Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, Honorary President of the Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association (ERRA), inaugurated the activities of the first International Reprographic Rights Conference in the United Arab Emirates, organised by ERRA over two days at the Sharjah Research Technology and Innovation Park, in collaboration with the Ministry of Economy (MOE) and the International Federation of Reprographic Rights Organisations (IFRRO).
The opening ceremony of the conference was attended by His Excellency Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy of the UAE, and Majd Al Shehhi, Director of the ERRA, alongside a group of international experts specialising in collective reprographic management, intellectual property, and the creative industries. The event also witnessed a gathering of writers, publishers, creative business owners, and academics.
In her opening remarks, Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi emphasised that the UAE, with its ambitious vision and knowledge-based economy, recognises that reprographic rights protection is both a legal obligation and a necessity for a flourishing creative economy and the promotion of innovation. She highlighted that intellectual property rights are the fundamental pillar that allows creators to transform their ideas into sustainable projects, enriching both the cultural and economic landscape.
She said: “In a world where ideas and knowledge are a kind of capital, protecting the rights of creators is not just a legal duty but a strategic imperative. Intellectual property is the backbone of a thriving creative economy that empowers people, strengthens industries, and fosters sustainable innovation. Through this conference, we reaffirm our commitment to building frameworks that balance accessibility with fairness, ensuring that the work of authors, publishers, and creatives continues to enrich societies worldwide. Working together, we can shape an ecosystem where creativity is valued and protected as a force for cultural and economic progress.”
Leading the global dialogue
His Excellency Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri delivered a compelling speech in which he highlighted the significant efforts of Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi in advancing the publishing sector and creative industries in the UAE. He also acknowledged her leadership in driving international cooperation to protect and empower creators.
He said: “The UAE’s hosting of the First International Reprographic Rights Conference reflects our commitment and active role in fostering discussions and dialogue on both local and global levels, providing all necessary means to support the protection of intellectual property rights, particularly reprographic rights.” He also stressed that, under the guidance of the UAE’s visionary leadership, the country has made significant strides in developing an advanced legislative framework for intellectual property. Based on best international practices, this framework includes Federal Decree-Law No. 38 of 2021 on Reprographic Right and Related Rights. Through collaboration with key partners, the Ministry of Economy has worked tirelessly to create a competitive and robust legislative environment for authors and creative professionals, positioning the UAE as a leading global hub for creative industries.
Furthermore, he shared impressive statistics achieved by the intellectual property sector in the UAE by the end of 2024. Among the key figures, over 370,000 national and international trademarks are registered in the UAE markets, and over 21,000 intellectual works have been registered. Additionally, nearly 24,500 applications for intellectual work registration were received, and the total number of patents registered in the country exceeded 6,100. Moreover, over 9,500 industrial designs have been registered. His Excellency also highlighted the success of the Anti-Piracy Lab, launched by the Ministry last year to block websites violating intellectual property and copyright laws, which has successfully shut down 4,076 infringing websites.
Prominent role
In a video address shown at the ceremony, Anita Huss, President of the IFRRO, affirmed the federation’s support for the Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association, commending the association’s significant role in raising awareness of copyright and intellectual property rights in the UAE and the wider region.
She said: “We are proud to be hosting the first International Reprographic Rights Conference in the UAE under the patronage of Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, with whom I have always had the honour of engaging in fruitful discussions on the pivotal role of intellectual property in supporting creative and cultural industries. We have continuously explored ways to strengthen the collaboration between ERRA and IFRRO to establish a robust foundation for global reprographic rights protection.”
Ambitious goals
This conference underscores the UAE’s commitment to fostering a sustainable creative environment and supporting global efforts to protect intellectual property rights, recognising them as vital cultural and economic development components. With a clear set of ambitious objectives, the conference aims to raise awareness of reprographic rights and their crucial role in the creative economy, encouraging cooperation between collective management organisations (CMOs), publishers, and authors while facilitating the exchange of knowledge between regional and international reprographic rights experts. The conference will also highlight best practices in rights protection and the publishing industry’s digital transformation.
Panel discussions
The conference agenda on its first day featured panel discussions centred around the event’s key themes. Majd Al Shehhi led a session titled ‘Unauthorised Use and Its Impact on the Income of Creative Works,’ which included contributions from His Excellency Dr Abdulrahman Al Muaini, Assistant Undersecretary for the Intellectual Property Sector at the Ministry of Economy; Jim Alexander, International Director of the Copyright Agency at IFRRO; Dr Sharon Wong from the Hong Kong Copyright Licensing Association; and Dr Mohammed Al Kamali from ERRA.
In another panel moderated by Jim Alexander, Michael Healy, Executive Director of Rights Owners and International Relations at CCC, discussed ‘Collective Management as a Solution’ with Sarah Tran from IFRRO, James Bennett from the UK Copyright Licensing Agency, and Ana Maria Cabanillas from the Copyright Administration Centre in Argentina (CADRA).
A third session, titled ‘Artificial Intelligence and Libraries in the Digital Age,’ explored the impact of technological developments on libraries’ future and AI’s role in enhancing access to knowledge and protecting reprographic rights. Moderated by Alia Al Shamsi, the panel featured Fatima Al Hosani from the Ministry of Economy, Michael Healy from CCC, Nadia Masoud from the University of Sharjah, and Sheikha Al Mutairi from the Emirates Library and Information Association.
The session focused on how creators and institutions adapt to digital and societal transformations impacting intellectual property rights. Notable attendees included writer and media figure Mohammed Bin Dakhin, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ERRA; His Excellency Rashid Al Kous, Executive Director of the Emirates Publishers Association; Dr Abdullah Al Sharhan, Secretary and Member of the Board of Directors of ERRA; writer Nadia Al Najjar; and Ahmed Hussein, CEO of the Malaysia Copyright Centre (MARC).
