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Russian legislators approve pirate website block

March 10, 2014

By Colin Mann

Russia’s State Duma Committee on Information Policy has recommended that the lower house adopt a bill to extend the anti-piracy law to all copyrighted and related rights content. The first reading of the bill could take place as soon as March 12.

The anti-piracy law – enacted August 1 2013 in the face of opposition from Internet companies – provides the legal framework and the procedure for limiting access to websites that distribute movies and TV shows in violation of copyright laws. The law also sets out the regulations for liability or for condoning information brokers (Internet and hosting providers).

State Duma Deputy Speaker Sergei Zheleznyak (United Russia) late February submitted a bill designed to limit access to any pirated online content.

The bill provides a more detailed mechanism for blocking illegal content, according to an explanatory note. “The service provider would not block the offending part of the content but the entire illegal content, under court order,” it explains. “If said operator lacks the technology to limit access to illegal content, it should limit access to the information resource as a whole.”

The bill includes a provision under which hosting and service providers and site owners would not be liable to rights holders or users for limiting access to information.

If adopted and approved, the bill will come into force on July 1, 2014.

Categories: Articles, Piracy, Policy, Regulation, Rights