WIPO Copyright Treaty to enter into force March 6, 2002

Under Article 20 of the WIPO Copyright Treaty, the treaty enters into force three months after 30 signatories have deposited their ratifications of other accessions with WIPO.

Yesterday, December 6, Gabon became the 30th country to accede to the treaty. The treaty therefore enters into force on March 6, 2002.

The WIPO press release is at
<http://www.wipo.int/pressroom/en/releases/2001/p300.htm>.

Also, the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty will enter into force three months after 30 countries accede to that treaty (under WIPO P&PT Article 29). The press release notes that 28 countries have so far acceded to that treaty.

The United States is, of course, a party to both treaties (Title I of the DMCA wasn't for nothing). A slightly out-of-date (October 15) list of signatory countries and acceding countries to both treaties can be found at <http://www.wipo.int/treaties/docs/english/u-page31.doc>.

-- 
Terry Carroll        |  "There ain't no such thing as a free lunch."
Santa Clara, CA      |   - Washington Legal Foundation v. Legal 
carroll[_at_]tjc.com      |     Foundation of Washington, no. 98-35154
Modell delendus est  |     (9th Cir. Nov. 14, 2001) (Kozinski, dissenting)