Seminar:
Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP) organized a seminar in Salzburg - Austria at the Mozarteum on July 22, 2000, on "Music Copyright in the Digital Age". The seminar featured informative sessions from European and American experts on musical copyrights and digital delivery, and was moderated by Ms. Robin Rolfe, the former Executive Director of the International Trademark Association (INTA).
AGIP has been a pioneer of intellectual property protection in the Arab world. While best known for its trademark and patent practices, the firm is also committed to copyright protection and for promoting appropriate protection of all types of intellectual property. According to the firm's Chairman, Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, AGIP believes that it has a responsibility for ensuring that musicians and artists in the region and from around the world are given the recognition, respect and intellectual property protection their work deserves. He added that, AGIP has always believed that the firm, like other successful Arab multinationals, has a duty not only to be successful in its competent field, but also to make a contribution to society. He demonstrates his convictions through AGIP's sponsorship of seminars and concerts such as the one held in Salzburg.
The Music Copyright in the Digital Age seminar was particularly attractive to lawyers, businessmen and others interested in the music delivery. It tackled the issue of musical copyrights that has become more prominent than ever before, making mass-media headlines with the high profile battle between Napster and various musicians.
The seminar featured keynote speakers and major international figures in the field such as Dr. Kamil Idris, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), Ms. Judith Saffer, Assistant General Counsel of Broadcast Music, Inc. (BMI), Ms. Helene Blue, President of Helene Blue Musique Ltd., Mr. Eric Baptiste, Secretary General of the International Confederation of Societies of Authors and Composers, Mr. Charles Henri Lonjon, in-charge of legal affairs in the Phonographic and Videographic Rights Department, Cite de La Musique (CDMC), Mr. Alasdair McMullan, Vice President of EMI Recorded Music, Ms. Ute Decker, Advisor of the International Federation of Phonographic Industry (IFIP), Mr. Darrell Panethiere, Vice President, Legal and Business, Warner Music International, and Mr. Talal Abu-Ghazaleh who is also a founding member of the WIPO Industry Advisory Commission (IAC) in Geneva.
In his opening speech, Dr. Kamil Idris stated that the Internet is not a copyright free zone. On the contrary, copyright protection applies both to the storage and the transmission of music on the internet, and the national law must provide legal remedies that back up the technological protection, such as encryption and conditional access systems, that is used by the right owners". The presentations mainly focused on exploring the digital music market place, regulation of the digital music delivery, rights for music transmission, role of performing rights societies, music piracy and the internet: influence of MP3 and other interactive services, and finally the possibility of reviving the classical music world via the internet.
The seminar concluded with the urge for the development of new enforcement methods, both technological and practical, ensuring a balanced protection between the interests of the creators, performers and producers on one hand and the general public on the other hand. Dr. Idris concluded his speech by stating that "we have to teach ourselves and our children that intellectual property rights are just as valid as other property rights, and that creators, performers and producers who enrich our daily lives deserve respect for their work and for their rights.
Concert:
AGIP has welcomed the new millennium by sponsoring and fully underwriting an entire night dedicated to music, one of the creative arts now being dramatically affected by new technologies. AGIP organized a private concert by the Mozarteum Orchestra of Salzburg on July 22nd, 2000, in Salzburg - Austria. The concert has preceded the internationally renowned Salzburg Festival and was listed in the Salzburg Festival Program as part of the pre-opening festivities of the Salzburg Festival to help in promoting Arab culture in the heart of one of Europe's capitals of the fine arts.
Mr. Abu-Ghazaleh, the founder and Chairman of AGIP, has devoted himself to creating closer cultural exchanges and ties with the European world of music by recalling the importance of Arab culture and its influence on great composers of the past as well as sharing and promoting present day efforts by offering a unique moment of pleasure in the heart of Europe's finest capitals of music. He demonstrates his convictions through AGIP's most recent undertaking of the establishment of the Abu-Ghazaleh International Contest for Music Composition, organized by the Society of Authors, Composers and Editors of Music (SACEM) in Paris.
The Concert was for the creation of a symphonic composition, approximately ten minutes in length, for a big orchestra, without electronics and inspired by the myth of Antar. In keeping with the mythical tale and the theme of the concert "Orientalism", the composer was required to integrate elements of his choice and inspiration originating from Arab music.
The winner of the contest was recently announced. Mr. Alberto Cola, from Italy, was recognized for his composition entitled, "Ruins of Palmyra" which has been judged by the international jury to be of a very high quality. In addition to cash prizes for the top three entries, Mr. Cola's winning composition was performed at the concert at the Felsenreitschule concert hall of Salzburg and will be published by Universal Edition and which will be also sponsored by AGIP.
The concert has also included innovative performances of Camille Saint Saens "Orient et Occident" which hasn't been found in any record catalog; the "Piano concerto" No. 1 of the eminent etnomusicologure Adnan Saygun which has never been recorded commercially, as well as making an available computer rewriting and preservation of this concerto; Joaquin Rodrigo's "Concerto Andalou" and the rarely heard master piece of Rimsky Korsakov's "Antar" orchestrated by Ravel and performed for the first time, Mr. Marc Piollet conducted the concert.
AGIP awarded the first three winners of the contest shields for their compositions together with shields of appreciation to Mr. Gerard Mortier, the Salzburg Festival Director, and to Ms. Maya Le Roux, event director, for all the help and support they have exerted to facilitate the organization of the event