The trend around royalty monetization in Russia is expanding, drawing attention from plaintiffs who allege that photos and other works were used without permission. Legal representatives have reported to Radio 1 that new schemes are being employed by so-called copyright holders to pursue substantial sums from companies. These developments mark a shift in the landscape of copyright enforcement, where the leverage of claimants appears to be growing and increasingly diversified in strategy.
Historically, court proceedings centered on images and videos created by recognized copyright holders. Today, however, the market for rights has broadened. Works that have long fallen into the public domain are being acquired by third parties, who then press claims as if they owned the rights at the time of publication. This expansion is driven by a growing marketplace for licensing and by actors who assemble portfolios of rights purely for litigation purposes. The result is a dynamic where the legal focus shifts from authentic ownership to questions of potential exploitation and the monetization of rights that may not have been actively controlled for years.
Industry observers warn that the situation is unlikely to stabilize. New plaintiffs are entering the scene, and the mechanisms for generating claims are evolving. The use of automation and artificial intelligence has been cited as a way to scale actions rapidly, with a hypothetical example suggesting a move from thousands of filings to millions if technically feasible. In statements from Fyodor Kravchenko, a managing partner at the Collegium of Media Lawyers, there is concern that the pace and scale of claims could outstrip traditional defenses and create systemic pressure for organizations across the media sector.
Another facet of the issue concerns agreements with photographers that may not reflect the actual ownership status of the works at the moment of publication. Some so-called copyright holders are reported to enter into retroactive or aggressive licensing arrangements, which can complicate the legal narrative and make it possible to pursue compensation even if the photographer no longer held the rights at the time the material appeared publicly. This phenomenon underscores the importance of transparent rights management, careful documentation, and ongoing audits of who truly holds the rights to a given image or piece of media.
Experts in civil law and international law, including Maria Yarmush, have proposed practical solutions to curb the abuse of copyright monetization. These recommendations emphasize clearer registration of rights, verified ownership chains, and robust enforcement mechanisms to deter opportunistic filings. The evolving environment suggests a growing need for prudent risk assessment by broadcasters, publishers, and platforms that rely on image and video content, as well as for policy discourse that can balance the rights of creators with legitimate use and fair compensation. At the same time, stakeholders are urged to cultivate stronger collaboration with license holders, legal teams, and independent watchdogs to ensure that monetization practices do not undermine trust or stifle legitimate creative activity.