MOSCOW, May 26 (RAPSI) – Russia’s Ministry of Economic Development has proposed to protect photographs made from space by copyright law, Izvestia newspaper writes on Monday.

“The data from earth remote sensing (ERS) and derivative materials are widely used. They are usually bought for a fee, but there is no clear legal regulation for ERS,” a ministry representative told the newspaper.

Under the draft law at Izvestia’s disposal, Article 1225 of the Civil Code, Protected Results of Intellectual Activity and Means of Identification, would be augmented to include a new clause: “materials and/or data acquired through earth remote sensing.”

The ministry representative also said that applying copyright law to ERS images is commoon practice wordwide.