Выучите наизусть: никогда копирование музыки и фильмов для личных целей не признавалось в России преступлением. Тех, кто написал, что нас будут сажать за скачивание музыки, я предлагаю по законам революционного времени объявить контрой и расстрелять.

Esther Dyson from EDventure made a bet with Intuit's chairman Bill Campbell that in 2012 Wall Street Journal and New York Times would call Russia the world leading software developer. She put a $5,000 stake on that although if she had to pick only one country as a futurе world's IT major, it would be India. The problem with Russian IT is the lack of skilfull marketing and planning to add to programmers' talent, she explained.

According to Aton's analyst Tatiana Kapustina, Russian media market will double in the next 3 years. Its 2006 turnover is estimated for about $6,6 bln. By that time the share of national advertisers' expends in GDP (0,65% in 2006) will double too and could be compared with today's figures in Poland ($95 per head) and other fast growing European markets. Currently there are only three public media companies in Russia. In 2006 CTC Media's capitalization increased by 72%, Rambler Media's by 70% and RBC's by 66%.

1st Vice Prime-Minister Sergey Ivanov claimed that by 2015 every town in the country would become technically capable of providing stationary and mobile telecommunication and Internet access for every family. Speaking at the extended session at Ministry of information technologies and communication last week he also pointed at the low amount of domestically produced microelectronics, telecommunication equipment and computers.

According to the preliminary results for the full year 2006 released by RBC Information Systems (RTS, MICEX: RBCI) group's total revenue rises 90% to $207.8m due to strong underlying growth in the Media and IT segments and contributions from recent acquisitions. Consolidated EBITDA grew 84% to $54.5m and consolidated net income advanced 77% to $36.9m.

Commenting on the results RBC Chairman and CEO German Kaplun said, "This year RBC will keep aggressively investing in startup projects and acquisitions to build a large loyal audience in the area of mass market Internet and become a powerful force in the digital media in Russia, the CIS and Eastern Europe. These investments are expected to influence this year's financial results, but will benefit the company in the following years".

As reported earlier, RBC's Internet business is in the process of separation to an independent company Media Mir. This new company will spend $120m expanding into the general interest web segment in Russia, former USSR republics and Eastern Europe.

Legal consultation of Non-Commercial Partnership of Software Suppliers which examines software legality for state prosecutors reports it has been overloaded with requests. Well known Ponosov's lawsuit became mass practice. Few days ago a textile company in Chelyabinsk stopped working after eight computers were withdrawn on suspicion of using illegal software. Later these days local police department examined an office of the Kapital LK insurance agency in Ufa, Bashkortostan. They were using illegal software there, although supply contract said the license was ok, so the supplier was called to court. Local businessmen say Kapital LK wasn't the single case and that police has also arrested property in one of the city's travel agency. Meanwhile software developers report rising sales in Russia due to these examinations. There were sold twice as much MS Windows and Office in last few months.

Related links:
Moscow State University getting rid of illegal software
Russian government admits using illegal software
Russian police to examine warehouses fighting piracy