Criminal law protection of copyright and related rights in the digital environment

This article affirms that infringement of intellectual property (trademarks, copyrights, patents, etc.) is a constantly growing phenomenon being nowadays of an international scale and poses a threat to the economy. Digital technologies facilitate the instant and global distribution of counterfeit goods. The development of the digital environment provides with new opportunities and challenges for copyright holders and the general public, and is accompanied by a number of sociological, philosophical, and legal issues. The proliferation of digital technologies has profoundly changed the creative sphere, facilitating the spread of mass infringements, such as downloading or streaming the content protected by copyright or related rights. The article analyzes the adaptability of the provisions of Article 146 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation to the exponential growth of illegal downloading and sharing of copyrighted material using digital technologies, as well as the feasibility of combating these practices through criminal prohibition.