Russia to block illegal video content

Russia’s parliament (the State Duma) has voted in favour of amendments to the “piracy bill” introducing pre-trial blocking of pirated video content in the country.

Advanced Television reports that the bill was submitted to the Duma on June 6 and adopted in its first reading on June 18. It sets out the legal grounds and the procedure for limiting access to websites that distribute movies and TV films in violation of copyright. The bill also sets out the rules for bringing to account or condoning information brokers (Internet and hosting providers).

The MPs decided by the second reading that the bill should not include music publication regulations. The law will come into force on August 1.

Issues of injunction and punishment are to be the exclusive competence of the Moscow City Court, which will accept complaints round the clock, including online, said Pavel Krasheninnikov, Head of the State Duma Committee on Civil, Criminal, Commercial and Procedural Legislation.