The global trade fair – Expo Dubai 2020 held for the first time in the Middle East, opened on October 1st. As part of Emirates Intellectual Property Association’s drive to make United Arab Emirates at the forefront internationally in protecting intellectual property, in 2017, they signed an agreement with Expo 2020 Dubai Bureau to help protect the Expo 2020 Dubai IP assets locally and internationally, in addition to raising awareness on all levels and developing a comprehensive culture for protecting IP rights related to the event.
The UAE pays great attention to the protection of intellectual property, in line with the belief of the country’s leaders in innovation as a key contributor a thriving society with a knowledge-based, competitive and sustainable economy that guarantees a safe future for current and future generations.” Dr. Abdul Qaddous Abdul Razzaq Al Obaidli, assistant commander for Quality and Excellence in Dubai Police and chairman of the EIPA.
For 170 years, World Expos have provided a platform to showcase the greatest innovations that have shaped the world we live in today:
- Television innovations, the first live TV broadcast was made at the New York World’s Fair in 1939,
- Computers innovations, Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine – one of the first mechanical computers – was on display at the 1862 London International Exhibition on Industry and Art,
- Telephones innovations, Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the world’s first telephone in 1876 at Philadelphia’s Centennial Exposition of Arts, Manufactures and Products of the Soil and Mine,
- Food innovations in which have tickled tastebuds and debuted at World Expos, including popcorn and Heinz Ketchup at Philadelphia’s Centennial Exposition in 1876, and ice cream cones at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St Louis in 1904.
Over the years, World Expo has received several requests from people to find a way to help protect their intellectual property, such as patents, trademarks and copyright. In 2010 during Shanghai World Expo, 10 cases of IPR infringement, from fake tickets to infringing commodity “Centennial Expo Album of Stamps and Coins”, to the infringement of copyright of online game operators and counterfeit goods.
Today, several reported cases of intellectual property infringement during Expo Dubai 2020, one was reported to Alyafi IP Group related to copying and infringement of an artwork created in 2015, by an organization called “CEPEX” the organization in charge of the Tunisian Pavilion. “CEPEX” used the artwork, without the authorization of the designer, flipped it and then mixed it with a work of other artist. Their excuse was they were inspired by the work of few artists to create an “artistic parody”.
Such activities raise a number of legal questions in connection with the enforcement of IPRs and requesting UAE to step up its efforts during the latter event in removing of trade show exhibits, catalogues, posters and other content believed to be in violation of IP policy.
Through Expo Dubai 2020, the best way to fight counterfeiting and infringement is by registering the trademarks, patents, designs and other IP assets so that they are enforceable in case of infringement.
Feel free to reach out for further information or assistance at: ips@alyafi-ip.com.
Written by: Nesreen Hamdan, Head of Marketing – Alyafi IP Group
