint Commission Meeting on Scientific and Technological Cooperation between the United States and Brazil took place in Washington last week.
In November 2005, President Bush and Brazilian President Lula da Silva pledged to strengthen cooperation in "science and technology, education, the environment, and promotion of trade and investment." Last week's meeting of government delegates reviewed ongoing scientific and technological cooperation and noted achievements.
Asia Shows Eye For Innovation
The Japanese newspaper Yomiuri Shimbun reports that 14 arts and cultural organizations plan to submit a joint statement to Japan's Cultural Affairs Agency calling for an extension of the protection period for copyrighted works, including literature, music, arts and photographs. Currently, the period lasts 50 years after the creators' deaths, but the groups hope to move it to 70 years.
And the Chinese minister of science and technology said the country is focusing more on fostering innovation. Xu Guanhua said many regions and cities have held conferences on science and technology. Many provinces also have expressed interest in investing more in science and technology.
Meanwhile, Hewlett-Packard reached a one-year deal to install Internet search software from the Chinese search engine Baidu.com on desktop and laptop computers sold in China.
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