YEREVAN. – Parallel to the development of information technologies, the number of information websites in Armenia has increased, making it possible to freely republish the information and analytical articles from the newspapers.

This leads to unequal positions for the media, MP from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia Arpine Hovhannisyan said on Monday introducing draft amendments to the law on copyright and related rights.

The bill suggests a number of changes, in particular prepublication of articles from newspapers, magazines and internet sites in other newspapers, magazines and web pages will be permitted only in justified volumes. Regardless of the amount of republishing it should not fully disclose the essence of the article and eliminate the need to use the authentic article.

When republishing excerpts of articles, media outlets need to make reference to the source with an active link for republishing an excerpt from the online media.

MP Hovhannisyan said the purpose of the bill is to regulate the system of using reprints from newspapers, magazines and electronic sites.

“The articles are often fully republished which is a violation of the law on copyright and the related rights,” she said.

The MP noted that under such conditions the primary source of information loses the exclusivity of the materials, as a result newspapers register circulation decline, while website decline in a number of visitors.

According to the amendments, the media outlet itself must decide whether to go to court or not, if the law is broken.