Overview
Politico quoted Steptoe partner Meredith Rathbone in a November 2 article titled “Potential Wassenaar Compromise Faces Industry Skepticism.” The article discusses what the editors call the feud between the Obama administration and the software industry over export controls for cybersecurity products. The Obama administration proposed a compromise that would limit the restrictions the industry faces under the 41-nation Wassenaar Agreement, which aims to control trade in online-spying software and other dual-use military technologies.
Ms. Rathbone says: "This industry is not the same as other industries. There is a lot of information collaboration on short notice with parties that you don't have a prior contractual relationship." Carving out exceptions from export regulations opens the door to a compliance nightmare for companies unsure of whether they're covered, she says.
Lawyers urge a conservative approach, so the result can still exact a toll from industry. "The ideal solution would just be to start again from scratch," Ms. Rathbone tells Politico. But the industry would probably reject that too. "Why would you implement something that you know is so terribly flawed?" she asks.
The full article can be read at Politico (subscription required).