Latif, Ahmed Abdel --- "A Perspective on Reform in Arab Countries" [2009] ELECD 582; in Meléndez-Ortiz, Ricardo; Roffe, Pedro (eds), "Intellectual Property and Sustainable Development" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2009)

Book Title: Intellectual Property and Sustainable Development

Editor(s): Meléndez-Ortiz, Ricardo; Roffe, Pedro

Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing

ISBN (hard cover): 9781848446458

Section: Chapter 4

Section Title: A Perspective on Reform in Arab Countries

Author(s): Latif, Ahmed Abdel

Number of pages: 18

Extract:

4. A perspective on reform in Arab countries
Ahmed Abdel Latif

INTRODUCTION

The conclusion of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property
Rights (TRIPS), from the Uruguay Round of Trade Negotiations (1994), ushered in an
unprecedented interest in the protection of intellectual property (IP), particularly con-
cerning the impact of new global IP rules on developing countries. Developments relating
to the protection of IP in the Arab world, however, have generally received less attention
than those in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In recent years, the dominant discourse
on IP in the Arab world has focused mainly on the importance of compliance with inter-
national IP obligations and the enforcement of intellectual property rights (IPRs). In
response, the aim of this chapter is to stress the need for Arab countries to adopt a more
development-oriented perspective on IP protection that views this protection in the wider
context of its relation to other public policy objectives and overall development efforts.
Some general trends and developments in the field of IP and their impact on Arab
countries are first examined. A number of recommendations are then suggested in order
for Arab countries to advance towards more development-oriented IP policies.


CURRENT DEVELOPMENTS AND TRENDS IN THE IP FIELD

Current developments and trends in the field of IP can be observed at both institutional
and substantive levels.

Developments at the Institutional Level

Two distinctive trends have appeared at the institutional level in recent years. The first
relates to the proliferation ...