DIFC enacts intellectual property regulations

The introduction of the regulations reflects the Centre’s continuing commitment to maintaining a transparent and robust legal and regulatory framework aligned with global best practice. It also supports DIFC’s focus on fostering innovation by identifying and protecting intellectual property rights, which is of key importance to technology and start-up companies.

IP Regulations have been approved by the DIFC Authority Board of Directors and issued under the Intellectual Property Law, DIFC Law No. 4 of 2019 (IP Law), facilitating the administration and enforcement of the DIFC IP Law. DIFC’s IP Law and Regulations enhance and augment the UAE’s existing intellectual property laws by working with the federal regime and DIFC legal framework, common law principles and the certainty provided by binding legal precedent created by the DIFC Courts.

Regulations provide further clarity on the powers and functions of the Commissioner of Intellectual Property (the Commissioner). They also outline the process and requirements for filing intellectual property infringement complaints, inspections and investigations in connection with violations of the IP Law. Additionally, the IP Regulations cover issuing of directions by the Commissioner, along with the particulars that must be contained in such directions.