Russia legalises import of goods without copyright holder’s permission

TUESDAY, 21 JUNE 2022, 16:54 - OLEKSII PAVLYSHYN

The State Duma of the Russian Federation has adopted a bill that legalises so-called parallel imports, enabling goods to be imported into Russia without the permission of the copyright holder.

This was reported by Nastoyaschee vremya (Current Time).

According to Vyacheslav Volodin, the speaker of parliament’s lower chamber, the bill "will protect Russian companies that import goods without the permission of the copyright holder from possible civil, administrative and criminal liability".

The law also applies to the previously approved list of goods that can be imported without the copyright holder’s permission.

A previously approved order of Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade included a list of more than 50 product groups, including oil, cosmetics, paper, clothing, televisions, cameras and cars.

In particular, the list includes smartphones and equipment under the brands Apple, Asus, HP, Panasonic, Samsung, Nokia, Sony, Intel and others.

Home appliances - Electrolux, Miele, Siemens, Dyson.

Game consoles - X-Box, PlayStation, Nintendo.

Cars and spare parts are also on the list: Tesla, Toyota, Land Rover, Jeep, Isuzu, Jaguar, Chrysler, Bentley, Mitsubishi, Cadillac, Chevrolet, Dodge, Hummer, Rolls-Royce, Bugatti.

Engines and engine parts - Volvo, Hyundai, Nissan, Volkswagen.

Volodin said the bill was developed "to protect the Russian economy and citizens in the face of economic sanctions against" Russia.

Due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the US, UK, EU and other countries have imposed several packages of sanctions against Russia, which include a ban on the supply of dual-use products and high-tech products.

Hundreds of international companies announced the suspension or complete cessation of their operations in the Russian Federation when the Russian invasion began.