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Music firms to set up IFPI-affiliated body

DUBAI - Leaders of the local and international record industry have gathered in Dubai to step up campaign for the protection of the intellectual property rights of music producers in the Middle East.

The meeting brought together members of the regional committee of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI). IFPI is the international music industry body representing 1,500 record producers in 76 countries.

The Middle meeting, which was sponsored by the Technology, e-Commerce and Media Free Zone (Tecom), Dubai, is part of the industry's efforts to raise awareness of intellectual property rights of music producers and strengthen support for the fight against piracy in the Middle East.

Following the regional committee meeting, local music companies such as Music Master, SIDI, Vanilla, Megastar, Rotanna, Abdool Studios and Founoon, will be establishing a UAE association, affiliated to the IFPI, to coordinate efforts towards creating a healthier music industry in the UAE.

The local industry will also establish a body to oversee the licensing industry of recordings for broadcasting and public performance, with the main objective of earning appropriate royalties from broadcasters and other users of recordings such as hotels.

Trevor Pearcy, director of Administration & Planning at the IFPI Secretariat said : "The Middle East music market has exciting growth potential, but we are having to fight piracy levels that are among the highest in the world. The industry is now stepping up its anti-piracy efforts in the region, but support from governments is critical."

Earlier this month, a high-level IFPI delegation met Sakhr Gobash, undersecretary, UAE Ministry of Information & Culture. In June IFPI had met the Lebanese Prime Minister, Mr Rafiq Hariri, to urge him to take steps to protect the intellectual property rights of music producers. Lebanon has one of the region's highest music piracy levels of over 70 per cent.

IFPI had similar meetings this month with the Ministry of Information in

Kuwait and the Ministries of Information and Culture in Jordan to lobby

government support for strengthening the enforcement of intellectual property rights. Frederic Giaccardo, chairman of the IFPI regional committee, said: "A well protected intellectual property environment is necessary to promote the recording industry in the region."