Dubai Customs invites trademark owners to register

This will also help in recording all infringement techniques in order to protect the consumers from the resulting dangers, safeguard the national economy and encourage the investment movement in Dubai.

Mr. Yosif Ozair Mubarak, Senior Manager of IPR Department at Dubai Customs said:" the Department is keen on detecting and controlling all kinds of commercial fraud including counterfeited trademarks since this is the core business of its specialty being the first entry of all goods heading to Dubai. Registering trademarks entails filing and archiving all trademark-related data, documents and information in the trademark register system and facilitates the Department's tasks and ensures full legal protection of the trademark. The trademark register system is linked to all customs centers so that Customs Inspection Section can identify the owner of the trademark directly eliminating the need to refer to him; thus, accelerating the decision-making process with regards to seizing goods suspected to be infringed."

Mr. Mubarak added:" from this springboard, we invite all trademark owners to register their trademarks at Dubai Customs following the simple procedures and with nominal fees."

Registering trademarks requires enclosing a copy of the valid trademark registration certificates, a copy of the power of attorney which is authenticated, translated and documented as per the law and administrative fees along with other fees as Dirham Knowledge.

It is worth noting that 926 trademarks were registered at Dubai Customs by their owners or the authorized legal representative. American trademarks top the registered trademarks list by 28% followed by the French trademarks by 12%, then Swiss trademarks by 11% whereas Emirati trademarks do not exceed 3% of the total registered trademarks at Dubai Customs.

The IPR Department at Dubai Customs launched the trademarks recording policy for customs purposes in 2006 and circulated it to all law firms and trademark owners to inform them about the required documents and conditions in case of filing a trademark infringement complaint as well as the due administrative fees.

Trademarks shall be registered by its owner or the authorized legal representative in the UAE after being registered at the Ministry of Economy.