Emirates Publishers Association discussion part of Sharjah’s guest of honour programme
at Turin International Book Fair 2019
Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) organised a cultural panel about the UAE’s leading role in protecting intellectual property, in addition to the laws issued by EPA in this regard, as part of Sharjah’s guest of honour programme at the Turin International Book Fair (TIBF 2019).
Themed ‘UAE’s Efforts to Preserve Intellectual Property Rights’, the panel was moderated by Rawan Dabbas, Head of International Relations at EPA. Session’s speakers, Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Muaini, Secretary General of Emirates Intellectual Property Association (EIPA) and Tamer Said, Director General of Kalimat Group (KG), spoke about the strict standards UAE has adopted in publishing.
They also noted the efforts of cultural institutions and intellectuals in furthering authors’ rights, highlighted global cooperation mechanisms in safeguarding processes, and how the UAE has assumed the role of an incubator for the publishing sector regionally.
Dr. Abdul Rahman Al Muaini recounted how the UAE’s intellectual property rights laws have evolved and developed in this regard, and seen remarkable progress since the inception of the EIPA in 2010.
He added: “We signed an agreement with the EPA to raise awareness among all creative industry personnel on the laws that protect their rights. We also guided them to the right entities they should communicate with, in case of disagreement.”
Al Muaini underscored that the existence of laws isn’t enough. He emphasised the need for them to be explained thoroughly to those who are meant to be protected by them, and said that the implementation mechanisms should be futher developed to be more effective. He pointed out that the EIPA signed a cooperation agreement with Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), which is aimed at raising awareness among students about the standards of dealing with published material online, and protecting the rights of authors and publishers.
Tamer Said noted that the publishing sector, like any other sector, is impacted negatively or positively by laws and legislation. In order for the sector to be attractive, it should be profitable (rewardable), financially. Intellectual property rights has a crucial role to play in this.
Said stressed that the existence of clear laws – not open to more than one interpretation – helps promote innovation and intellectual creativity. He highlighted the need for authorised bodies to interpret the laws, and urged new authors to read their legal rights before signing any agreement with publishers.
On the role of Kalimat Group in raising awareness about intellectual property rights, Saeed noted that KG provides legal advice to everybody and directs complainants to the right entities.
“We are lucky in the UAE, because publishers, authors and most of those working in this field know each other well. This makes it easier to solve any problem through direct and personal communication between two parties,” he concluded.
EPA was established in 2009 by Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi,Vice President of the International Publishers Association (IPA). It aims to serve and develop the publishing industry in the UAE and advance the role of Emirati publishers through training and mentorship programmes andby improving publishing-related conditions and laws in collaboration with all related entities and departments in the UEA and beyond.