Nor will Jordan be able to join the Berne or Geneva Conventions without a complete overhaul of its copyright system. The pace of copyright reform in Jordan has been excruciatingly slow. In August 1996, a bill was submitted to Parliament s extra-ordinary session but was not considered and was put on the agenda for Parliament s ordinary session, which began in November 1996. Once again, the bill was not acted on. There is also a new exception to protection allowing the full public exhibition or display of films, music, etc.
Clarification is still necessary regarding the bill s provisions on rental rights and retroactivity.
Finally, the proposed translation and reproduction licenses still do not meet the standards of the Berne Appendix. Confirmation that the King has signed the law as a provisional measure would in the meantime provide a welcome sign that Jordan is getting serious about copyright protection. It is hoped that, should the Parliament take action this year, implementing regulations to fix the remaining deficiencies in the law would be passed. Convention shortly after this legislation is adopted.