Ahmed Mahboub delivering Dubai Customs’ speech.
Dubai Customs stressed that Intellectual property rights is considered a top strategic priority at the Department reinforcing the UAE’s status on the international map. Dubai Customs’ concern about intellectual rights stems from the fact that it is in charge of protecting society, especially the rights of creative people and trademark owners taking into account that Dubai has become a vital hub for trade movement worldwide.
The statement was made during yesterday’s celebration held in Al Salam Port Hotel on the occasion of World Intellectual Day which is celebrated on April 26th every year. In the presence of H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed. Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, and Director General of Dubai Customs and many senior government officials and federal authorities and departments as well as the GCC and diplomatic missions’ representatives and consuls in the UAE, VIPs and trademark owners, Dubai Customs awarded its business partners of both sectors; private and public in the field of IPR, schools and universities winning the Dubai Customs IPR Award.
Mr. Ahmed Mahboub Musabih, Executive Director of the Clients Management division said in the opening speech: “our concern about this cause is stemmed from our strong belief in the rights of the producers, creative people and the great thinkers in different domains whether industrial, commercial or literary.” He pointed out that the efforts made in cooperation and coordination with our partners from the private and public sectors- are coherent with the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) slogan “Designing the Future” to protect the community and maintain its individuals’ health now and in the future in order to achieve its development and reinforce sustainable development.
He added: “Dubai Customs constantly gives much attention to foster creativity and excellence which help achieve its strategic goals and anchor its international status being the first customs department in the region to establish an IPR concerned department within its organizational structure in mid-2005”. The IPR unit played a major role in protecting the main entrances of Dubai.
HE Ahmed Butti and Major General Abdul Rahman Rafia
giving a shield to a winner school student
Mr. Musabih said: “the IPR Department exerts efforts to increase society’s awareness among all society segments about intellectual property concept and the dangers of consuming counterfeited goods. In this context, we have launched five years ago an annual award for schools in cooperation with the Ministry of Education entitled “Dubai Customs IPR Award”. 13 government and private schools in the UAE participated in the award’s last cycle. A similar award for universities and colleges was launched recently to increase the participations of the targeted groups and encourage students’ creativity”.
Mr. Musabih announced: “In continuation of these efforts, we are pleased to announce today that we are about to launch a unified E-portal (iprgate.gov.ae) for intellectual property with the participation of several respective ministries, authorities and federal departments. This is the first government E-portal for intellectual property in the Middle East which comprises all issues related to IPR such as local and international regulations and legislations, the adopted procedures in every concerned local authorities and their events and activities in this domain”.
“Dubai Customs combats counterfeiting and piracy relying on a highly qualified national inspector’s cadre. The number of IPR infringement cases completed by Dubai Customs amounted to 689 seizures registered at the different land, sea and air customs entries in Dubai valued at over AED 31 million last year as opposed to 393 seizures in 2009 with a total value of AED 24 million (i.e. 75% growth in number of cases). Up to this moment, for the first quarter of 2011, 148 seizures were registered as compared with 151 seizures in the first quarter of 2010.” He further noted.
“We are very keen on developing and taking the best checkup and inspection procedures on the borders which contributes to prohibiting the entry of fake and counterfeited goods into the local market and increases the consumers’ trust in the original products purchased in order to maintain the international community trust in our procedures and secure our accomplishments in the UAE with regards to safety and attracting investment. In addition to that, these actions help preserve our society and sustain its individuals’ health and safety”.
Mr. Yusif Ozair, Senior Manager of IPR Department in Dubai Customs said: “
Since it was established in mid-2005, the IPR Department has been exerting efforts to increase society’s awareness about intellectual property concept by conducting more than 12 workshops and training courses lasting for a week with the participation of customs inspectors from different customs departments in the UAE besides other employees of the respective government local and GCC departments and authorities. All held with the participation of the trademarks owners and the specialized experts”. He also pointed out that the Department also has a project for communicating with the largest investment companies of trademarks owners and their legal representatives, over 300 meetings with them have been held since the establishment of the IPR Department.
He Ahmed Butti giving Major General Abdul Rahman Rafia shield of Dubai Customs.
These efforts and others have all contributed to reinforcing the trust put in the adopted procedures at Dubai Customs to protect the community and maintain investors and large companies owners’ rights; this has encouraged them to register their trademarks at the IPR Department in Dubai Customs, currently more than 1250 are registered trademarks for customs purposes. All are registered through the E-system linked to all customs entries in Dubai which helps customs inspectors identify the products type whether original or fake so as to take the necessary legal actions against them.
Mr. Ozair expressed his appreciation to all business partners of ministries and government authorities and departments in the UAE especially the Brand Owners Protection Group (BPG) for their great support and continuous cooperation with Dubai Customs in combating counterfeiting. He stressed that joint and coordinated efforts with the other respective government authorities and the positive interaction of the society members generated fruitful outcomes in this regard. He expressed as well his thankfulness to all the universities and public and private schools participating in the Dubai Customs IPR Award.
Mr. Abdulla Hasayen, BPG Chairman and Nokia Trademark Protection Manager extended his greetings to Dubai Customs on the occasion of celebrating the World Intellectual Day and commended its great achievements in this domain as well as the ones made by other authorities and government departments.
Mr. Hasayen said that the BPG and Dubai Customs have distinguished relations throughout the previous years stressing that Customs is considered a major partner to BPG and a significant contributor to implementing IPR regulations in Dubai to ensure protection of the UAE’s locals and residents from counterfeited low quality products. He also pointed out that the IPR Department at Dubai Customs is considered a highly efficient department and section in the region.
A group photo for the honoured in Dubai Customs’ IPR celebrations with HE Ahmed Butti.
“Importing and selling counterfeited products concerns us all as trademark owners and consumers due to the massive negative effects of this illicit trade on the local economy and community safety. This is realized by the respective authorities in the UAE which take the necessary actions to combat it”. He said.
Mr. Hasayen pointed out that counterfeiting affected almost all known trademarks and industries and it is still growing; therefore, cooperation among trademark owners, law firms and government authorities is highly significant and considered key tool against this issue. He emphasized as well the significance of cooperation between the respective departments in the UAE with the similar ones in other countries to follow up, trace and seize cargos containing counterfeited goods. “ we witnessed various seizures completed by Dubai Customs in this field”. He further noted.
At the end of the function, H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed. Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, and Director General of Dubai Customs awarded the winning schools and universities of the IPR Award. Five schools were awarded including Nora Bin Sultan School for girls, RAK, Dubai National School for boys, Al Hikmah School for boys in Ajman, Islamic Schools for Education – Dubai and Wasit Secondary School for girls.
Yousef Ozair delivering a speech on behalf of WIPO’s Director General.
The electronic Hamdan Bin Mohammed University won the first place of IPR Award for universities and Imam Malik College for Sharia and Law won the second place of the award.
The awarding also comprised the law firm with the largest number of registered complaints against IPR infringements, the most registering law firm for trademarks and the most cooperative law firm with Dubai Customs.
Dubai Customs also awarded its partners of government departments and authorities as well as the BPG for their cooperation in raising awareness about IPR among the community members and customs inspectors and combating counterfeiting. Moreover, different customs divisions and departments at Dubai Customs were awarded for their tangible contributions in this field.