ERRA Enhances Copyright Awareness At Abu Dhabi International Book Fair

The Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association (ERRA) successfully concluded its participation at the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair (ADIBF) for the second year in a row, hosting an independent pavilion. The event served as a prime opportunity for ERRA to educate the public on the importance of copyright protection and the rights of literary works. It also provided a platform for engaging with rights holders, such as writers and publishers, to increase its memberships and authorisations.

ERRA's presence at ADIBF was marked by a series of significant activities, including the formation of partnership agreements with several key institutions. One of the highlights was an educational workshop titled ‘The Concept of Reprographyright and Digital Solutions’, conducted in collaboration with the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation. This workshop featured Mohammed Al Matrooshi, Chairman of ERRA's Board of Directors, and Majd Al Shehhi, Director of the Association, who shared valuable insights on reprographyright concepts and collective rights management.

The workshop focused on ERRA's crucial role in protecting the rights of writers and publishers while encouraging creativity. It also shed light on the digital solutions designed to meet the needs of the modern technological environment, drawing from global best practices in collective rights management.

During the book fair, ERRA established several important partnerships, including an agreement with TRENDS Research & Advisory to facilitate data exchange relevant to universities and libraries in the UAE. Furthermore, ERRA engaged in discussions with a delegation from the Egyptian Publishers Association, led by Farid Zahrane. The meeting aimed at exchanging experiences and exploring potential future agreements between both entities.

Majd Al Shehhi spoke about ERRA's enthusiastic participation in ADIBF, highlighting its importance as one of the leading cultural events in the Arab world. She pointed out that the fair serves as an essential platform for interacting with writers, publishers, and cultural institutions at a national level. This interaction helps in spreading awareness about copyright laws and promoting the legal use of published content.

Al Shehhi emphasized ERRA's unique position as the only centre for collective reprography right management in the UAE. She stated, "We view ourselves as collaborators in the creative journey of writers and authors, offering support and safeguarding their works to ensure they receive rightful compensation for their efforts. Hence, we seize every opportunity, such as this esteemed book fair, to amplify our message to a broad audience and encourage them to avail themselves of our services." She further stressed the importance of raising awareness among society members about respecting copyright laws and recognizing creators' contributions.

The participation of ERRA at ADIBF underscores its commitment to protecting copyright and supporting creators' rights within the UAE. Through educational workshops and strategic partnerships, ERRA aims to foster a culture that values intellectual property rights and encourages compliance with copyright laws among writers, publishers, and the general public.

With inputs from WAM