LEBANON:
-WIPO SEMINAR ON COPYRIGHT AND NEIGHBORING RIGHTS
-INTERNATIONAL IP ALLIANCE
GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL(GCC):
-THE SEPTEMBER PATENT MEETINGS
CHANGE OF OUR LEGAL ENTITY IN OMAN
-At the WIPO Industry Advisory Commission (IAC), Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh called for turning intellectual property concepts from protection into economic and social development incentive
JORDAN:
-AGIP SPONSORS MUSICAL CONCERT IN THE BEAUTIFUL SETTING OF PETRA
QATAR:
-Franchise business set to boom
------------------------------------------------------------------------
JOIN OUR MILLENNIUM CELEBRATION
Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property would like to invite our associates, friends and musicians to share in a special event in the city of Salzburg, Austria on July 20, 2000. To welcome the new millennium and the dawning of a new beginning in the Arab World, we at Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property would like to invite our associates, friends and musicians to share in a special event we will be holding in the picturesque city of Salzburg, Austria on July 20, 2000.
Our love for music is well known and our work as the pioneers of intellectual property protection in the Arab world gives us the responsibility of ensuring that musicians in our region and from around the world are given the IP protection their work deserves.
The event will begin with a seminar during the day at the Mozarteum on "IPR of Musical Productions". Our guests will then be given the opportunity to discuss with our intellectual property experts aspects of IP in all the Arab countries.
This special day will culminate in a concert of an orientalist theme at the Felsenreitschule. It will include the most innovative and artistically outstanding musical performances of Camille Saint Saens "Orient et Occident", Joaquin Rodrigo’s "Concerto Andalou", Adnan Saygun’s "Concerto pour piano", and most interestingly Rimsky Korsakov’s "Antar" orchestrated by Ravel and performed for the first time.
PROGRAM
Orient et Occident
CAMIILLE SAINT SAENS
Concerto Andalou
JOAQUIN RODRIGO
Pour 4 guitares et orchestre Sollists
Maya Le Roux
Dagoberto Linhares
Raymond Migy
Christophe Leu
Concerto Pour Piano
ADNAN SAYGUN
Antar
RIMSKY KORSAKOV
Winning Piece
AWARD WINNER
ANTAR...a mythical Arab Hero and Lover, is now celebrated by AGIP, in an international competition organized by SACEM (Societe des Auteurs Compositeurs et Editeurs de Musique). AGIP and SACEM will award the winning piece themed Antar with The AGIP Musical Composition Prize. The piece will be performed by the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg at the end of our Millennium Celebration.
To receive an invitation to our millennium celebration in Salzburg, please fill out and fax the following form to our regional office in Jordan at (962-6) 560 3743. Only 1000 tickets are available. Therefore, invitations will be sent on a first-come-first-serve basis.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEBANON: WIPO SEMINAR ON COPYRIGHT AND NEIGHBORING RIGHTS
The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) held a seminar on Copyright and Neighboring Rights in cooperation with the Ministry of Economy & Trade and the Ministry of Justice from September 6 - 8, 1999 at the Palace of Justice, Beirut, Lebanon.
The seminar was inaugurated by Dr. Naser Al-Saeedy, the Minster of Economy, Trade and Industry, and Mr. Roberto Castelo the WIPO Vice Director General. Foremost among the participants were an elite of officials, specialists, intellectual property practitioners, judges, university professors, lawyers and representatives of the private sector.
The 3-day seminar dealt with the following topics:
1.International protection of copyright and neighboring rights.
2.Role of copyright collective administration associations.
3.Basic concepts of copyright and neighboring rights.
4.TRIPs enforcement of copyright and neighboring rights.
5.Enforcement under the Lebanese copyright and neighboring rights Law.
6.Lebanese collection administration associations.
7.Past and future of the Lebanese experience.
8.Current problems in judicial procedures.
9.Current problems in Audio-visual Works in the judicial procedures.
10.WTO's dispute resolution mechanism.
11.Protection of copyright on the Internet.
The recommendations of the Seminar were as follows:
1.Continuation of WIPO assistance to Lebanon.
2.Joint WIPO - Lebanese efforts to spread awareness of copyright and neighboring rights and intellectual property.
3.WIPO - Lebanon co-ordination in reviewing laws to comply with the requirements of the TRIPs Agreement.
4.WIPO assistance to Lebanon in drafting laws of intellectual property aspects not protected at present.
5.WIPO assistance to upgrade the Lebanese Intellectual Property Office.
6.WIPO - Lebanon co-ordination in training programs for officials who will enforce intellectual property laws in Lebanon.
7.Introducing intellectual property studies to Lebanese Universities for enhancing public awareness.
8.Requesting WIPO to start training sessions in the Lebanese Judges College.
9.WIPO - Lebanon co-ordination on organizing meetings and preparing studies on new intellectual property topics like folklore protection, E-trade, informatics and information technology.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
GULF COOPERATION COUNCIL(GCC): THE SEPTEMBER PATENT MEETINGS
The State of Bahrain participated in the September 12, 1999 GCC Patent Office Board Meeting in the GCC Headquarters in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The participants discussed the measures taken regarding amending the GCC Patent Law, its Implementing Regulations and Statutes of the GCC Patent Office.
Mr. Mohamed Al-Sha'er, the Assistant Director who represented Bahrain, said that delegates discussed the report of the GCC Patent Office Director on what has been achieved, the measures taken on amending the GCC Patent Law and Implementing Regulations, and the Statutes of the GCC Patent Office.
Mr. Al-Sha'er added that such amendments were made to comply with the TRIPs Agreement requirements administered by the WTO, and that the amendments are to be adopted soon. He went on to point out that delegates also discussed the expenses of the office for the Year 1999, and the Draft Budget for the Year 2000, as well as a proposal of establishing invention encouragement centers in the GCC Countries, in cooperation with the WIPO, as those centers in the developed countries.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEBANON: INTERNATIONAL IP ALLIANCE
The International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA), an alliance representing more than 1,400 American companies, commended Lebanon for passing a comprehensive intellectual property rights law last March. IIPA encouraged the government to enforce the law and amend some of its clauses. IIPA claimed that the amendments were necessary to bring the law in line with existing international treaties and to make it compatible with the standards of the World Trade Organization (WTO).
According to IIPA, piracy-related losses incurred in Lebanon by U.S. copyright-based industries reached $14.2 million last year. The piracy level in the country in 1998 stood at 80% for films and videos, 75% for business software, and 60% for international sound recordings. Last May, the United States Department of Commerce upgraded Lebanon’s ranking from its "observation list" to the "watch list" regarding violations of intellectual property rights in the country.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
CHANGE OF OUR LEGAL ENTITY IN OMAN
The Ministry of commerce and Industry in the Sultanate of Oman, recently reviewed the various professions and their relationship to companies. According to the new regulations, the field of intellectual property is not included within any professorial field. Accordingly, it is not possible for our firm to function as a separate company name. Based on that we have been requested to discontinue working under the name of TMP Agents in Oman. In the interest of our clients we will continue to operate in Oman using the name Talal Abu-Ghazaleh & Co.
We would like to reassure all clients that their interests will still be taken care of through the entity of Talal Abu Ghazaleh & Co, although it may appear in official publications that TMP Agents will be closing its offices. All services rendered by TMP Agents (Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property) will remain fully operational.
The signatory name to be included in the power of attorney will be Talal Abu-Ghazaleh & Co.
For any questions or comments please contact P.O.Box 2366 Ruwi, Postal Code No. 112, Muscat, Sultanate of Oman Tel (968) 560 740 Fax (968) 563 249
------------------------------------------------------------------------
At the WIPO Industry Advisory Commission (IAC), Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh called for turning intellectual property concepts from protection into economic and social development incentive.
Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, President of the Arab Society for the Protection of Intellectual Property (ASPIP), called for turning IP concepts into economic and social development incentive. This was during the second annual meeting of Industry Advisory Commission which in Geneva at the headquarters of WIPO.
IAC comprises 16 members who represent organizations, bodies, professional associations and individuals concerned with IP. Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh who represented the Arab profession, previously represented the Arab Region in the commission founding meeting.
Foremost among the participants were the CEO's of Silicon Graphics, Glaxo Welcome, American Bar Association, Chinese Patent Office, ET Index, and ASPIP.
The commission provides counsel on behalf of the private sector and IP profession to WIPO for facilitating matters to decision makers and country representatives. IAC stressed the importance of the IP system as a means to develop economic growth, and the importance of speedy development of the protection system in E-trade and on the Internet. Likewise, it recommended studying the means of reducing the costs of patent registration and developing relations between world IP institutions and the media and communication sectors.
Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh suggested that the IP concept be changed from protection to an economic and social development incentive. IAC asked Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh to submit a paper to the next meeting suggesting renewing the IP message, objectives, rules and role in serving the community and economy, not as a system for the protection of personal interests but as an essential, useful and objective-oriented system.
Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh advised the IAC that he will submit the said proposal to ASPIP Board during the meeting to be held in Beirut, Lebanon, in mid-November 1999.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
JORDAN: AGIP SPONSORS MUSICAL CONCERT IN THE BEAUTIFUL SETTING OF PETRA
The International Music Council held its 28th General Assembly in the beautiful setting of Petra, Jordan, from 22-25 September 1999, under the patronage of her Majesty Queen Noor Al-Hussein. The Council was established in 1949, hence this marked the 50th anniversary since it was set up to advise UNESCO on musical matters and to promote musical cultures from around the globe.
The assembly was addressed by Mr. Frederico Mayor, Director-General of UNESCO, Mr.Frans de Ruiter, President of the International Music Council, and Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chairman of Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property, who were one of the sponsors of the event. In his opening speech, Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh pointed out the importance of Intellectual property protection for music and the efforts he exerted himself and his firm in establishing the very best protection for musicians’ intellectual property rights in the Arab world.
The musical part of the celebrations took part over three nights and included performances from all corners of the globe. The first night featured Indian, Arabic and contemporary electronic music reflecting the rich cultural diversity of the world. On the second night there was a performance by the Orchestra of the National Music Conservatory, conducted by Mr. Mohammed Othman Sidiq, and including pieces composed in memory of His Majesty King Hussein and dedications to Her Majesty Queen Noor Al-Hussein. To complete the musical celebrations, the renowned Lebanese pianist, Abdel Rahman El-Bacham, whose performances include over 50 international concerts highlighting the work of Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Chopin and many more of the worlds top composers, performed a piano recital on the third and final evening.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
QATAR: FRANCHISE BUSINESS SET TO BOOM
Franchise operations in the state of Qatar and across the Gulf are expected to soar in coming years, industry observers say.
Independent estimates say that over 1,000 franchise operations exist in the Gulf dealing mostly with consumer goods, food and retail items.
Qatar has seen a real spurt in retail food chains over the last three years bringing in greater sales and market penetration to Western outlets especially American and British fast food giants, an industry observer said.
Higher market penetration has led to a situation where the customer is now being wooed through competitive pricing. Popular Western commercial images across Doha are now more abundant than before, an industry observer said.
The most successful among franchises in the Gulf are retail food chains, car rentals and education products and services, says the Washington based International Franchise Association (IFA).
Sales across a multi-ethnic population have helped businessmen venture into these franchise operations, mostly retail foodstores, where existing ones are now competing to add more branches. In terms of per capita food sales, some outlets in Qatar have already outnumbered their compatriots in Western societies, another industry observer said.
Kentucky Fried Chicken, Pizza Hut, A & W, Burger King, McDonalds ... you name them they are all here, says a food industry specialist.
Food franchisers are perhaps the most enterprising in this segment having had a good slice of the market in the state of Qatar.
A young baby boomer generation is what we are targeting across the Gulf, an industry analyst associated with a major retail chain said.
At stake is a $ 200 bn consumer market in the six Gulf states, with Saudi Arabia remaining the favorite target market considering the profile of its consumer-base.
Many businessmen who have set up franchise ventures in Qatar have either studied in Western societies or gained experience through international travel.
Relaxed rules and permission for nationals to set up intra GCC ventures have also aided major family businesses in the region take up franchises across the six states. These are then sub-contracted to individual owners in different countries.
Economic reforms have also helped greater investor confidence, and in Qatar a new trademark law expected by the end of the year will give greater protection to franchisers.
While major franchise operations still remain in the hands of family businesses, individual entrepreneurs have now started cashing in on selling globally known images which they feel will fetch better business.
Wide media penetration through advertisements has also helped boost customer confidence. Profitable franchising operations in the Gulf are expected to grow rapidly, fuelled by local private initiative as those economies mature, says a recent survey in the Middle East.
The move helps both ways: local partners benefit through high-profile brands and quality, while the franchiser makes profits with each counter sale.