DUBAI: Dubai Customs successfully foiled 95 attempts to smuggle counterfeited products, worth Dh38.4 million, in the first half of 2016. The seized goods, which infringed the intellectual property rights (IPR) of the original brand owners, included electronics, bags, wallets, sunglasses, video games CDs, cosmetics, and so forth. Saeed Al Tayer, executive director of Policies and Legislation division, Dubai Customs, made the statement on Wednesday morning while launching the 9th edition of its pioneering Intellectual Property (IP) Award for schools and universities nationwide. “Dubai Customs spares no effort in cracking down all IPR infringements at borders,” Al Tayer said.
Students from across the UAE schools and universities with worthwhile projects and initiatives relevant intellectual property are encouraged to submit their entries in any of the award diverse categories. Raising awareness of IPR protection among youngsters is the main goal of the award, a popular recognition amongst local academic institutions.
Al Tayer said the award has served its purpose of involving students of all ages in the fight against counterfeiting over the past few years. Counterfeits pose an immense threat to consumers’ health and the national economy. “The level of students’ awareness reflected in the research papers and projects submitted is outstanding,” he said. “We want to create the right conditions for investment. Ensuring businessmen and investors that their brand names are safe in Dubai is definitely an incentive for them to base their operations here.” Back in 2008 when it was launched for the first time, the Dubai Customs’ IP Award targeted school students only. It was later expanded to include university undergraduates as well.
Yousuf Ozair Mubarak, IPR Director at Dubai Customs, pointed out that any trading activity of counterfeits is punishable by law. “We take it upon our shoulders to educate the community about how dangerous counterfeits can be.” “Students from 130 schools and 22 universities contended for the nationwide IP award between 2008 and 2015, with a total number of beneficiaries touching 88,000,” added Mubarak.
