Erick Smith, Chairman of the International Federation for Intellectual Property Rights, today lauded the strenuous efforts exerted by the government of he Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to protect author's rights and intellectual property and its keenness to comply with all international agreements in this regard, congratulating the Kingdom on its accession to the World Trade Organization. During a meeting with Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz, the Governor of Riyadh Region, Smith also praised the role played by the Ministry of Culture and Information to eradicate intellectual piracy and protect intellectual rights. In a press conference to mark the end of his visit to the Kingdom, Smith said he discussed with senior Saudi officials aspects of cooperation in the field of author's rights and intellectual property protection. He said he discussed with Acting Minister of Culture and Information Abdulmohsen Ala'kkas ways of implementing the principle of transparency and of deterring intellectual rights violators.
