Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, chairman of the Arab Society for Intellectual Property (ASIP), declared that the first priority of this age is moving towards a knowledge-based society within the new global economy.
Abu-Ghazaleh stated that this should take place such that innovation maintains its role as a major tool of fair competition and respect of intellectual property (IP) rights remains as a major avenue to enhance innovation, pointing out that without respecting IP rights, innovation becomes obsolete. Consequently, the movement of the economy becomes hindered or ends altogether.
This came in a lecture delivered in the Libyan capital Tripoli entitled “What’s New in IP and IT”.
Abu-Ghazaleh stated: “We need to protect IP for our present and for our development and our economy’s progress. This is a message we’d like to highlight and emphasize in our Arab world.”
He added: “We cannot lay back in satisfaction and content when there are priorities that we need to enforce and enhance and that need to be adopted by broad sectors in the Arab countries. This needs to take place for numerous reasons:
First; because there is a need to avoid a general trend to represent the role of health- we do not respect IP rights because rich countries force us to do so, but rather because our interest dictates this to us.
Second; in the medium and long-terms, effective execution depends on public support, and this means that success requires a broad understanding or at the very least an acceptance of the significance and value of IP protection.
Third; currently the trend is compliance with provisions of the TRIPS agreement, which is the most important of developments relating to the administration of IP rights in the Arab world. The TRIPS does not put in place a minimum limit of standards. In other words, there is much left to be done, such as joining more international IP treaties, improving national legislation such that it considers new technologies, or other developments that require the understanding and support of the public.
Fourth; understanding IP and widespread respect and acceptance of IP rights can encourage the choices of politics, which in turn can contribute to the country’s “capital of knowledge”. This may include special provisions related to direct foreign investment, organization of services, the movement of normal persons, investment in research and development (R&D), the granting of tax-related forgiveness periods and other issues.”
He explained that the concept which represents the basis of IP rights is the need to achieve various goals such as the encouragement of innovation, achieving a balance between IP rights and the general public’s interest, organizing commerce and the avoidance of competition.
Abu-Ghazaleh presented suggestions for what he views as priorities for enhancing IP concepts in Arab countries. These can be summarized as follows:
Execution of the TRIPS agreement, organizing support for IP protection followed by improving IP administration, development of education and the enhancement of Arab and international cooperation, expediting R&D processes and the presentation of incentives by governmental parties.