[A2k] FTA likely to limit freedom for South Korean Web users: lawmaker

[Mike Palmedo]

http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/Engnews/20070416/640000000020070416180753E4.html

FTA likely to limit freedom for South Korean Web users: lawmaker

By Kim Young-gyo
2007/04/16 18:07 KST

SEOUL, April 16 (Yonhap) -- An opposition lawmaker on Monday warned that
the free trade agreement (FTA) with the United States will greatly limit
the Internet use of South Koreans due to excessive protection of the
intellectual property rights of online contents.

"The U.S. is the information provider for 40 percent of the contents
worldwide, while South Korea is rather an information demander," said
Rep. Kim Young-sun of the main opposition Grand National Party (GNP)
during a plenary session of the parliamentary committee for science and
technology policy.

"The recent agreement in the Korea-U.S. FTA talks to benefit the
copyright holders was more favorable to the U.S.," Kim said.

The FTA recognizes a copyright for files temporarily saved on the hard
drive of the user's computer in addition to the standard copyright,
meanwhile tightening copyright rules applicable to the online service
providers.

Appropriate injunctions will be issued by courts against service
providers if they profit from or encourage activity on their systems
that infringes on the rules.

"It is impossible for the users to surf on the Net without temporarily
saving files in their computers. To recognize a copyright for temporary
copying is to control access to the contents," Kim said.

"Toughening the patent and copyright rules would impose a heavy burden
on the South Korean online service providers," she added. "The number of
legal claims to be brought against online service providers will increase."
ygkim@yna.co.kr

--
Mike Palmedo
Research Coordinator
Program on Information Justice and Intellectual Property
American University, Washington College of Law
4910 Massachutsetts Ave., NW Washington, DC 20016
T - 202-274-4442 | F 202-274-0659
mpalmedo@wcl.american.edu