The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) has expressed its support for Morocco in the conflict with Algeria over the cultural heritage of the Maghreb.
WIPO Director General Darren Tang said this after a meeting with Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture and Communications Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid in Geneva on Tuesday.
Tang explained that WIPO supports Morocco in preserving and preserving its art of living and intangible cultural heritage, such as the art of zellige, which was recognized by WIPO in 2016. He condemned Algeria’s intention to register the zellige as Algerian heritage, considering this a provocation and a violation of international rules.
He also congratulated Morocco on its efforts in the field of intellectual protection and intellectual property, considering Morocco one of the leading countries in this field at the global level. He expressed his appreciation for the results of his recent visit to Morocco, and his aspiration to strengthen joint cooperation.
Bensaid thanked Tang for his support and emphasized the importance Morocco attaches to multilateral international cooperation with international organizations. He provided an overview of the initiatives that Morocco has taken to protect and preserve its cultural heritage, such as the institutionalization of the Label Maroc, the preparation of a new legal text for cultural heritage and the strengthening of the Moroccan Office for Copyright and Related Rights .
He also provided an overview of the reforms that Morocco is implementing in the field of intellectual property protection, in collaboration with various government sectors and international bodies, especially UNESCO. He also discussed the video game industry, and Morocco’s efforts to engage in the international market, which generates more than $300 million in revenue.
Morocco wants to enable Moroccan energies and competences to obtain economic integration opportunities in this field, including through the creation of a city for the electronic games industry and the organization of the Moroccan International Exhibition for the Video Games Industry, scheduled for next May.
The two sides agreed to sign a joint memorandum of understanding by next July, in parallel with the WIPO general assemblies, to strengthen their cooperation.
The working session also included members of the Office of the WIPO Director General, the WIPO Director of Communications, the Moroccan Director of Cultural Heritage, the Moroccan Director for Copyright and Related Rights, and members of the Permanent Mission of Morocco to the Office of the United Nations in Geneva part.
Tags: WIPO supports Morocco conflict Algeria cultural heritage
