“I have introduced the draft of Civil Code amendments to the State Duma. It is a fundamental work, a heavy volume, as it concerns the foundations of civil law”, said Medvedev.

The draft foresees amendments to all the four parts of the Civil Code as well as separate acts.

Minister of Justice Alexander Konovalov has announced that the draft gives a major facelift to Part One that contains the basic principles of the Russian civil law, according to Interfax.

Amendments include the liability of internet providers for intellectual rights violation.

“Information middlemen, transmitting materials online or providing publishing access to third parties, are liable on common basis for breach of intellectual rights if found guilty”, said Konovalov at a press briefing. Charges may be dropped for providers, if the exclusive rights owner grants “free non-commercial use of the intellectual property to any person”, states Konovalov.

Also, amendments include public and non-public companies instead of closed and open-end joint stock companies and additional liability companies.

According to another amendment, the land plot and buildings owned by one individual are viewed as a whole in transactions.

Konovalov said that despite many debated points – 93 initially, the legislators managed to keep them to a minimum and finalize the consultation process. The amendments are expected to come into force as early as 1 September 2012.

Corporate and contract law, Project Group №2