New judicial department to settle disputes over rights

Abu Dhabi: Intellectual property produced in the emirate — such as new technology, research findings, and creative works — will soon be protected by a specialised department at the Abu Dhabi court.

The department is to be responsible for settling disputes over intellectual property,

Its formation was approved at a recent meeting of the judicial council, the body responsible for strategic decision making at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department.

Counsellor Sultan Saeed Al Badi, undersecretary at the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department, said the protection of intellectual property was important.

"Such protection warrants the rights of innovators and intellectuals. This makes it imperative for us to protect intellectual property rights from any abuse, especially because any knowledge economy transforms creativity into economic wealth," Al Badi said.

He said the department would be part of the Abu Dhabi Judicial Department's efforts to accommodate the capital's development, and its investments in human capital and intellectual wealth.

Intellectual property disputes arise when material produced by one person is used by another.

Dr Jacob Chacko, Dean of the College of Business and Management at the Abu Dhabi University said the move would help the emirate attract leading researchers. He said disputes could arise when a researcher used university-provided facilities to research, or published work while being employed by an institute.

"In addition, it will encourage foreign investment for research in Abu Dhabi, which is very important as universities here venture into expanding their research units and the emirate seeks to diversify," he said.

Fatima Abdullah Al Mansouri, of the Abu Dhabi International Photographic Society, said: "I will feel more secure about publishing the photographs I take because if someone unlawfully uses my work, I know I can approach the authorities," she said.

Are you an artist or writer? Have your intellectual property right ever been violated?