Jeddah: The 28th Annual Conference and Exhibition of the Special Libraries Association-Arabian Gulf Chapter opened yesterday in Jeddah under the theme 'Towards the sustainability of knowledge and the preservation of culture and heritage: Managing rare documents, manuscripts and heritage materials in the era of emerging technologies and artificial intelligence.' The event brought together a distinguished group of specialists and experts in libraries and information.
According to Saudi Press Agency, the opening session underscored the importance of intellectual property in safeguarding intangible heritage and creative expressions such as music, literature, and poetry. Speakers stressed that traditional knowledge forms the foundation of many modern innovations, while pointing to ongoing international disputes over related rights.
The session also addressed the concept of geographical indications as a tool to protect products tied to specific places. It highlighted attributing certain heritage elements to individuals, calling instead for collective or national frameworks of protection.
The discussions stressed that heritage, intellectual property, and artificial intelligence are interconnected fields united by a shared goal: protecting creativity and human knowledge, whether passed down through generations or newly innovated in the modern era.