Dubai Customs Records a Growth in Seizing Trademarks Infringement Cases

DUBAI - Dubai Customs achieved a growth in seizing of trademarks infringement cases by 39% during the first quarter of the current year, according to Dubai Customs.
The number of cases violating the Intellectual Property Rights law at different customs borders accounted for 64 as compared with 47 during the same period last year.
This was disclosed in a report by the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) department at Dubai Customs.
The total value of counterfeited goods for which seizure reports have been produced during the first quarter of 2009 reached AEDM 6.2 against AEDM 34.6 in the period from January to March last year, according to the report.
The figures indicate that although the increase in the number of trademarks infringement cases, their value was much less than the counterfeited goods value, which have been seized during the first quarter of last year, by virtue of their types and low price.
The mobile telephones and accessories were on the top of the counterfeiting cases totaling 14 cases followed by spare parts and then cigarettes, which accounted for 6 and 5 cases respectively.
The recording of trademarks at Dubai Customs, as pointed out by the report, experienced a growth of 55% reaching 70 against 45 trademarks recorded in the first quarter last year.
Yousef Ozair Mubarak, senior manager of IPR department at Dubai Customs said that the department, since its establishment under a decision from the Director General of Dubai Customs has played a significant role in controlling entry of counterfeited and fake products into markets, protecting the society against their risks to public health and local economy and safeguarding trademarks owners’ rights.
“The IPR department organizes educational courses for inspection officers at all customs borders covering awareness about IPR, how to differentiate between unique and counterfeited products, forms of trademarks forgery and how to deal with cases violating IPR rules,” hen added.
"Such efforts and the genuine desire to protect the society and local economy had a crucial role in seizing trademarks infringement cases. About 95% of customs cases in connection with counterfeited products have been seized by customs inspection officers during normal inspection operations while other seizures were made upon reports by trademarks owners and advanced information reached Dubai Customs,” he maintained.
The educational courses and workshops are conducted in cooperation with trademarks owners’ who explain to the inspection officers the identity of their products and how to be distinguished from counterfeited goods.
The IPR department efforts include holding of coordination meetings with the relevant task forces at government departments such as Dubai Municipality, the Department of Economic Development and Dubai Police Headquarters where each agency explains its experiment in the area and exchanges information for reaching best results.
The IPR department educational role in disseminating awareness about distinction between fake and unique products and risks of using counterfeited products is not restricted only to customs inspectors but also includes school and university students and a wider group of the society.
To this end, a dedicated section for awareness and education has been established making 3 site visits to customs centers at Jebel Ali, Dubai Cargo Village and Dubai International Airport including a basic course for new inspectors and an awareness course at Dubai Woman Association.
The second session of Dubai Customs IPR Award for schools students was launched as well in collaboration with the Ministry of Education.