Hesham Azmy, chairman of the EIPA, told MENA in an exclusive interview that the authority is the first tangible outcome of Egypt’s National Intellectual Property Strategy, launched in September 2022 after two years of work by a cabinet committee. The strategy sets overarching goals to govern all aspects of intellectual property in the country.

Egypt has a long legislative history in IP, dating back to the 1930s, with laws on trademarks (1939), patents (1949) and copyright (1954), culminating in Law 82 of 2002, which consolidated earlier legislation. However, Azmy said that law, while pivotal, did not amount to a comprehensive strategy.

He said the push for reform was driven by three main factors: a constitutional requirement under the 2014 constitution to protect intellectual property and establish a dedicated authority; a societal need to safeguard the rights of creators, innovators and thinkers who often lose their rights due to weak enforcement or lack of awareness; and international obligations stemming from Egypt’s membership of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and its commitments under global treaties, which also affect the country’s standing in global innovation rankings.

Azmy said the strategy rests on four pillars. The first is governance, centred on the creation of the EIPA, which was established by law in July 2023, with its chairman appointed in August 2024. The second involves reviewing and updating the legislative environment to reflect technological advances, including artificial intelligence and digital innovation. The third focuses on maximizing the economic return from intellectual property assets, while the fourth – and one of the most critical – aims to raise public awareness of IP rights.

Unlike previous approaches, awareness-raising has been designated a standalone strategic objective, targeting school students, university communities and society at large. Azmy said changing entrenched attitudes toward intellectual property would take time but was irreversible now that it had become a state policy.

The EIPA has absorbed IP offices previously spread across seven ministries, including culture, higher education, supply and internal trade, agriculture, and communications. Azmy stressed the authority’s role goes far beyond registration and filing, encompassing legislative reform, economic valorization of IP assets and nationwide awareness campaigns.

Egypt plans to launch a national awareness campaign, supported by media outreach, workshops and partnerships with ministries such as those of culture, youth and sports and education, religious institutions and universities. Azmy said teaching IP concepts at school level was also under consideration to instil respect for creators’ rights from an early age.

On the economic front, Azmy acknowledged that Egypt has yet to realize significant financial returns from its intellectual property, despite a rich legacy in cultural and creative industries, research and innovation. He cited Egypt’s early leadership in printing, opera, cinema, broadcasting and publishing, saying the economic yield from this heritage has fallen far short of its potential.

To address this, the authority is working to catalogue Egypt’s IP assets – from patents and trademarks to film archives, traditional crafts and heritage – across nine priority sectors, including scientific research, industry, tourism, culture and media. Committees have been formed to develop mechanisms to monetize these assets, in coordination with bodies such as the Supreme Council for Media Regulation.

Azmy also highlighted efforts to bridge the gap between academic research and industry by promoting patent protection, licensing and technology transfer, giving businesses confidence to invest in research outputs. He said this was essential to turning innovation into tangible economic and social benefits.

On enforcement, Azmy said some EIPA departments have judicial enforcement powers, while the authority coordinates closely with police, customs and regulatory agencies to combat IP violations. A permanent inter-ministerial enforcement committee is being considered.

Regarding legislation, Azmy said existing laws predate major technological shifts and require urgent revision. He pointed to ongoing work to amend regulations, including the implementation of the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for the visually impaired.

Azmy also warned of challenges facing the Arabic language in the digital age, noting that artificial intelligence systems rely heavily on non-Arabic data. He said strengthening Arabic content in AI platforms was essential to preserving cultural identity.

On innovation rankings, Azmy said Egypt ranked 85th in the Global Innovation Index and deserved a higher position. He said weak data submission to WIPO had hurt Egypt’s ranking, prompting the formation of a central committee under the cabinet’s Information and Decision Support Center to improve data accuracy and timeliness.

He also highlighted the revival of collective management of rights, including public performance rights. Egypt established its first such society in 1945 for composers and songwriters, and more recently new associations have begun collecting royalties for drama writers and artists, with potential expansion into sports-related rights.

Azmy said the ultimate goal was to transform intellectual property from a legal concept into a productive economic and cultural asset that contributes meaningfully to Egypt’s national economy.