Two key articles were relaxed – according to Vladimir Putin, this was done in order to decriminalize some of the violations related to pirated content.
Pirates lives have been simplified
Russian President Vladimir Putin has introduced amendments to the current Criminal Code of the Russian Federation that greatly mitigate the responsibility for using pirated content. The law was passed in record time – the State Duma considered it (then still a bill) in the third reading on May 28, 2024, the Federation Council approved it on June 5, 2024, and the signature of the head of state appeared on it on June 12, 2024.
The new document provides for an increase in the threshold values of large and especially large amounts for "illegal use of copyright or related rights and causing property damage by deception or abuse of trust," the official website of the Russian President says (kremlin.ru). The authorities attribute the need to introduce amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation prescribed in the draft law to indicators of "the dynamics of socio-economic development of Russia, including the recently accumulated level of inflation", as well as the results of "analysis of law enforcement practice".
Major change
The new law introduces the first global amendment to Article 146 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation "Violation of copyright and related rights". If before June 11, 2024, a particularly large amount of damage was considered if the cost of copies of works or phonograms or the cost of rights to use objects of copyright and related rights exceeds 100 thousand rubles, now this value has been increased five times – up to 500 thousand rubles.
A particularly large amount of damage also increased, but not so significantly-only twice. Previously, it was 1 million rubles, now-2 million rubles.
Steal by the millions
The second innovation provided for by the new law affects Article 158 of the Criminal Code "Theft". It also changes the amount of damage, but this time property damage.
From now on, such damage is large if the value of the property exceeds 1 million rubles, although previously it was 250 thousand rubles.
In other words, the major damage limit has quadrupled. A similar increase was also shown by the size of particularly large damage – previously, property damage was considered as such at the cost of property from 1 million rubles, and now-from 4 million rubles.
The crime is new, the punishment is old
The document signed by Vladimir Putin does not imply an adjustment of penalties for violating the listed articles of the Criminal Code. This means that a person found guilty under Article 146 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation with the postscript "on a large scale" will face a fine of up to 200 thousand rubles. or in the amount of the convicted person's salary or other income for a period of up to 18 months (one and a half years). They can also award compulsory labor for up to 480 hours (20 days), correctional labor for up to two years, forced labor for up to two years, or even imprisonment for the same period.
146 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is subject to forced labor for up to five years or prison for up to six years with a fine of up to 500 thousand rubles. or in the amount of the convicted person's salary or other income for a period of up to three years or without it.
158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) will result in a fine of 100 to 500 thousand rubles for the convicted person. or in the amount of his salary or other income for the period from one to three years. Optionally, you can be awarded forced labor for up to five years with or without restriction of liberty for up to one and a half years; imprisonment for up to six years with a fine of up to 80 thousand rubles. or in the amount of the convicted person's salary or other income for a period of up to six months or without it and with or without restriction of liberty for a term of up to one and a half years.
The consequence of theft on a particularly large scale will be imprisonment for up to 10 years with a fine of up to 1 million rubles. or in the amount of the convicted person's salary or other income for a period of up to five years or without it and with or without restriction of liberty for a term of up to two years.
Belarus is still far away
CNews has repeatedly covered cases where Russians were threatened with prison for allegedly stealing intellectual property, although the copyright holders had no complaints against them. The new easing may reduce the number of such stories, but there will definitely be fewer of them in Belarus.
In this country, at the beginning of 2023, the use of pirated content from "unfriendly countries"was legalized at the level of the law. The document signed by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko allows the use of unlicensed copies of software, movies, music compositions, etc.
The Russian authorities initially also wanted to introduce a similar relaxation, but quickly changed their mind.
Pirates lives have been simplified
Russian President Vladimir Putin has introduced amendments to the current Criminal Code of the Russian Federation that greatly mitigate the responsibility for using pirated content. The law was passed in record time – the State Duma considered it (then still a bill) in the third reading on May 28, 2024, the Federation Council approved it on June 5, 2024, and the signature of the head of state appeared on it on June 12, 2024.
The new document provides for an increase in the threshold values of large and especially large amounts for "illegal use of copyright or related rights and causing property damage by deception or abuse of trust," the official website of the Russian President says (kremlin.ru). The authorities attribute the need to introduce amendments to the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation prescribed in the draft law to indicators of "the dynamics of socio-economic development of Russia, including the recently accumulated level of inflation", as well as the results of "analysis of law enforcement practice".
Major change
The new law introduces the first global amendment to Article 146 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation "Violation of copyright and related rights". If before June 11, 2024, a particularly large amount of damage was considered if the cost of copies of works or phonograms or the cost of rights to use objects of copyright and related rights exceeds 100 thousand rubles, now this value has been increased five times – up to 500 thousand rubles.
A particularly large amount of damage also increased, but not so significantly-only twice. Previously, it was 1 million rubles, now-2 million rubles.
Steal by the millions
The second innovation provided for by the new law affects Article 158 of the Criminal Code "Theft". It also changes the amount of damage, but this time property damage.
From now on, such damage is large if the value of the property exceeds 1 million rubles, although previously it was 250 thousand rubles.
In other words, the major damage limit has quadrupled. A similar increase was also shown by the size of particularly large damage – previously, property damage was considered as such at the cost of property from 1 million rubles, and now-from 4 million rubles.
The crime is new, the punishment is old
The document signed by Vladimir Putin does not imply an adjustment of penalties for violating the listed articles of the Criminal Code. This means that a person found guilty under Article 146 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation with the postscript "on a large scale" will face a fine of up to 200 thousand rubles. or in the amount of the convicted person's salary or other income for a period of up to 18 months (one and a half years). They can also award compulsory labor for up to 480 hours (20 days), correctional labor for up to two years, forced labor for up to two years, or even imprisonment for the same period.
146 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation is subject to forced labor for up to five years or prison for up to six years with a fine of up to 500 thousand rubles. or in the amount of the convicted person's salary or other income for a period of up to three years or without it.
158 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation) will result in a fine of 100 to 500 thousand rubles for the convicted person. or in the amount of his salary or other income for the period from one to three years. Optionally, you can be awarded forced labor for up to five years with or without restriction of liberty for up to one and a half years; imprisonment for up to six years with a fine of up to 80 thousand rubles. or in the amount of the convicted person's salary or other income for a period of up to six months or without it and with or without restriction of liberty for a term of up to one and a half years.
The consequence of theft on a particularly large scale will be imprisonment for up to 10 years with a fine of up to 1 million rubles. or in the amount of the convicted person's salary or other income for a period of up to five years or without it and with or without restriction of liberty for a term of up to two years.
Belarus is still far away
CNews has repeatedly covered cases where Russians were threatened with prison for allegedly stealing intellectual property, although the copyright holders had no complaints against them. The new easing may reduce the number of such stories, but there will definitely be fewer of them in Belarus.
In this country, at the beginning of 2023, the use of pirated content from "unfriendly countries"was legalized at the level of the law. The document signed by President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko allows the use of unlicensed copies of software, movies, music compositions, etc.
The Russian authorities initially also wanted to introduce a similar relaxation, but quickly changed their mind.
