Panel set up to study intellectual property norms in handicrafts

By Mai Al Abria — MUSCAT: MARCH 22 - Sheikha Aisha Bint Khlafan al Siyabia, Chairperson of Public Authority of Crafts Industries on Wednesday issued a number of decisions to regulate the handicrafts sector. Sheikha Aisha adopted decision No 39/2017 concerning the establishment of a Committee to study the Applications for the registration of Intellectual Property.

Article (1) of the decision stipulates the establishment of a specialised committee to study the applications for the registration of intellectual property for the technical details like the decorations and drawings of some craft products.

Article 2 of the resolution includes the functions and duties of the committee. Some of these duties are providing the technical opinion for the application concerning brand request applications or other related applications in addition to providing recommendations in accordance with the regulations and procedures.

A team was formed to focus on the quality of handicraft products in accordance with decision No. (41/2017). It will prepare a manual on the quality standards of Omani craft products. The team also set up a programmed plan that includes the work phases of the project as well as field visits to training, centres and to communicate with the leading countries in the field of quality standards. The adoption of these decision are part of the PACI’s continuous efforts to develop the organisational performance of the artisanal sector in order to move it to a new stage based on protection and innovation.  The decisions will effectively contribute to maintain a professional work environment characterised by productivity that would attract local talent who will work on the diversity of the components of the sector in accordance with the principles of protecting the national identity and traditions.

The new resolutions specify a number of controls on the initial stages of production and crafts development, as well as the mechanism followed to protect national designs of handicrafts. The decision meets a number of needs of the local handicraft sector related to the protection of intellectual property rights for handicrafts insuring effectiveness at diversifying local income.