{"id":7429,"date":"2024-02-25T18:00:07","date_gmt":"2024-02-25T18:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/internationaldiplomat.com\/?p=7429"},"modified":"2024-02-25T18:00:07","modified_gmt":"2024-02-25T18:00:07","slug":"7429","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/12h71.com\/?p=7429","title":{"rendered":"International Intellectual Property Conference in Bagdad, Irak – Interview with Professor Dr Alaa Al-Alaq, Director General of the Department of Cultural Relations"},"content":{"rendered":"

International Intellectual Property Conference in Bagdad, Irak – Interview with Professor Dr Alaa Al-Alaq, Director General of the Department of Cultural Relations<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

We do not often hear positive news from Iraq, and yet there are so many positive things happening there. The \u201cNew Iraq\u201d is in the making some might say. One of the persons contributing to this new Irak is Professor Dr Alaa Al-Alaq, Director General of the Department of Cultural Relations. He is a nice and friendly man who took of his precisous time to answer all our questions. Dr Alaa, the floor is yours…\u00a0<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

Q; You are in charge of the intellectual property agency in Iraq. Could you please tell us a little about your background?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

I am Professor Dr. Alaa Abo Al Hassan Al Alaak, Director General of the Department of Cultural Relations in the Republic of Iraq. I hold a Ph.D. in the History of International Relations, a Bachelor’s degree in Law, and a diploma in Intellectual Property Law from India, Hyderabad.<\/span><\/p>\n

I have presented many seminars and conferences on the topic of Intellectual Property Protection.<\/span><\/p>\n

I am a writer and author on Intellectual Property issues in Iraq, with over twenty publications in Intellectual Property Law.<\/span><\/p>\n

I\u00a0have been\u00a0representing\u00a0my country,\u00a0Iraq,\u00a0in the World Intellectual Property Organization,\u00a0\u00ab\u00a0WIPO\u00a0\u00bb, a United Nations agency in Geneva,\u00a0since 2008. In 2019, I established the National Center for Copyright Protection and Related Rights in the Ministry of Culture,\u00a0and then I\u00a0organized\u00a0an International Conference on Intellectual Property in 2010-2011.<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: You just organized\u00a0another\u00a0huge international conference in Baghdad, thus putting your country back on the international scene. What is the outcome of the conference, and are you satisfied with it?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

One of the greatest achievements we have made in this conference is the dissemination of our message to the entire world, which is that Iraq is a country still pulsating with giving, richness, and creativity, and that its people, who are law enthusiasts, preserve their heritage, culture, and the rights of their creators. Therefore, they always strive for international recognition through creativity, catching up with the experiences of other nations, and benefiting from their experiences to revitalize sustainable development and intellectual property projects. Ideas come from lovers of Iraq and its civilization, from friends who participated in this conference and left their unforgettable mark. Their research contributions were valuable and provided us with qualitative additions to the development of sustainable intellectual property in Iraq.<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: How would you characterize the current intellectual property situation in your country?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It is not lost on us that intellectual property is evolving rapidly. The issues addressed by intellectual property to preserve innovation and intellect ten years ago are no longer the same. With rapid and urgent development, where there is creativity and innovation, those rights must evolve, support the creators, protect their rights. Similarly,\u00a0as in\u00a0other countries, legal awareness of intellectual property rights has become clarified\u00a0among\u00a0creators. There is an interest in intellectual property tools and its various branches. Iraqi society has become aware of intellectual property law and its multiple branches, thus enacting new law that suits the current state\u00a0of affairs\u00a0and at least matches the general\u00a0perimeters\u00a0of countries in its Arab and regional group.<\/span><\/p>\n

Q: Your country has a rich and impressive history, and it is often associated with the birth of humanity. How do you protect this cultural heritage?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

It is not lost on humanity that Iraq is the land of civilizations. It is not an exaggeration to say that we are the owners of the first letters and the land of the first diverse cultures. We possess a glorious and significant heritage, not only for Iraq but for the whole world. It shares and participates with all other civilizations. Surely, preserving this heritage is a sacred duty, especially as Iraq works as a member\u00a0state\u00a0to preserve its heritage\u00a0and\u00a0culture, and to register its tangible and intangible heritage\u00a0in\u00a0the various\u00a0international organizations, including UNESCO, ALCO, and ISESCO. We are currently working on reviving the idea of preparing the \u00ab\u00a0Iraqi National Register of Intangible Heritage\u00a0\u00bb to submit it to the relevant organizations and register it as Iraqi heritage in line with civilizations.<\/span><\/p>\n

Q; Finally, Dr Alaa, if you have a message to our readers, what would that be?<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

First:\u00a0I invite all\u00a0those who\u00a0love Iraq, its civilization, and its people to visit our country because love is created through\u00a0direct human encounters,\u00a0good initiatives, and relationships built through literature, art, culture, sports, heritage, theater, cinema, museums, and creativity.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second:\u00a0I would like to thank, with all love and respect, your magazine team because they paid literal attention to Iraq, its people, civilization, and highlighted it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Third:\u00a0I would like to extend my thanks, through you, to all the beloved ones and friends who made us smile, love, and presented ideas and topics through our Second International Intellectual Property Conference held in Baghdad. We became brothers\u00a0and sisters, lovers and friends, and we created a group called \u00ab\u00a0Great Baghdad\u00a0\u00bb. Thank you to everyone who contributed to it, prepared it, and left their mark on it. Thanks to the dear creative brother Faik Al-Aboudi, and the writer Lubna Yaseen, giants of the group.<\/span><\/p>\n