What are the laws regarding intellectual property in the United Arab Emirates, including trademarks, patents, and copyrights?
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has specific laws regarding intellectual property, including trademarks, patents, and copyrights. Here is an overview of the main laws in this field:
- Trademarks: The UAE Federal Trademark Law No. 37 of 1992, as amended, governs trademark protection. It establishes a mandatory registration system for trademarks with the Ministry of Economy. Registered trademarks are protected for a period of 10 years and are renewable.
- Patents: The UAE Federal Patent Law No. 17 of 2002, as amended, governs patent protection. It establishes a mandatory registration system for patents with the UAE Intellectual Property Organization. Registered patents are protected for a period of 20 years.
- Copyrights: The UAE Copyright Law No. 7 of 2002, as amended, governs copyright protection. It provides automatic protection for original works from the moment of creation, without the need for registration. Copyrights are protected during the author’s life and for a period of 50 years after their death.
It should be noted that the UAE is also a signatory to several international intellectual property treaties, such as the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, as well as the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) of the World Trade Organization (WTO). These treaties help to strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights of foreign rights holders in the UAE.