Morocco Signs Agreement with WIPO to Legally Protect Its Cultural Heritage

Rabat – Morocco has taken an important step to protect its rich cultural heritage. The Moroccan Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Daren Tang, the Director General of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva on Monday.

This new agreement aims to strengthen cooperation between Morocco and WIPO in the field of intellectual property, especially when it comes to copyright, related rights, and the legal protection of Moroccan cultural heritage.

The agreement also allows Morocco to benefit from WIPO’s expertise and introduces new legal concepts such as resale rights and reproduction rights, using the WIPOCONNECT system. One of the main highlights of the agreement is the promotion of the “Label Maroc,” a mark of excellence that will help Morocco promote and protect its heritage internationally.

The ministry said in a statement that thanks to this deal, elements of Moroccan heritage such as the caftan and zellige will be protected under international intellectual property law. This will allow Morocco to legally defend its cultural creations if they are copied or misused.

Fighting cultural appropriation

While UNESCO gives countries international recognition of cultural elements as part of humanity’s shared heritage, WIPO provides the legal recognition that helps countries like Morocco fight back in cases of cultural appropriation or theft. This agreement means that if a country or company tries to use Moroccan traditions without permission or respect, Morocco can now take legal action with the support of WIPO.

Minister Bensaid also held talks with WIPO’s Director General about strengthening the partnership between Morocco and the organization. They discussed plans to exchange experiences and host expert visits to support Moroccan artists and creators.

Morocco has a rich and diverse culture known around the world, from the colorful caftan and the intricate zellige, to Gnaoua music, and traditional cuisine. In recent years, however, Morocco has faced multiple cases of cultural appropriation, where foreign fashion brands or influencers used Moroccan designs, symbols, or clothing styles without giving credit or understanding their history.

For example, international fashion houses have used Moroccan-inspired patterns in their collections without acknowledging their origin. In some cases, Moroccan crafts have even been marketed as products from other countries.

To fight this, Morocco has been working to register its heritage legally, both nationally and internationally. This includes adding cultural elements to UNESCO’s list of intangible heritage and now, through WIPO, giving them legal protection.