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Egypt to 'Copyright' Sphinx™

New law will demand royalties for replicas of ancient monuments

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 26, 2007 4:26 AM CST
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(Newser) – Egypt is set to pass a law that would "copyright" the pyramids and the Sphinx, the BBC reports. The law would apply to large-scale replicas anywhere in the world of any ancient Egyptian monument or museum piece.  Egypt intends to collect royalties from the duplicates to protect its ancient sites. The law would not apply to artistic drawings. Copies of Egyptian monuments are popular in resorts across the world.

An Egyptian newspaper article recently called for Las Vegas' Luxor hotel to fork over a slice of its profits to the real city of Luxor, which sees a fraction of the visitors.  Egyptian officials said the law would not apply to the hotel because it's not an exact replica of a monument. But the hotel's boast that it's "the only pyramid-shaped building in the world" would have to stop, they insisted.

The Great Sphinx. The new law will completely prohibit the duplication of historic Egyptian monuments which the Supreme Council of Antiquities considers 100-percent copies, said the head of Egypt's antiquities council.
The Great Sphinx. "The new law will completely prohibit the duplication of historic Egyptian monuments which the Supreme Council of Antiquities considers 100-percent copies," said the head of Egypt's...   (Flickr)
The Luxor in Las Vegas. Egypt's new law came after an outspoken newspaper article lamenting the fact that the Vegas Luxor sees many millions more visitors than the real Luxor in Egypt.
The Luxor in Las Vegas. Egypt's new law came after an outspoken newspaper article lamenting the fact that the Vegas Luxor sees many millions more visitors than the real Luxor in Egypt.   (Getty Images)
The Sphinx and a pyramid. Zahi Hawass, the head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, says that royalties from copiers of Egypt's ancient monuments are needed to pay for the protection and upkeep of Egypt's ancient sites.
The Sphinx and a pyramid. Zahi Hawass, the head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, says that royalties from copiers of Egypt's ancient monuments are needed to pay for the protection and upkeep...   (Flickr)
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Homepage of the head of Egypt's antiquities council
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Las Vegas • Egypt • Pyramids • ancient Egypt

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