The government will allow access without consent from copyright holders in “unfriendly” countries until December 2024.
On January 3, the Belarusian government passed a law allowing residents to access audiovisual media and computer software without the consent of copyright holders in “unfriendly” countries. Japan is part of that. The new law he said will be in effect until December 2024.
From now on, the state-owned National Patent Office will handle international copyright claims. Any individual or company that imports unauthorized or pirated content must pay a fee to the organization. Afterwards, the international rights holder allows him to file a claim for three years. If they do not do so within the allotted period, the Belarusian government will keep the money.
The bill describes audiovisual materials as “films, music and television programs” that are considered “essential to the domestic market”. This includes products of international companies and television programs edited or distributed by national institutions. The law aims to develop the “intellectual, spiritual and moral potential of society” and to alleviate “significant shortages of food and other commodities on the domestic market”.
Other “unfriendly” countries and territories include Australia, Albania, Andorra, United Kingdom, European Union Member States, Iceland, Canada, Liechtenstein, Micronesia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, San Marino, North Macedonia, Singapore , USA, Taiwan, Ukraine, Montenegro, Switzerland. The above regions have imposed economic sanctions on Belarus for supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Source: Deadline (Zac Ntim)
