PRESS: Russian software developers oppose enforced licensing

MOSCOW, Sep 12 (PRIME) -- Russian software developers have joined the opponents of a bill on enforced licensing, business daily Kommersant reported on Monday quoting association Russian Software, uniting 240 developers.

The bill was submitted to the State Duma, the parliament’s lower house, on July 19. The document applies to copyright items from the copyright holders related to unfriendly states and refusing to sell licensing in Russia.

Under a September 1 presidential order, Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin is to offer “special terms of use” of foreign software “with which the execution of the current agreements by responsible Russian users is impossible.” The order is to be fulfilled by October 1.

The Russian developers said that the use of content from unfriendly states without the copyright holder’s consent would not solve the problems of the use of foreign software in the country. The experts added that the use of software without legal support could provoke cybersecurity issues, among others.

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