MOSCOW, March 6 (RAPSI) – The State Duma Committee on Information Policy has recommended that the lower house adopt a bill to extend the anti-piracy law to all copyrighted and related rights content.

The first reading of the bill may be set for March 12.

The anti-piracy law, which took effect on August 1, 2013 despite protests from Internet companies, provided the legal framework and the procedure for limiting access to websites that distribute movies and TV shows in violation of copyright laws. The law also specifies the regulations for liability or for condoning information brokers (Internet and hosting providers).

In late February, State Duma Deputy Speaker Sergei Zheleznyak (United Russia) submitted a bill aimed at limiting access to any pirated online content.

The bill provides a more detailed mechanism for blocking illegal content, reads an explanatory note. “The service provider would not block the offending part of the content but the entire illegal content, under court order,” the note says. “If said operator lacks the technology to limit access to illegal content, it should limit access to the information resource as a whole.”

The bill has a provision under which hosting and service providers and site owners would not be liable to rights holders or users for limiting access to information.

If adopted and approved, the bill will come into force on July 1, 2014.