Morocco set to crack down on intellectual property piracy
Morocco, Economics, 9/24/2004

Moroccan Communication Minister, Nabil Benabdallah, examined Wednesday with a delegation of the International Federation of the Phonographic Industry (IFPI) a draft action plan to crack down on intellectual property piracy in the country.

IFPI represents the recording industry worldwide with over 1450 members in 75 countries and affiliated industry associations in 48 countries. It aims at fighting music piracy and promoting fair market access and adequate copyright laws.

The draft action plan probed by the two sides, deals with aspects of awareness concerning piracy as well as development of the legal system, including repressive measures, the Communication Ministry said in a release, noting that the plan is aimed at encouraging companies operating in this field.

The draft action plan is also designed to adapt production to the purchase power of the largest category of consumers to reach a radical solution to piracy and counterfeiting.

The Casablanca-based Business Software Alliance editors (BSA) had estimated in 2001 the state's annual shortfall in earnings at $6.0 million as a result of the piracy of business software in Morocco. Fourteen movie theaters were forced to shut down in 2003 because of pirated movies that are subsequently sold at cheap prices.

Next December, a law on intellectual property protection will enter into force in Morocco to adapt national law to international norms.

Director of the Moroccan Office for Intellectual Property (OMPIC), Aziz Bouazzaoui, said Tuesday the new law is part of a fresh strategy based on the need to provide more guarantees to economic operators.

This strategy was concretized by the signing last June 15 with the United States a the Free Trade Agreement which devotes a large part to intellectual property, he said.

The law will stiffens sanctions (jail terms, fines) in case of imitation, counterfeiting and unfair competition.

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