Legal experts and anti-piracy authorities will combine efforts to tackle Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) violations under a recent agreement between Talal Abu Ghazaleh and the National Library Department (NLD).
Under the agreement, which was signed on Monday, the NLD will receive requests from Talal Abu Ghazaleh group’s legal branch (TAG-LEGAL) to look into possible IPR violations, inspect warehouses storing potential counterfeit products and refer violators to the Kingdom’s courts.
TAG-LEGAL’s litigation attorneys provide services concerning IPR enforcement and protection such as trademarks, copyrights and patents.
In addition, the group works on anti-counterfeiting activities and unlawful usage of counterfeit items, both of which fall under the department’s umbrella.
“This agreement will boost cooperation with the legal community and aid the department in doing its job,” NLD President Mamoun Talhouni told The Jordan Times on Tuesday, noting that 179 violations of the Copyright Law were referred to the judiciary in the first half of this year.
The infractions, recorded up until June 30, ranged from selling illegally copied CDs, DVDs and computer software and the use of technological devices to illegal usage of satellite channels.
The NLD registered an average of 30 IPR violations per month this year, according to the department.
Although overall piracy cases have not decreased from last year, the department has seen a significant drop in software piracy.
The prevalence of pirated software has decreased from 87 per cent in 2002 to 60 per cent last year, Talhouni pointed out, adding that this effort has enhanced Jordan’s reputation as a business-friendly environment.
The Jordanian Copyright Law stipulates that it is a crime to download software, music or movies that are protected under the law.
Offenders face a prison sentence of between three months and three years and fines ranging from JD1,000 to JD6,000.
Approximately 357 copyright infractions were discovered by authorities and referred to the courts last year, bringing the total number of such cases since the year 2000 to 1,936, according to the NLD.
Source:
http://www.jordantimes.com/?news=10483
