NATIONAL BRIEFING

COPYRIGHT

U.S. Issues Piracy Watch List

The Bush administration is accusing China, Russia and seven other nations of not protecting American producers of movies, computer software and other copyrighted material from widespread piracy.

The administration placed the nine countries on a "priority watch list" that will subject them to extra scrutiny and could eventually lead to economic sanctions -- if the administration decides to pursue complaints before the World Trade Organization.

In addition to China and Russia, the other seven countries targeted are Argentina, Chile, India, Israel, Pakistan, Thailand and Venezuela.

The administration named an additional 31 countries to a lower-level watch list, indicating that it has concerns about copyright violations in those nations but that they don't warrant the highest level of scrutiny.

BANKING

Wachovia Settles With Regulator

Wachovia agreed to pay as much as $144 million to settle federal allegations that it failed to block telemarketers who took advantage of thousands of elderly bank customers.

The federal Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said Charlotte-based Wachovia had improper relationships with four telemarketers and payment processors who maintained their accounts at the bank.

The marketers obtained customers' bank account information while selling vouchers for discount travel and other products. The bank will pay up to $125 million in claims, $8.9 million toward consumer education programs and a $10 million fine.

MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

AOL Buys Fantasy Sports Site

AOL bought the Fleaflicker Web site for an undisclosed amount to target fantasy sports players.