The Saudi Ministry of Culture and Information (MoCI) has started the implementation of a number of major anti-piracy measures in a move intended to establish the Kingdom as a regional leader in anti-piracy efforts. The MoCI, under Minister Iyad Madani, has launched a public website on which critical information on copyright anti-piracy cases will be posed. The website can be found at http://www.info.gov.sa/info/copyrights/followup.aspx). The Kingdom is the first country that has implemented such an enforcement transparency initiative in the region. Eric Smith, president, International Intellectual Property Alliance (IIPA), who met with Madani last March, praised the minister's actions: “We commend the KSA Government and Minister Madani for taking this historic step forward in the fight against piracy in the Kingdom. The establishment of a MoCI public website, bolstered by a reformed and more effective Violations Review Committee within the ministry demonstrates the creativity and commitment of the KSA government, and the ministry in particular, in finding new and effective ways to fight this growing social and economic threat. We are all hopeful that this new transparency will lead to deterrent fines and penalties for shops and street vendors dealing in pirate products, and imprisonment in serious piracy cases, in order to bring much needed deterrence into the Kingdom's enforcement system.” In 2006, the Kingdom committed to a tougher stance against intellectual property rights (IPR) violations in meetings with the US government and with IIPA. The Kingdom, working with the IIPA, will this year focus on completing the transparency process, on deterrent enforcement; the legal use of copyrighted software in the government and Saudi enterprises; and copyright law reform. Scot Butler, CEO, Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance (AAA), said: “Piracy compromises economic growth and innovation; it also violates the law, causes substantial businesses losses, and victimizes consumers. In addition, these criminal acts tarnish the Kingdom's image around the world.” “The Saudi government's positive actions bode well for the future of IPR enforcement in the country. Copyright protection is an essential component for sustained economic growth and social development. The government's efforts are a positive step towards even more progress for the KSA. The AAA highly values and supports such initiatives to clamp down on counterfeiters and profiteers,” he added. __
