Russia sues couple for copyright infringement worth 1,2 billion dollars

Tuesday, the Russian Interior Ministry announced a Russian couple is accused of online distribution of illegal Hollywood movies’ copies worth 1,2 billion dollars.

According to investigators, the man and woman bought illegal copies of foreigners from countries where Hollywood movies are released a few months earlier than in Russia. The couple created ??subtitles for the movies and sold the new copies for a small fee on their website interfilm.ru. In cooperation with the Russian anti-piracy organization, the investigators approached the Hollywood movies’ copyright owners. According to the owners, they lost more than 1,2 billion dollars in revenues as a result of the couple’s copyright infringement.

The website was already shut down in 2009, but now the couple behind the website is being sued for copyright infringement by distributing illegal copies. Russian legislation states that copyright infringement in included in the Criminal Code. In case the couple is found guilty of copyright infringement by selling pirated copies of Hollywood movies, the couple could face up to six years in prison.

Intellectual property violations are still a major problem in Russia because they are almost never addressed. Therefore it is nice to see Russia taking action against the infringing couple. Russia is finally taking steps to fight against copyright infringement.

Read more about intellectual property violations in Russia on FutureofCopyright.com:

• McAfee reports increase of illegal filesharing from the Netherlands
• IIPA provides input for US Trade Representative on copyright enforcement
• Russian DVD copy-circuit cleaned out, St. Petersburg was next

Reference: Ria Novosti

By: Karen Groen