Writing something original is an achievement in itself. But what would you do if someone stole it and posted it online as their own? Well, that would make you angry, and you would opt to take legal action against that person.
This is exactly where copyright plays a crucial role and helps protect authors’ creativity, time, and effort. Copyright protection is crucial in the United Arab Emirates, and we will help you through the full process of registering Copyright Your Book in this guide.
EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COPYRIGHT IN THE UAE
Are you confused because you have little information about what copyright is and how it works in the UAE? Well, here are the important things that will clear all your confusion.
Understanding What Is A Copyright
A copyright is a legal right that is granted to the original creator of the work. This includes various forms of work such as art, music, books, software, etc.
For authors, copyright means they have the right to create, produce, and distribute their original piece of work. This allows creators to control how others use their work and gives them legal protection if someone tries to copy their work or sell it without permission.
Importance Of Copyright In The UAE
Writers mostly underestimate copyright. Here is why it should matter to you.
- Legal Ownership: Your books’ official registration acknowledges you as the legitimate author.
- Protection from Infringement: You have the right to file a lawsuit against anybody who attempts to sell, copy, or use your book without your consent.
- Commercial Benefits: If the book becomes a success, you can license it, sell it, or get it translated into another language to sell.
The Copyright Law Of The UAE
The UAE secures the rights of ownership with the Federal Law No. 38 of 2021. This law is in line with international agreements, the Berne Convention, and the WIPO treaties. This fact implies that your book is not only sheltered in the UAE but also in most other countries.
This law offers protection to all original works of literature, artistic, or intellectual work, such as books, as soon as they are created. Nevertheless, an official certificate of ownership does come with registration at the Ministry of Economy (MoE), which empowers your rights against any lawsuits that may arise.
Types of Work Protected by This Law
Many things are protected under the UAE law, which include, but are not limited to:
- Fiction and non-fiction books
- Poetry and plays
- Educational and academic work
- Articles, blogs, and research papers
- Children’s books and stories
- Audiobooks and e-books
- Software and codes
STEP BY STEP GUIDE TO COPYRIGHTING YOUR BOOK
Here is everything you need to know about getting your book copyrighted in the UAE.
Prepare Your Final Manuscript
Complete your manuscript and finalize it before applying for copyright. If you are seeking expert help from a book publishing service in the UAE, they would guide you through the entire process and even do it for you as part of their service.
It implies that the book must be completely written, proofread, and formatted with the title and the name of the author well displayed on the cover page. It is good to have an electronic copy (in PDF or Word format) and a print version at hand. If the book is going to be published, it would be advisable to get an ISBN.
Register On The Official Website
The next step you should take is to go to the official website of the UAE Ministry of Economy’s Intellectual Property portal.
If you are a new user, make sure to create an account by providing your Emirates ID, contact details, and email address. You can register yourself as an individual or under a business/ trade certification if you are a publisher.
Fill Out The Application Form
Once you have logged into the application, go to the “Copyright Works” section and click on the “Request for Copyright Registration”
Here, you need to fill in:
- Your full name and Nationality
- Title of the work
- Type of work. I.e., book, music, or poetry
- Language of the book
- A brief summary of the content
- The year of completion and creation
Make sure that everything is accurate and matches your manuscript.
Upload Supporting Documents
To copyright your book in the UAE, you need a copy of your manuscript, your Emirates I.D. or passport, and any licenses or NOC letters. Requirements like ISBN certification, book cover draft, and an affidavit/ declaration stating that your work is original are optional.
Pay The Registration Fee
The registration fee for getting your content copyrighted is around AED 100 to AED 500. This depends on the category of the work and the applicant.
Wait For Review And Approval
Once you send your application and pay the amount, the Ministry of Economy will examine your application. It will determine that it is original and does not infringe on the morals of people, religious principles, or violate existing copyrights.
This is normally done within 2 to 4 weeks. In the event of a need for additional information, an email contact may be provided.
Receive Your Copyright Certificate
After the approval, you will obtain a digital copyright certificate from the Ministry of Economy. This certificate would verify your legal ownership rights as the author and may be applied in courts or complaints in case somebody falsely uses your work.
8. Copyright Duration And Renewal
The protection secured by copyright rights in the UAE is equal to the life of the author, after which it expires after 50 years.
In the UAE, copyright protection lasts for the author’s lifetime and continues for 50 years after their death.The copyright in the case of anonymity or works owned by companies has a 50-year rule following the date of publication, taken to mean the copyright expires.
The copyright does not have to be renewed during this period. You must, however, keep your certificate secret and have any future editions or translations checked as well, either under the old or a new application.
Tips to Protect Your Book Internationally
As an author, you always want your work to be recognized all around the world. With a current trend of self-publishing, many authors take professional help from Amazon book publishing services to get their books out in the world. Now these books also need protection. Here are some tips to protect your book worldwide:
- Get an ISBN (International Standard Book Number). It makes your books easier to track and sell.
- Register your book with the copyright offices in other countries, such as the UK Intellectual Property Office.
- Use digital watermarking or anti-piracy tools when publishing online
- Keep drafts and timespans to prove your ownership if needed
Does copyright protect a book title?
No, they are not protected under copyright. To protect them, you need a trademark law.
Can I transfer my copyright to someone else?
Yes, you can transfer copyrights or sell them to others.
Can the translated version of the book get copyrighted?
Translations can have their own copyright as they are considered copied content.
Final Takeaway
In order to secure your intellectual property rights, you must copyright your book in the United Arab Emirates, a necessary though easy process. Registering your work gives you a more secure place in the event of a lawsuit as well as the comfort of mind, whether in terms of self-publishing or publishing traditionally.
Starting with the development of your book to submission at the Ministry of Economy, you can ensure that your intellectual property is safe by going through the steps in this tutorial. You should protect not only your writing but your writing career.