Digital Copyrights Protection in GCC Countries: Prohibitions Against Circumvention of Technological Measures in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE

Abstract

In order to control the use and licensing of copyright protected works in the digital context the creator of such protected works need to implement technological measures (e.g., encryption) when the given creative works are made available in the digital world. The technological measures provide safeguards against not only unauthorized use of the works, but also against the removal or altering of information (“rights management information”) necessary for the management (e.g., licensing, collecting and distribution of royalties) of the protected copyrights. This article attempts to collate, highlight, and then briefly access alignment of, the sanctions available in the individual GCC countries (i.e. Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) against circumventions of technological measures protecting rights of authors, performers, and phonogram producers in the digital context.