Minister: Local software law not to boost prices if done wisely

MOSCOW, Dec 3 (PRIME) -- Russia’s law on compulsory installation of domestic software on gadgets will not raise prices if the process is organized wisely, Industry and Trade Minister Denis Manturov said late on Monday.

“The new law equalizes the right of local and foreign software of access to the customer. At present, only foreign applications are preinstalled. We think if the process is organized reasonably, it won’t raise prices of gadgets for the buyers,” Manturov said.

President Vladimir Putin earlier signed into law a ban on the sale of electronic equipment, like smartphones and computers, without preinstalled Russian software from July 1, 2020. The government is to draw a list of such goods, software and the order of its preinstallation.

Internet ombudsman Dmitry Marinichev told PRIME, “There is nothing wrong with it. From the point of view of the concept, the law is not bad and is even right. The question is how to execute it and how to choose the set of programs that should be and should not be preinstalled. It has a strong impact on the competitive environment.”

At the first stage, the prices could rise if third parties rather than manufacturers preinstall the programs, but this transition period will last no more than a year or a year and a half, the official said.

End