Antigua preparing to launch platform to take advantage of suspension of US intellectual property

With no resolution on the horizon for the dispute between the US and Antigua, the latter’s government is moving ahead with its plans to set up a platform that would allow it to take advantage of the suspension of US intellectual property rights granted to the Caribbean nation by the World Trade Organization.

antigua-digital-download-world-trade-orgAmerica’s stubbornness to make a deal with Antigua has come to this point and it looks like Antigua is preparing to take advantage of the WTO’s blessing to make up all of the money it lost when the US blocked online gambling in the its country, thus cutting off a huge revenue stream from Antigua’s economy.

Recently, a WTO Remedies Implementation Committee, a group made up of experts in IP and trade law, information technology, and economics, held a meeting in Antigua to discuss the best possibly ways to take advantage of the benefits of this unique situation. One of the key ideas that were being thrown around was to recommend the establishment a statutory body that will own, manage, and operate the ultimate platform that will be created for the “monetization or other exploitation of the suspension of American intellectual property rights authorized earlier this year by the WTO.”

The committee is also looking into tapping into resources from the private sectors in the operation of the platform, something that would give a lot of people an opportunity to be involved, or at least, participate in the monetization brought about by the suspension of US intellectual property rights.

Antigua and Barbuda Prime Minister Baldwin Spencer voiced his support of the committee’s work and once again said that the country is doing it under accordance to the WTO’s ruling and as a way to recoup all of its monetary losses brought about by the US’ decision to block online gambling back in 2006. “I am pleased that the Committee continues working with expedience, meeting as scheduled and focusing on its mandate to utilize the WTO remedies in a responsible and proper manner, the PM said.

“This will give Antigua & Barbuda a tangible benefit for our years of perseverance on this matter.”

Incidentally, more and more states in the US have turned an about-face on the issue of online gambling with Delaware set to launch online gambling next week and New Jersey following suit next month, joining Nevada as the first three of what could end up being more states that will soon offer online gambling.

“Be assured that resolving the WTO Gaming case in a fair, reasonable and positive way is a top priority of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda,” PM Spencer added.