A bill to regulate activities in Russia online cinemas adopted in the third reading in the state Duma on Friday, April 21. As reported by the Republic, the deputies unanimously approved the bill restricting the work of video services in Russia.
“The Federal law was adopted unanimously”, — said at the meeting, the Chairman of the state Duma Vyacheslav Volodin.
According to the law, foreign legal and natural persons will no longer “directly or indirectly” to own more than 20% of any audio-visual services in Russia. The site is considered an audiovisual service, if it is a day visits more than 100 000 Russian users. The requirements will not apply to services with user generated content like YouTube and Internet search engines “because of the impossibility of full control by the organizer of the service for its content.”
The bill prohibits the use of live theater to disclosure of state secrets or other secrets protected by law. In addition, it prohibits the distribution of materials calling to terrorism or its justification. For spreading calls for terrorist activities or materials justifying terrorism, calling for extremism, will result in a fine for citizens in the amount from 50 to 100 thousand rubles, for officials — from 200 to 400 thousand rubles, for legal entities — from 600 thousand to 1 million rubles.
In the event of default by the owner of the service requirements of Roskomnadzor for the citizens a penalty in the amount from 50 to 100 thousand rubles, for officials — from 200 to 400 thousand rubles, for legal entities — from RUB 600 thousand to 1 million rubles For the repeated Commission of an administrative offense a penalty of up to 3 million rubles.
In its current form, the law potentially interferes with the work in Russia online cinema Netflix, Amazon and Hulu (it is unlikely that they now have up to 100 000 users per day), but on 19 April in the Roskomnadzor reported that Netflix is already looking for a partner to work with in the domestic market.
Previously online-cinemas were obliged to obtain a distribution certificate for the film. The new norm will work from next year. An exception was made for online stores selling movies (iTunes, Google Play, etc.), and also for the online version of the channels. Them the rental license to not required.
A bill regulating online cinemas in Russia, was introduced in the state Duma deputies Andrei Lugovoi and Samail by Saralieva. In the preparation of the document was attended by members of Media communication Union, which includes the largest Telecom companies and media holdings.
The bill should come into force from 1 July 2017.
