The Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association (ERRA) has signed the first blanket reprographic rights licensing agreement in the UAE with Heriot-Watt University Dubai. This agreement marks a significant achievement for ERRA, highlighting its commitment to establishing its presence in the field of collective reprographic rights management since its inception less than three years ago. The Association has previously concluded six landmark agreements with organizations across various countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, and Argentina, and is currently collaborating with India.

Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, the Honorary President of ERRA, emphasized that this agreement represents a crucial milestone in building a comprehensive framework for protecting authors’ rights in the UAE. She noted the importance of collaboration between educational institutions and intellectual property stakeholders in achieving this goal. She expressed pride in ERRA’s progress, stating that the signing with Heriot-Watt University Dubai underscores the Association’s growth and ability to impact educational and cultural institutions positively.

In her remarks, Sheikha Bodour said, “We take great pride in the strategic strides made by ERRA towards strengthening the legislative and cultural infrastructure for reprographic rights protection.” She also highlighted the importance of respecting creative rights as fundamental to a sustainable knowledge-based renaissance and expressed hope that this model would inspire other educational institutions to adopt similar practices.

The licensing agreement allows Heriot-Watt University Dubai to access a vast collection of books and academic materials legally. This move reinforces the university’s commitment to upholding the rights of authors and creators while enhancing its academic credibility and institutional ranking.

Anita Huss, Secretary General and CEO of the International Federation of Reproduction Rights Organisations (IFRRO), praised ERRA’s steady progress in implementing collective rights management principles. She acknowledged the significance of this agreement as a commendable achievement, stating that it reflects a responsible vision toward protecting authors’ rights.

Mohamed Bin Dakhen, President of the Board of ERRA, commented on the importance of this agreement as a significant operational phase in the Association’s journey. He noted the establishment of effective international partnerships that enable ERRA to represent a wide array of literary and scientific works, emphasizing the need to foster a culture of respect for intellectual property in educational environments.

Anas Abu Ghoush, Head of Information Services at Heriot-Watt University Dubai, remarked that the partnership with ERRA is a strategic step toward enhancing the quality of academic content. He pointed out that the license enables access to thousands of works, positively impacting the university’s academic credibility. Abu Ghoush expressed pride in being the first educational institution in the UAE to adopt this advanced model, hoping to inspire others to create a fair and sustainable learning environment.