Piracy:
Software piracy in the Middle East is a significant problem.  Until the nation-states take effective measures to decrease violations of copyright laws and increase awareness of the significance of the problem it will continue.  In 1998 alone, $190 million in profits for the information technology industry were forsaken as a result of illegal software copyrighting.  Over the last five years, the UAE has demonstrated a commitment to reduce such offenses and the efforts have been successful.  In fact, estimates suggest the UAE has achieved the highest reduction in piracy rates worldwide. One of the ways in which the Emirate of Dubai is increasing awareness is through broadcasting anti-piracy commercials.  The following table illustrates UAE reductions compared to other members of the GCC:
 

                           *ICANN (41)
It is readily apparent that the UAE has been taking the proper steps to decrease piracy.  The country is setting a good example for the rest of the GCC.  Hopefully, they will follow soon.

In 1992, the UAE federal government passed three laws in regards to intellectual property--a copyright law, a trademark law, and a patent law. These three pieces of legislation has made the UAE largely clean of selling pirated computer software because of a strong enforcement policy.  The UAE is a member of the World Intellectual Property Organization and has joined the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property.  However, the country was still on the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Watch List in 1997 because of inadequate protection of computer software and pharmaceutical patents. The UAE’s status for the USTR Watch List is currently under review and will most likely be revoked within the next year.  The primary difference for the UAE in terms of copyright law as compared to other nations is that any published material (to include computer software) must have a registered copyright before being commercialized in the UAE.

In 1991, the Law on Telecommunications was enacted which affirms that criminal law statute will be applied to the realm of telecommunications; however, specific Internet legislation has not yet been passed. 

In October 1999, the government banned the use of cellular handsets while driving.  Hands-free sets can still be used.  This is very similar to the U.S.  In fact, they may be ahead of the United States in regards to this matter.  Apparently, people making cellular phone calls while driving were responsible for a large proportion of traffic accidents.

It is interesting to note that ETISALAT, the state-owned telecommunications provider, claims that its proxy service is in effect partially to prevent commercial fraud and copyright infringements.  In reality, it is the means by which the government, via ETISALAT, advocates censorship.  The proxy refuses access to URLs that are on a list of banned sites or if a content check of the site by the proxy service turns up objectionable material (45).   For more information on ETISALAT and the proxy service please refer to Transborder Data Flows.