Dubai: The Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association (ERRA) has announced the signing of the country's first-ever blanket reprographic rights licensing agreement with Heriot-Watt University Dubai. This pioneering step sets a new benchmark for regulating the use of intellectual works within academic institutions.
According to Emirates News Agency, this agreement is the outcome of ERRA's ambitious and strategic path since its establishment. In less than three years, the Association has successfully established a strong international presence in the field of collective reprographic rights management, having concluded six landmark agreements with counterpart organisations in the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Argentina, Malaysia, and Hong Kong, in addition to an ongoing collaboration with India.
ERRA has also secured membership in the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO) and obtained Observer status with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). These recognitions reflect the confidence of international institutions in ERRA's capability to regulate the use of intellectual works and protect the rights of authors and publishers in accordance with global best practices, granting it an influential position in shaping intellectual property policies worldwide.
The licence granted to Heriot-Watt University Dubai provides lawful, organised access to a vast repository of books and academic materials under reprographic rights. It also reinforces the university's institutional commitment and academic leadership in upholding the rights of authors and creators.
Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Honorary President of ERRA, praised this achievement as an important milestone that reflects a clear vision and a strong institutional will to build a comprehensive framework for the protection of authors' rights in the UAE. She highlighted it as a practical model of what can be achieved through collaboration between educational institutions and intellectual property stakeholders.
This milestone has also received international acclaim. Anita Huss, Secretary General and CEO of the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO), stated, "We are pleased to see ERRA making steady progress in the effective implementation of collective rights management principles. The signing of the first blanket university licence of its kind in the UAE at such an early stage in the Association's development is a commendable achievement among emerging RROs in the international community."
Mohamed Bin Dakhen, President of the Board of the Association, commented on the agreement with Heriot-Watt University Dubai as marking a significant operational phase in ERRA's journey, following a period of institutional development. He emphasized the importance of embedding a culture of respect for intellectual property within the educational environment.
Anas Abu Ghoush, Head of Information Services at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, stated that the partnership with ERRA is a strategic step that enhances the quality of academic content offered to students. The licence enables legal access and utilisation of thousands of works, positively impacting the university's academic credibility and institutional ranking.