Maha Al-Saghir faces intellectual property violation charges over Danish artist’s works Lisa Laak Nielsen arrives in Egypt on official invitation

Danish artist Lisa Laak Nielsen has arrived in Egypt following the referral of Egyptian media personality Maha Al-Saghir to the Economic Court on charges of violating her intellectual property rights. The case involves Al-Saghir using international artworks in her designs without the artists’ permission.

Red Sea Governor Amr Hanafi announced that Nielsen’s visit comes in response to an official invitation from the governorate. He added that a local tourism company handled all arrangements and organized a cultural program including visits to historic and tourist sites and collaborative art workshops with Egyptian artists.

Governor Hanafi stated that Nielsen will be based in Cairo, with the option to visit Hurghada if she wishes. He emphasized that Egypt encourages art and creativity and supports initiatives that foster cultural and artistic dialogue between nations. The visit, he said, sends a clear message that art is a powerful tool for peace and mutual understanding among cultures.

Danish artist expresses sympathy for Maha Al-Saghir Nielsen expressed her excitement about visiting Egypt, exploring museums and tourist attractions, particularly the Grand Egyptian Museum, which she described as “the project of the century.”

Regarding the case of her stolen artworks, Nielsen said she was saddened to learn of Al-Saghir’s trial, stressing that the legal process is an Egyptian decision she cannot interfere with. She also expressed sympathy for the media personality and hopes she overcomes this crisis safely.

Egyptian media personality admits wrongdoing Maha Al-Saghir admitted to using artworks that were not her own and incorporating them into her products, acknowledging that her actions harmed both the original artists and the media platform that featured the works. The case has drawn widespread attention, sparking discussions about intellectual property rights in the art and media sectors.