The Legal Challenges which should be Considered by GCC Countries, when Joining International Conventions and Treaties on Intellectual Property

This paper has as its main objective to identify and to critically analyze the potential legal challenges which may be encountered by the GCC countries in the course of accession to international treaties and conventions on intellectual property. With the advent of globalisation, intellectual property has assumed an increasingly important role in global and regional trade. Knowledge-based intangible IP products (patents, trademarks, copyright, designs and related products) now constitute an important part of globalized trade transactions. Global IP transactions, which transcend jurisdictional borders, continue to grow andevolve at a very rapid pace in line with innovations in modern technology. Increasingly considered to an important factor in mainstream national economic strategy and development planning, intellectual property has also emerged as a key element in trade diplomacy (bilateral, regional and multilateraltreaty relations). The discussion in this paper is set within the context of the main conference theme of:'The significant role of intellectual property in the economic development of GCC countries'.The author's main aim is to critically evaluate the substantive and procedural issues and legal challenges which GCC countries could reasonably be expected to encounter within the framework of international IP agreements.