“MADA " continues its efforts in strengthening the protection of intellectual property in Palestine.

 

 

Ramallah: 26 / April 2016: the world annually celebrates the twenty-sixth of April ”the World Intellectual Property Day” , on this occasion the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms " MADA " assures the need to enact a Palestinian intellectual property law; an alternative to the British law that is currently in force, and to sign applications  to join international treaties that guarantee and protect Intellectual Property, and the importance of harmonizing domestic legislation with international standards.

 

Mousa Rimawi the General Director of MADA center, emphasized the need to protect intellectual property in Palestine; which is exposed to several violations, that reflects negatively on freedom of expression and creativity; which can be protected and guaranteed through legislation and implementing a culture of respect of intellectual property amongst Palestinians.

 

He also noted that the center continues to intensify its efforts in this area, that aims to guarantee and focus on intellectual property, by the end of 2015 MADA conducted a study on “the protection of Intellectual property in Palestine and Freedom of Expression” accomplished by the Center and the researcher and journalist (Taghreed Sa’adeh).

 

 The research mainly focused on the legal regulations available for the protection of intellectual property in Palestine, as well as the social awareness regarding this matter and right, It also shed the light on how the protection of intellectual property has an impact on freedom of expression and creativity.

 

 However, the lack of intellectual property protection has a serious effect on cultural, intellectual, scientific and literary production.

 Thus, violations of intellectual property will lead to weakening the potential of creativity and production.

furthermore, the absence of protecting intellectual property,  leads to distorting competition, in addition to leading creators to feel that their productions are valueless, due to the lack of the protection on their publications and products; conversely to what happens in other countries that protect intellectual property, and encourage intellectual competition, enhance free flow of information and freedom of expression.

 

 

 The study presented the experience of Britain, which is considered as a leading country in protecting intellectual property, besides, the experience of Morocco, which has also an advanced experience in the Arab world. 

 

However, the study recommended the enactment of a law that aims to protect intellectual property in Palestine and insure its harmonization with international standards, in addition to joining international treaties on intellectual property.

 

Additionally, “MADA” center signed a Memorandum of understanding with the Palestinian National Commission for Education, Culture and Science that aims to enhance the mutual cooperation, The MoU aimed to create cooperation in areas of mutual interest related to guaranteeing and enhancing freedom of expression, opinion and the protection of media freedoms, moreover, there will be a focus on the importance of Intellectual Property, Accordingly, both sides are cooperating to organize a conference about intellectual property in cooperation with all governmental and civic parts.

This topic was also discussed with the minister of justice Mr. Ali Abu Dyak, who welcomed any mutual cooperation that aims to enshrine the principle of partnership between the public sector and civil society institutions, MADA Centre will continue meeting with all parties concerned with Intellectual Property. 

 

Rimawi, also clarified that MADA with its special consultative status at the ECOSOC, holds responsibility to cooperate with all interested and related parties to the importance of raising awareness of Human Rights in general and freedom of opinion and expression, access to information, intellectual property in particular.