Armenia Decides It Needs Incredibly Strict Copyright Laws
from the copy-and-go-to-jail dept
Over the years, tons of studies have suggested that strong intellectual property rights are especially damaging in poorer and developing nations. So it's always a bit of a surprise when we see such countries willing to adopt draconian copyright and patent laws. Via Michael Scott we learn that Armenia -- currently ranked 135th in the world in per capita income, is apparently preparing to put in place quite draconian copyright laws. A first offense for copyright infringement would get you fined $2,500. This in a country where the per capita GDP is somewhere between $3,350 and $5,900 depending on who you believe. Oh, and for your second copyright violation? You're facing twelve months in jail. I'd hate to find out what the "third strike" is. Of course, the BSA has estimated that 93% of software in Armenia infringes on copyrights, so basically everyone in the country who uses a computer may be close to facing a year in jail.![Hide This Hide this](https://ii.techdirt.com/s/t/i/topclose.png)
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Filed Under: armenia, copyright, copyright law
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It boggles the mind...
Do we need another witch hunt?
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cool
only 133 other nations to go...
ACTA RULES , ACTA FOREVER
BATMAN nanananananana
BATMAN
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Re: cool
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Re: cool
8^)
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Re:
Not the news I like hearing from my home country.
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Re: Re: "not much to copy"?
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Excellent.
(Yes, I know I've assumed 93% of computer users infringe, rather than 93% of software infringes, but they're probably not too different.)
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Excellent
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Re: Excellent
Hard to argue with facts, and we should see some interesting numbers.
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Re: Re: Excellent
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Re: Re: Excellent
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Re: Re: Re: Excellent
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Bait and Switch
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Re: Bait and Switch
> strange place in Italy, that put Italy on our
> family's personal no-fly list
As long as you and your family don't like to engage in drug-fueled sex and murder orgies, I think you'll be safe in Italy.
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Re: Bait and Switch
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A law adopted
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Re: A law adopted
Just like it's been done in lots of other former Soviet Union republics - Russia, Belarus, all other "Carjackistans".
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Re:
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@11
they will add secretly or covertly laws that restrict the use of such software like canada's new copyright bill
the anti circumvention rules are so draconian as to cause you HUGE grief in using open source.
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Jail time with the TV set to constantly play "The View".
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Re: Penalties
> "The View".
No, they bring Joy Behar personally to your cell and lock her in with you.
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Hmmm 5300 people in prison now
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Hmmm 5300 people in prison now
Okay there are 5300 people in prison in Armenia.
93% of software in armenia infringes.
From the CIA Factbook the population of Armenia is 2,966,802
I dont think their prisons can handle this. Its bound to be an epic failure.
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What the article doesn't say....
On a more serious note, making the law is one thing, enforcing it is the other. Once one bigwig is named as having pirated software the law will be changed.
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Gotta wonder
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