INTA Delegation to United Arab Emirates Participates in Regional IP Crime Conference

INTA Chief Representative Officer for Europe, Tat-Tienne Louembe, and INTA Middle East Consultant Charles Shaban joined a delegation with Middle East Global Advisory Council Co-Chairs Munir Suboh (BSA, United Arab Emirates) and Dima Naber (CWB, Jordan), and local INTA members in Dubai, UAE, for the Emirates Intellectual Property Association (EIPA) and INTERPOL’s 12th Regional IP Crime Conference for the Middle East and North Africa from February 21 to 22.

The delegation took advantage of the opportunity and held a side meeting with EIPA leadership. A discussion on potential future collaborations focused on the need to raise awareness around intellectual property (IP) in the UAE, especially among the younger generations, and including through INTA’s Unreal Campaign. EIPA Chairman Abdelqudous Obaidli (UAE), EIPA Secretary General Abdurrahman Moani (UAE), and Hoda Barakat (Hoda Barakat Legal Consultancy, UAE), who is currently serving as a director on both the EIPA and INTA Boards, agreed to further explore opportunities for collaboration as well as opportunities to formalize and strengthen the relationship between the two associations.

INTA also hosted an anticounterfeiting policy dialogue with Dubai Customs. Invited speaker, Jinane Kabbara, from the French IP attaché for the Middle East, talked about public/private partnerships, and informed attendees about how the National Industrial Property Institute’s (the French IP office) experience of regular meetings with the private sector helped them to combat more sophisticated counterfeit products. Dubai Customs IP Department Director Yousef Ozair discussed how the different sections of his office collaborate with brand owners and IP firms to continue advancing the measures used to differentiate counterfeits in all UAE customs centers. Dubai Customs Assistant Director Saeed Echtibi, an engineer and blockchain expert, shared how Dubai Customs is also investing in developing technical tools, including those that use new and emerging technologies.

Speaking at the conference session titled, “New and Emerging Technologies to Fight IP Crime—Application and Implications,” Mr. Shaban discussed INTA’s policy and advocacy activities in conjunction with the Internet Governance Forum and Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers; The IPO of the Future—Think Tank Report & Checklist; and the necessary tools and changes that the IP community should be focused on to enhance the protection of trademarks in the Metaverse, touching on the expected new Nice Classification classes.

INTA would like to thank Dubai Customs, EIPA, the French IP attaché, and the above-mentioned officials for their hospitality and cooperation, and the local INTA members for the welcome contributions to the successful delegation visit.

INTA Consultant Charles Shaban supports the Association’s members across North Africa and the Middle East (MENA). In collaboration with the staff at INTA’s headquarters in New York City and Representative Offices around the world, Mr. Shaban works on the Association’s policy, membership, marketing, and communications initiatives in the region. To learn more about INTA’s activities in North Africa and the Middle East, please contact INTA Consultant Charles Shaban.

Although every effort has been made to verify the accuracy of this article, readers are urged to check independently on matters of specific concern or interest. 

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