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IFPI chief calls on Russia to capitalise on copyright

By | Published on Wednesday 24 October 2012

IFPI

The boss of the International Federation Of The Phonographic Industry has called on the Russian government – which has been too busy locking up its musical critics of late to think about intellectual property issues – to instigate a new culture of respect for copyright in the country to capitalise on the potential for a strong music industry to grow there.

Noting all the fab music makers in Russia (some of whom haven’t been sent to a prison camp for expressing an opinion), the wide internet usage amongst the Russian population, and the slowly emerging legit digital music market in the region, IFPI boss Frances Moore said the country had the potential to be amongst the top ten music markets in the world, but was currently 23rd biggest because of rampant piracy, increasingly online.

Noting the record industry’s recent fight with Russian social network vKontakte, which has been found liable for copyright infringement in the Russian courts for enabling its users to share unlicensed music, Moore told the International Anti-Counterfeiting Forum in Moscow: “The law [in Russia] should make it clear that sites such as vKontakte are obliged to take reasonable steps to prevent copyright infringement and that it is illegal for such services to induce or knowingly facilitate infringement. If we strike the right balance, then the Russian online music marketplace can grow exponentially to everyone’s benefit, but the key is to ensure that there are incentives for reasonable conduct that will expand legitimate commerce rather than theft”.

She continued: “Government can also provide valuable help in addressing some of the issues rights holders face when bringing infringement cases before the courts. Streamlining the requirements for the provision of evidence would make it more cost efficient for rights holders to bring cases. And the courts could be more open to ordering injunctions that stop illegal businesses trading, that could stop them continuing to generate revenue after their infringement has been brought to the authorities’ attention”.

In addition, making provision for the personal liability of directors of infringing companies would stop individuals acting as serial infringers through a succession of unlicensed services. These steps will deliver a viable online economy”.

Moore then had to leave the building, aware that criticising the Russian regime in public can lead to accusations of vandalism and two year prison sentences.



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