Egypt's General Authority for the National Library and Archives reversed course on regulations critics said restricted creative freedom, confirming the old deposit system would remain in place and allowing flexibility in submitting digital copies, after widespread concern that the rules threatened intellectual property rights.
The cultural and literary community had been in uproar for two days over the authority’s Decree No. 198 of 2026, which required publishers to submit a full copy of works in editable and copyable Word format as a condition for obtaining a legal deposit number.
The decision drew a wave of broad criticism from writers and publishers. Writer and novelist Ezzat Elkamhawi described it as a measure imposing “preemptive censorship” that exceeds the powers of the General Authority for the National Library and Archives, as the decision would transform it from a body that documents and archives Egyptian creativity and thought into a body that censors authors, in addition to the risk that implementing the decision would expose authors’ thought and creativity to possible theft, piracy and exploitation before a book is published.
The decree drew broad criticism from writers and publishers. Writer and novelist Ezzat Elkamhawi described it as “preemptive censorship” that exceeded the authority’s powers, arguing it would transform the body from one that documents and archives Egyptian creativity into one that censors authors, and that implementing it would expose writers’ work to theft, piracy, and exploitation before publication.
Writer and MP Doha Assy had also submitted a briefing request to the prime minister and the minister of culture over the decree, telling Al Manassa she had received the news “with great astonishment.” She said she understood the anger among authors. “Because as a writer myself, why should I submit my own text before publication in an editable or copyable Word document?” she said.
“Assuming good intentions, this remains dangerous because the text has not yet been published, which is worrying for any writer.”
In response, the National Library and Archives said Thursday it was committed to granting legal deposit numbers immediately upon request, without requiring the immediate submission of digital copies, giving publishers up to three months to submit the required copies in both paper and electronic form.
The authority also backed away from insisting on a specific digital format, the earlier requirement that had raised piracy concerns, announcing it would accept either a searchable PDF or a secured, non-editable Word copy, prepared by the applicant, with the format left to the applicant’s preference.
The authority had previously defended the decree, saying digital deposit requirements were not new and had been in effect since 2017 under Decree No. 363 of 2017, and that the amendment to Article 3 aimed to support governance, automation, and digital transformation procedures.
