The IP practice of Goltsblat BLP is representing the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) on behalf of the world's three major record companies — Sony Music Russia, Universal Music Russia and Warner Music UK - on claims for the protection of related rights in phonograms against the social network “VKontakte.”
In April 2014, Sony Music Russia, Universal Music Russia, and Warner Music UK filed separate lawsuits against "VKontakte" in the Arbitration Court of St. Petersburg and Leningrad region, requesting that VKontakte stop copyright infringement of nine artists and build in digital print technology resources that keeps track of copies of pirated content and prevents them from re-download. The claimants allege damages in the amount of 51.6 million rubles. In June the suits were consolidated into a single proceeding. On August 11, 2014, the Arbitration Court of St. Petersburg and Leningrad region set its consideration of the claim for September 8, 2014
According to Goltsblat BLP Partner Elena Trusova, “in the Russian practice this is virtually the first lawsuit in this category of cases, when the plaintiffs are the largest representatives of the global music industry.”
