Amman: Jordan has been safeguarding intellectual property rights for more than a century, recognizing their role in fostering creativity and protecting the rights of creators and innovators. The country has continuously updated its legislation to align with global standards.
According to Jordan News Agency, data from the Industrial Property Protection Directorate at the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Supply shows that Jordan has so far registered 198,216 trademarks, 3,405 patents, and 2,637 industrial designs and models. On the occasion of World Intellectual Property Day, which falls on Saturday, the agency reviewed the kingdom’s efforts in the field since its founding in 1921. Successive governments have prioritized intellectual property, enacting regulations in line with international standards. However, emerging challenges, particularly in artificial intelligence technologies, digital protection, and legislative updates, remain pressing.
Raya Nsour, Director of the Industrial Property Protection Directorate, told Petra that Jordan actively represents itself internationally by participating in global conferences, workshops, and meetings, which helps enhance local legislation and policies in line with global norms. Nsour highlighted key ongoing projects, including a youth empowerment program from kindergarten to high school titled “Innovation for a Better Future,’ implemented with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the Ministry of Education. Another initiative, the “Intellectual Property Management Clinic,” supports small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the field of artificial intelligence through workshops and advisory sessions. Additionally, efforts are underway to sustain the “Intellectual Property and Women’s Entrepreneurship” project in Petra.
The ministry, in cooperation with the Hussein Youth Camps, has also launched the third edition of a program aimed at educating youth on intellectual property, entrepreneurship, innovation, and patents. Mouhammad Latouf, Director General of Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property, said the rapid technological advancements are posing new and complex challenges to intellectual property law, particularly in three key areas: artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain technology, and 3D printing. Latouf noted that AI, notably, has raised serious legal questions regarding authorship and ownership rights, citing the New York Times lawsuit against Microsoft and OpenAI over the use of copyrighted materials to train AI models. Such cases expose major gaps in current legislation, he said.
Blockchain technology, with its decentralized nature, also presents unique legal dilemmas related to jurisdiction and the enforcement of intellectual property laws, Latouf added. Smart contracts, he said, raise questions about compatibility with traditional legal frameworks, requiring new legislative approaches. Regarding 3D printing, Latouf said it has revolutionized manufacturing but simultaneously increased risks of patent infringement and product counterfeiting, putting traditional intellectual property protections under strain. Internationally, the borderless nature of the internet has further complicated IP law enforcement, Latouf said, noting a rise in piracy and copyright violations that demand coordinated global responses.
A study published last year by Laila Barqawi and Sarah Arassi from Al-Zaytoonah University highlighted Jordan’s commitment to strengthening its intellectual property framework, especially in higher education. Universities have made notable progress by establishing innovation and entrepreneurship centers that act as incubators for creativity and innovation. Ghazi Khudairi, a consultant in engineering and defense industries, emphasized the importance of intellectual property in protecting creative ideas and fostering growth across sectors. Scientific research, he said, is central to innovation, and intellectual property rights encourage investment by granting researchers and institutions exclusive rights for a limited time.
Patents, Khudairi noted, occupy a special place in the IP system by granting inventors exclusive rights in exchange for publicly disclosing their inventions, incentivizing further innovation and the dissemination of technical knowledge. Intellectual property, with its various branches from research protection to industrial property and patents, represents a vital system supporting innovation and economic growth, he added.
Ruba Hmeidan, a certified intellectual property expert and assistant professor of private law at the Applied Science Private University, said Jordan’s intellectual property law aims to align with global standards, particularly after Jordan’s accession to key international agreements. Jordan is a party to the WTO’s Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) Agreement and a member of WIPO. It has also joined the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, and the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT).
Hmeidan said Jordan has continuously updated its legislation, issuing laws that regulate copyright and related rights, patents, trademarks, industrial designs, and trade secrets, in line with international standards. While enforcement mechanisms have improved, she called for stronger regulatory and judicial oversight in the IP sector. She also praised Jordan’s collaboration with international organizations to build capacity and train specialized personnel.
Hmeidan stressed the need for new legislation addressing digital intellectual property rights, the relationship between digital platforms and content creators, and the use of AI in monitoring violations. She pointed to a lack of legal coverage for digital copyrights, streaming content, digital licensing, NFTs, and AI-generated works areas where Jordan’s law must evolve to keep pace with global debates. She urged updates to academic programs and legal training to bolster digital IP knowledge among legal and judicial professionals in Jordan.
World Intellectual Property Day is celebrated annually on April 26, marking the date the WIPO Convention came into force in 1970. The day highlights the role of IP rights in encouraging innovation and creativity worldwide.