1. CULTURAL INDUSTRIES IN JORDAN By Riad al Khouri, BLitt (Oxon) Director, MEBA wll MEBA@nets.com.jo May 2004

2. Acknowledgements This report has benefited greatly from the help of the The Jordan Intellectual Property Association (JIPA) The World Intellectual Property Organization

3. Introduction This case study examines Jordanian -Computer Software -Audiovisual Production -Book Publishing -Music/Sound Recording

4. Methodology The report used a cluster analysis to look at - Supply/Demand Conditions - Related and Supporting Industries - Market Structure and Firm Strategy - Government Policies - Expectations

5. Computer Software

6. The Computer Software industry in Jordan benefits from government support funded by foreign donors Jordanian software development firms are increasingly involved internationally Jordanian universities have not come up with commercially significant software development inventions Availability of skilled talent with knowledge of Arabic and English, and understanding of regional norms, is significant

7. Audiovisual Production

8. Some in the Audiovisual industry in Jordan are linking up with global firms The Jordanian Audiovisual Producers Syndicate is co- operating with international donors and the state to promote member interests While still serious, copyright piracy in the Audiovisual industry has declined in Jordan This success is partly due to awareness campaigns and effective measures adopted by the authorities to prevent infringements

9. Book Publishing

10. Jordanian Book Publishing does not enjoy the government support given to Software Development. The Jordanian Publishers Union remains weak and divided The National Library has become more active, particularly in combating piracy, but remains understaffed Jordanian Book Publishing is still far from achieving the dynamism that currently exists within the Computer Software industry

11. Music/Sound Recording

12. Part of the general problem of the industry is a lack of musical culture in the country The Jordanian Musicians’ Union is an ineffective body that has done little to help Jordan’s music industry Since Jordanian musical education is not yet firmly established in either public or private schools, a growing number of young people lack the opportunity to develop their musical skills The adoption of a serious cluster methodology for the Music industry in Jordan would recognize the role that festivals play, and how they can help to develop Jordanian tourism

13. Recommendations Both public and private sectors must play a greater role in sponsoring awareness of the importance of culture in general and cultural industries in particular NGOs such as JIPA, as well as the media, must disseminate awareness of copyright issues as widely as possible The government should play a role in supporting scientific R&D, as well as economic research The judiciary must be supported in efforts made to strengthen intellectual property rights Strategies must be co-ordinated with countries that are important trading partners for Jordanian cultural industry in the region