VIOLATION OF THE LAW ON COPYRIGHT AND RELATED RIGHTS COMPENSATED IN ARMENIA FOR THE FIRST TIME

ARMENPRESS
APRIL 29, 2010
YEREVAN

YEREVAN, APRIL 29, ARMENPRESS: Violation of RA Law on Copyright and
Related Rights is compensated in Armenia for the first time. two shops
came to an agreement with Microsoft after negotiations and paid to the
company 5 million USD as a compensation for selling not licensed discs,
Narine Lazarian, expert of the ‘Business Software Alliance’ (BSA)
international organization, Microsoft’s representative for copyright
and legal interests, said at a press conference today. She informed
that BSA held checking February in 10 shops of the central district
of Yerevan in association with RA Police, department of fighting
against organized crime. 4 of the shops were selling computers, and
six of them- discs. The aim of the checking was making clear whether
those trade organizations were selling licensed products or not.

According to Narine Lazarian, Microsoft always settles issues
with companies through negotiations and only after the failure in
the process of negotiations, Microsoft applies to the police for
gathering proves.

Microsoft has filed 24 applications, which refer to not only discs
selling shops or computers, but also middle-sized and large-scale
enterprises operating in Armenia, which use software by Microsoft. 3
criminal cases were evoked against disc selling shops located in the
center of Yerevan: Microsoft did not manage to reach an agreement
with these companies.

Narine Lazarian informed that the total amount of the incurred loss
from 6 discs shops of Armenia is assessed 33.1 million AMD (86.000
USD). She says in addition to the 5000 USD, the company has already
received, the other issues will be settled through legal proceedings.

The expert did not mention the names of the shops, as the cases are
still under preliminary investigation.

Narine Lazarian says in order to prevent such cases and call the
trespassers to account, it is better to adopt the bill, currently
under discussion at the National Assembly, which is initiated by Karen
Vardanyan, ARF faction member. The bill is aimed at safeguarding the
rights of authors, performers, filmmakers, software and database
developers for their creations in the spheres of culture, art,
science, as well as protecting the interests of consumers and ensuring
competitive conditions for entrepreneurs.