Copyright Laws And Trade Industry In The Arab World (Part I)

Article by Dr. Sylvain Massaad

Despite the fact that the copyright industry in the Arab world

is a rather recent one, many of the Arab states have made immense

changes and amendments in its laws and regulations in order to be

able to insert the copyright and its latest developments under

these laws. New laws have been drafted, some of which are not yet

issued, to enforce and protect the rights of those who create and

communicate their creations to the world. This article discusses

the copyright business in the Arab countries and the means of

delivering the latest creations made by Arab entrepreneurs,

examining the industries that contribute to the copyright business

in the region.

Types of Copyright in the Arab World

Copyright business in most of the Arab countries is organized in

what could be called a "multi-stratum structure", with a

core creative activity engendering the process and constituting the

base on which next level layer of business operate and so on. The

core activities are performed by the authentic creators, such as

authors, writers, composers, painters and performers. Copyright

business is usually divided into two categories, each consisting of

a specific mode of delivering works/information to the public;

these modes can be classified into direct and indirect

communication.

The direct communication of a work to the public is performed

through live performances, mainly concerts, musicals and

exhibitions, and on a minor level in Arab countries, operas and

festivals.

The indirect mode of communication is based on transferring the

copyrighted works to the public via indirect analogue or digital

means. Television and radio stations, libraries, cinema industry,

video stores, publishing houses, recording companies, etc. are some

of the means that use this strategic sector of communication.

Another stratum is the segment of the activities associated with

copyrighted works. Arab countries issue a large number of fashion

magazines, the success of which relies upon the quantum of

innovative designs and the quality of the latest trends in the

fashion industry. The same logic could be applied to architectural

magazines, advertising agencies and activities related to the

protection of national heritage. Other basic businesses can be

added to this category, such as restoration and craft

industries.

The aforementioned is not directly related to copyright but is

fundamentally essential to the prosperity of copyright business. In

fact, the...