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Chambers wrote:
> http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/07/04/g8-set-create-piracy-laws
>
>
> Here's the scary part:
> "The agreement calls for border measures to control international
> piracy, including the authority for customs authorities to halt
> suspected intellectual property rights-infringing goods."
>
> The key word is suspected. In other words, if they *think* something
> might be stolen, but they don't have proof, they can stop it and inspect
> it.
Since they can already claim to suspect smuggling of other contraband
and stop the shipment to inspect it for that reason, this does not grant
any substantial increase to the powers of customs officials. It
wouldn't surprise me to learn that most nations have empowered their
customs officials to make random searches as well.
What's being addressed here is an agreement to stop the importation of
pirated DVDs and CDs, and cheap knock-offs of fashion goods with
counterfeit logos attached.
Regards,
John
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