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EPA Discusses Intellectual Property Rights

02-Apr-2012 | Source : | Visits : 10364
ABU DHABI - The Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) in collaboration with the Emirates Intellectual Property Association (EIPA) organized a panel discussion titled "Intellectual Property Rights" on the sidelines of its participation at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair 2012.

According to the Emirates News Agency (WAM), the forum was aimed at discussing the legislative framework set by the UAE to protect the publishing sector and the Intellectual Property rights of publishers, authors and illustrators, as well as losses resulting from violation of property rights in the world. 

The panel discussion, sponsored by the UAE Social Welfare Fund, was attended by Dr. Abdul Qadous Abdul Razzaq Al Obaidli, Board Chairman and Founder of the Emirates Intellectual Property Association (EIPA); Jawad Al Redha, EIPA member and Chairman of the Computer Program Producers' Association in the Middle east; Abdul Rahman Al Muaini, EIPA Secretary General; and Kholoud Al Nuaimi, Manager of Cultural Programs at the Executive Office of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, as well as a number of UAE, Arab and international publishers participating in the book fair.

During the discussion, Dr. Abdul Qadous Al Obaidli highlighted the status of Intellectual Property laws and penalties applied against violators. He made a presentation on the concept of Intellectual Property and explained how individuals and organizations can protect their rights and prevent piracy, stressing the need to raise the public awareness about the importance of protecting Intellectual Property as well as the negative effects and damages resulting from piracy and all kinds of violations.

Dr. Al Obaidli noted that the UAE has managed to put itself at the forefront of Arab countries in the field of protection of Intellectual Property rights, although it has been a few years since it issued Intellectual Property protection laws.

"Participating in the Abu Dhabi Book Fair 2012 offered us an important opportunity to highlight the principles of the Intellectual Property association and emphasize its clear-cut stand to implement further procedures in order to consolidate the principles of protecting the rights of Intellectual Property as well as to fight and eliminate all forms of piracy and counterfeiting".

Jawad Al Redha, EIPA member and Chairman of the Computer Software Producers Association in the Middle East, outlined the UAE's laws on protecting the publishing sector against piracy and violation of the rights of publishers and authors, patents and trademarks. He underlined the most prominent efforts made by the UAE to update its legal system and its pioneering role in enacting laws that protect various sectors related to Intellectual Property rights, including the publishing sector.

Al Redha summarized losses suffered by computer software manufacturers around the world as a result of piracy and continuous violation of Intellectual Property rights. He referred to the negative effects of piracy and violation of Intellectual Property on investment, as many manufacturers are reluctant to enter markets that do not protect their trademarks.

He observed that losses resulting from theft of Intellectual Property rights globally increased from $51 billion in 2009 to $59 billion in 2010, explaining that there is now $63 of counterfeit products for every $100 of their genuine equivalent.

Speaking on this occasion, Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, EPA Chairperson, said Intellectual Property protection is one of the most important factors in helping promote the global publishing industry due to its role in respecting the rights of publishers, authors and illustrators, which would have moral and material impacts on them, as well as positive results on the performance of all those working in this field." Sheikha Bodour praised laws and legislation enacted by the UAE to protect Intellectual Property rights and penalties against violators of Intellectual Property rights in the country.

She pointed out that the UAE has made remarkable achievements within a few years, and expressed her hope that the UAE would take further measures regarding Intellectual Property in order to be among the group of pioneering countries in preventing violations of Intellectual Property rights.

This comes at a time when the UAE has reaffirmed its commitment to international laws related to publishing, and its entry into many of the various agreements, it is a signatory to the Berne Convention, the Treaty of the World Intellectual Property Organization and the TRIPS Agreement of the WTO, and the Arab Convention for the protection of copyright, also classified as Athalawly the Arab world, and is one of the top 30 countries globally in the protection of copyright and Intellectual Property.

On the same day, a workshop was held entitled "Addressing Publishing in the UAE" in the presence of members of the Board of Directors of the Association, during which a number of issues and developments that concern the publishing sector were discussed.

They also addressed ways to remove obstacles facing publishers which are hindering their efforts to develop the publishing sector, a goal that tops the Emirates Publishers Association's priorities in its effort to help publishers and facilitate their mission, guide them and exchange views with them the best possible solutions.
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