Call for Stricter Copyright Rules
Arab countries have been called upon to implement stricter rules and regulations for the protection of computer programs, information banks, films, tape recordings and other intellectual creations. Chairman of the Arab Society for the Protection of Intellectual Property (ASPIP), Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, in an hour-long interview with Dubai Satellite Television recently urged the Arab countries to impose strict penalties to deter piracy of intellectual property.
Abu-Ghazaleh stated in the interview that Arabs have a wealth of cultural and intellectual heritage. As such, the Arab countries should think of protecting the intellectual creations of their people. He emphasized that the issue should be given top priority and steps taken to protect the intellectual rights.
Warning that the lack of proper regulations to protect intellectual property "could be used as a weapon against us in the negotiations for joining the World Trade Organization (WTO)" he assailed the Arab media for focusing its attention only on the need to protect the rights of foreign intellectuals. "It is as if the Arabs are not creative," he commented. He explained that copyright protection would be beneficial for Arab writers and intellectuals as well. "The Arab customer who does not like imitated products like food, medicine or equipment and prefers to have only original goods, should not encourage piracy or imitation of any intellectual production," he said.
Abu-Ghazaleh stressed the need to abide by the rules on patent rights, especially those issued by the WTO. In this regard, he stressed that Arab countries should exert more effort to formulate legislations on intellectual property. They should utilize the grace period given to developing countries to amend their laws to check piracy and, at the same time, strive to achieve maximum benefit from technical aid and technology transfer.
Abu-Ghazaleh, who is also the Chairman of the Arab Licensing and Technology Transfer Society (ALTTS), the Arab Management Society (AMS) and the Arab Society of Certified Accountants (ASCA), said the Arab countries should speedily establish an Arab patent body to register intellectual creations. Urging Arab countries to encourage activities, he called upon the Arab Intellectuals Union to establish a joint project in collaboration with ASPIP to safeguard their interests and works. (The Emirates News)