UAE government wishes to adjust intellectual property legislation

Following an investigation by the Abu Dhabi Technology Development Committee, the Ministry of Economic Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) plans to restructure the current intellectual property system and adopt new copyright law.

Although the UAE is one of the top 25% countries with good intellectual property laws, there are still many improvements possible, according to  Ahmed Saeed Al Calily, head of the Technology Development Committee. According to Al Calily, the government wishes to realize regulations to provide a more efficient registration of intellectual property rights and a better licensing system. The government intends to improve their police system for identifying copyright infringements, including the creation of a judicial system capable of handling the more complex cases. Currently, there aren't any UAE courts specialized in copyright infringement cases.

Both the music and the film industry are content with the new government plans. David Butorac, CEO of the OSN network, a cable and satellite operator, mentioned that the illegal distribution of television series cost operators more than $ 500 million per year in lost revenue. Butorac said that the government finally recognizes the actual costs and no longer labels copyright infringement as ‘a victimless crime’.

Hussain Spek Yoosuf, a local expert in the field of music copyright, hopes that the new rules will create a government-sponsored ‘music copyright system’ which will streamline music’ licensing. Yoosuf mentioned that it is almost impossible for local songwriters to have a music career, because the local musicians do not receive any royalties, so it is necessary for them to have a job besides making music. Therefore it is important the government will allow just one legitimate body to manage all music’ licensing, which is controlled by the government so royalties can be acquired, according to Yoosuf.

Reference: The National

By: Karen Groen