A potential agreement between the G8 nations that would set up an Anti Counterfeiting Trade Agreement was feared to lead to the frisking of people’s iPods and MP3 players at airports. The idea being that they intend to crack down on the illegal sharing of music and video, which is costing the music industry billions each year.

However the potential agreement is unlikely to lead to airport security frisking people for their iPods and examining the music they contain, looking for stolen or copied tracks.

A document that was leaked last year warned that ACTA might push for the law to be changed so that airport security and customs staff have the powers to search people’s MP3 players, iPods and laptop computers looking for illegal music and anything that might infringe on copyrights.

A document released by the G8 however makes no mention of such powers, instead referencing methods to improve:

an efficient and well-functioning IP system.

The document states that they’ll be focussing on ways to track down and catch those who distribute illegal music.

We commit ourselves to strengthening cooperation and coordination among customs and border enforcement administrations through facilitation of information sharing,” said the document. “We have identified two principle areas for further progress: the exchange of data among G8 members through appropriate mutual assistance provisions … and the elaboration of a rapid alert system to exchange data on a more informal basis.