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posted by janrinok on Wednesday March 09 2022, @07:38PM   Printer-friendly
from the what's-yours-is-now-mine dept.

Russia mulls legalizing software piracy as it's cut off from Western tech:

With sanctions against Russia starting to bite, the Kremlin is mulling ways to keep businesses and the government running. The latest is a creative twist on state asset seizures, only instead of the government taking over an oil refinery, for example, Russia is considering legalizing software piracy.

Russian law already allows for the government to authorize—"without consent of the patent holder"—the use of any intellectual property "in case of emergency related to ensuring the defense and security of the state." The government hasn't taken that step yet, but it may soon, according to a report from Russian business newspaper Kommersant, spotted and translated by Kyle Mitchell, an attorney who specializes in technology law. It's yet another sign of a Cyber Curtain that's increasingly separating Russia from the West.

The plan would create "a compulsory licensing mechanism for software, databases, and technology for integrated microcircuits," the Kommersant said. It would only apply to companies from countries that have imposed sanctions. While the article doesn't name names, many large Western firms—some of which would be likely targets—have drastically scaled back business in Russia. So far, Microsoft has suspended sales of new products and services in Russia, Apple has stopped selling devices, and Samsung has stopped selling both devices and chips.

Presumably, any move by the Kremlin to "seize" IP would exempt Chinese companies, which are reportedly considering how to press their advantage. Smartphone-makers Xiaomi and Honor stand to gain, as do Chinese automakers. Still, any gains aren't guaranteed since doing business in Russia has become riddled with problems, spanning everything from logistics to finance.

Also at TorrentFreak.


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 10 2022, @03:41PM

    by Anonymous Coward on Thursday March 10 2022, @03:41PM (#1228288)

    And this is why Russia's internet has been cut off and demands are being made to take away their DNS domains.

    Media companies don't give a rat's ass about what's happening in Russia or the Ukraine. It's all good for more clicks. But threaten the copyright monopoly with government sanctioned piracy and watch them circle the wagons and take action.

    The best thing for Russia and the Ukraine right now is to keep the internet open and the information flowing. It's the only way we'll really know what's going on and who needs support. Isolating Russia will just lead is into another cold war full of itchy button pressing fingers.