Quarter of Russian internet users agree to pay for music online

Around 80 percent of Internet users in Russia are familiar with the anti-Internet piracy law which came into force on August 1. Still, according to the survey published by the Russian Public Opinion Foundation (FOM), only a quarter of the Internet users agree to pay for audio and video content on the web, said the foundation's official Svetlana Borisova on Thursday at the Russian Internet Week-2013 (RIW-2013). The official said that only 34 percent of the questioned responded positively to the recently introduced law, while 49 percent claimed that free access to online content and information was a major Internet advantage. Moreover, 45 percent of RuNet users complained they have already seen the anti-piracy law in action when they were unable to download a film they wanted. “Nevertheless, not more than a quarter of the Internet users will pay for the online content”, added Borisova. Deputy Minister of Communications and Mass Media, Alexei Volin, said that the anti-piracy law allowed for the coexistence of the copyright holders and the Internet industry. “The bill's adoption has intensified the dialogue between these two industries. It's a sort of coercion to cooperation, ” said the deputy. Very few websites may possibly be blocked because of the law, Volin added.