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Copyright
is meant to prevent unauthorised copying of creative
works. It applies to written, artistic and
musical works - including computer software. The aim
is to ensure that the creators of these works, or
those who own the rights to them, receive a fair
reward.
Historically, Arab
countries have taken a relaxed view of copyright. In
many places intellectual property laws are
non-existent or are not enforced. There is
evidence that this attitude - and particularly
software piracy which is rampant throughout the Middle
East - has hampered development in the field of
technology. Attitudes are beginning to change,
however.
Background
World
Intellectual Property Organisation Treaty
December 1996
World
Intellectual Property Organisation
Bureau for Arab countries
Arab
Society for Intellectual Property
An organisation which aims to develop and promote
intellectual property protection in the Arab world. It
says: "The objective of Intellectual Property discipline, is
the promotion of economic, social and cultural
progress of society, through the development and
monitoring of global rules and treaties of
intellectual property rights which motivate
innovation and knowledge creation." Website includes sections on intellectual
property laws in Arab countries and details of intellectual
property treaties and conventions
International
Intellectual Property Alliance
See individual country
reports
Copyright laws
A summary of copyright laws in the following
countries:
Bahrain,
Egypt,
Jordan,
Kuwait,
Lebanon,
Oman,
Qatar,
United Arab Emirates
(source: BSA)
www.nopiracy.com
Worldwide, more than 38% of all software in use is
illegally copied.
http://www.economy.gov.lb/MOET/E/Default.htm
http://www.wipo.int/arab/en/activities/country_profiles.html
Articles on copyright
Call
for copyright protection
The Egyptian foreign minister, Amr Moussa, urged Arab countries to
pay more attention to protecting intellectual property rights. ArabicNews,
19 April, 2000
Copyright
conference
Lebanon's first conference on intellectual property and
authors' rights. ArabicNews, 10 March, 2000
Jordan
emphasizes the importance of investment in software
ArabicNews, 1 March, 2000
Cairo
witnesses the first meeting of the international Interpol
on product forgery
ArabicNews, 18 February, 2000
Microsoft
opens office in Lebanon after intellectual property
protection
ArabicNews, 19 June, 1999
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