Russia mulls making software piracy legal and patent licensing compulsory [View all]

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Russia mulls making software piracy legal and patent licensing compulsory
The Register

Russia is considering handing out licenses to use foreign software, database, and chip design patents, and legalizing software copyright violations, in response to sanctions imposed over its invasion of Ukraine.

According to Russian business publication Kommersant, a government document drafted on March 2 outlines possible actions to support the Russian economy, which faces extensive trade restrictions from the US, the UK, and Europe, and business withdrawals.

With companies like Apple, Oracle, Microsoft, and SAP halting sales (though not ending service to existing customers), Russia has instituted tax breaks for technology firms and conscription deferments for IT workers to retain its core resources and talent during the conflict.

The March 2 document, Kommersant says, proposes a compulsory license for patented software, databases, and chip designs, and contemplates abolishing criminal and administrative liability for software license violations, but only for rights holders from countries that support the sanctions against Russia.

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