Morocco signed a memorandum of understanding with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) on Monday, aimed at strengthening cooperation in the field of intellectual property rights, including copyright, neighboring rights, and the legal protection of Moroccan cultural heritage.
The agreement was signed in Geneva by Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, and Daren Tang, Director General of WIPO.
A key component of the agreement is the promotion and legal recognition of Morocco’s cultural label, “Label Maroc,” on the international stage. The memorandum also opens the door for Morocco to benefit from expertise-sharing, the adoption of emerging legal concepts — such as resale rights and reproduction rights — and the integration into the WIPOCONNECT system, WIPO’s digital platform supporting rights management.
The deal also enhances Morocco’s ability to legally protect emblematic cultural elements like the caftan and zellige (traditional tilework), which have already been registered as part of the country’s heritage.
While UNESCO provides symbolic international recognition of intangible heritage, WIPO offers legal protection, empowering states to defend their cultural assets in cases of appropriation or misrepresentation. Through this agreement, Morocco gains access to institutional and legal tools to challenge the unauthorized use of its heritage globally.
During the visit, Minister Bensaid also held bilateral talks with Director General Tang, discussing the current level of cooperation and upcoming joint initiatives, including knowledge exchange and expert missions focused on copyright protection, to ensure fair compensation and rights enforcement for Moroccan creators.
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