ERRA Signs a Reprographic Rights Licensing Agreement with the American University of Sharjah at the Sharjah International Book Fair 2025

In the Presence of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi

In the presence of Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi, President of American University of Sharjah and Honorary President of the Emirates Reprographic Rights Management Association (ERRA), the Association has signed a reprographic rights licensing agreement with American University of Sharjah. With this agreement, the university becomes the second higher education institution in the UAE to obtain such a licence, and the first public academic institution to adopt a comprehensive model for protecting authors’ rights and reprographic rights in educational environments.

The agreement was signed as part of ERRA’s participation in the 44th Sharjah International Book Fair, reflecting ERRA’s ongoing efforts to foster a sustainable academic environment based on the responsible and organised use of knowledge resources. It also ensures the fair distribution of royalties to authors and publishers in the UAE and beyond, in line with international best practices in the education and research sectors.

Commenting on the signing, Her Highness Sheikha Bodour bint Sultan Al Qasimi stated: "The signing of this agreement represents an important step towards strengthening an academically conscious environment that respects creativity and promotes proper practices in the circulation of knowledge. At American University of Sharjah, we believe that safeguarding authors’ rights is not merely a legal obligation, but also part of our responsibility to support scholarly research, intellectual production, and the advancement of the publishing sector."

Her Highness also praised the growing role of ERRA in regulating fair use of intellectual works and protecting creators’ rights, adding: "This licence reinforces the university’s position as a leading educational institution and establishes it as a model within the academic sector in the UAE and the wider region."

Mohamed Bin Dakhen, President of the Board of ERRA, expressed his appreciation for this partnership, stating: "This collaboration marks an important addition to the UAE’s creative ecosystem. It reflects the commitment of the American University of Sharjah to adopting an informed and fair model for the reuse of knowledge."

He emphasised that protecting authors’ rights is not only a legal necessity but also a fundamental pillar in building a culture that respects and values creativity, adding:

"Through this agreement, we aim to strengthen our partnerships with educational institutions to establish a culture of rights protection as a foundation for supporting education and scientific output."

Dr. Tod Laursen, Chancellor of AUS, said: “Through this agreement with ERRA, AUS can share learning materials on campus and online with confidence and clarity. It enables authorized copying and communication for our community, requires robust safeguards for digital course reserves and respects any exclusions identified by ERRA. Our commitment is simple: enable faculty and students to access what they need for education, keep creators’ rights front and center and model sector leadership in responsible scholarship.”

The agreement was signed at the ERRA stand during the 44th edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair, in the presence of representatives from both parties, along with cultural figures, publishers, and media professionals.

This collaboration is part of a broader series of strategic partnerships through which ERRA seeks to establish a fair and sustainable knowledge framework that raises societal awareness, protects creators’ rights, and contributes to the growth of the national creative economy.