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.Thank you for reading this Techdirt post. With so many things competing for everyone’s attention these days, we really appreciate you giving us your time. We work hard every day to put quality content out there for our community.
Techdirt is one of the few remaining truly independent media outlets. We do not have a giant corporation behind us, and we rely heavily on our community to support us, in an age when advertisers are increasingly uninterested in sponsoring small, independent sites — especially a site like ours that is unwilling to pull punches in its reporting and analysis.
While other websites have resorted to paywalls, registration requirements, and increasingly annoying/intrusive advertising, we have always kept Techdirt open and available to anyone. But in order to continue doing so, we need your support. We offer a variety of ways for our readers to support us, from direct donations to special subscriptions and cool merchandise — and every little bit helps. Thank you.
–The Techdirt Team
Filed Under: armenia, copyright, copyright law
Reader Comments
Subscribe: RSS
View by: Time | Thread
It boggles the mind...
Do we need another witch hunt?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
cool
only 133 other nations to go...
ACTA RULES , ACTA FOREVER
BATMAN nanananananana
BATMAN
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: cool
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: cool
8^)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
Not the news I like hearing from my home country.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: "not much to copy"?
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
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.)
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Excellent
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Excellent
Hard to argue with facts, and we should see some interesting numbers.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Excellent
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Excellent
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Re: Re: Excellent
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Bait and Switch
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
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.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Bait and Switch
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
A law adopted
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: A law adopted
Just like it's been done in lots of other former Soviet Union republics - Russia, Belarus, all other "Carjackistans".
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re:
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
@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.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Jail time with the TV set to constantly play "The View".
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Re: Penalties
> "The View".
No, they bring Joy Behar personally to your cell and lock her in with you.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Hmmm 5300 people in prison now
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
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.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
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.
[ link to this | view in chronology ]
Gotta wonder
[ link to this | view in chronology ]