>>Though what you say has merit it doesn't address what my point was in the first place. Quite specifically, a law passed in the US regarding registering of url's (your specific example) will have no effect elsewhere in the world *unless* other countries adopt the same law (or in the case of this example the governing body of url's adopts it).
><
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>Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't there one so-called governing body (NSI is one at the moment) for the registering of specific domains (.com, .org, .it, .tv, etc)?

I suggest you re-read my post. Specifically, the part in brackets.

>It doesn't matter WHAT a countries' laws say about "JoeBlow.com". NSI operates in the USA and, thus, is governed by its laws. This can just as easily go another direction. It's NOT specific to the US.

In the aspect of it's business practices (i.e. tax laws) yes, in the aspect of the service it provides to the internet no.

>The days of once countries' (or one states', or one regions', etc) laws ONLY affecting that area is quickly coming to an end. As I'm sure you are aware.

No, I'm not aware. One countries laws has *always* Affected others, mostly if there is some sort of interaction like trade. But having an Effect, like changes of laws, no this was and is still very rare.

There is the global economy, international law, etc. where all countries partcipating follow the same rules and regulations. But independant laws of one country (and state in your case) rarely have an Effect on another.

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>>You mention laws passed in Germany. What laws? Just for curiosity sake.
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>Do a search on "Germany Internet Laws" and you'll come up with some links for your curiosity. But, here's a few interesting and/or relevant ones...
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>http://www.wia.org/
>http://www.patents.com/
>http://www.inet.de/ (German)
>http://www.widmerpartners-lawyers.ch/itlaw.htm (German, our lawyers)
>http://www.codoh.com/newsdesk/960704.HTML
>http://www.gcwf.com/articles/journal/jil_nov98_1.html
>http://www.nandonet.com/newsroom/ntn/info/033096/info2_11416.html
>http://www.infowar.com/class_1/class1_071197a.html-ssi
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>General Net-Censorship info (has references to German AND Canadian Law:
>http://www.eff.org/~declan/global/
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>Here's a paper on Cybersquating:
>http://www.lawnewsnetwork.com/opencourt/stories/lnn-docoot/opencourt/stories/A9074-1999Nov5.html
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>The essence of it all is that one countries' courts/laws can and will affect other countries courts/laws.
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>>As for the bigger world, you can't welcome someone who got there before you <g>
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>(If that's true, and if it really matters) we're still cleaning up the mess too. <g>
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>- A Hilton