The leading international financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has brought out new Intellectual Property Regulations (IP Regulations) with effect from 5 July 2021.
The introduction of the regulations reflects the DIFC’s constant efforts to maintain a transparent and strong legal and regulatory framework in line with the global best practice. Further, it backs the Center’s goals on fostering innovation by identifying and protecting intellectual property rights, which is significant for technology and startup companies.
IP Regulations have been approved by the DIFC Authority Board of Directors and issued under the Intellectual Property Law, DIFC Law No. 4 of 2019 (IP Law), facilitating the administration and enforcement of the DIFC IP Law.
DIFC’s IP Law and Regulations improve and augment the UAE’s existing intellectual property laws by working with the federal regime and DIFC legal framework, common law principles and the certainty provided by binding legal precedent created by the DIFC Courts.
The new regulations provide further clarity on the powers and functions of the Commissioner of Intellectual Property (the Commissioner) and it also outlines the process and requirements for filing intellectual property infringement complaints, inspections and investigations in connection with violations of the IP Law. Additionally, the IP Regulations cover issuing of directions by the Commissioner, along with the particulars that must be contained in such directions.
The regulations establish a Register of Experts that the Commissioner may appoint to assist in the investigation of a complaint. It also allows the Commissioner to cooperate with the federal and local authorities in the country for the seamless protection of intellectual property rights across each of their respective jurisdictions.
