St. John's -- July 21, 2009 -- It has come to the attention of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda that there is a website named Zookz.com that offers unlimited entertainment downloads for a fixed monthly fee. The company claims it is operating from Antigua and therefore it is permitted to offer downloads under the auspices of a 2007 World Trade Organisation ruling in the remote gaming case brought by Antigua and Barbuda against the USA. The company's claims to be "authorized" by Antiguan Government approval or under the WTO case are without merit.

The Government of Antigua and Barbuda wishes to clarify this situation. The Zookz.com website is not operating under the authority or with the knowledge of the Government of Antigua and Barbuda. More specifically, Zookz.com is not authorized by the Government of Antigua and Barbuda, or by the World Trade Organization, to offer entertainment downloads in contravention of international law.

Minister of Finance and Economy the Hon. Harold Lovell has stated, "The operators of Zookz.com have not played any role in the Antiguan gaming industry or in our country's case pending before the WTO. Only the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has the right to implement and oversee the intellectual property sanctions it was awarded by the WTO. As of this time, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has not authorized any person or entity to implement sanctions. While we may in the future consider exercising the right to impose sanctions, as of this moment, I am instead looking forward to meeting with the United States Government in the near future and focusing on a mutually beneficial resolution of the issues raised by the remote gambling case."

Under the US-Gambling case before the WTO, Antigua and Barbuda retains its right to implement intellectual property sanctions against the US if the remote g ambling matter cannot be brought to a negotiated solution. If an when the Government of Antigua and Barbuda invokes sanctions it will follow WTO protocol.

The Zookz.com matter has been referred to the Ministry of Legal Affairs in Antigua and Barbuda for full investigation.