Arab World : Lebanon

LebanonInstitutions

Public administrations focusing on books

  • Public institution dedicated to books and reading

    State foundation Function: To support book and reading policies

    The Lebanese University publishes some books.

    There is none. However, the Ministry of Education, under the supervision of the Department of Cultural Affairs and Fine Arts, organizes the Arab Reading Challenge initiatives for students to encourage them to read.

  • Ministry of Culture
    The Lebanese Ministry of Culture.

    State foundation Function: To support book and reading policies
    Comments

    There is no support for books, but there are a large number of public libraries supervised by the ministry, and several associations provide assistance in this field, such as the Iqra Association.

Contribute

Professional associations

  • Booksellers' associations
    The Syndicate of Bookstore Owners

    Public institution Function: To bring together bookstore professionals

  • Other
    Printing Association

    Public institution Function: To regulate

  • Other
    Syndicate of Book Importers

    Public institution Function: To regulate

  • Other
    Syndicate of Bookbinders

    Public institution Function: To regulate

  • Authors' associations
    Lebanese Writers' Union

    Public institution Function: To bring together writing professionals

  • Publishers' associations
    Syndicate of Publishers Union in Lebanon

    Public institution Function: To bring together publishing professionals

    Member of the Arab Publishers Union and the International Publishers Association (IPA).

  • Publishers' associations
    Publishers for the Profession.

    Private institution Function: To bring together publishing professionals

Contribute

Book fairs

  • General book fairs

    Public program Function: To carry out a cultural policy

    A joint pavilion for Lebanese publishers at the Frankfurt or London Book Fair, funded by the Ministry of Culture.

Contribute

University programmes on books

  • Professional training
    The specialization in Information and Library Management at the Faculty of Information and Documentation at the Lebanese University.

    University Function: Professional training

Contribute

LebanonPublic policies

Market regulation

  • Regulation of digital trade

    There is no legal text that supervises and regulates e-commerce in Lebanon.

  • Opinions of professionals

    The publishing landscape in Lebanon is not characterized by a high degree of centralization.

    • Percentage of imported books in total books available in libraries: 70%
    • Percentage of national publishing (with local capital) that secures public contracts for libraries: None. Lebanon exports books but has no opportunity for local sales. Public contracts exist only for textbooks.
    • Percentage of multinational or foreign groups securing public contracts for public and university libraries: Unknown.
    • Total value of public contracts for textbooks in Lebanon: No final or clear figures.
    • Public contracts for textbooks are awarded through non-transparent bidding processes.
    • Percentage of national publishing (with local capital) securing public contracts for textbooks: 90%
    • Percentage of multinational or foreign groups securing public contracts for textbooks: Unknown.

Contribute

Public procurement

  • Public purchases of textbooks

    Public program Function: To carry out a cultural policy

    Textbooks are purchased through the Ministry of Education and this is done at the national level.

  • Public purchases for libraries

    Public program Function: To support book and reading policies

    Purchases are made from Lebanese bookstores, and this is done at the national level.

  • Opinions of professionals

     

    • Significant public purchases of books in local languages: None
    • Total value of public purchases for public libraries in your country: None
    • Total value of public purchases for university libraries in your country: None
    • Public book procurement for public and university libraries does not follow a clear and transparent bidding process. Even when the contracting entity is a government body, favoritism is involved, and contracts are awarded through non-transparent procedures.

     

     

Contribute

Signing of international agreements

  • WIPO Copyright Treaty

    International agreement Function: Protection of literary and artistic works

Contribute

Copyright law

  • Berne Convention

    International agreement Function: Protection of literary and artistic works

  • WIPO Copyright Treaty

    Law Function: Protection of literary and artistic works

    The Law on the Protection of Literary and Artistic Property No. 75 of 1999.

  • Marrakesh Treaty

  • Protection of traditional cultural expressions

    Law Function: Protection of literary and artistic works

    The Law on the Protection of Literary and Artistic Property No. 75 of 1999.

  • Regulation of the public domain

    Law Function: To regulate moral and patrimonial rights, and their duration

    The Law on the Protection of Literary and Artistic Property No. 75 of 1999 grants the economic rights stipulated in this law for the lifetime of the author, plus an additional fifty years, which shall take effect from the end of the year in which the author’s death occurred.

  • Management of copyright

    Law Function: To regulate moral and patrimonial rights, and their duration

    The Law on the Protection of Literary and Artistic Property No. 75 of 1999 / Article No. 15

    Comments

    There are penalties for copyright infringement in the book trade.

    Law on the Protection of Literary and Artistic Property No. 75 of 1999 / Chapter Eleven (Articles 81 – 86)

  • Protection of heritage rights

    Law Function: To regulate moral and patrimonial rights, and their duration

    Law on the Protection of Literary and Artistic Property No. 75 of 1999

  • Regulation of copyright and translation rights

    Law Function: To regulate moral and patrimonial rights, and their duration

    There are no laws related to the rights of translators regarding books, nor do they have institutions or a syndicate. They are only mentioned in the Intellectual Property Protection Law under Article 3 as follows:

    This law also applies to and grants protection to the following derivative works, provided that they do not infringe on the rights of the original author:

    • Translations of works,
    • Adaptations into an art form,
    • Transformations,
    • Musical rearrangements.

  • Opinions of professionals

    There are currently no discussions regarding authors’ rights, but there are attempts aimed at:

    • Enhancing freedom levels and reducing censorship.
    • Finding solutions for the piracy of printed books and websites offering free book downloads.

Contribute

Support for public reading and book distribution

  • Reading support

     

    • All of these activities are carried out by civil society organizations and non-profit organizations, not by the state, such as the Al-Noor Association from the Islamic Knowledge Network and the I Read Association.
    • The Ministry of Education and Higher Education, under the auspices of the Directorate of Cultural Affairs and Fine Arts, also organizes the Arab Reading Challenge initiatives for students to encourage them to read.

     

     

  • Support for bookshops

    Public program Function: To carry out a cultural policy

    Financial mechanisms for the benefit of libraries through public purchases of books, and this is done at the national level.

  • Opinions of professionals

     

    • There are no funds to support libraries.
    • There are no funds to support the travel of authors and/or publishers (for book fairs or other business missions abroad), except in individual cases, which are often subject to favoritism.

     

     

Contribute

Support for creation and publishing

  • Support for the presence of publishing houses at international fairs

    Public program Function: To implement a book and reading policy

    A shared pavilion for Lebanese publishers at the Frankfurt or London Book Fair, funded by the Ministry of Culture.

  • Book support fund

    Public program Function: To implement a book and reading policy

    There are some authors supported by the ministry through the purchase of a limited number of copies, but the mechanism for this is unclear.

  • Opinions of professionals

    • Essential measures to support the publishing sector in Lebanon:

      • Establishing a market for book distribution and reducing taxes.
      • Government support: Lebanon does not support the publishing sector because publishing is considered a commercial sector, not a cultural one.
      • Allowing the establishment of cultural associations and NGOs.
      • The state should purchase quantities of published books.
      • Reducing shipping costs.
      • Implementing laws that support books.
      • There are no funds to support authors, publishers, or the publication of books, nor are there funds to support translation.

Contribute

Cultural policies

  • Literacy

    Survey Function: To inventory

    The Central Administration of Statistics conducted the largest specialized survey on the workforce and living conditions of households in Lebanon.

    The administration carried out this survey during the year 2018-2019, fully funded by the European Union Delegation in Lebanon, with technical assistance from the International Labor Organization. Among the topics addressed in this survey is education, including the literacy rate among residents in Lebanon (both Lebanese and non-Lebanese).

  • Opinions of professionals

    • Key Challenges Related to Public Book Policies in Lebanon

      1. Lack of Official Support

        • There is no official sponsorship for book publishing in Lebanon.
        • No measures are in place to combat counterfeiting and digital piracy, as General Security does not actively fight forgery.
        • There is no national policy to support the book industry.

      2. Economic and Logistical Challenges

        • The cost of book production is extremely high, and the ongoing economic collapse makes it even more difficult.
        • Public libraries are weakened due to content censorship.
        • The Publishers’ Union is ineffective.
        • Civil society organizations dedicated to culture and books are not allowed to operate freely.
        • Taxes, high shipping costs, and the absence of financial assistance further hinder the sector.

      3. Absence of Policies Promoting Reading and Literacy

        • No law defines reading and literacy as a fundamental right.
        • The Ministry of Culture does not actively promote reading, despite having a Libraries Department.

      Necessary Measures to Improve the Publishing Sector

      • Protecting Freedom of Expression: There should be no restrictions on publishing, and boundaries should be expanded within ethical limits.
      • Strengthening Intellectual Property Protection: Laws should be enforced to effectively combat counterfeiting and piracy.
      • Organizing Book Distribution: Policies should be established to support book publishing and ensure better national and international distribution.
      • Supporting Writers and Publishers: Direct aid and structured policies are needed to help authors and publishers thrive.

    The most important developments related to public policies for books and reading in the last ten years:

    • The supervision of the book fair was transferred from the Ministry of Education to the Ministry of Culture and Media. It allowed one author to enter the venues for the purpose of reading.
    • There have been timid and weak attempts from civil society.
    • Everything is deteriorating; books have become subject to copying, forgery, and piracy. Rights theft is tolerated, with no controls or solutions in sight. This requires a state and a decision.
    • Since 2019, the situation has deteriorated, and protocols for cooperation and production with foreign institutes and organizations have been discussed.

Contribute

Freedom of expression

  • Obligation to declare publications

    Decree Function: To control

    The Printing Law of 1962 states that every publisher or owner of a periodical or non-periodical publication, or its responsible manager, or the owner of a production institution for tapes of all kinds, must deposit a copy of their publication or production at the National Archives.

    However, there is no need to obtain prior or subsequent approval or license to publish a work; however, copies of a book may sometimes be withdrawn if there is a complaint against it.

    ** Any official body can file a lawsuit against the publisher after publication.

    Comments

    If someone or an entity wants to ship more than two copies of any book, they must obtain approval from the Lebanese General Security – Publications Monitoring Division for the book they wish to ship. It is worth noting that the intervention of the Lebanese General Security is not mentioned in the Printing Law; however, these regulations are not always enforced due to the prevailing chaos.

  • Control or regulation of content

    Law Function: To regulate

    There are no laws regulating content.

    There was Article 62 of the Printing Law of 1962, but this article was later repealed.

    However, there are now interventions from religious and political authorities of Lebanese sects to prevent and stop publications and films, in coordination with the relevant authorities.

Contribute

Taxes

  • Full rate of VAT

    Exemption Function: To facilitate the importation of educational, cultural, or scientific items

    Exemption from value-added tax: books and similar publications, magazines, newspapers, paper and cardboard of types used for writing or printing, newspaper paper in rolls or sheets, and ink prepared for printing are exempt.

    • Reference: Article 17 of Law 379 dated 14/12/2001 (Value Added Tax).

  • Exemption or specific tax system for books

    General tax code

    There are general taxes on publishing houses: income taxes for the Ministry of Finance as per the Income Tax Law – Legislative Decree No. 144 issued in 1959.

    There are no taxes on the importation of books.

    Comments

    All non-profit organizations are exempt from taxes in Lebanon, regardless of their type and activity.

  • Import duties on IT equipment

    General tax code

    11%

  • Taxation on paper

    Exemption Function: To carry out a cultural policy

Contribute

International standards and book identification

  • Obligations relating to book identification data (ISBN, ISSN, ISN, RPI, etc.)

    Regulation Function: To record

    The ISBN is obtained for free through the Lebanese ISBN Agency under the Ministry of Culture.

    Five copies of the book must be deposited with the mentioned institution after publication.

Contribute

Piracy of physical books and free book download sites

  • Opinions of professionals

    The phenomenon of book counterfeiting and digital piracy is a disaster, and unfortunately, some printing houses are involved by publishing scanned books from PDFs.

    Proposed Solutions to Overcome These Issues:

    • There must be international and local laws to combat counterfeiting, as websites publish content without regard for intellectual property rights, with no oversight or accountability.
    • The implementation of stricter legislation to regulate the industry.

Contribute