Ministry of Economy, IFPI to Develop System to Protect Rights of Authors, Creators in UAE

The Ministry of Economy (MoE) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI), a non-profit organisation, to chalk out new mechanisms to foster the system that protects the rights of authors and inventors in creative industries, especially in the artistic and musical sectors in the UAE.

The MoU also aims to encourage record companies to invest and expand their businesses in the UAE's markets by developing collective management policies for literature and intellectual works.

The MoU was signed by Abdulaziz Ibrahim Ali Al-Nuaimi, Assistant Under-Secretary for the Commercial Affairs Regulatory Sector, and Francis Moore, CEO of the IFPI, in the presence of several officials from both sides.

Al-Nuaimi asserted that the UAE had paid great attention to developing the environment for protecting intellectual property in its various applications in line with the directives of its leadership.

"The most important of which is the protection of copyright, neighbouring rights and intellectual works in all the fields of literature, arts and science," he said, adding that the record industry, artistic and musicians represent one of the prominent creative activities for which the UAE seeks to develop the intellectual protection system.

He stated this MoU is a new step in the country's efforts to take its intellectual property system to a new level.

It is the first of its kind in the region and will help the UAE to keep pace with all developments taking place worldwide in the field of protecting creativity and innovation in line with the objectives and principles of Project of the 50 and the determinants of the UAE Centennial 2071.

Under this MoU, a first of its kind joint management group, consisting of teams from MoE and IFPI, will be created so that they maintain broadcasting and performance rights in the country, launch awareness campaigns for musical records, guarantee non-infringement of copyrights for companies working in the creative industries, as well as establishing a joint work committee between the Ministry of Economy and the IFPI to set work foundations and procedures which protect the rights of authors in creative audio, musical, and artistic activities.

Moore commended the UAE's efforts to promote and issue copyrights and their supportive laws and legislations, noting that the MoU offers a chance to ensure the continuous development of the music industry in the country. He emphasised that the IFPI is looking forward to future collaboration and exchange experiences with the Ministry in the upcoming stage.

Located in London, the IFPI - the biggest non-profit organisation representing the phonogram industry's interests worldwide - has more than 8,000 members of international leading music record companies from over 70 countries.

The Federation also promotes musical records' value, protects copyrights, and offers awareness campaigns on protecting copyrights, combating piracy, and expanding commercial usage for globally recorded music.

The UAE Federal Decree-Law No.38 of 2021 on Copyrights and Neighbouring Rights, which was issued last December, has contributed to provide a comprehensive legislative environment to promote investment in creative and artistic industries, support the intellectual and innovative outcomes, protect intellectual property in areas of production, music, and other creative industries in arts, science, and aesthetics, as well as the sectors of new economy and digital world, such as programming and smart apps.