Qatar recently enacted the Cybercrime Prevention Law aimed at combatting electronic crimes, including online intellectual property infringements. Law No. 14 of 2014 specifically deals with hacking and other acts of gaining unauthorised access to information systems; online intellectual property infringements, fraud relating to and forgery of electronic documents; credit card fraud and so called “content crimes”. The latter category covers online terrorist activities, spreading false news and information, activities relating to child pornography and broad prohibitions against defamation, blackmail, infringement of privacy and generally unconscionable conduct. Conduct in contravention of the Cybercrime Prevention Law may be met with stiff penalties. (gulf-times.com, 29 November 2014)
