Copyright in Islamic Law Project
In response to the curiosity surrounding the concept of copyright within the context of Islamic law, the “Copyright in Islamic Law Project” has launched under the auspices of ISAR Research Center in 2020. The project aims to delve into the questions of what copyright means in the context of Islamic law, where its historical roots lie, how it is justified, and what kind of problems it addresses.
As the first phase of the project, the “Reading Group Legal, Philosophical, and Historical Foundations of Copyright” was established in 2021. The monthly meetings of the reading group focused on various texts on the emergence of copyright as a predominantly Western concept, the theories underpinning copyright, and the issues dealt with by current copyright scholarship. This phase aimed to establish a comprehensive historical, philosophical, and theoretical understanding of copyright before examining the issue from the perspective of Islamic law.
As the second phase, the “Copyright in the Islamic Legal Tradition Workshop” was established in 2023. The monthly meetings of the workshop focused on the existing literature involving various questions at the intersection of copyright and Islamic law. The monthly meetings facilitated intellectually stimulating discussions and served as a platform for critically engaging with the perspectives of researchers in the field.
The third phase of the project, the “Copyright Talks” guest lecture series, was inaugurated in 2023. This series brought together esteemed researchers specializing in the interplay between copyright and Islamic law, representing diverse academic disciplines and geographical regions. The engaging discussions aimed at fostering intellectual exchange and enriching our understanding of copyright in Islamic law.
The fourth—and ultimate—stage of the project, in an effort to contribute to the field more concretely, is an international symposium, scheduled for 2024, aiming to serve as a focal point for exploring the intricacies of copyright in Islamic law and to provide a robust platform for critical engagement with relevant issues and inquiries. Through the publication of selected submissions in an edited volume, the Copyright in Islamic Law Project aspires to advance the scholarly landscape and drive the trajectory of academic discourses in this domain.
We always look forward to your contributions and input. Please feel free to get in touch!