The Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdulaziz bin Mohieddin Khoja has renewed the commitment of the Ministry of Culture and Information and its efforts to strengthen the protection of the rights of authors and other relevant rights. In a speech marking the World Intellectual Property Day which falls on Sunday, he expressed his pleasure to participate in celebrating this day and to talk about the efforts of Saudi Arabia in this regard particularly the tasks entrusted to the Ministry of Culture and Information. Dr. Khoja said that emanating from the principle of supporting and promoting innovators, the Ministry of Culture and Information has sought to strengthen the protection of the rights of authors and other relevant rights, particularly after Saudi Arabia's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2005. He pointed out that the ministry has stepped up field tours in cooperation with many governmental agencies, particularly security authorities and has confiscated millions of items in violation of local regulations and international conventions. The Minister of Culture and Information noted that the Ministry in cooperation with the private sector has printed and distributed thousands of booklets and brochures at national and international forums such as book fairs and computer exhibitions, adding that since mid-2008, the Ministry has taken an unprecedented pace in the region through dissemination of information on the Ministry's electronic gate about the issues which it has undertaken and that information has been recorded and preserved for about 300 violations and complaints. Dr.Khoja affirmed that the ministry has been proceeding forward in developing its performance in collaboration with other governmental sectors and civil society organizations for the advancement of intellectual property and improvement of the investment climate for the publishing industry, artistic production and software industries.
