Sharjah – Industry leaders have pushed for a robust copyright ecosystem to support ‘innovation and sustainability’ in global publishing at Sharjah International Book Fair 2024.
Speaking at the workshop titled “The Role of Intellectual Property in the Modern Digital Publishing Ecosystem,” which tackled the critical and evolving challenges faced by the industry today, South African academic and publisher Brian Wafawarowa shared his perspective as a publisher on educational publishing in the digital environment.
Wafawarowa is the CEO of Juta and Company, a leading provider of quality legal, regulatory, business and academic content across Africa.
He noted the appeal of digital publishing through licensing models that enhance access to educational content, recognising digital technology’s potential to bridge gaps in educational inequity.
“Despite the challenges, I find digital publishing increasingly appealing, particularly through licensing models that offer flexible access to educational content,” Wafawarowa said.
“Digital technology holds immense potential to support the goal of universal coverage in education, reaching learners who might otherwise be left behind.”
Wafawarowa then highlighted some of the challenges the industry currently faces.
“Infringement and piracy remain significant concerns, impacting revenue and discouraging investment in quality materials,” he said.
“There is also growing competition from Open Educational Resources (OER) and Corporate Social Investment (CSI) materials, which are often free or low-cost.
“Additionally, today’s users expect more dynamic, interactive, and versatile content that goes beyond traditional formats.
“Meeting these evolving expectations requires publishers to adapt quickly, creating engaging, flexible materials that align with modern learning habits.
“Despite these obstacles, I believe digital publishing is on the path forward for creating accessible, innovative educational experiences globally.”
As the Sharjah International Book Fair continues to be a beacon for literary exchange and professional development, the conversations about intellectual property and the digital publishing ecosystem unveil both the challenges and transformative potentials awaiting the industry in the years to come.
Emma House, a notable figure in the global publishing industry, took the stage next, focusing on the urgent need to bolster intellectual property rights in Europe.
“Amid the rise of AI, the European publishing industry must prioritise protecting intellectual property rights,” said House, who is also the director of Oreham Group.
She emphasised the necessity of safeguarding authors’ rights in light of technological changes reshaping the industry.
“For me, maintaining a strong copyright framework is vital to the industry’s sustainability, especially as AI brings new challenges in areas like content generation and policy development,” House said.
House also highlighted the importance of proactive measures as digital tools continue to disrupt traditional publishing norms.
Iman Ben Chaibah, director of strategic initiatives & global markets at Sharjah Book Authority, provided an insightful perspective on the digital publishing landscape in the Arab world.
“When non-Arabs attempt to understand the region’s perspective, they often miss key cultural and economic factors,” Chaibah said.
“For instance, many in the Arab world are accustomed to consuming content for free, which creates a significant gap in transitioning to paid digital models.
“While the UAE has strong anti-piracy laws that help protect publishers and content creators, other regions in the Arab world – particularly parts of North Africa and Asia – lack similar legal protections.
“This disparity leads to a loss of revenue and makes it difficult for digital publishing to grow sustainably across the entire region.
“To fully realise the potential of digital publishing in the Arab world, there needs to be a concerted effort toward developing comprehensive copyright frameworks and shifting consumer mindsets toward valuing paid content.”
