Egyptian authors slam Al Jazeera for unauthorized use of Al-Helm Al-Arabi song - Music - Arts & Culture
Al-Jazeera used Al-Helm Al-Arabi in the 6 June episode of its satirical programme Al-Shabaka, changing its title to: Generations After Generations Witnessing the Farce.
It used the song, often called an operette, without permission, authorization, or consultation with the society or the rights holders, scriptwriter and poet Medhat El-Adl, SACERAU's head, said.
El-Adl is the song's writer, to music by Helmy Bakr, directed by Ahmed El-Aryan.
The song was launched in 1996, featuring 22 artists from various Arab countries.
Al-Helm Al-Arabi is one of the most iconic artistic works. It expresses Arab unity and support for the Palestinian cause.
In a statement, SACERAU described the action as a "blatant infringement on the intellectual and artistic rights of the national song."
The society also strongly condemned what it referred to as "a crude and brazen violation of one of the most important artistic works in Arab collective memory."
"What has occurred represents a flagrant violation and a complete legal and moral crime. It falls under the category of unlawful alteration of artistic works, an act that offends the moral integrity of authors and composers and distorts the original message of the work, which carried noble national and pan-Arab values," it added.
The statement said the action is considered a direct and clear violation of Articles 148 and 181 in the Egyptian Law No. 82 of 2002 on the protection of intellectual property rights.
Article 148 affirms that the author has the exclusive right to modify their work or authorize others to do so.
Article 181 criminalizes the infringement of artistic works and stipulates civil and criminal penalties for offenders.
Moreover, the society pointed to the breach of the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, which Egypt is a signatory to.
This convention grants authors the right to object to any distortion, mutilation, or modification of their work that would harm their honour or reputation.
Accordingly, the society warned the platform's management against continuing to broadcast this infringement and demanded that all clips and videos containing this violation be immediately removed.
It added that it expects a public and official apology to the SACERAU and the rights holders for this unlawful act.
The society also demands an immediate halt to using any part of the song in any content related to the platform without consulting the SACERAU and obtaining the necessary licenses.
Furthermore, it affirmed that it will not hesitate to take full legal action locally and internationally if this violation is repeated, including filing lawsuits for literary theft and moral defamation of a work protected by national and international laws and seeking appropriate financial and moral compensation.
SACERAU
The Society of Authors, Composers, and Publishers (SACERAU) was born out of the French Society of Authors, Composers, and Publishers of Music (SACEM) in 1944 to be its first Middle Eastern headquarters.
SACEM is a society for the administration of artists' and performers' rights in France and Europe. It offers three main services: collecting and distributing royalties, promoting creators, and defending its members' rights.
After successfully collecting musicians' royalties, the office's Egyptian authors decided to create their own entity in 1946.
Egypt's SACERAU plays a similar role for its members: managing copyrights for musicians, collecting their royalties, and offering a pension programme.
The two entities are still cooperating, as SACEM collects royalties for Egyptian authors abroad.
The SACERAU is headed by scriptwriter and lyricist Medhat El-Adl.
Follow us on:
Short link:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Al-Ahram Weekly
13 hours ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Alexandria Mediterranean Countries Film Festival to honour Laila Eloui - Screens - Arts & Culture
The management of Alexandria Mediterranean Countries Film Festival revealed that the event's 41st edition (2-6 October) will honour Egyptian actress Laila Eloui. This honour comes in recognition of Eloui's long and distinguished artistic career—one of the most prominent in the history of Egyptian and Arab cinema. Born in 1962, Laila Eloui has left a significant mark through a wide range of roles—classic, social, romantic, and comedic—delivering performances that have become iconic in Egyptian cinematic memory. She has starred in nearly 100 films, sharing the screen with many of Egypt's most renowned actors, including Adel Imam, Ahmed Zaki, and Farid Shawky, and working under the direction of dozens of filmmakers, such as Youssef Chahine. Chahine cast her in Al-Masseer (Destiny, 1997), alongside Nour El-Sherif, Mahmoud Hemeida, and Khaled El Nabawy. The film competed for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. Eloui also starred in his Iskendereya Kaman We Kaman (Alexandria Again and Forever, 1989), again appearing with El-Sherif and Hemeida. She has also worked with directors Mohamed Khan, Samir Seif, Atef El-Tayeb, Yousry Nasrallah, Ahmed Yehia, Raafat El-Mehy, Kawthar Younis, Ayten Amin, and many others across generations. A highly versatile actress, Eloui has also appeared in more than 60 television series and 20 theatre productions. She has served on the juries of several local and international film festivals and has received numerous honours from the cinema industry. Alexandria Mediterranean Countries Film Festival One of Egypt's oldest film festivals, the Alexandria Mediterranean Countries Film Festival is an annual event organized by the Egyptian Association for Film Writers and Critics, under the auspices of the Ministries of Culture, Information, and Tourism. It highlights the cultural wealth of the Mediterranean Basin. The 41st edition will take place from 2 to 6 October under the theme Cinema and Beauty, with broad participation from filmmakers across Egypt and the Mediterranean. Prominent Egyptian film critic, writer, poet, and journalist Amir Abaza heads this year's edition. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
See - Sada Elbalad
21 hours ago
- See - Sada Elbalad
Nancy Ajram to Perform Live in Lebanon on July 31
Yara Sameh Lebanese recording artist Nancy Ajram at the Casino du Liban, in Jounieh, Lebanon, on Thursday, July 31. She is set to present several of her popular and latest songs. The evening will also feature a performance by musician and composer Guy Manoukian. The acclaimed singer took to Instagram to promote the concert, saying: " A night of music, light, and everything in between…🎶 July 31 – Casino du Liban 🎶 With the incredible @guymanoukian 🎹" View this post on Instagram A post shared by Nancy Ajram (@nancyajram) Born on May 16, 1983, the acclaimed singer is considered one of the best female singers in Lebanon and the Arab world. Ajram began performing as a child and participated in several television shows. Ajra released her debut studio album 'Mihtagalak' in 1998. She rose to fame after the release of the controversial smash hit single 'Akhasmak Ah' and the debut of her third studio album 'Ya Salam' in 2003. Ajram is considered by many an Arabic music icon of the decade. She was described on Oprah Winfrey's show as one of the most influential personalities in the Middle East. She participated in the most significant Arabic festivals and won multiple awards, most importantly the 2008 World Music Award for best-selling Middle Eastern artist, the youngest Arab WMA winner to date, the 2012 WMA for the second time, and the 2014 WMA for the third time. The acclaimed singer is a multi-platinum Lebanese singer and Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF. read more New Tourism Route To Launch in Old Cairo Ahmed El Sakka-Led Play 'Sayidati Al Jamila' to Be Staged in KSA on Dec. 6 Mandy Moore Joins Season 2 of "Dr. Death" Anthology Series Don't Miss These Movies at 44th Cairo Int'l Film Festival Today Amr Diab to Headline KSA's MDLBEAST Soundstorm 2022 Festival Arts & Culture Mai Omar Stuns in Latest Instagram Photos Arts & Culture "The Flash" to End with Season 9 Arts & Culture Ministry of Culture Organizes four day Children's Film Festival Arts & Culture Canadian PM wishes Muslims Eid-al-Adha News Israeli-Linked Hadassah Clinic in Moscow Treats Wounded Iranian IRGC Fighters News China Launches Largest Ever Aircraft Carrier Sports Former Al Zamalek Player Ibrahim Shika Passes away after Long Battle with Cancer Videos & Features Tragedy Overshadows MC Alger Championship Celebration: One Fan Dead, 11 Injured After Stadium Fall Lifestyle Get to Know 2025 Eid Al Adha Prayer Times in Egypt Arts & Culture South Korean Actress Kang Seo-ha Dies at 31 after Cancer Battle News "Tensions Escalate: Iran Probes Allegations of Indian Tech Collaboration with Israeli Intelligence" Sports Get to Know 2025 WWE Evolution Results News Flights suspended at Port Sudan Airport after Drone Attacks Arts & Culture Hawass Foundation Launches 1st Course to Teach Ancient Egyptian Language
Al-Ahram Weekly
3 days ago
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Um Kolthoum at the heart of 33rd Arab Music Festival and Conference - Music - Arts & Culture
The management of the Music Festival and Conference announced that Um Kolthoum will be the central figure of its 33rd edition, planned to take place in October 2025 The decision is aligned with the Ministry of Culture designating 2025 the Year of Um Kolthoum, and a year-long celebration to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the legendary Egyptian singer's death. During the meeting of the Festival's high committee held this week at the Cairo Opera House, director of the event's 33rd edition,Tamer Ghoneim, also underscored that the festival will focus on presenting exceptional musical and vocal performances that both reflect the richness of Arab heritage and showcase contemporary musical creativity. In addition, the Fetsival will serve as a platform for promising new talents to express themselves. Ghoneim added that several influential and creative figures who have made significant contributions to the field of Arab music will be honoured during the festival. During the same meeting, the Opera's chairman, Alaa Abdel Salam, stated that the upcoming edition will feature developments aimed at enhancing the Festival's status as a leading platform for Arab music in the region. He added that the festival will gather renowned stars of Arabic singing alongside young talents, and will also host discussions and academic studies related to contemporary music issues. The Arab Music Festival and Conference is Egypt's largest annual event dedicated to showcasing Arabic music. During the festival's days, a large selection of concerts showcase Egyptian and Arab musicians, ensembles and orchestras taking place on stages operated by the Cairo Opera House. These include theatres within the Cairo Opera House itself, as well as the Gomhoreya Theatre and Arabic Music Institute, extending to the Sayed Darwish Theatre in Alexandria and the Damanhour Opera House. Year of Um Kolthoum The year 2025 has already held numerous activities that paid tribute to the Star of the East. In January this year, the Cairo International Book Fair dedicated a special segment to Um Kolthoum, which includes musical performances and an exhibition of rare documents and photographs at the National Library and Archives. In February, the ministry's General Authority for Cultural Palaces organized the Um Kolthoum Festival for Music and Singing, which spanned across various governorates. The same month, the National Media Authority hosted a grand artistic celebration, rekindling the legacy of Egypt's media hub while paying a special tribute to Um Kolthoum's family. The 9th edition of the Aswan International Women Film Festival (2-7 May 2025) has been named after Um Kolthoum, whose face decked the festival's official poster. Throughout the year, the Cultural Development Fund, another ministry-linked body, organized cultural and artistic events in Cairo and Alexandria. The celebrations extend beyond Egypt's borders. In February, Cairo Opera's Arab Music Orchestra, conducted by Alaa Abdel-Salam and singers Rehab Omar and Iman Abdel Ghani, performed Um Kolthoum's songs at the Paris Philharmonic Hall (Philharmonie de Paris), France. In July, the celebrations dubbed Um Kolthoum in Paris, took place at the prestigious theatre La Salle Gaveau, featuring Egyptian artists Marwa Nagy, Reham Abdel-Hakim, and Amira Selim in the Star of the East's repertoire. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
