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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