After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Hollywood's biggest film studios stopped selling their films to Russia.
Despite that, Russian movie theaters have continued showing U.S.-made films, now pirated from online platforms.
Critics say that the Russian government should be held accountable, and its assets should be seized.
In January 2023, Russia's Justice Ministry proposed legalizing the theft of foreign movies.
The Culture Ministry, Economy Ministry, and Cinema Foundation have opposed this idea.
Some Western film studios have not stopped working in Russia.
Even if movie theater chains don't have any assets abroad, there will be nothing to seize, lawyers say.
"It could help to treat the infringing theaters and the Russian government as working together in a RICO enterprise," Humphreys said. "Just as the Russians are purporting to make political and legislative decisions to allow criminal copyright infringement, it may take political and legislative decisions in the U.S. to provide for jurisdiction and attachment of frozen Russian assets." Read also: Whether afraid or indifferent, regular Russians enable autocracy.
