MOSCOW, July 22 (RAPSI) — The Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation has drafted a bill providing for compensation of up to 5 million rubles (about $88,000 at the time of writing) for copyright infringement related to illegal blocking of online content. 

The bill is available on the website of draft laws and regulations.

An explanatory note of the draft law states that those who unlawfully restrict access to intellectual property published on the Internet may face civil liability and be ordered to pay damage ranging from 10,000 (about $177) to 5 million rubles depending on the case circumstances.

The proposed provisions would provide a balance of the interests of authors, other right holders in regard to the protection of their rights and legitimate interests, the initiative reads.

Amendments are proposed to the Civil Code of the Russian Federation.