Dubai Customs celebrate World Intellectual Property Rights Day under the theme 'Encouraging Creativity'

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The media campaign will include the launch of logos and messages on TVs, radios and print media starting the next month (May 2007).

The World Intellectual Property Rights Day celebration coincides with the end of the series of Intellectual Property Rights workshops that were held during this whole week and which focused on the dissemination and reinforcement of the Intellectual Property Rights concept among Customs inspectors who were given presentations of the latest techniques in finding fake goods.

Mr. Khaled Nour the legal advisor in the Intellectual Property Rights section at Dubai Customs gave a speech during the celebration on behalf of the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) Director General, Kamil Idris who said, 'Each year on April 26, governments and organizations around the world join WIPO in celebrating World Intellectual Property Day. Our theme this year is encouraging creativity.'

'For many people, the connection between intellectual property and creativity is far from obvious. The word creativity conjures a world of artists and music makers, of poets and problem solvers, whereas intellectual property all too often summons images of gray-suited lawyers, locked in litigation. But look more closely, and it quickly becomes clear that it is the intellectual property system itself which sustains and nourishes those creators,' he added.

Yousuf Ozair Moubarak, the senior manager of the intervention department at Dubai Customs said,
'We are here to conclude our cultural week of 2007 that has been attended by a over 50 customs officials and inspectors of various levels including UAE and other GCC Customs Administrations, Federal Customs Authority and Government Ministries and Organizations and over 25 theoretical and practical presentations detailing how counterfeit and unique products can be identified were delivered as well as discussing a number of issues relating to intellectual property right laws enforcement'.

'We are symbolizing an impressive portrait of alliance among Federal and local Government Ministries and organizations, which constitutes an access to laws from one hand and trademark owners, trade representation offices, advocacy and legal consultancy offices and trademark and patent registration offices including consumers and people to the other hand,' he said.

From his side, the chairman of the Trade Marks Owners Council, Mr. Omar Shtawi said the Companies forming the board council took Dubai as their main center for investments in UAE and the GCC countries and the Council is working on all levels with the government, private sector, NON Governmental Organizations, Media and consumers to protect the Intellectual Property Rights.

'Dubai and the UAE hold an international investment status therefore they are keen to preserve and protect the Intellectual Property Rights and fight the illegal trade,'he affirmed.

The celebration concluded in honoring the participants in the workshops on Intellectual Property Rights that were held for the second year

It is worth noting that the Intellectual Property Right section at Dubai Customs was created on the 30th of June 2005 as the first administration of its kind in the region to match the policies of the United Arab Emirates aiming at the protection of the Intellectual Property Rights and cope with the economic development of the country.

As part of its commitment towards international agreements and the Federal Laws on Intellectual Property Rights, the Intellectual Property Right section at Dubai Customs is playing the guardian of the gates at the 14 ports of entries in Dubai, thus contributing towards in fake and counterfeited free city as well as fighting the import of prohibited goods.

It is worth noting that Dubai Customs confiscated in the first quarter of this year 23,643 pieces of fake products and issued 81 confiscation reports. The amount of the confiscated goods exceeded 7 million Dirhams.

In the year 2006 Dubai Customs confiscated during the same period 353,711 pieces of fake products and issued 65 confiscation reports. The amount of the confiscated goods exceeded 2 million Dirhams.

Most of the confiscated goods were DVD, Car Spare parts, mobile phones and Tobacco products.