Russia intensifies war against counterfeiting; Federation Council adopts new version of the federal law On Copyright and Allied Rights
As part of the reform of the countryÂ’s legislation on copyright protection and intellectual property sales, on July 7, 2004 the Russian Federation Council adopted a new version of the federal law On Copyright and Allied Rights. The new law is fully based on the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), the Bern Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works and the Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations. The law is designed to bring Russian legislation into line with TRIPS, the Copyright Treaty of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the WIPO Phonograms Treaty. After the law is adopted and the necessary domestic procedures are passed, the Russian Federation intends to join these Treaties.
MOSCOW (PRWEB) July 12, 2004
As part of the reform of the countryÂ’s legislation on copyright protection and intellectual property sales, on July 7, 2004 the Russian Federation Council adopted a new version of the federal law On Copyright and Allied Rights.
The new law is fully based on the WTO Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS), the Bern Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works and the Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organizations.
The law is designed to bring Russian legislation into line with TRIPS, the Copyright Treaty of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the WIPO Phonograms Treaty. After the law is adopted and the necessary domestic procedures are passed, the Russian Federation intends to join these Treaties.
Alexander Vershbow, US Ambassador to Russia, welcomed the newly adopted law. “We’ve been following the evolution of the legislation very closely,” he said. “In the course of the process, we raised some questions. I think that many of our concerns were understood, so we’re very pleased that the law has been adopted because it provides a much more effective framework in the which to protect intellectual property rights.”
“We were very pleased to learn that the final version does provide for the destruction of equipment that is seized at factories producing illegal, counterfeit goods,” the ambassador added.
Russia views increasing the level of protection of intellectual property as a state priority. Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov chairs a government commission on counteracting violations in the intellectual property sphere (it was reformed this year). A number of producersÂ’ unions and public structures have been created to form an effective system to protect intellectual property. For example, the Federal Agency for Intellectual Property, Patent Rights and Trademarks, is setting up a Consultative Board that will feature bona fide Russian and foreign companies.
“Only constant dialog with the public allows a legal environment in the sphere of intellectual property protection to develop,” says the Agency’s chief, Boris Simonov.
Among the Board’s main goals Mr. Simonov pointed to “the search for effective ways to protect intellectual property, proposals on improving legislation, the creation of an honest competitive environment and favorable investment climate, as well as influencing public opinion.”
“The Consultative Board will be a permanent body,” he said, adding that it would establish committees for trademark protection, the fight against piracy and intellectual property capitalization. “The public and honest producers must help protect customers from pirated products, that is, protect people’s health and even life,” Mr. Simonov pointed out.
Unfortunately, the share of non-material assets in Russian companies’ accounts does not exceed 1-4%, while in the West the figure is no less than 60%, Mr. Simonov said. “However, in the next few years we will be able to increase this share to 40-50%,” he stated.
Last year, Russia instituted 3,500 criminal cases (as against 2,000 in 2002) related to piracy and the sale of pirated products. The State Trade Inspection and the Interior Ministry closed about 500 enterprises for different violations in the intellectual property sphere and 20,500 people were punished under the administrative code. At the beginning of 2004, the turnover of pirated goods fell by 15-20%.
In the first five months of this year, 50,000 trade enterprises were checked as part of the anti-piracy campaign and 230 of them shut down. Moreover, 14,400 people were punished under the Administrative Code, while the police launched 2,300 criminal cases and confiscated pirated products worth 440 million roubles.
Contacts
Press service of the Russian Education and Science Ministry
Tel. 7 095 229 53 27
