http://www.bradenton.com/331/story/232357.html
In a court hearing on Monday, Nov. 26, Judge Mark Pizzo urged both sides to work out the details to a confidentiality agreement that would allow Odyssey Marine Exploration to disclose details about the shipwreck and the treasure to Spanish officials, while keeping the information out of the public eye.
"The message was loud and clear in the courtroom today that they've got to start revealing the information that we've been asking them to provide," Goold said after the hearing.
Odyssey co-chairman Greg Stemm said the offer of disclosure with an attached confidentiality agreement has been on the table for some time, but the details couldn't be worked out.
Pizzo acknowledged that it may be difficult to develop the agreement because of questions about how sanctions would be levied by a federal court in the United States if the pact was violated by Spanish officials.
Still, Pizzo asked both sides to report to him by Dec. 7 on their progress toward the confidentiality agreement, and he set another pretrial hearing for Jan. 10.
Pizzo also told Odyssey officials that while the agreement may protect the details of the wreck site, they may have to "bite the bullet" when it comes to other information about the treasure possibly getting out.
Stemm has complained that the company has been unfairly portrayed as modern-day pirates looting archeologically significant shipwrecks for profit, a reputation that has been perpetuated in the European press.
It is routine for other countries or parties to challenge treasure finds in U.S. federal court if they believe they have a claim, he said, and the judge will ultimately decide if the claim has merit.