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12/04/2009: Ministry steps up clampdown on copyright piracy - Arabnews
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia has intensified efforts to check the growing market of pirated CDs, DVDs, computer games and IT software, and launched raids to confiscate goods and detain those involved in the business.
The raids and detainments were carried out by the Ministry of Culture and Information, which has urged people to respect the Kingdom’s copyright and intellectual property laws, a senior ministry official said yesterday.
“The Ministry of Culture and Information seized more than 38,000 pirated CDs from illegal street vendors last week as part of its comprehensive anti-piracy crackdown throughout the streets of Riyadh,” said the official.
The raids were conducted with the help of Riyadh police. Authorities also destroyed over 600,000 pirated CDs that were seized at Riyadh airport recently.
The ministry has urged people entering the Kingdom to abide by intellectual property laws. Saudi nationals who violate the laws could face fines of up to SR500,000 and 12 months in prison in addition to being forced to pay compensation to victims.
Scott Butler, CEO of the Arabian Anti-Piracy Alliance, said the raids last week initially covered the fashionable Olaya area. Raids also took place in south Riyadh’s Haraj bin Gassem market. Authorities questioned street vendors to determine the sources of counterfeit products.
The vendors were also asked to sign commitments not to repeat violations. A number of vehicles used for storage were seized. Street vendors selling counterfeit products were seen fleeing as police advanced.
Butler commended Abdul Rahman Al-Hazzaa, undersecretary at the ministry, for supporting efforts to fight piracy and copyright crimes.
He said the initiative was launched on the orders of Al-Hazzaa and Saudi officials were able to dramatically reduce the number of street vendors selling counterfeit goods in a short time.
The campaign has generated significant awareness among members of the public that the Saudi government is taking a strong stand against the sale of pirated material.
The counterfeit industry in Saudi Arabia currently stands at around $4 billion a year.
12/04/2009: JCCI preparing black list of car rental defaulters - Arabnews
JEDDAH: The Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) is close to completing a black list containing the names of around 600,000 people in Jeddah who have failed to pay car rental fees, causing an annual loss of around SR500 million to the SR2.5-billion industry.
“The list, which will come out soon, will enable car rental companies to collect cash owed to them,” said a JCCI spokesman, adding that this would be the first list of its kind in the Kingdom.
Saeed Al-Bassami, deputy chairman of the Car Rental Committee at the JCCI, said the chamber would soon meet car insurance companies to fix a unified price for car rentals.
“The charges are reasonable. They are less than the rates in neighboring countries. There is no intention of increasing them,” said Al-Bassami.
Speaking about a decision to close down 180 unlicensed car rental firms, he said this was the concern of the Ministry of Transport. He added that the Car Rental Committee is working to resolve a number of problems facing the industry.
Asked about the misuse of rented cars by customers, Al-Bassami said the committee had established a computer network linking all car rental firms for the sharing of information on such people.
He added that the Car Rental Committee had set up regulations which car rental companies have been asked to commit to, including the Saudization of jobs. The committee is also working on a mechanism to reduce the issue of people not returning vehicles.
01/01/2009: Construction of The Law Firm of Dr. Khalid Alnowaiser’s New Office building is near to completion.
Construction of the Law Firm of Dr. Khalid Alnowaiser’s new office building located in the Al Rawdah district in Jeddah is expected to be completed by June 2009. The building contractors have almost completed all faces of the construction and now some beautification works are remaining. The Firm will move to the new office immediately upon completion of the new building in June.
7/04/2009: Justice Ministry warns ‘lawyers’ without permits - Arab News
Individuals practicing law without a license will be subject to imprisonment or fine or both, Abdul Rahman Al-Hutan, director of the department of lawyers at the Justice Ministry said.
“Such people will be subject to punishment under Article 27 of the Lawyers’ System, which stipulates one year imprisonment or a fine of not less than SR30,000 or both,” he told Arab News. He said the step was part of efforts to promote the legal profession in the Kingdom under the new judicial system.
Yousuf Al-Farrah, chairman of the Committee to Discipline Lawyers in the Ministry of Justice, said 16 lawyers had been brought before the committee on charges of violating the rules of the profession. He added that two of them had been stopped from practicing law. He also said a number of other lawyers were referred to the Prosecution and Investigation Board for questioning under the statute to regulate the profession.
Al-Farrah said punishments against lawyers could be reviewed within 60 days by the Court of Grievances, which can uphold, annul or change the punishment.
The conditions for obtaining law licenses include working two years with an accredited lawyer or in a legal consultancy. “Anyone who wants to be a lawyer should have a university degree in law or Shariah from a Saudi or recognized foreign university.
22/03/2009: Bill to curb workplace harassment triggers heated debate - Arab News
JEDDAH: A draft law to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace has triggered a heated debate among Shoura Council members with opponents saying it would encourage mixed-gender working environments.
Supporters believe such a law is essential to protect women from harassment. “Those who oppose this law are like ostriches hiding their heads in the sand,” said Mazin Balilah, adding that Muslim countries such as Malaysia, Indonesia, Tunisia and Egypt have already introduced such laws.
According to the draft, which is yet to be presented to the 150-member consultative body, a person found guilty of sexual harassment could face a jail sentence of six to 12 months and a fine of SR20,000 to SR50,000.
Under the draft law, heads and managers of companies and other institutions would be required to make internal regulations to prevent harassment.
Balilah, who proposed the law, emphasized its relevance, especially in institutions like hospitals and schools where women often work alongside men. He said about half of the Shoura members have approved the law. “We hope when it is presented for debate the number of supporters will increase.”
Members like Talal Al-Bakri, chairman of the Shoura’s Committee for Social, Family and Youth Affairs, said the enactment of the law would be an indirect approval of the mixing of sexes in the workplace. “This goes against the teachings of Islam, our social customs and the Kingdom’s basic law of governance,” he told Al-Madinah Arabic daily.
Azib Al-Mesbal, chairman of the Committee for Islamic, Judicial and Human Rights Affairs, said his committee would discuss all aspects of the law before presenting it to the Shoura. He said he would give his opinion about the law only after a thorough study.
Balilah said the Kingdom’s labor law does not mention sexual harassment at the workplace. “There is not a single article in the law related to sexual harassment,” he pointed out. He said some private companies in the Kingdom were following foreign laws to prevent harassment.
Balilah said he discussed the issue with Labor Minister Ghazi Al-Gosaibi, who said sexual harassment in the workplace was not included in the labor law because it was not a phenomenon in the Kingdom. “But the minister then told me that if any such law was passed by the Shoura his ministry would support it,” he said.
Al-Bakri said some women invite harassment through provocative dresses and appearance.
“Such cases often happen in public places, such as shopping malls and hospitals. The police, Shariah courts, the Commission for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice and human rights groups deal with these cases,” he said, playing down the significance of the new law.
01/09/2004: Dr. Alnowaiser Presents Arbitration Lecture
Dr. Khalid Alnowaiser presented a lecture on the growing significance of international arbitration at the Fifth Conference of the Arab International Arbitration Union in Rabat City, Morocco in early July. The conference was held under the auspice of His Majesty Mohammed the 6th, the King of Morocco, and with HRH Prince Dr. Bandar Bin Salman Bin Mohammed Al Saud, Chairman of the Saudi Arbitration team. In his speech, Dr. Alnowaiser said that arbitration has become the most common way of settling disputes arising in commercial investment contracts. He noted that the current popularity of arbitration is that major national investment projects embody foreign elements deemed essential in such situations, and virtually every investor seeks to have arbitration clauses incorporated in such contracts to quickly resolve disputes.
When arbitration is utilized, Dr. Alnowaiser stated that it is very important that the law and customs of the country where the contract is executed are followed to govern the arbitration, saying, “Place prevails over the shape and form of the contract.” So long as the contract is legally valid under the laws of the country where it is signed, it will be upheld by arbitrators.
Given that arbitration resolves contractual disputes more quickly and with less expense than through the judicial system, the contracting parties have more confidence in entering into an agreement. This is most useful in international transactions, thus furthering multinational investments and the infusion of foreign capital. Dr. Alnowaiser said that arbitration thus strengthens trade relations, boosts judicial cooperation, and increases commercial activity.
01/01/2004: The Law Firm of Dr. Khalid Alnowaiser Opens New Office in Riyadh
The Law Firm of Dr. Khalid Alnowaiser (LFKAN) has opened a new office in Riyadh, expanding its dominance of the legal service sector in Saudi Arabia. Opening this new office will improve LFKAN’s ability to fulfill its clients’ legal needs in the area. LFKAN recently opened the Riyadh office in response to the continued growth of its national practice.
LFKAN’s Riyadh office is located Thahliya Stree, Abdullathif Centre, First Floor, Office 106, P.O. Box 221631, Riyadh 11311. For more information regarding LFKAN’s Riyadh office, contact (966 1) 4631144 or email us at info@lfkan.com.
01/01/2004: Firm Establishes New Inheritance, Trusts, and Estate Planning Practice
Inspired by more disputes arising in the area of inheritances, we are proud to announce that the Law Firm of Dr. Khalid Alnowaiser has established a new practice area in the field of Inheritance, Trusts and Estate Planning to meet the needs of our clients. In furtherance of our continuing goal to provide a full range of legal services, we offer comprehensive inheritance, estate and trust legal services for individuals and businesses.
All of us are faced with certain financial challenges: ensuring that our business continues after our death, providing for our loved ones if we die prematurely, planning for the possibility of outliving our assets, coping with unexpected emergencies, and dealing with mental and physical incapacities. By overcoming these challenges, our new Inheritance, Trusts and Estate Planning practice area can help you get organized and accomplish your estate planning objectives.
Our services include the preparation of wills, trusts, family partnership agreements, marital property agreements, business succession agreements, asset preservation plans, charitable and family gifts, and other financial planning transactions, including life insurance and retirement planning.
We anticipate that this new practice area in the field of Inheritance, Trusts and Estate Planning will be of interest to you and your family, friends, and business associates. Please contact us if we can assist you in planning for the future.
01/02/2001: The law Firm has moved to new address.
The Law Firm of Dr. Khalid Alnowaiser has moved to a new location. To accommodate its needs to better serve it’s growing client base the firm has relocated to Al-Rawdah District, Nahdat Al Nashr Street, off Thaliya Street in front of Al-Lami mosque. The firm would like to thank our clients for their patience with us during the moving and settling in process. We hope that the new location will allow us to better serve our clients in an accessible, comfortable and professional atmosphere.
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12/4/2009:Ministry steps up clampdown on copyright piracy 12/4/2009:Construction of New Office is near to completion 14/4/2009:JCCI preparing black list of car rental defaulters 7/4/2009:Justice Ministry warns ‘lawyers’ without permits
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