Copyright Case in Egypt Sparks Renewed Vigilance: IP Protection in the Wake of Wali Verdict

Copyright, at its core, is the set of rights that original owners have over their literary and artistic works. Infringement of these rights happens when a copyright material is used or made into a derivative without the permission of owner. This can apply to anything from software, graphics, and architectural designs to novels, music, movies, and artwork.

On 30 January 2024, a court verdict was issued against the graphic designer Ghada Wali over charges of allegedly infringing the financial and literary rights of the Russian artist Georgy Korasov. Wali was indicted for copying four creative works from Korasov's avant-garde depictions of ancient Egyptian civilization and placing them in murals at Cairo's Girls' College Station without his consent.

Facing the legal consequences of copyrights infringement, Wali was sentenced to 6 months in prison and fined a temporary civil compensation of EGP 100,000.

The case of Ghada Wali has once again raised awareness of the problem of intellectual piracy in Egypt. Consequently, the nation has stepped in to face the global rise of copyright infringements through building respect for IP, fostering ethical knowledge sharing as well as enforcement of copyright law.

In the aftermath of this case, we are seeing a renewed interest in copyright registrations and enforcement. Seasoned intellectual property experts at Eldib & Co offer effective strategies for businesses and individuals to shield their intellectual assets from threats such as infringement, counterfeiting and reputational harm. For assistance, please contact [email protected]

Author: Yara Aly