DIFC enacts new IP law

The Dubai International Financial Center (DIFC) has enacted the new DIFC Intellectual Property Law, Law No. 4 of 2019, which took effect on November 21, 2019.

The law complements the DIFC’s commitment to international best practice, aiming to govern the enforcement of intellectual property rights in the DIFC.

DIFC is the world’s eighth-ranked international financial center and the number one financial hub in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia (MEASA) region.

The IP law aims to enable DIFC entities to protect their intellectual property rights within the DIFC and create a safe environment for creativity and innovation.

The law covers Patents, Utility Certificates, Industrial Designs and Drawings, Copyright, Trademarks, Trade Names and Trade Secrets in line with international treaties and best practices.

Key aspects of the law include:

• Recognition of UAE-registered Trademarks, Patents, Utility Certificates, Industrial Designs and Drawings
• The rights afforded to each type of intellectual property rights and the limitations to such protection
• Determining ownership of Patent and Copyright in employment relations
• Creation of the office of the Commissioner of Intellectual Property, who is responsible for administering the law, resolve disputes and imposing fines
• Sanctions and remedies for intellectual property infringement, and
  Jurisdiction of the Commissioner of Intellectual Property and the DIFC Court in infringement cases

Global bench-marking and public consultation helped shape the law to ensure that the DIFC remains the most sophisticated and business-friendly Common Law jurisdiction in the region.

The new law can be viewed here.

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