UAE Reprographic Rights Conference concludes, with key outcomes

Bringing together experts and decision-makers, the conference explored strategies for protecting authors’ rights in the digital age while fostering a balance between innovation and intellectual property protection. The event resulted in ambitious recommendations outlining a roadmap for a fair global system that safeguards the rights of creators.

The conference provided a rich platform that brought together distinguished speakers in sessions and workshops discussing key issues, including “Unauthorised use and its impact on the returns of creative works”, “Collective management as a solution”, “Artificial intelligence and libraries in the digital age”, and “The impact of technological and social changes on rights holders”. These sessions offered a valuable opportunity for various stakeholders to exchange insights and perspectives on reprographic rights-related matters.

High-level official attendance

Organised by the Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association in cooperation with the UAE Ministry of Economy and International Federation of Reprographic Rights Organisations, the conference was inaugurated on 19 February 2025. It was attended by His Excellency Abdulla Bin Touq Al Marri, UAE Minister of Economy, Her Excellency Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Her Excellency Sarah Bint Yousif Al Amiri, Minister of Education, and His Excellency Sheikh Salem bin Khalid Al Qassimi, Minister of Culture. The event also welcomed senior officials from the publishing and intellectual property sectors, as well as international experts in collective reprographic rights management, authors, publishers, and academics.

Specialised panel discussions

The final day of the conference delved into key reprographic right issues, including the intersection of artificial intelligence and intellectual property rights, the challenges in protecting authors’ rights in the digital landscape, the complexities of proving originality in AI-generated works, and the disparities in intellectual property legislation across different jurisdictions.

A panel discussion dedicated to publishers and authors explored the Indian and Malaysian models of collective management and examined the balance required in reprographic rights administration. Speakers emphasised the importance of collaboration between publishers, authors, and illustrators to ensure fair revenue distribution. The discussion also underscored the role of collective licensing as an effective and practical solution for rights management.

Another panel discussion, focusing on university representatives, explored best practices in reprographic rights compliance from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong. Discussions covered the importance of securing licences from reprographic rights associations, their impact on academic institutions, and the role of the Digital Content Store (DCS) in managing digital copies under licences.

Key outcomes and recommendations

 The conference concluded by reaffirming the essential role of reprographic rights and intellectual property rights in fostering the growth of creative industries. Participants stressed the importance of leveraging technological advancements in copyright management, particularly through digital tools and artificial intelligence, to monitor compliance and enhance data collection. The discussions underscored the need to update reprographic rights legislation to accommodate rapid developments in artificial intelligence and address emerging challenges. Additionally, the conference called for the launch of international initiatives aimed at harmonising reprographic rights policies and ensuring legislative alignment between countries. Speakers also advocated for the expansion of collective licensing as an effective framework for protecting authors' rights, while developing adaptable licensing models to meet the needs of educational and commercial institutions.

Future vision

At the close of the conference, participants stressed the importance of cooperation between governments, international institutions, and reprographic rights organisations to safeguard intellectual property in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. The discussions reaffirmed that collective management and flexible licensing solutions are fundamental to building a fair and sustainable creative ecosystem that ensures a thriving future for content creators worldwide.