TASS: The Ministry of Economy is against compulsory licensing of cinema in Russia

The Ministry of Economy of Russia does not support the initiative to allow Russian cinemas to release foreign films without the consent of the copyright holders, but with the payment of remuneration. This was reported TASS with reference to the department’s response to a request from the Federation Council Committee on Economic Policy.

“The Ministry of Economic Development of Russia informs that the proposals contained in the appeal to amend the legislation of the Russian Federation are not supported, including due to the fact that they may entail a violation of international agreements to which the Russian Federation is a party, as well as negative assessments of Russian legislation and law enforcement practice in the sphere of protection of property and property rights,” the Ministry of Economy said in a response.

The department added that copyright holders have the right, at their discretion, to prohibit others from using their works. They also noted that other people cannot use the results of intellectual activity without the permission of the copyright holder.

Due to the start of the military operation in Ukraine, the licensing of their projects in Russia was suspended by the film companies Warner Bros., Disney, Sony, Paramount and Universal Pictures. As a result, rental fees in 2022 fell by 50–70%, and industry losses reached 4.5 billion rubles. In early January, Deputy Head of the State Duma Committee on Information Policy, Information Technology and Communications Anton Gorelkin informed on the drafting of a bill on the compulsory licensing of Western films. The State Duma believes that this will allow cinemas to legally broadcast foreign films.

More details – in the material “Kommersant FM” “Movies are being returned forcibly”.

Olesya Pavlenko