MOSCOW, February 21 (RAPSI) – A Russian who ran a file-sharing website that allowed users to illegally download Hollywood films avoided prison time after pleading guilty to “intentional large-scale violation of copyright law,” the Kommersant daily reported Thursday.
Anton Yelesin, who investigators said personally uploaded movies to his site IronClub.tv, was given a two-year suspended sentence by a court in the Russian city of Naberezhnye Chelny.
The complaint, which initially focused on 21 films, was lodged last year by the Russian Anti-Piracy Organization, which represents such Hollywood powerhouses as 20th Century Fox, Warner Brothers and Paramount.
The verdict only specified three films: “Titanic,” “The Hangover Part III” and “Operation Y,” the latter of which is a popular Soviet film. The court assessed damages at 2.1 million rubles ($60,000).
Russia adopted anti-piracy legislation last year that encouraged copyright holders to report violations in order to block infringing websites.
A similar case last year against the site InterFilm.ru also ended in suspended sentences.
