New rules against digital piracy: Moldovan parliament approves administrative sanctions

The lawmakers have approved new administrative sanctions for the use and commercialization of devices that allow illegal access to services protected by copyright. Fifty-three MPs today adopted the amendments to the Contravention Code in the second reading.

The legislative initiative aims to prevent and combat illegal acts in the field of electronic communications networks and services and transposes into national legislation the Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the legal protection of services based on, or consisting of, conditional access.

According to the document, an illicit device is considered any equipment or software designed or adapted to allow access to a protected service without the provider’s authorization.

Thus, the manufacture, import, distribution, sale, rental or possession for commercial purposes of such devices will be sanctioned with a fine of up to 4,500 lei for private people and up to 6,000 lei for persons with positions of responsibility. In the case of legal entities, the fine may reach up to 15,000 lei, and the sanction of deprivation of the right to carry out a certain activity for a period from six months to one year will also be applied.

At the same time, the installation, maintenance or replacement of an illicit device for commercial purposes will be sanctioned with a fine of up to 1,500 lei for private people, up to 9,000 lei for persons with positions of responsibility and up to 12,000 lei for legal entities.

The document also provides for sanctions for the use of commercial communications for the purpose of promoting illicit devices. The legislative amendments will enter into force on March 13, 2027.