Government

In a landmark move to combat intellectual property violations, the UAE Ministry of Economy has partnered with the Spanish National Professional Football League, La Liga, to launch the 'Anti-Piracy Lab' project. This initiative, carried out in collaboration with Dubai Media City and the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and Digital Government (TDRA), aims to detect and address illegal use of audio and visual content across digital platforms.

The memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed by H.E. Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Saleh, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy, and Javier Tebas, President of La Liga. The signing ceremony was attended by Major General Dr. Abdul Quddus Abdul Razzaq Al Obaidly, Assistant Commander-in-Chief for Excellence and Pioneering at Dubai Police, Chairman of Emirates Intellectual Property Association, Abdullah Balhoul, CEO of TECOM Group, and Majid Al Suwaidi, Senior Vice President of TECOM Group - Dubai Media City.

H.E. Al Saleh emphasized the UAE's commitment to establishing a robust intellectual property system aligned with global best practices. “The UAE has built a legislative framework that is highly adaptable and competitive, enhancing its role as a premier global center for creativity and innovation. This aligns with the 'We the UAE 2031' vision to position the country as a global hub for the new economy and a thriving society by the next decade,” Al Saleh stated.

Al Saleh highlighted that the MoU represents a significant milestone in efforts to strengthen comprehensive protection for intellectual property applications and creative works in the UAE. Through collaboration with La Liga, the project aims to establish frameworks for blocking websites that infringe upon intellectual property rights, aligning with international best practices. This initiative also supports the UAE’s collaborations in combating intellectual property infringements and backs global initiatives in this field.

Javier Tebas, President of La Liga, expressed his support for the agreement, noting its significance in the fight against intellectual property violations in the sports industry. "This agreement is an example of how public and private authorities can create collaborative spaces against audiovisual fraud. The Emirates is a pioneer in this activity, setting an example for the world to follow," Tebas said.

Abdullah Balhoul, CEO of TECOM Group, underscored the importance of protecting intellectual property as a key pillar in advancing a knowledge-based economy. "The UAE and Dubai have been pivotal in this effort, utilizing their status as global hubs for creativity. TECOM Group has created integrated business environments that attract top talent from around the world," he added.

The Anti-Piracy Lab will be established in Dubai Media City, similar to La Liga’s Anti-Piracy Lab in Madrid. The lab will utilize cutting-edge technological and digital tools to detect, analyze, and remove illegally used audiovisual content, adhering to industry best practices. The project is expected to be completed within three years.

In addition to enhancing intellectual property protection, the Ministry of Economy aims to encourage investment in advanced technology and digital innovations. This project aligns with the Ministry’s strategic goals of fostering leadership and competitiveness in innovation and intellectual property rights.

The Ministry’s ‘InstaBlock’ initiative has already achieved significant results, successfully blocking 1117 websites that infringed upon copyright of creative content on digital platforms during Ramadan 2024, compared to 62 sites in Ramadan 2023

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