UAE music rights business Music Nation Copyrights Management has hired IP lawyer Aisha Salem-Howey as general counsel, a newly created position.
Salem-Howey joins from the US Patents and Trademark Office, where she was an IP attache for the Middle East and North Africa, working with governments and businesses to strengthen IP protection and enforcement across the region.
In this new role at MusicNation, she will lead the company’s legal, regulatory and governance strategy and help drive international engagement. She will be based in Abu Dhabi and report to CEO Amer Samhoun.
MusicNation licenses the rights of authors, publishers, sound recording owners and performers throughout the UAE.
Samhoun said: “Aisha brings an unparalleled combination of international IP expertise and passion for music. Her leadership will be essential as we continue to strengthen the legal foundation that ensures rights holders are fairly compensated and protected across the Emirates and beyond.”
Salem-Howey spent three years at the USPTO – her second spell with the organisation. She previously held the same role between 2013 and 2017, before taking up a position as assistant to the US Ambassador in China. She started her career at the USPTO in 2006 as a trademark examining attorney before becoming its Middle East and North Africa IP attache.
She said: “After working on music rights and collective management policy on the government side, I’m thrilled to join MusicNation’s leadership team and put my experience to work for creators. What MusicNation is building is truly groundbreaking – establishing the UAE’s first comprehensive rights management infrastructure is both innovative and essential for the region’s creative economy.
“I’m excited to join such a passionate team that’s deeply committed to transparency, efficiency and ensuring creators are properly valued. This work isn’t just about fair compensation, it’s about shaping a sustainable future for music across the region.”
In other recent music-related moves, in June Swedish music streaming platform Spotify appointed interim GC Kevan Choset as its permanent legal head following the departure of previous GC Eve Konstan in January.
Back in February, US satellite radio and online broadcaster SiriusXM hired former Airbnb CLO Richard Baer as GC, replacing Patrick Donnelly who retired in April.
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