During a conference that reviewed best practices in combating international crimes through 21 working papers

Experts discuss challenges in combating property crime and trafficking in illicit goods

During the 10th Regional Conference on Combating Intellectual Property Crimes in the Middle East and North Africa.

Photography: Ahmed Ardeti

Yesterday, specialized experts discussed the most important issues and challenges facing the fight against intellectual property crimes and trafficking in illicit goods, during their participation in the 10th Regional Conference on Combating Intellectual Property Crimes in the Middle East and North Africa.

The conference will be held at Al Habtoor Palace Hotel in Dubai, under the patronage and presence of the Deputy Chief of Police and Public Security in Dubai, Honorary President of the Emirates Intellectual Property Association, Lieutenant-General Dhahi Khalfan Tamim, and organized by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), Dubai Police and the Emirates Intellectual Property Association, and in cooperation With the Ministry of Justice, Dubai Customs, and the Trademark Owners Council, with the participation of a number of experts and specialists from law enforcement agencies in the field of combating intellectual property crimes, and a number of Arab, regional and international bodies and personalities.

The Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates Intellectual Property Association, Dr. Abdul Quddus Al Obaidli, explained that the conference reviewed best practices in combating international crimes related to intellectual property rights, through seven discussion sessions and 21 working papers, in which a distinguished elite of experts and specialists from law enforcement agencies in the field of law enforcement participated. Combating intellectual property crimes, numbering 35 local, regional and international experts.

He pointed to the launch of the "Dhahi Khalfan Academy" initiative, which aims to keep pace with developments in the work process in the intellectual property sector, to make it a leading scientific beacon, by providing qualification, general training and applied training in various fields of intellectual property, and preparing scientific programs, such as master's programs in intellectual property. Managing intellectual property offices, as well as advanced training programs in various fields, including intellectual property crimes, and enhancing scientific cooperation with scientific, police and international institutions, in addition to its importance in qualifying associates in all disciplines.

And the Assistant Director of the Coordination Office for the Middle East and North Africa in the Department of Global Communication and Regional Support at "Interpol", Abdulaziz Obaidallah, said that digital technology has kept millions of people in contact with each other, colleagues at work and in studies and local communities, and kept them safe from "Covid- 19”, and this technology itself is not immune from danger, e-commerce, for example, has witnessed an unprecedented boom during the pandemic, as well as the market for illegal goods, and while the number of people who buy online their most basic needs, including Food and Drugs Criminals have seized the opportunity, flooding digital markets with counterfeit products, some of these illegal products are of low quality, while others are dangerous. In recent months, fake personal protective equipment, fake vaccination cards, and even fake vaccine doses have been offered for sale on the Internet.

He added, “Thanks to the hard work of investigators and authorities around the world, and here in the Middle East and North Africa, millions of counterfeit masks and thousands of fake vaccines have been seized, but the networks that make the sale of these counterfeit goods a sustainable business still pose a serious threat to the world.” As a whole, it extends to all industrial sectors.

To succeed in our mission, he said, we need international cooperation, consensus, and we need to focus on opportunities to improve our performance, mobilize our common resources, and work together to achieve sustainable impact in the fight against illegal trade.

The CEO of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and Director General of Dubai Customs, Ahmed Mahboob Musabih, stated that the UAE has maintained a leading position among the Arab countries, and its advanced position globally in the field of protecting intellectual property rights and combating piracy, despite the challenges the world has witnessed as a result of The “Covid-19” pandemic, the UAE has strengthened its efforts to coordinate with the international community within cooperation and partnership agreements aimed at combating piracy crimes and protecting intellectual property for all trademarks, as the number of registered trademarks has reached nearly 270,000 trademarks, and the number of patents has reached The registered invention amounted to approximately 26,000 patents, to support the country and its permanent progress in the field of creativity and innovation, in implementation of the directives of the wise leadership and the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to work on achieving global leadership by developing Ideas and innovationsThe new era, and embracing creators and innovators, to launch the UAE from the celebration of the golden jubilee of the country in the fiftieth year to promising economic future prospects.

He added: “At Dubai Customs, we are working to achieve our vision to be the world’s leading customs administration supporting legitimate trade, through a clear message aimed at protecting society and promoting economic development through commitment, facilitation and innovation, and thus tightening control over all Dubai customs outlets by developing and using Dubai Customs. The best control and examination mechanisms, thus being able to control the huge amount of shipments and customs transactions, which during the 10 months of this year 2021 amounted to 17.2 million transactions.”

• The UAE is coordinating with the international community within cooperation and partnership agreements aimed at combating piracy crimes.

• 270 thousand registered trademarks in the UAE.

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