Morocco Signs Agreement with WIPO to Enhance Intellectual Property Protection
On Monday, in Geneva, Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mehdi Bensaid, signed a memorandum of understanding with Daren Tang, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO).
The agreement aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in the field of intellectual property, particularly concerning copyright and related rights. It includes legal protections for Morocco’s cultural heritage.
Additionally, the agreement provides for the exchange of expertise in intellectual property and the adoption of new legal concepts, such as the right of attribution and the right to reproduce, implemented through WIPO’s WIPOCONNECT system.
One key focus of the agreement is the promotion of Morocco’s heritage, labeled “Label Maroc,” on the international stage, allowing Morocco to legally protect its cultural assets within the Moroccan Office of Intellectual Property.
Morocco has already registered several cultural elements, such as the “caftan” and “zellij,” which now benefit from legal protection under WIPO.
Importantly, UNESCO grants international recognition for cultural heritage elements, while WIPO provides legal recognition that enables countries to petition specialized bodies in cases of theft or appropriation of their heritage. This agreement positions Morocco to receive support from WIPO in combating cultural heritage appropriation.
In a statement to the Maghreb Arab Press following the signing ceremony, Minister Bensaid emphasized that the agreement seeks to enhance the capabilities of the Moroccan Copyright Office across several strategic areas.
He expressed a vision of developing new rights within the office, leveraging international expertise as a crucial tool for opening new opportunities for artists and the cultural sector.
Bensaid noted that this agreement offers a chance to deepen understanding of the cultural economy and strengthen competencies amid rapid developments in the sector. He highlighted Morocco’s exploration of new cultural fields, such as video game production, rich in cultural components, including music, graphic design, and screenwriting.
He underscored the need to keep pace with international dynamics and innovative trends, especially given the rise of artificial intelligence and modern technologies, aligning with Morocco’s commitment to preserving and valuing cultural heritage, particularly intangible heritage.
So far, Morocco has initiated the process to gain recognition from WIPO for seven cultural heritage elements, aiming to expand and strengthen legal protections under the cooperation framework with the organization based in Geneva.
Minister Bensaid reiterated that Morocco is the first country to adopt a purely cultural and non-commercial approach to protect its intangible heritage. This marks the first initiative with WIPO, although it is expected to be the first of many.
At the signing event, Bensaid also held bilateral talks with Tang regarding the level of cooperation between Morocco and WIPO, focusing on key joint projects, including the exchange of expertise and visits from specialists in copyright law to ensure the rights of authors and creators.
This signing took place during Morocco’s participation in the WIPO General Assembly, which runs from July 8 to 17, with over a thousand delegates in attendance, including around forty ministers discussing the work program for 2026-2027 and activities for 2024.
