Dubai: Participating in the eighth International Law Enforcement IP Crime Conference in Vietnam, Dubai Customs presented its experiences in protecting intellectual rights and strategies to combat piracy, counterfeit and commercial fraud.
Over 500 delegates representing senior law enforcement officials, security and industry experts from around the world attended the three-day conference, which was co-hosted by Interpol and Vietnam National Police. The conference was held under the theme “Global Partnerships to Turn Back Crime.”
“Dubai Customs devotes great attention to preserving intellectual property rights. This stems from our commitment to fully serve our role as a Customs administration in upholding the trade and investment environment by combating piracy, counterfeit and commercial fraud. The ultimate goal is to ensure the rights of producers and creators, while also safeguarding the rights of consumers and guarding them against the dangers of fake goods,” Yousuf Ozair Mubarak, Director of IPR Department at Dubai Customs, said.
Dubai Customs revealed that as many as 23.5 million IPR infringing items, worth over Dh65.3 million, were seized between 2011 and 2013. During the first half of this year , 139 IPR confiscations of various products were made with an estimated value of Dh17.6 million. In 2013, DC made 203 seizures of IPR infringing goods, valued at Dh14.7 million. Seizures included apparel, mobile phones and accessories, automotive spare parts, watches and sunglasses.
Mubarak noted that Dubai Customs implements latest anti-smuggling techniques to curb the illicit trade of counterfeit products. The in-house Risk Engine system is regularly fed with updated information associated with IP crime. Inspectors are also equipped with advanced skills and knowledge enabling them to detect counterfeit and fraudulent goods no matter how finely they were copied, such as through continued training courses and workshops that address the newest tricks and methods being used.
“Dubai Customs is keen on establishing close partnership and coordination with all international bodies concerned with fighting criminal IPR infringements, particularly World Intellectual Property Organisation and specialised entities in Customs authorities around the world,” Mubarak said.