The ESCWA Cyber Legislation Digest 4. Digital products other than application software. This covers all regulations concerned with the protection of such products which are not included in the categories of software, databases and semiconducting products. 5. Domain names. This covers the rules and regulations for the issuing of names by suitably assigned authorities, the processes required for the financial and administration processes required for the registration of such domains, their modifications and cancelations. Also addressed are the regulations needed for the resolution of conflicts resulting from the use of domain names. This directive identifies seven chapters as follows: Chapter 1: Chapter 2: Chapter 3: Chapter 4: Chapter 7: General Provisions The Legal Protection of Software The Legal Protection of Databases The Legal Protection of Semiconducting Products Common Provisions Their related sections and articles are listed in Appendix A. 3.6 The Portal, Virtual Network and Sustainability of Results In parallel with the main activities for developing and launching the ESCWA Cyber Legislation Directives, ESCWA had another aim for disseminating and supporting these efforts. This was carried out through two related processes: 1. Making available information about the Harmonization Project including documents, studies, reports and related resources through the ESCWA Cyber Legislation Portal. 2. Developing a virtual network. This is essentially a portal whose aim is to support the cyber legislation environment in the Arab region, as a forum of discussion and database of experts and institutions. The virtual network also aims at providing continuity of operations in the field of cyber legislation in the Arab region. It is the first portal of its kind in the region. Most of the documents referred to in this digest are linked in the footnote to ESCWA’s cyber legislation portal. This section will concentrate on the virtual network as a part of the Harmonization Project. Objectives of the Virtual Network The main objectives of the virtual network are the following: 1. To support decision makers and legislators in Arab countries when developing legislation frameworks that cover cyberspace operations. 2. To ensure the streamlining of such frameworks regionally and through the use of the ESCWA cyber legislation directives. 19