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Gref Promises Criminal Charges for Piracy
After an incognito visit to sales points of pirated intellectual property on Tverskoi St., a major thoroughfare in downtown Moscow, two nights ago, Minister of Economic Development and Trade German Gref presented four new initiatives to fight piracy and copyright violations at a meeting in the residence of the U.S. ambassador yesterday. U.S. Ambassador William Burns reminded those present that part of the bilateral agreement between Washington and Moscow was a plan to protect intellectual property. The ambassador also gave Russia's efforts in that field so far a negative assessment.
Gref's initiatives are meant to right that situation. First, “prerelease” sales of audio and video materials and computer programs will become a criminal offense. Second, filming screenings of films will be criminalized. Third, a working group will be set up to determine ways of defining the magnitude of loss a rights holder suffers from piracy. Finally, sales of pirated materials will be criminalized.
Igor Pozhitkov, regional director of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry, praised Gref's ideas. “We hope the opinion of the industry will be considered” when finalizing the measures, he added. Yury Zlobin, director of the Russian Shield association, claimed that Gref's ieas echos existing legislation and would not lead to significant changes.
Gref himself admitted that change will be slow. “The problem of piracy cannot be solved in two or three years,” he stated. “It is no secret that the large companies that make counterfeit products operate under the protection of local authorities.”
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Apr. 18, 2007
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