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Tariffs On Global Commerce: How Cyprus Stays Cautious Amid Global Change

by News Editor

April 4, 2025

The recent imposition of sweeping tariffs by the U.S. administration, helmed by former President Donald Trump, has created uncertainty across the globe. Economic advisers worldwide forecast turbulent times ahead, particularly due to concerns over surging inflation and a predicted downturn in the global market. The European Union, along with other major economies, is preparing to counteract these tariffs with strategic retaliatory measures.

Cyprus: Navigating Calm Waters?

Interestingly, Cyprus has adopted a calm and optimistic stance, likely because its export portfolio to the U.S. is relatively minor. This has given the government and its financial institutions a sense of security, despite the potential global fallout. As noted by the Deputy Government Spokesperson Yiannis Antoniou, the limited impact on Cyprus underscores a long-standing trade dynamic that largely skirts American markets. However, there remains a watchful eye on potential future impacts, suggesting the need for cautious observation.

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The EU’s Strategic Response

Despite the seemingly minimal immediate repercussions for Cyprus, the broader implications can’t be ignored. The European Union has voiced its intent to respond to the U.S. measures. As Cyprus aligns its policies with the EU, it will adopt broader community actions aimed at managing the economic landscape affected by these tariffs.

Learning From the Past: The 2008 Precedent

Former DISY President and current MP Averof Neophytou highlighted the importance of vigilance. Reflecting on 2008, when economic laxity led to unforeseen challenges, he emphasized the necessity for timely preparedness to mitigate possible impacts on Cyprus’ small yet globally intertwined economy.

The scenario posited by Neophytou raises an important query: could the absence of dialogue among global economic leaders spiral into a relentless tariff war? The disconcerting possibility of escalating inflation and recessions in national economies is real, rendering Cyprus’s cautious stance prudent yet proactive.

The Role Of Cyprus In Global Trade

Despite the current optimism, potential longer-term effects could ripple through industries like dairy and electronics, which form a significant portion of Cyprus’ exports to the U.S. However, the immediate stance remains one of thoughtful observation rather than reaction. As Michalis Antoniou, Director General of the OEB, suggests, any global economic contraction would undeniably affect Cyprus.

Regardless of the limited exposure, this situation is a stark reminder of the interconnected nature of global markets. It prompts Cyprus, although minimally affected in the short term, to remain vigilant and responsive to the broader trends in international trade and tariffs.

The Future Forbes Realty Global Properties

by News Editor

August 24, 2026

Courts Are Still Applying Old Copyright Rules To AI

AI companies train models on enormous amounts of published material, including books, articles and academic research. Whether using that content without authors’ permission violates copyright law remains unresolved.

Much of the debate centres on fair use, which allows copyrighted material to be used without permission in certain circumstances. Courts consider factors such as the purpose of the use, how much material was involved and its impact on the original market.

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Anthropic Case Sets An Important Precedent

A major case involving Anthropic and a group of authors provided one of the clearest rulings so far. Judge William Alsup found that using copyrighted books to train AI models was lawful, comparing the process to people reading and studying literature before creating something new.

Anthropic was nevertheless ordered to pay $1.5 billion in a settlement. The penalty concerned books the company had obtained from illegal online libraries rather than the AI training itself.

For AI companies, that distinction could prove significant because it separates studying copyrighted material from directly copying it.

Competition Could Be The Key Issue

A case involving Thomson Reuters and Ross Intelligence offers a different perspective. A court ruled that Ross could not claim fair use after using Reuters’ copyrighted material to develop a competing AI-powered legal research platform.

The decision suggests courts may be less willing to consider AI training fair use when copyrighted content is used to build a product that directly competes with the original.

For authors, an unresolved question is whether AI-generated content should be considered competition for the works used to train these models.

The Law Has Yet To Catch Up

US copyright law predates generative AI by decades, leaving courts to apply old principles to new technology. Questions also remain over copyright protection for AI-generated works. In Thaler v. Perlmutter, a court ruled that material created entirely by AI cannot receive copyright protection.

Major AI companies remain involved in copyright litigation, and different courts could reach different conclusions. For now, there is no universal rule: the legality of AI training will depend on the circumstances of each case and how courts ultimately interpret copyright and fair use.