Egyptian Court Orders Advertising Company to Pay EGP 500,000 Compensation to Abdel Halim Hafez's Heirs

An Egyptian court issued a judicial ruling on Monday in favor of the heirs of the late artist Abdel Halim Hafez, obliging the production company of the advertisement "Dawo Al Shamaseyya" to pay a financial compensation of EGP 500,000, due to the unauthorized use of one of Um Kulthum's songs.

Yasser Qantoush, the legal representative of the artist's family, explained to local media that "the court ruled to compel the defendant to pay the mentioned amount as compensation for the material and moral damages suffered by the heirs," adding that "the amount will be distributed among the heirs in accordance with Islamic law."

Qantoush also emphasized that the ruling is a victory for the protection of intellectual property rights and reinforces the principle of respecting the legacy of deceased artists, stating: "The decision fairly limits the unauthorized exploitation of artistic works without prior permission from the legal heirs, who have the sole right to grant legal permissions for the use of artists' works."

It is worth noting that the commercial advertisement that re-presented the song "Dawo Al Shamaseyya" by the artist Malak El Husseiny sparked widespread controversy on social media platforms, where Um Kulthum's fans criticized the presentation of the song, considering it unworthy of its artistic value.

In a related context, the ruling coincided with the escalation of the crisis between Abdel Halim Hafez's heirs and the management of the Mawazine Music Festival in Morocco, after a hologram concert of the late artist was presented last week.

Mohamed Shabana, the nephew of the late artist, stated to the media that "the concert tarnished Um Kulthum's legacy," confirming that the family is preparing legal proceedings to claim substantial financial compensation for the "material and moral damage" resulting from the unauthorized use.

Abdel Halim Hafez's family continues to protect his artistic legacy through a series of legal actions against any unauthorized use of his works, in an effort to preserve his status in the Arab artistic memory.