Digital publishing industries worldwide continue to face intense competition from free and low-cost online materials, as well as piracy and intellectual property infringements, stakeholders in the publishing industry have said.

The experts voiced these concerns during the ongoing 43rd edition of the Sharjah International Book Fair in the UAE, where they discussed the challenges publishers face in the digital era.

Literary experts are now calling for the formulation of global policies on intellectual property rights to address these issues within the digital publishing sector.

South African publisher Brian Wafawarowa noted that while digital technology holds immense potential for expanding access to education, particularly for learners who might otherwise be left behind, digital publishing still faces significant challenges.

“Infringement and piracy remain major concerns, impacting revenue and discouraging investment in quality materials,” Wafawarowa said. He added that publishers are also competing with Open Educational Resources (OER) and Corporate Social Investment (CSI) materials, which are often available for free or at a low cost online.

“Furthermore, today’s users expect more dynamic, interactive, and versatile content that goes beyond traditional formats. Meeting these evolving expectations requires publishers to quickly adapt and create engaging, flexible materials that align with modern learning habits,” he said.

Iman Ben Chaibah, Director for Strategic Initiatives and Global Markets at Sharjah Book Authority, emphasized that many consumers are now accustomed to accessing content for free, creating a significant barrier to transitioning to paid digital models.

“While the UAE has strong anti-piracy laws that help protect publishers and content creators, other regions in the Arab world—especially parts of North Africa and Asia—lack similar legal protections. This disparity leads to lost revenue and makes it difficult for digital publishing to grow sustainably across the entire region,” Chaibah explained.

To fully realize the potential of digital publishing, Chaibah called for coordinated efforts to develop comprehensive copyright frameworks and shift consumer mindsets toward valuing paid content.

The experts also highlighted the importance of protecting intellectual property rights in light of the rise of artificial intelligence (AI).

Emma House, Director of Oreham Group, a publishing consultancy, stressed the need to safeguard authors’ rights as technology reshapes the industry. “Maintaining a strong copyright framework is crucial for the industry’s sustainability, especially as AI brings new challenges in areas like content generation and policy development,” she noted.

Bulgarian diplomat Dimiter Tzantchev described the evolving industry as facing a “genuine data crunch,” explaining that despite efforts by literary experts to gather meaningful insights into the global publishing industry, informed decision-making and strategic growth remain elusive.

“Data is essential for progress. We need evidence-based policy-making. Publishing, one of the oldest and most respected industries, still lacks the comprehensive, reliable data that other creative industries, such as music and audiovisual, have readily available,” Tzantchev said.