Following Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine in February, life in both countries has changed.
While Ukrainians fight for their freedom, Russian citizens must deal with the effects of sanctions and other restrictions.
Many large companies, including those in the entertainment industry, support sanctions. For example, major Hollywood players and streaming services voluntarily pulled out of the country.
These actions are a direct hit to the multi-million dollar revenues of these companies, as expected. However, it appears that the effect on Russian citizens is less severe. Apparently, many people are turning to piracy instead and even some local cinemas have followed suit.
As we have documented previously, more than a hundred Russian movie theaters have started to show pirated movies in Russia in response to the sanctions. While clearly illegal, the chairman of the Russian Association of Cinema has sympathy for the plight of these struggling theater owners.
The Russian Government has also made matters worse for US copyright holders. A few months ago, it proposed a ‘forced licensing’ bill that would effectively legalize piracy of media produced by “unfriendly” states, including the US.
U.S. Copyright Groups Are Concerned About Russia's Handling of Online Piracy * TorrentFreak
After withdrawing from Russian following its invasion of Ukraine, entertainment companies want Russia to keep online piracy in check.
torrentfreak.com
These developments are causing concern among organizations such as the IIPA, which counts the MPA, RIAA, and ESA among its members. The group recently shared its thoughts with the US Trade Representative for its annual review of Russia’s World Trade Organization (WTO) obligations.
The submission highlights the ever-present piracy problem and several areas where Russia can improve its intellectual property enforcement. That includes more criminal proceedings, where possible.
“The harm caused by commercial-scale piracy in Russia cannot be adequately addressed with civil measures alone; rather, enhanced administrative actions and penalties and criminal remedies are needed,” IIPA writes.
These demands are not new but may seem odd, considering the tensions between media companies in Russia. IIPA is aware of this but believes that it’s important to keep the focus on copyright issues despite the conflict and sanctions.
monta kuukautta tähän on mennyt ennenkuin järjestöt tarttuivat asiaan“The content shown at these illegal screenings are sourced from pirated Digital Cinema Packages (DCP) that are illegally distributed online. Moreover, there is evidence of camcording occurring at these illegal screenings, compounding the harm.”
Overall, the submission makes it clear that US copyright holders remain very concerned about Russia’s stance toward copyright infringement. While the country has many other issues to deal with right now, it should not ignore its WTO commitments, IIPA stresses.