On the World IP Day, Talal Abu-Ghazaleh Remembers
26 Apr 2007By Sandra Halteh
AMMAN - Talal Abu-Ghazaleh is one of the most eminent figures not only in the Arab region but also on a global level. His latest appointment by the United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon as the Vice-Chair of the UN Global Compact is another international recognition of his endless efforts in promoting awareness in all fields and his keenness to make his Arab region move side by side with the international community.
On the World Intellectual Property (IP) Day, it was a good occasion to refresh Abu-Ghazaleh's memories on his beginnings, his first enactment with IP, his passion to promote Intellectual Property Rights (IPRs) and award those working in the field of research and development for the welfare of their societies for their invaluable creativity.
"I am older than that," he immediately replied in an exclusive interview with ag-IP-news Agency when asked if his passion with IP started the minute he established Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property (AGIP) Company in Kuwait in 1972.
"It dates back to the 1960s after I graduated from the American University of Beirut (AUB)," he said.
He considered 1962 a turning point in his life and career.
Settling down in Kuwait, and working in the field of protecting famous trademarks against infringement, in that specific year, Abu-Ghazaleh realized the significance of Intellectual Property Rights.
"One morning, I was called by the manager of the late Sheikh Jabber al-Ahmad al-Sabah (who at that time was the director general of the Department of Finance in Kuwait) to meet his Highness."
Abu-Ghazaleh was completely surprised for this demand saying: “I never met a Highness before. I walked to his office, a young, handsome, polite, charismatic person welcomed me, and he asked me how long have I been in Kuwait? I answered two years."
The conversation between Sheikh al-Sabah and Abu-Ghazaleh turned to be triggered by a trademark.
The conversation between Sheikh al-Sabah and Abu-Ghazaleh turned to be triggered by a trademark.
"I was so surprised when he handed me a document from his disk, I read it with great concern. It was a court order requiring his attendance to a hearing case filed by me. Truth as I read."
Abu-Ghazaleh, agent of soft drink Seven Up trademark at that time, was suing the Sheikh for some problems related to the registration of this trademark in Kuwait.
The registrar didn’t accept the registration of this trademark on the basis it consists of two words, which was unaccepted then to be registered.
"Was the registrar right in this case? He was, but my agent wanted to protect his product and requested to register the trademark on the basis of the Seven Up bottle's design."
The Sheikh surprisingly asked Abu-Ghazaleh: why didn’t you come to see me before taking me (as a registrar) to court? "You are the protector of the law, and I was only applying your law," he answered.
At that moment, Abu-Ghazaleh thought that he might have gone so far.
At that moment, Abu-Ghazaleh thought that he might have gone so far.
"Kindly your Highness permit me to leave you now so that I may withdraw the case, go home, destroy all Seven Up bottles, write my legacy will that nobody from my descendants should ever touch Seven Up," he stated.
His Highness smiled and realized the message and assured Abu-Ghazaleh that there was no need to do so.
"I will request the registrar to resolve this issue in compliance with the international rules and ownership rights," the Sheikh said.
Finally, Abu-Ghazaleh got the Seven Up trademark registered.
“This incident was the milestone situation that made me realize the significance of IPRs and dedicate 50 years of my life to establish IP infrastructure; be it legislation, enforcement education capacity building or public awareness. His Highness made me take it upon myself to lead the process of protecting IPRs in the Arab region which helped me build AGIP to become the leading global IP with 60 offices and over 150 representatives worldwide."
Tremendous achievements were realized by AGIP since its establishment back in 1972 till the present day. One of the latest was when the Managing Intellectual Property (MIP) granted AGIP the MIP's Middle East IP Firm of the Year 2007 Award in March 2007.
While in 2006, the Jordanian Telecommunications Regulatory Commission (TRC) granted AGIP an Internet Service Provider (ISP) license.
Feeling the need to promote the IP terminology, the Abu-Ghazaleh Intellectual Property Dictionary met this need. It contains a comprehensive list of Intellectual Property terms, definitions and explanations as used in the Arab world. It is the first dictionary of its type in the field of Intellectual Property.
“We will continuously monitor and research the globe to provide our clients with the most complete, comprehensive and up-to-date information on intellectual property regulations,” Abu-Ghazaleh concluded.
In order to meet the IP needs of its distinguished international clients regionally and globally, AGIP launched its online state-of-the-art Intellectual Property Portfolio Management System, AGIP.NET which will be operational on May 1, 2007.
Reclining in his seat and putting the whole world in front of him, Abu-Ghazaleh expressed his satisfaction over the achievements carried out during the last decades. However, he reiterated the road is still wide open for more fields to conquer.
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