Beating the replica goods market at its own game
Intellectual property rights gains double importance in our national economy’s evolution, now that the UAE is focusing on creativity and innovation.”
Authorities in the UAE are working hard to combat the scourge of counterfeit goods by seizing and destroying items, in many cases long before they reach the consumer, according to officials.
In the first half of 2017, for example, authorities in Dubai said they confiscated 133 different types of counterfeit items worth Dh72.584 million. Among the seized goods were cosmetics, perfumes, watches, eyewear, clothing, fabrics, tyres and spare car parts, telephone accessories, computers and even medicines and medical equipment.
Yousef Ozair Mubarak, director of Dubai Customs’ Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) section, recently noted that the government has taken a “firm stand” on property rights infringements to protect the economy from any possible harm. “We are all set to support a competitive investment environment in Dubai by enabling producers to avoid losses arising from the imitation of their products,” he said. “Intellectual property rights protection gains double importance in the current stage of our national economy’s evolution, particularly now that the UAE is focusing on creativity and innovation
Yousef Ozair Mubarak, Dubai Customs’ IPR section
in government work and the society at large.”
Mubarak added that Dubai Customs is currently “working to improve our performance in dealing with counterfeit goods, by providing the best training levels for staff and inspectors in the circuit. This enables them to detect counterfeiting and piracy efficiently, backed by the best technologies in control and inspection,” he said.
Similarly, in July, Abu Dhabi authorities announced the confiscation of 6,230 fake leather products, including shoes and bags being sold under the name of major brands.
Munif Al Mansouri, the acting CEO of Abu Dhabi Business Centre, said at the time that such largescale operations are the direct result of frequent inspections being carried out by staff members of the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development’s (ADDED) commercial protection administration, as well as consumer complaints that were received by the Governmental Communication Centre of Abu Dhabi.
The department has also issued fines against facilities that have violated the laws and regulations of commercial activity practice in the Capital, as well as against those who carry out such activities without the required licences and permissions, Al Mansouri added.
Additionally, the UAE authorities are working closely with other organisations around the world to combat counterfeiting. Just this week, for example, the Emirates Intellectual Property Association (EIPA) participated in the Interpol-organised 11th International Law Enforcement Intellectual Property Crime Conference at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
“Our participation formed part of our continuous commitment to the UAE’s intensive efforts to protect intellectual property rights,” noted the head of the UAE delegation, Dr Abdul Quddus Abdul Razzaq Al Obaidly, EIPA’s assistant commander-in-chief for Quality and Excellence.
reporters@khaleejtimes.com