In spite of a pre-movie advisory cautioning against capturing images or videos, numerous individuals still engage in the prohibited practice, risking heavy fines and potential imprisonment.
Alexander Kukuev, the managing partner at Uppercase Legal Advisory, emphasized the illegality of filming or photographing movie scenes in UAE cinemas without the explicit permission of the copyright holders, as stipulated by the Federal Law No. 38 of 2021 concerning Copyright & Neighboring Rights. This law, effective since January 2022, replaced the previous Federal Law No. 7 of 2002.
Kukuev outlined the penalties for copyright infringement, including fines, imprisonment, and the seizure and destruction of unauthorized copies. Acts such as reproducing, distributing, and communicating copyrighted works without permission are considered violations. Quoting Article 30 of the law, Kukuev pointed out that offenders may face fines up to Dh100,000 and/or imprisonment for up to two months.
The UAE’s copyright legislation aligns with international agreements such as the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, of which the UAE became a member in 2004. Additionally, cinemas in the UAE are obligated to adhere strictly to age ratings, verifying customers’ age and identification documents. Despite potential consequences, there is no legal liability for underage individuals or their parents, with the primary repercussion being the denial of access to cinema screenings.
