We have an effective agency for the protection of intellectual property rights in Qatar. This body makes significant efforts to safeguard these rights in order to achieve an ideal standard in protecting all property rights in line with international agreements and national laws.
This is done through strict monitoring and study of all problems related to the protection of intellectual property rights at the local, Arab and international levels. It is also done by making the owners of intellectual property rights aware of the best means of safeguarding their patents and copyrights.
Theft of intellectual property has become a major concern for human rights groups and a challenge for agencies responsible for taking care of human production. These agencies count copyright, trademarks and patents as intellectual property.
Intellectual property is a topic of discussion in specialized circles in Qatar, being a new issue in this country and limited to the scientific and business fields. Intellectual property, however, is a big banner that covers many sectors, including artistic innovation.
I do not think our judiciary has not come across a crime related to this before. Despite this, the theft of intellectual property is troubling some people here. These people believe that theft of intellectual property opens the way for violations that may give unqualified people control over culture.
Intellectual property rights theft is nothing new. It reveals that the people who commit it suffer a dearth of creativity.
Theft of intellectual property affects both individuals and the society in a negative manner. Islam prescribes punishment for intellectual property theft in line with the principle that theft is theft, regardless of whether it is of tangible objects or intangible things. Theft of intellectual property is, in fact, the most dastardly of all thefts.
This means protecting intellectual property rights in the religious sense involves application of the rules of God. Our great Islamic religion instructs us to protect the rights of others, even if they are not followers of Islam.
I highly appreciate the efforts government agencies have made to protect intellectual property rights in this country. I, however, suggest the creation of a non-governmental body for the protection of consumer rights. This body should be independent, with legal status and entrusted with the job of protecting citizens against all forms of counterfeiting.
I hope the concerned agencies in our country will accept this idea. To make it beneficial for consumers its creation must be accompanied with an awareness campaign through media.
According to an international expert, the problem here is not with the laws, but with the ability to enforce these laws and force all categories of citizens to abide by them, and to enforce administrative penalties.
