Topic: International Intellectual Property Protection
Country: Saudi Arabia
Delegate Name: Benjamin Finkelstein
School: Forest Hills Central High School
Topic page: background guide and all position papers All Saudi Arabia position papers GLIMUN 2017 committees
Over the last decade, Saudi Arabia has worked on developing comprehensive laws protecting intellectual property rights in the Arab Region. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has invested time to conform to the WTO (World Trade Organization) agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights. Since the early 2000s, The Kingdom has been committed to imposing stricter penalties on copyright violators. In 2010, the Ministry of Culture cited its first ever copyright violation in lieu of recently adopting the Intellectual Property Owners Association Patent Cooperation Treaty. Continuing efforts have reinforced the protection of specific points of interest in intellectual property.
In late 2016, the Kingdom seized 41 million counterfeit goods which amassed to $83 million. Under the Islamic ruling “fatwa,” Saudi Arabia forbids software piracy. The delegation of Saudi Arabia recognizes the need for increased action against the illegal solicitation of copyrighted and trademarked items and intends to pursue a resolution to halt the black market trafficking of counterfeit goods in the Middle East.
Saudi Arabia seeks to promote business trade among Arab Nations, and also among South American countries in an effort to support overall relations. The introduction of illegally manufactured and counterfeited goods into the surrounding marketplaces imposes a threat to these relations. As such, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia believes in protecting the integrity of individual intellectual property in order to promote the continuing introduction of innovative products into the market.
Saudi Arabia supports legislation to guard against the theft of intellectual property, both foreign and domestic. The Kingdom hopes to encourage economic development and foreign relations through the protection of intellectual materials and looks forward to continuing involvement in the World Intellectual Property Organization and WTO.
