WIPO held a workshop in Abu-Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, on the management and administration of GCC copyright offices in mid-May. Smaller copyright offices in the region often operate with a staff of ten or less people and, hence, the personnel have many responsibilities.
The workshop dealt with problems the offices face as they deal with issues of enforcement, legislation, providing public relations and legal assistance to right owners, and handling the copyright deposit system.
Representatives from Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates listened to presentations from speakers from the United States Copyright Office and the Intellectual Property Office of Singapore on the structure, initiatives and policies of their offices. Problems specific to the GCC in relation to the deposit of works were identified. Possibilities for the automation of a system of deposit of works, as well as WIPO assistance in developing such a system were discussed.
The representatives of the GCC offices sought ideas for promoting awareness of copyright and encouraging creativity. On the second day of the seminar, they were presented with some practical solutions, including television advertising, effective posters and the creation of web-sites. They visited six of the more than 65 web-sites that have been created by intellectual property offices worldwide. Further proposals for promoting their offices involved organizing competitions and games, visits to schools and the holding of seminars. The GCC copyright offices were encouraged by speakers to maintain an "open door" policy and good lines of communication with the general public.
WIPO Magazine, June 2000, GENEVA