Sharjah: Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Founder and Honourary President of the Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association (ERRA), underscored the pivotal role of intellectual property in driving the creative and cultural industries in the UAE and beyond. She highlighted Sharjah’s and the UAE’s ongoing efforts to protect creative rights by establishing a legislative framework that encourages innovation and creativity.
According to Emirates News Agency, the remarks were made during a meeting between Sheikha Bodour and a delegation from the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO), led by CEO Anita Huss. Majd Al Shehhi, Director of the ERRA, and representatives from the association participated in the discussions. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation to establish a solid foundation for intellectual property rights, aiming to boost economic growth and societal well-being globally.
As part of the IFRRO delegation’s visit, a meeting with the UAE Ministry of Eco
nomy was held, featuring Dr Abdulrahman Hassan Al Muaini, Assistant Undersecretary for the Intellectual Property Sector. The session aimed to bolster efforts to protect intellectual property rights and support the creative economy. Discussions centered on exchanging knowledge and understanding the UAE’s legislative environment for innovators, aligning with international standards, and exploring partnership opportunities.
The meeting’s significance was underscored by recent advancements in the UAE’s intellectual property sector, including legislative updates like the Copyright and Neighbouring Rights Law. A comprehensive intellectual property framework was introduced earlier this year to stimulate innovation and safeguard creators’ rights across sectors such as technology and creative industries.
The IFRRO delegation’s visit also included engagements with the University of Sharjah, cultural tours, and a reception at the Sharjah Research, Technology and Innovation Park. The event on 31 October brought togethe
r representatives from the UAE’s publishing and education sectors to discuss copyright and intellectual property protections.
In her address, Al Shehhi highlighted educational institutions’ and collective management organisations’ roles in protecting intellectual property and supporting the creative economy. She stressed the importance of integrating intellectual property concepts into academia to nurture a generation that values creative works. Al Shehhi noted that the Emirates Reprographic Rights Association provides licenses for printed and digital works to assist educational institutions, supporting knowledge dissemination while respecting copyright.
Al Shehhi further emphasized the importance of copyright and intellectual property rights under UAE law for sustaining creative production. She called for unified efforts and strategic partnerships between academia and publishing to foster a culture of compliance and advance the UAE’s creative economy.
Anita Huss praised the UAE’s model in safeguarding aut
hors’ and publishers’ rights and recognized their intellectual contributions. She stressed the need for global coordination in collective rights management, crucial for enriching the publishing process and increasing investment in creative content.
The event included a panel discussion moderated by Yasmin Aissaoui, featuring contributions from James Alexander of IFRRO, Fahad Al Mamari of the Emirates Library and Information Association, author Shaikha Al Mteiri, and publisher Mohamed Kandil. The panel explored the economic impact of intellectual property protection and discussed potential collaborations.