Amazon eyes Russian service

Amazon could launch a video streaming service in Russia, following local reports that it has applied to register the Amazon Instant Video trademark in the country.

Russian tech site Digit.ru first reported the news last week, citing a “priority” filing with Russia’s patent office, Rospatent.

A video launch would see Amazon go head-to-head with local video services such as IVI.ru, Tvigle and Stream.ru.

The news follows an April report by Forbes stating that Amazon had opened a Russian office and hired the former head of publishing firm ABC-Atticus, Arkady Vitruk, to run it.

At the time, Forbes said that Amazon had applied to register the Amazon trademark for the storage and delivery of goods, packaging for transportation, the electronic storage of texts, audio-visual products and files.

Amazon currently already offers its Amazon Instant video services in the US and Canada and offers streaming video in the UK and Germany under its LoveFilm brand.

Earlier this month Amazon pulled its LoveFilm service from the Nordics, closing down its service in Denmark, Sweden and Norway.