Egypt might seek out copyright on its antiquities, from the pyramids to scarab beetles, in an attempt to collect royalties from the creation of replicas, an official said Thursday.

Zahi Hawass, head of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, has proposed the copyright measure as part of a new law before the Egyptian parliament that would also crack down on antiquities smuggling.

Zahi Hawass, the director of Egypt's Supreme Council of Antiquities, shown in front of the Great Pyramid in 2002, wants Egypt to own any antiquity found in its borders.
(Mohammad al Sehety/Associated Press)

The law would apply to exact full-scale replicas and to any replica for "commercial use," Hawass said.

"If you (want to) build an exact copy of the Great Pyramid we will stop you," Hawass said.

The draft bill comes amid recent complaints in Egyptian media about money being made by the pyramid-shaped Las Vegas Luxor casino.

But Hawass said Egypt would not go after the Luxor because its interior bears no resemblance to a pyramid. 

The law demands that anyone seeking to make an exact replica of a copyrighted pharaonic artifact seek permission from and pay a fee to the body that protects Egyptian antiquities.

Any money raised would be used to pay for the upkeep of Egypt's ancient sites.

It was unclear whether such a copyright would be recognized internationally.

However, the World Intellectual Property Organization and UNESCO are seeking support for international laws that would allow countries to protect copyright on their cultural monuments and folk icons.

The bill, if passed, could also affect the way archeology is practised in Egypt.

In the past, foreign archaeological missions excavating sites in Egypt have been allowed to take 10 per cent of their finds out of the country.

"I cancelled that. I feel it is an honour for any expert just to work in Egypt … not to take things outside," Hawass said.

The change would put Egypt in line with countries such as Greece and Italy, which consider any ancient artifact found the property of the state.

The bill imposes stiff sentences, including life imprisonment for antiquities smuggling.

Hawass is a powerful figure in Egypt and in the antiquities world and has pioneered a higher profile, more modern approach to preserving Egypt's artifacts.

With files from the Associated Press