Monde Arabe : Liban

LibanInstitutions

Administrations dédiées au livre

  • Institution publique dédiée au livre et à la lecture

    Fondation d'Etat Fonction : Soutenir les politiques du livre et de la lecture

    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.

  • Ministère en charge de la Culture
    The Lebanese Ministry of Culture.

    Fondation d'Etat Fonction : Soutenir les politiques du livre et de la lecture
    Remarques

    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.

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Associations professionnelles

  • Associations de libraires
    The Syndicate of Bookstore Owners

    Institution publique Fonction : Regrouper les professionnels de la librairie

  • Autres
    Printing Association

    Institution publique Fonction : Réguler

  • Autres
    Syndicate of Book Importers

    Institution publique Fonction : Réguler

  • Autres
    Syndicate of Bookbinders

    Institution publique Fonction : Réguler

  • Associations d’autrices et d’auteurs
    Lebanese Writers' Union

    Institution publique Fonction : Regrouper les professionnels de l'écrit

  • Associations d’éditrices et d’éditeurs
    Syndicate of Publishers Union in Lebanon

    Institution publique Fonction : Regrouper les professionnels de l'édition

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

  • Associations d’éditrices et d’éditeurs
    Publishers for the Profession.

    Institution privée Fonction : Regrouper les professionnels de l'édition

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Salons du livre

  • Salons du livre général

    Programme public Fonction : Porter une politique culturelle

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

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Formations universitaires dédiées au livre

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

    Université Fonction : Formation professionnelle

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LibanPolitiques publiques

Régulation du marché

  • Régulation du commerce numérique

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

  • Opinions des professionnel·le·s

    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.

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Achats publics

  • Achats publics de livres scolaires

    Programme public Fonction : Porter une politique culturelle

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

  • Achats publics pour les bibliothèques

    Programme public Fonction : Soutenir les politiques du livre et de la lecture

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

  • Opinions des professionnel·le·s

     

    • 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.

     

     

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Signature des accords internationaux

  • Traité de l’OMPI sur le droit d’auteur

    Accord international Fonction : Protection des oeuvres littéraires et artistiques

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Droit d’auteur

  • Convention de Berne

    Accord international Fonction : Protection des oeuvres littéraires et artistiques

  • Traité de l’OMPI sur le droit d’auteur

    Loi Fonction : Protection des oeuvres littéraires et artistiques

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

  • Traité de Marrakech

  • Protection des expressions culturelles traditionnelles

    Loi Fonction : Protection des oeuvres littéraires et artistiques

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

  • Régulation du domaine public

    Loi Fonction : Réguler les droits moraux, patrimoniaux, et leur durée

    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.

  • Gestion des droits d’auteur

    Loi Fonction : Réguler les droits moraux, patrimoniaux, et leur durée

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

    Remarques

    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 des droits patrimoniaux

    Loi Fonction : Réguler les droits moraux, patrimoniaux, et leur durée

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

  • Régulation du droit d’auteur et du traducteur

    Loi Fonction : Réguler les droits moraux, patrimoniaux, et leur durée

    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 des professionnel·le·s

    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.

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Aides à la lecture publique et à la diffusion du livre

  • Aides à la lecture

     

    • 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.

     

     

  • Aides à la librairie

    Programme public Fonction : Porter une politique culturelle

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

  • Opinions des professionnel·le·s

     

    • 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.

     

     

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Aides à la création et à l’édition

  • Soutiens à la présence de maisons d’éditions dans les salons internationaux

    Programme public Fonction : Porter une politique du livre et de la lecture

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

  • Fonds de soutien au livre

    Programme public Fonction : Porter une politique du livre et de la lecture

    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 des professionnel·le·s

    • 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.

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Politiques culturelles

  • Alphabétisation

    Enquête Fonction : Recenser

    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 des professionnel·le·s

    • 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.

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Liberté d’expression

  • Obligation de déclarer les publications

    Décret Fonction : Contrôler

    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.

    Remarques

    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.

  • Contrôle ou régulation des contenus

    Loi Fonction : Réguler

    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.

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Taxes

  • Taux plein de TVA

    Exonération Fonction : Faciliter l'importation d'objets à caractère éducatif, culturel ou scientifique

    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).

  • Exonération ou régime fiscal spécifique au livre

    Code général des impôts

    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.

    Remarques

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

  • Taxation de l’importation de matériel informatique

    Code général des impôts

    11%

  • Taxation du papier

    Exonération Fonction : Porter une politique culturelle

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Normes internationales et identification du livre

  • Obligations relatives aux données d'identification des livres (ISBN, ISSN, ISN, RPI, etc.)

    Règlement Fonction : Enregistrer

    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.

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Piratage des livres physiques et sites de téléchargement de livres gratuits

  • Opinions des professionnel·le·s

    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.

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