Workshop on Books and Publishing in France and Lebanon at the ESA

  The «Mission Culturelle Francaise» of the French Embassy in Lebanon and «Le Bureau International de l'Édition Française (BIEF) » organized a professional day related to books and publishing in France and Lebanon at the « Ecole Supérieure des Affaires» (ESA). More than 40 professionals including Denis Gaillard director of «Mission Culturelle Française», Jean-Guy Boin director of «Bureau international de l'édition française», Paul Otchakovsky-Laurens director of «POL publications», Rouhi Baalbacki general manager of «Dar el-Ilm Lilmalayin», Pierre Vallaud (Réunion des musées nationaux publications), Rana Idriss manager of «Dar el-Adab», Sami Naufal manager of «Librairie Antoine», Alain Gründ president of «Bureau international de l'édition française», Georges Tabet manager of «Messageries du Moyen-Orient», Maroun Nehmé manager of «Dar el-Majani and Librairie Orientale», assisted in the workshop which shed light mainly on authors' rights, publishing partnerships and co-publishing in Lebanon and France. Mr. Rany Sader's, our managing partner's, intervention was on the "Publishing Agreements" from a legal and practical point of view.

  In his speech, Mr. Sader gave an overview on publishing in Lebanon and the Arab countries. Sader spoke of the lack of professionalism in Lebanon, giving as example the presence of some illiterate "publishers" in Lebanon; He highlighted the legislative perspective of such agreements in both countries emphasizing on their legal aspects such as the conditions of writing the publishing agreements and their content (set out in detail the rights granted, limitation in time and space, author's imperative participation in a percentage of the revenues resulting from the exploitation and sales operations etc.).

  He also compared between traditional publishing and e-publishing and their mutual effect on the sector and its future.

  Mr.Sader illustrated many case decisions from Lebanese Courts and stressed the importance of severe rulings against infringers. He asked for the establishment of specialized IP courts in Lebanon.

  He concluded that there are rules and standards for Author Rights which should be reviewed, respected and implemented in order to move forward with the Lebanese publishing sector.

  To receive Mr.Rany Sader presentations on Power Point, kindly contact us on

  sader@saderlaw.com

  For more information:

  - In French : ACTUALITE CULTURELLE

  - In Arabic: Al Nahar Newspaper , Al Safir Newspaper

  (Beirut, 4th of February 2007)