Business & Money | Saturday 27 April, 2019 3:29 am |

Dubai Customs held its annual celebration of the World Intellectual Property Day 2019 at Maydan Hotel in the presence of HE Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, Director General of Dubai Customs, and H.E Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and General Security of Dubai, alongside representatives from government agencies, trademarks holders, and a number of senior executives from Dubai Customs.

In his welcome speech, Director General of Dubai Customs said:” I am happy to welcome you here to celebrate together the World Intellectual Property Day. In our continuing efforts to promote innovation and creativity as a daily practice within the UAE community, this event is an occasion to emphasize our commitment to protecting all types of intellectual property rights so as to help ensure sustainable economic development.” 

HE Ahmed Mahboob Musabih pointed out that IPR protection is a key driver for innovation and sustainability in all sectors. “Ensuring the rights of innovators, manufacturers, and trademark owners is indispensable to guarantee the continuity of their products and so the profitability of their investments and creations.”

He added: “The United Arab Emirates devotes great attention to securing businesses’ and individuals’ intellectual and industrial property to support the creation of a fair and competitive environment, where new ideas and innovations are protected and where counterfeiting is a criminal offense the society should be guarded against. 

 “The UAE joined the Intellectual Property Organization in 1975. When it comes to encouraging innovation and creativity, we are amongst the leading nations. Our wise leadership has always nurtured creative ideas and supported talents in fulfilment of a future vision of leading the 4th industrial revolution”. 

“With this in mind we have always protected intellectual property rights. This is a strict prerequisite to any development project and is even so as we gear up to ensure a successful hosting of World Expo 2020 in Dubai.”

Musabih further explained that Dubai Customs works hard to combat counterfeiting and prevent fake products from entering the country. “Last year, we made 272 seizures of fake products, with an estimated value of AED 52 million. In the first quarter of 2019, AED 11 million worth of IP-infringing items totaling 23,000 products of 16 trademarks were intercepted in 68 seizures.”

Dubai Customs works in synergy with all federal and local government stakeholders as well as brand owners for the effective enforcement of intellectual property laws and raising awareness of counterfeits among consumers and the community, said Ahmed Mahboob Musabih. 

“We have organized 46 workshops in cooperation with trademark owners to acquaint our inspectors and customs staff with latest counterfeiting techniques and tricks. Dubai Customs also reinforced cooperation with the Brand Owners Protections Group through signing an MOU aiming to further promote cooperation and coordination and to exchange relevant information in order to counter counterfeiting and piracy. This cooperation has recently resulted in the recycling of 17.91 million fake goods of famous trademarks in a manner that is safe for the environment.” 

Dubai Customs’ IPR awareness and education efforts focuses primarily on the younger generations to raise their awareness around the hazards of counterfeit products. Our efforts in this respect include the launch of the IP Award for Schools and Universities. 

“Since its launch in 2007, the award has seen participation of over 198,000 students from 172 schools and 30 universities We are happy today to award the schools and universities that have won the 2018-2019 cycle.”

Yousef Ozair Mubarak Director of IPR Department delivered the World Intellectual Property Organization(WIPO)’s IP Day message on behalf of WIPO Director General Francis Gurry.

This year’s World Intellectual Property Day campaign – Reach for Gold: IP and Sports – takes a closer look inside the world of sports. It explores how innovation, creativity and the IP rights that encourage and protect them support the development of sport and its enjoyment around the world. 

During the ceremony, Director General of Dubai Customs Ahmed Mahboob Musabih awarded the winners of the IP Award for Schools and Universities for the academic year 2018-2019 With the participation of H.E Lieutenant General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, Deputy Chairman of Police and General Security of Dubai. Al Falah University in Dubai won the universities category, Omar Bin Al Khatab  Model School won the public school category and JSS won the private school category. Student Khaldoun Abdel Karim Sinjab from University of Sharjah grabbed the best innovative idea award, and student Maya Hilal Abu Shamla from the same university won the best creative model award.

Musabih also awarded the special honor for the most active law firm category to Bayt Al Hikma Consultancy, and paid special tribute to Dubai Club for People of Determination represented by board member Muna Hamad for their sports achievements as well as PCFC team for Gov Games and other fellow athletes from Dubai Customs in recognition for their great achievements in the world of sports.