Ministry of Economy launches its new intellectual property system

Abu Dhabi: The Ministry of Economy has introduced a new intellectual property (IP) system comprising 11 initiatives to boost innovation and creativity in the country. These initiatives aim to create a favorable environment for inventors and creators to turn their ideas into successful ventures.

The launch event, attended by Minister Abdulla bin Touq Al Marri and Under-Secretary Abdullah Ahmed Al Saleh, saw the participation of various government entities and academic institutions. The UAE government recognizes the importance of intellectual property in driving economic growth and aims to establish the country as a global hub for innovation.

The new IP system focuses on comprehensive IP protection, reducing violations, resolving disputes, and improving services for patent registration. It will utilize AI technology to support research and development projects and facilitate the export of innovative products to foreign markets.

The system is expected to increase revenues in the national IP sector by promoting trademark registration, patents, and technology transfer. It will also contribute to the growth of the national economy and enhance competitiveness globally.

The UAE has implemented various laws to protect IP rights and promote creativity and innovation. The new initiatives aim to further strengthen these efforts and establish a conducive environment for talented individuals and entrepreneurs.

The 11 initiatives under the new intellectual property system include an Innovation Hub, Patent Hive, Emirati ‘Fahes’ initiative, InnovLAB, InstaBlock, IP SPORT, One Day TM, IP Platform, ‘Hayyakom,’ IP School, and Virtual character ‘Aisha.’ These initiatives cover various aspects of IP protection and aim to raise awareness and enhance skills in the field.

Innovation Hub: This initiative offers an online incubator platform for UAE creators to provide technical guidance and assistance with the patent registration process. The initiative will be carried out in collaboration with the Emirates Association for Talented.

Patent Hive initiative: This initiative aims to increase the number of patents granted and promote the participation of innovators and talents in filing patent applications in the UAE. It sets a goal of achieving 6,000 new patent registrations in the country by 2026, in collaboration with relevant research and academic institutions.

Emirati ‘Fahes’ (examiner) initiative: MoEc, in partnership with the Emirati Talent Competitiveness Council (Nafis), has undertaken this initiative to enhance the skills and competitiveness of Emirati talents in the field of intellectual property. It will offer top-level training and awareness programmes that will not only create job opportunities for them but also encourage the private sector to hire and train them in various innovation and creativity-related fields.

InnovLAB initiative: In partnership with the Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, InnovLAB focuses on strengthening the capacities of innovation incubators and supporting their competitiveness, as well as assessing the effectiveness of incubators in local federal and educational establishments.

InstaBlock initiative: InstaBlock is an immediate service offered by the Ministry in collaboration with the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority, dedicated to addressing complaints concerning livestream copyright infringements. The primary focus of this service is to swiftly enforce intellectual property rights protection.

IP SPORT initiative: MoEc, in collaboration with the General Authority of Sports (GAS), is set to launch the initiative, which aims to increase the number of registered trademarks in the UAE’s sports sector. The objective is to raise awareness on intellectual property rights in the sports industry and conduct awareness campaigns during the UAE Innovation Month.

One Day TM Initiative: A collaborative effort between MoEc and the Ministry of Finance, offering a service aimed at expediting the issuance of a trademark registration certificate, making it happen within a single business day. This initiative aims to increase the trademark registration rate in the UAE and generate additional revenue.

IP Platform initiative: A consolidated digital platform that will be developed during the upcoming phase to connect and integrate data from various government departments responsible for enforcing intellectual property rights. This initiative will harness the latest cutting-edge technology in this field and MoEc will implement this project in collaboration with relevant government entities.

‘Hayyakom’ initiative: The Ministry plans to introduce this initiative in conjunction with the UAE’s hosting of the INTA Meeting, one of the biggest trademark-focused meetings. The goal is to boost the UAE’s appeal to global companies and enhance its brand image.

IP School initiative: This initiative has set the goal to develop a comprehensive portfolio of training programmes for intellectual property, which will be endorsed by the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). It also involves designing suitable training programmes for students in collaboration with the Organisation, the Brand Owners Protection Group, and the Dhahi Khalfan Intellectual Property Center.

Virtual character ‘Aisha’: A virtual personality whose main purpose is to raise awareness of intellectual property rights, engage with the public, and address their queries. This will be done through event participation or social media platforms.

In 2023, there was a notable increase in trademark registration applications and the registration of intellectual works. The Ministry also received more patent applications compared to the previous year, indicating growing interest in IP protection and innovation in the country.

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