Referral Decision Follows Allegations That Al-Soghair Displayed Designs of International Artworks Maha Al-Soghair Accused of Violating Intellectual Property Rights of Global Artworks

On Wednesday, the Egyptian judiciary referred media personality Maha Al-Soghair, the ex-wife of actor Ahmed El Sakka, to the Economic Court in Cairo, following accusations that she violated intellectual property rights of international artworks.

Egyptian media reported that the referral decision came after allegations that Al-Soghair presented designs of global artworks as her own during her appearance on the TV program “Ma’akom” with host Mona El Shazly in July.

Widespread Controversy

Her statements sparked widespread controversy after the episode aired, as several official accounts of the original artists confirmed that the artworks she claimed as her own did not belong to her. Among them were Danish artist Liza Nelson, French artist Cité, and German artist Caroline Wendelin, who all asserted their ownership of the works.

In an official response, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation issued a six-month ban on Maha Al-Soghair from appearing on media platforms due to her violation of the council’s approved journalistic standards and codes. The measures against the “Ma’akom” team were limited to a formal warning for failing to verify information before broadcasting, which contributed to the violation.

The council also referred the case to the Public Prosecution to take the necessary legal action under intellectual property laws, with local press reports suggesting that the case is expected to develop further in the coming days.