Jordan Times
Thursday, April 8, 1999
By Dana Charkasi
AMMAN — A two-day exhibition of U.S. computer and information technology has underlined the dire need for Jordan to press ahead with updating laws on intellectual property rights (IPR) to attract more foreign investment.
Thirty-eight Jordanian dealers and distributors of American computer firms are participating in the American embassy's 7th Annual Computer Show, which opened to the public on Wednesday.
Ironically, one of the participating companies in the two-day exhibition is a local agency of a U.S. computer firm which sells pirate software copies alongside original ones.
“The protection of intellectual property is an important element in any emerging market,” James Soriano, economic councillor at the U.S. embassy, told journalists on the sidelines of the show.
“Countries that do have rigorous legal systems to protect intellectual property sort of get an international stamp of approval designating this emerging market as a good one for investment. It attracts foreign investment,” he added.
Jordan's failure to modernise IPR laws is hindering its access to the Geneva-based World Trade Organisation (WTO).
The government, in the process of making its trademark and patent laws consistent with WTO agreements on intellectual property rights, expects Jordan to join the organisation by the year 2000.
“The piracy problem in Jordan is a dual one,” said a local computer expert. “First, when you buy a computer, they give you 500 megabyts of software on it for free. Secondly, the customers themselves buy piracy software.”
“An original package of a certain programme would cost around US$2,000 in the U.S. But the same pirate copy in Jordan would costs around JD30,” he told the Jordan Times.
“Awareness is required. All the companies sell copies and originals.”
Several local lawyers, including one representing U.S. computer giant Microsoft, have recently sent letters to every computer and IT dealer in Jordan requesting that they not “preload” software free of charge on hard discs, business experts said.
Companies at the show are exhibiting dozens of the latest IT hard and software from among the world's fastest growing industries.
“I think it is a great opportunity to show the best of American technology and to strengthen the business and trade relationship between Jordan and the U.S.,” said U.S. ambassador to Jordan, William Burns.
“Jordan, with its very well educated and skilled population and position in the region is well placed to take part in that growth [of computer and information technologies market],” he said.
“That is why I am really encouraged by the commitment of the Jordanian government to improve the investment climate here, and I promise that the U.S. is going to do everything it can to help achieve that and to encourage American companies to do business here,” Burns added.
Last year's show hosted 26 companies.
The AMIR Programme (Acces to Micro Finance and Improved Implementation of Policy Reform which is funded by the U.S. Aid for the International Development) and the Jordanian Society for the Protection of Intellectual Property Rights will present a seminar on copyright enforcement, including an overview of the Jordanian Copyright Law.
Experts from several computer companies will also conduct seminars on issues including the Millennium Bug and Internet connections and future trends.
“The real highlight of the show are the seminars that will be conducted. They will bring together all the experts who will have the opportunity to discuss and exchange their views,” said Zeid Nasser, a technical journalist.
Local distributors of American companies provide the Jordanian market with the latest products relatively quickly, he added.
Several representatives of U.S. companies said Jordan's public and private sectors appear not to have done much to brace for the Millennium Bug, but some downplayed the worldwide scare about comprehensive systems failure on a global scale at the turn of the century.
“People here have not taken the problem seriously. But now that time is running short, they are showing more interest, especially banks,” said Mohammad Al Qudah, sales manager of Al Ghanem Computer Systems & Solutions.
Another participant criticised Millennium Bug hysteria.
“Our company was a leader in preparing for the Millennium Bug and all our computers are 100 per cent compliant with the turn of the millennium,” he said.
“But frankly, the problem is exaggerated. It is not as much of a problem as people are making it seem. Some people exaggerate for personal purposes. The regular man will not have any problems.”
Mohammad Akkad, distribution manager for Compaq, said companies that must pay immediate attention to the problem are “businesses who depend on the accounting department and on dates and figures such as banks or insurance companies.”