ERRA inks twin global IP deals with Australia and New Zealand

During the congress, the Association signed two bilateral agreements with rights management organisations in New Zealand (Copyright Licensing New Zealand – CLNZ) and Australia (Copyright Agency – CA). These agreements aim to strengthen cooperation, exchange expertise, and enhance the protection of reprographic rights for Emirati and Arab creative works at the international level.

The signing of these agreements represents an important step towards expanding the legal protection framework for creative works beyond national borders, enabling authors, publishers, and universities in the UAE to access global markets securely, while ensuring the protection of their moral and material rights in digital and educational environments.

Majd Al Shehhi, Director of the Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association, affirmed that such agreements mark a strategic milestone in broadening the protection of creative works beyond the UAE, saying:

“The signing of these two agreements reflects the Association’s dedication to empowering Emirati and Arab creators to access international markets safely and secure their intellectual rights in evolving digital and educational environments. We believe that building a strong network of international partnerships is the path towards a more sustainable and equitable creative ecosystem.”

Al Shehhi added that these efforts fall within the Association’s vision to be a pioneering model in intellectual property rights management in the region, by providing legal licences that empower authors, publishers, and educational institutions to share knowledge in a lawful, fair, and sustainable manner.

She also noted that these partnerships form part of the Association’s commitment to building an integrated rights management system grounded in transparency, fairness, and international cooperation, based on global best practices adopted through its membership in the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO) and the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).

Dr Mohammed Mahmoud Al Kamali, Member of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association (ERRA), stated that these agreements represent a significant milestone in the Association’s journey and reflect the confidence that other countries place in the UAE’s leadership in protecting authors’ rights.

He explained that international cooperation in Reprographic Rights management has become essential to ensure the integration of legal systems and the exchange of global expertise in safeguarding the rights of authors and publishers.

Dr Al Kamali added that the Association continues to expand its network of international partnerships in support of the UAE’s vision to advance the creative economy and establish intellectual property protection as a cornerstone of sustainable cultural development.

The Association’s participation in the IFRRO World Congress comes as part of its mission to reinforce the UAE’s position as a leading regional and global hub for creativity protection and the creative economy, through strategic partnerships that foster a cultural and economic environment built on respect for intellectual work and appreciation of its creators.