EPA seminar introduces students to basics of intellectual property rights

Sharjah / Emirates Business

The Emirates Publishers Association (EPA) recently organised a seminar titled ‘Basic Principles of Intellectual Property Rights’ in the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Centre (Sheraa) at the American University of Sharjah (AUS), as part of the Emirates Reproduction Rights Forum 2017.
The fundamental concepts and principles of creative industries’ intellectual property rights formed the discussion’s central theme. Talking about the concept of a ‘right’, Tarek Rasheed, Managing Associate, DEAIFIS Advocates & Legal Associates, explained the difference between intellectual rights and commercial copyrights. He also touched upon key international copyright conventions, treaties and agreements to which the UAE is committed, as well as laws and penalties applicable in case of infringements, theft of creative products or
intellectual rights, forgery and other violations.
“Many people think only written texts fall under the purview of reproduction right protection,” he said, explaining that creative products must be protected by copyright and intellectual property rights include all creations of the mind: inventions; literary and artistic works; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.
Defining the difference between intellectual property rights and commercial copyrights, Tareq Rasheed said: “Intellectual property rights belong to their creators. Whether copied, transcribed or transformed from text to videos or other formats, and a creator’s product is always associated with them. Commercial copyright, however, as the name explains, represents a publisher or agent who is authorised to publish, distribute and sell the creative product.”
“Commercial copyright and reproduction rights give businesses the right of disposition of the creative product, including selling them, according to the agreement contracts. However, the ownership is subject to a specified time limit – and depending on the related clause in the contract, could be for 50 or 70 years after the death of the creator, for example,” he substantiated.
Tareq emphasised that the UAE is committed to many international conventions, and that it is one of the leading countries in the Arab world and Middle East in terms of implementing international laws of copyright and intellectual rights, which protect the rights of creative artists, musicians, photographers, authors or other creative people.
“Civil Laws in all Arab nations are bound by law to reprimand criminals who violate intellectual rights. For example, the penalty for stealing an intellectual right in the UAE is an AED 50,000 fine and six months of imprisonment,” he said, highlighting the penalties in place for violations and stealing creative products, or forging them.
The Emirates Reproduction Rights Forum 2017 is organised by the EPA in collaboration with the Emirates Intellectual Property Association and Emirates Writers Union (EWU), and a host of experts from the Copyright Clearance Centre (CCC) and the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO). The forum is sponsored by the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) and Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB).