A Belgian court order forcing ISPs to use filtering or blocking to prevent unauthorized downloads violates in principle fundamental rights, European Court of Justice Advocate General (AG) Pedro Cruz Villalon said Thursday in an advisory opinion. Restrictions on Internet users’ rights are permissible only under laws that are accessible, clear and predictable, he said. The opinion isn’t binding, but the ECJ usually follows its advisors’ recommendations. Meanwhile, a French parliamentary panel recommended that the government avoid blocking as much as possible because of its negative side effects.
A Belgian court order forcing ISPs to use filtering or blocking to prevent unauthorized downloads violates in principle fundamental rights, European Court of Justice Advocate General (AG) Pedro Cruz Villalon said Thursday in an advisory opinion. Restrictions on Internet users’ rights are permissible only under laws that are accessible, clear and predictable, he said. The opinion isn’t binding, but the ECJ usually follows its advisors’ recommendations. Meanwhile, a French parliamentary panel recommended that the government avoid blocking as much as possible because of its negative side effects.
The Federal Trade Commission announces that an online appliance retailer, Universal Appliances, Kitchens, and Baths, Inc., has agreed to pay a $100,000 penalty to settle charges that it failed to post required EnergyGuide information on its websites to inform consumers about the energy use of major home appliances it sells.
The International Trade Data System Board's recent fiscal year 2010 report contains an update on the progress of ITDS implementation by Participating Government Agencies since 2009, and includes information on pilots with the Consumer Product Safety Commission, Coast Guard, Environmental Protection Agency, and Food Safety and Inspection Service; in addition to an antidumping/countervailing duty ACE module with the International Trade Administration, and an interface for the DOT’s planned International Freight Data System and ACE. Other PGAs worked on their agreements with U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
On April 4, 2011, the Court of International Trade agreed to consolidate for trial, two actions1 on whether approximately 70 entries of peanut products imported into the U.S. from Mexico between December 2005 and October 2006 were entitled to preferential duty treatment under the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
The International Trade Commission has announced the institution of antidumping duty injury investigations regarding certain stilbenic optical brightening agents from China and Taiwan that are provided for in HTS subheading 3204.20.80.
The International Trade Commission has announced the institution of antidumping and countervailing duty injury investigations regarding galvanized steel wire from China and Mexico that is provided for in HTS subheadings 7217.20.30 and 7217.20.45.
On April 6, 2011, the Justice Department announced that it has filed a deferred prosecution agreement and criminal information against JGC Corporation, a Japanese engineering and construction company, which has agreed to pay a $218.8 million criminal penalty for participating in a scheme to bribe Nigerian government officials to obtain engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contracts, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).
The International Trade Commission has announced the institution of antidumping and countervailing duty injury investigations regarding certain steel wheels from China that are provided for in HTS subheading 8708.70.
The International Trade Commission has announced the institution of an antidumping duty injury investigation regarding certain steel nails from the United Arab Emirates that are provided for in HTS subheadings 7317.00.55, 7317.00.65 and 7317.00.75.