Abu Dhabi: The UAE Ministry of Economy (MoE) and the Brand Owners Protection Group for the GCC and Yemen (BPG) on Sunday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) outlining their cooperation in the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) and initiatives against commercial fraud and counterfeiting in the UAE.

The MoU, part of a series of strategic MoE initiatives complementing the federal government strategy announced by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, was signed at the MoE’s Abu Dhabi headquarters by Mohammad Ahmad Bin Abdul Aziz Al Shihhi, Undersecretary of the MoE; and Omar Shteiwi, chairman of BPG – GCC and Yemen.

Key officials, BPG members, attended the signing ceremony and various concerned private sector representatives.


Al Shihhi lauded the UAE for being a model of IPR protection in the region, while pointing out that the signed agreement aims to promote stronger partnership between the Ministry and the private sector as represented by the BPG.
He added that the MoU will identify cooperative mechanisms and coordinate efforts to protect copyright owners in the UAE.

The Undersecretary emphasised the UAE commitment to upholding IPR through national legislation and international conventions and treaties, which would help enhance economic development through the promotion of investment and technology transfer.