The fair, with its theme ‘Knowledge illuminates our Community’ was complemented by the professional programme under the banner of the ‘Digitzing Creativity Conference’.
IPA President Jobava, spoke at the first session on ‘The Beginning of a New Era’. Alongside Mohamad Rashad, President of the Arab Publishers Association, she underlined the way publishers have embraced digital as part of publishing. She also underlined how strong copyright laws are vital to ensure that creativity is rewarded and that generative AI platforms who want to use copyrighted works shoud secure licenses.
IPA Secretary General, José Borghino, spoke on a panel entitled ‘Digital Impact on the Arts’ which, predictably, quickly became a discussion about the rampant growth of Artificial Intelligence. Borghino explained that publishers were already exploring the possibilities of this new technology and could see many opportunities for its use, as long as the time-tested qualities of copyright were maintained and strengthened. However, he sounded a warning about the doubtful tactics of the gargantuan AI platforms which sought to undermine copyright and legitimize piracy in their unbridled rush to bigger and bigger profits.
IPA Executive Committee member, Ahmed Rashad, spoke about entrepreneurship in publishing. And all three in the IPA team met with IPA members from the Arab Publishers Association, and the PAs from Egypt, Iraq, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.