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Rabat – Morocco’s Chamber of Advisors adopted on Tuesday, July 13 two draft laws – one on copyright and related rights and another reforming the status of professional journalists. The vote follows an earlier approval by the House of Representatives on July 6, when lawmakers passed both bills by 85 votes to 35.
The legislation aims to modernize Morocco’s legal framework in response to the challenges of the digital age, while strengthening intellectual property protection and adapting the media sector to evolving technologies.
Strengthening copyright protection
Approved by 46 votes in favor and one abstention, the first draft aims to modernize Morocco’s copyright legislation by strengthening the protection of intellectual property, combating digital piracy and the illegal distribution of audiovisual content, and adapting the legal framework to the challenges of the digital age.
Presenting the bill on behalf of Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Secretary of State for Employment Hicham Sabiry said the reform continues the national effort to protect copyright and related rights amid ongoing digital transformation. The text updates several legal concepts to reflect technological developments, expands publishing contracts to cover digital content, and strengthens the powers of the Moroccan Copyright and Related Rights Office (BMDAV), he argued.
The bill also clarifies the legal framework governing the use of folklore expressions and public-domain works, and reinforces judicial and customs mechanisms to combat copyright infringement. According to Sabiry, the reform is meant to encourage investment in Morocco’s cultural and creative industries, particularly as Morocco prepares to host major international sporting events.
Reforming the journalism profession
The second draft law was approved by 42 votes in favor, four against, and seven abstentions; it focuses on reforming the status of professional journalists, with the aim of adapting the profession to the evolving media landscape and strengthening its legal framework.
Sabiry said the amendments are limited, targeted, and do not alter the general philosophy of law 13.89, the original statute governing the profession. According to the minister, the reform instead updates specific legal definitions, reinforces continuing professional training, and consolidates the guarantees tied to the professional press card, including stronger legal protection against its unauthorized use.
The legislation also enshrines journalists’ moral and material rights by granting them the ability to benefit from copyright and related rights under existing law, a measure intended to formally recognize journalistic work as intellectual production deserving legal protection.
Supporting Morocco’s digital transition
The two draft laws form part of Morocco’s broader strategy to modernize its legal framework, support the country’s digital transition, and strengthen the media, cultural, and creative sectors.
Sabiry described the copyright reform as a new step in the ongoing modernization of the national intellectual property system, aimed at reinforcing legal certainty, encouraging creativity and investment, and upholding Morocco’s international commitments in the field.
Through these reforms, the government aims to adapt its legislation to technological developments while fostering a more competitive environment for journalists, creators, and rights holders. The measures also reflect Morocco’s ambition to align its legal framework with international standards and respond to the evolving challenges of the digital era.
