Have you ever captured a video or photo inside a movie theater? Doing so could result in severe penalties, including hefty fines and even imprisonment.

Despite a pre-movie advisory explicitly cautioning against taking pictures or recording videos due to the violation of copyright laws, many individuals continue to engage in this practice.

According to Alexander Kukuev, managing partner at Uppercase Legal Advisory, in the UAE, it is unlawful to film or photograph a movie scene while watching a film in a cinema without obtaining permission from the copyright holders of the movie content.

In 2021, the UAE Government introduced Federal Law No. 38 of 2021 concerning Copyright & Neighboring Rights, which came into effect in January 2022, replacing the previous Federal Law No. 7 of 2002.

Regarding copyright infringement, Kukuev explained that Articles 39, 40, and 41 of the UAE Federal Law No. 38 of 2021 stipulate penalties, including fines, imprisonment, and the confiscation and destruction of infringing copies. Acts such as reproducing, distributing, and communicating a copyrighted work without the copyright owner's permission are considered copyright infringement.

Quoting Article 30 of the law, Kukuev highlighted that in the UAE, filming or photographing a movie scene without permission constitutes a copyright violation, and offenders may face fines of up to Dh100,000 and/or imprisonment for up to two months.

Furthermore, the UAE's copyright law aligns with international agreements like the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, of which the UAE became a member in 2004.

Additionally, cinemas in the UAE must strictly adhere to age ratings, requiring them to verify customers' proof of age and identification documents. While there is no liability for underage individuals or their parents, the primary consequence is being denied the opportunity to watch a film in the cinema.