The annual conference of International Publishers Association (IPA) started in the capital on Sunday discussed various issues including intellectual property right. Speaking in the two-day conference, Mohammed Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Shehhi, Director General of the Ministry of Economy warned against any infringement of copy right norms and said that strict action would be taken against the offenders by the government.

Shehhi, who also visited the Abu Dhabi International Book Fair added, "UAE will not be reluctant to follow violations of copyright infringement. The UAE's commitment to fighting piracy is attracting foreign investment into the country."

The Minister called investors in the publishing domain to invest in the country and expressed the commitment of his government to welcome authors, translators, publishers and distributors.

Speaking on the occasion, IPA President, Herman Spruijt said that the future growth of publishing industry depends on the strict implementation of copyright act. Further, e-books trend is also posing a challenge to the industry given to the proliferation of internet in the World.

Spruijt questioned, "Can we turn the Internet, the place of greatest piracy and of great publishing innovation, into a safer, fairer and healthier digital marketplace?"