MOSCOW, November 17 (RAPSI) – The Moscow Commercial Court will hold on January 15 a preliminary hearing in the case lodged by the Russian Union of Right-holders against Russian subsidiary of Panasonic Corporation over unpaid copyright fees, RAPSI learnt in the court on Monday.

The union, headed by the Oscar-winning film director Nikita Mikhalkov, is seeking 205 million rubles ($4,3 mln) in damages plus 29 million rubles ($612,000) in interest.

The union was authorized in September 2010 to collect and distribute remuneration for the authors, performers and phonogram producers and audiovisual products for free reproduction of phonograms and audiovisual products for private purposes within the territory of the Russian Federation.

The subsidiary of Panasonic was inspected in September for compliance with the copyright law. The inspection revealed that the company imported consumer electronics into Russia without paying the copyright fees in violation of the policy of the union.

The Culture Ministry ordered the company to comply with the rules.