Russian state customers may obtain right to use unlicensed software - source

MOSCOW. March 14 (Interfax) - State customers (agencies of all levels, budgetary institutions, state-owned enterprises, etc.) may be granted the right to use unlicensed versions of software produced by foreign companies from countries that have joined sanctions imposed on Russia, a source familiar with the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade's proposals for inclusion in a single plan to implement anti-crisis measures told Interfax.

The ministry proposes abolishing liability for the use of unlicensed software in Russia belonging to copyright holders from the countries that backed the sanctions, the source said. That is, according to the ministry, the clauses of the Administrative Offenses Code and the Criminal Code should be supplemented with regulations providing for the possibility of forced use of unlicensed software amid sanctions.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade proposes tasking the Economic Development Ministry and other interested agencies with drawing up relevant amendments to the Administrative Offenses Code and the Criminal Code.

However, the Ministry of Industry and Trade proposes extending this regulation not only to software, but also to any licenses and other types of rights to the outcome of intellectual activity. Moreover, the companies from those countries that have joined sanctions imposed on Russia will not be eligible for compensations.

It will be necessary to make relevant amendments to the Russian Civil Code, the ministry said. The Economic Development Ministry is also expected to draft them.

In early March, the media reported that as part of the plan of priority measures to ensure development of the Russian economy amid the foreign sanctions' pressure, the Russian government is discussing the possibility of removing liability for the use of unlicensed software.

At the same time, the Russian Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media said that it did not make and does not support the proposal to exempt from liability for the use of unlicensed software.