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20 Whittier L. Rev. 831 (1998-1999)
Piracy in Russia: An Epidemic

handle is hein.journals/whitlr20 and id is 841 raw text is: PIRACY IN RUSSIA: AN EPIDEMIC- TIM KUIK** This article discusses the ongoing problem of piracy in Russia and the enforcement measures taken to control this epidemic. There are some positive inroads being made by Russian authorities in terms of curbing piracy. First, it is important to examine the amount of piracy and intel- lectual property rights violations occurring in Russia. According to Interfax, the damage resulting from piracy totals $1 billion a year with the State losing almost half of that amount to lost tax revenues.2 Piracy accounted for approximately seventy percent of the production and distribution of computer software, audio and video recordings, book publishing, and cinema productions.3 In particular, approximately sev- enty to seventy-five percent of the local software market is pirated, which constitutes general losses of $190 million, in addition to an $85 million loss resulting from unpaid taxes.4 The music industry has expe- rienced the greatest volume of piracy with an estimated eighty percent * This is the edited text of remarks presented at How the East Was Won: Legal Aspects of the Entertainment Business in Russia. This conference was held in Los Angeles on Feb. 21, 1998. ** General Director, Brein. Masters in Law, University of Amsterdam, Faculty of Law (1982); Atheneum B at the Zaanstad (1976). 1. Interfax is a private news agency. See Interfax (visited March 31, 1999) <http://www.interfax-news.com>. 2. Id. See also Intellectual Property Developments, EAST-WEST EXECUTIVE GUIDE, Mar. 1, 1996 at Vol. 6, No. 3 ISSN: 1067-635X. 3. See supra note 1 and accompanying text. 4. Id.