Carriers
The latest effort by the U.S. Copyright Office to broker a compromise over legislation targeting anyone who “induces” copyright infringement has failed to assuage fair-use advocates, while content owners remain quiet. The Copyright Office late last Fri. circulated its latest draft proposal, a very short bill aimed at anyone whose business model profits from others infringing copyrights (CED Sept 13 p9). In a much lengthier explanatory memorandum, the office argues the latest version resolves some criticisms of its previous draft. Established opponents of S-2560 by Senate Judiciary Committee Chmn. Hatch (R-Utah) and ranking Democrat Leahy (Vt.) remained opposed, while others, such as the Business Software Alliance (BSA), were taking a more cautious approach.
The latest effort by the U.S. Copyright Office to broker a compromise over legislation targeting anyone who “induces” copyright infringement has failed to assuage fair-use advocates, while content owners remain quiet. The Copyright Office late Fri. circulated its latest draft proposal, a very short bill aimed at anyone whose business model profits from others infringing copyrights. In a much lengthier explanatory memorandum, the office argues its latest draft resolves some criticisms of its previous draft. Established opponents of S-2560 by Senate Judiciary Committee Chmn. Hatch (R-Utah) and ranking Democrat Leahy (Vt.) remained opposed, while others, such as the Business Software Alliance (BSA), were taking a more cautious approach.
On September 8, 2004, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a general notice entitled: ACE: Open Application Period for Participation in a National Customs Automation Program Test for Importers and Brokers.
As previously reported, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a Federal Register notice stating that it is expanding access to the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Secure Data Portal, and that an ACE account must be established as the first step.
The Journal of Commerce reports that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has asked for permission to keep the hours-of-service (HOS) final rule for truck drivers in effect for at least six more months while it tries to revise it after it was vacated by a court decision in July. (See ITT's Online Archives or 09/08/04 news, 04090810, for the FMCSA's filing to stay the court decision.) (JoC, dated 09/06/04, www.joc.com)
On September 7, 2004, President Bush signed Proclamation 7808 which makes various changes to the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) with respect to: the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) Acceleration Act of 2004 (AGOA III), the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP), and the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA).
The National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, Inc. (NCBFAA) has replied to the joint supplemental comments submitted by seven non-vessel operating common carriers (NVOCCs) and national trade associations that requested the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) to expeditiously adopt a conditional exemption for NVOCCs from the tariff publication and enforcement provisions set forth in the Shipping Act of 1984, as amended, and the corresponding regulations in 46 CFR 520.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has issued a general notice inviting customs brokers to participate in the National Customs Automation Program (NCAP) Test for the Automated Commercial Environment (ACE) Secure Data Portal (ACE Portal).
On August 2, 2004, seven non-vessel operating common carrier (NVOCC) petitioners and national trade associations asked for permission to file joint supplemental comments to the Federal Maritime Commission (FMC) regarding eight pending petitions.