Doha, April 28 (QNA) - The Ministry of Commerce and Industry organized a ceremony marking World Intellectual Property Day held at the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum.

The event aimed to raise awareness on the importance of intellectual property and its impact on development in the sports sector. The event also aimed to build a legal environment that supports innovators and investors.

In his opening remarks, Assistant Undersecretary for Commerce Affairs at the Ministry Saleh Abdullah Al Mannai emphasized that the modern sports ecosystem was no longer limited to competition alone, but was now based on an integrated framework for protecting intellectual property.

He noted that high-quality investments in modern sports technologies reflected a clear integration between scientific research and practical application, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to developing legislation and providing technical support to innovators in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.

For his part, Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization Daren Tang highlighted what he described as the invisible side of the sports world.

In a recorded speech, he highlighted that patents and design rights were the driving force of technological and aesthetic innovations in stadiums, and copyright ensured that content reached billions of fans worldwide. He stressed that such developments required firm management of these intellectual assets.

In the same context, the Regional Counselor of Intellectual Property in France Dr. Jinane Kabbara said in a recorded address that all forms of intellectual property rights enable creators to turn their ideas into a tangible reality, ensuring the continued global development of the sports sector.

The event featured performances by Al Wakrah SC, along with a showcase of innovations, including Qatar's stadium cooling technology as a leading example of protected innovation.

The celebration concluded with a panel discussion involving a group of specialists, addressing the complex legal challenges posed by digital transformation, particularly regarding exclusive broadcasting rights, trademark protection during major tournaments, and how to align local laws with international standards to combat piracy and safeguard the rights of partners and investors. (QNA)